Black Mountain Road

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Overview

This 43km road is mostly unsealed. It runs from the Kennedy Highway just east of Kuranda to the Mossman-Mount Molloy Road near Julatten. The road traverses both the Kuranda and Mowbray National Parks as well as state forest and private land. This can be a very rewarding area for visiting birders.

Birds

Notable Species

Many of the Wet Tropics species can be found here, including several of the endemics. Species typically encountered here include: Southern Cassowary, Australian Brush Turkey, Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Red-necked Crake, Grey Goshawk, Topknot Pigeon, Brown Cuckoo Dove, Superb Fruit Dove, Wompoo Fruit Dove, Emerald Dove, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Australian King Parrot, [Double-eyed Fig Parrot]], Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo, Little Bronze Cuckoo, Pacific Koel, Papuan Frogmouth, Large-tailed Nightjar, Australian Swiftlet, Forest Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater, Noisy Pitta, White-throated Treecreeper, Lovely Fairywren, Fernwren, Large-billed Scrubwren, Fairy Gerygone, Brown Gerygone, Helmeted Friarbird, Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, Graceful Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Macleay's Honeyeater, Dusky Honeyeater, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Pale Yellow Robin, Chowchilla, Golden Whistler, Grey Whistler, Little Shrike Thrush, Spectacled Monarch, Pied Monarch, White-eared Monarch, Leaden Flycatcher, Grey Fantail, Rufous Fantail, Barred Cuckooshrike, Cicadabird, Varied Triller, Australasian Figbird, Black Butcherbird, Spotted Catbird, Victoria's Riflebird, Red-browed Firetail, Olive-backed Sunbird, Mistletoebird and Silvereye.

A small population of Southern Cassowary lives in the area. Although this species can be encountered along the road by casual birders, this can be very hit and miss. Many birders typically stay at Cassowary House (signposted off the road near the Kuranda end) to take advantage of the fact that the birds regularly come into the grounds of the guest house giving incredible close encounters to visiting birders.

There have been a number of recent records of Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo along this road, typically near the Julatten end. These records effectively extend the known range of this species south from Cape York. This is by far and away the best place to look for this species in the region.

Rarities

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Check-list

Birds you can see here include:

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Other Wildlife

As with all rainforest regions of the Tablelands, this area is rich in wildlife. Many of these species can be encountered in the grounds of the Cassowary House guest house.

Mammals: Musky Rat Kangaroo and Red-legged Pademelon are common in the area.

Amphibians: a number of frog species occur in the region. This includes the recently described Kuranda Tree Frog with a tiny global range centred on the township of nearly Kuranda.

Site Information

Areas of Interest

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Access and Facilities

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Contact Details

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External Links

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