This post is a continuation of our recent time away in Far North Queensland where we enjoyed a much needed rest and recuperation, as well as some birding of course. You may have noticed my weekly posts have become shorter, as I realised that many of my readers are busy and do not have the time to appreciate long posts. One blessed feature of our time in Palm Cove was that several of the birds we sought and wanted to see, were actually brought to us at the resort. Last week I featured the Rainbow Bee-eater which was just outside the window near our room each morning. However, one bird in particular that walks hunting on the nature strips along the beaches at night, of the Far North Queensland coast, is the Bush Stone-curlew, a bird which I featured in last year’s post on our visit to Townsville. Here are some day time photos taken in Townsville.
This large bird seldom flies but stalks the streets and parks at night, resting secluded during the day, similar to other night birds. It feeds on a variety of foods including insects, molluscs, small lizards, seeds and occasionally small mammals.
One night as my wife and I sat dining in the open tropical setting of our resort dining area, next to the garden and hallway entrance, we were surprised by some very unusual sounds coming from the garden near where we were seated. After a few minutes, to our surprise and delight, a Bush Stone-curlew emerged from that same garden and was standing in the hallway barely six feet from us. I managed to catch the following pics on my phone, as I did not have my camera with me.
Bush Stone-curlew visits us at dinner
Bush Stone-curlew in resort hallway
This bird which we had not yet seen here had come to us. We proceeded to follow it as it made its way out of the dining area past the guests onto and across the street to the nature strip where it would spend the night stalking insects that come to the light, as it could hide along the beach in the vegetation as people passed. After dinner I took my movie camera and my wife her camera and we walked up and down the nature strip finding several lone birds in their own territories hunting. Here is some footage:
Listen to their cries, it sounds like someone being murdered. This can go on through the night as they communicate to one another and mark their territories. Sorry for the traffic noise in the background.
Notice how they freeze when they are seen, this is a protective feature many birds use when their plumage matches their surroundings, and are less likely to be seen if they do not move at night, for example the Bassian Thrush in the dark rainforest setting.
The feature photo at the beginning of this post was taken by my wife in the dark as is these:
If that wasn’t enough, next morning at breakfast in the same dining area, which had been opened to the ocean and tropical breeze, a ruckus of birds being pursued was heard outside. We could hear Common or Indian Mynas as they are locally known and whistling sounds. Looking up into one of the huge native paper bark trees we saw a pair of Radjah Shelduck terrified by this experience. These introduced Mynas are a menace to our native birds, and in some cities eradication has helped, but they breed so well here. You can hear the whistle sound of the Shelduck:
The first bird sounds we heard on our arrival and during our entire stay from morning to night were that of the Australasian Figbird, of the northern race which differs considerably to our southern race. Australia has over 100 varieties of Fig trees which provide food for our many fruit eating birds all year round, as each species fruits at a different time of year. Here is what we heard each day from our room.
The male Figbird has a very dark red eye ring and complete yellow breast making it the new northern subspecies race ashby which use to be with the now Intermediate sub species with partial yellow underparts race flaviventris. Our southern race back home is known as the green Figbird race vielloti. Compare our green Figbird from the south, pictured last below, with the northern Figbird we were seeing at Palm Cove.
Male Figbird
Male Figbird in a Fig Tree
Female Figbird NE race
Male Figbird southern race
To finish, we return to the beautiful and rapid flying Rainbow Bee-eater to show some captures shown in slow motion of a small flock first having a wash. Followed by frames taken of them washing and then shaking themselves dry together in a tree nearby.
Shaking themselves dry after wash
That’s all for this week, will have some lifers and more exciting finds next week. The main message I received from the time away was that when I rest in God as my loving Father and trust him to bless me with his avian wonders, he faithfully brings them to me, and do not need to strive after them. When we planned this holiday, before we discovered my recent health issues, we were planning a very active birding expedition, but we were both told to rest, and for the first time I made that a priority rather than chasing the birds. This was the exciting aspect that my wife and I both enjoyed and saw as a mark of his favor during our time away. that when we rest on the Lord and wait for him he comes to us.
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him…” – Psalm 37:7 (NIV)
“Be patient and wait for the Lord to act;” – Psalm 37:7 (GNT)
and for us who are experiencing healing and/or have need of it…
“The Lord will help them when they are sick and will restore them to health.” – Psalm 41:3 (
Have a wonderful week!
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Hi Ashley, I love the photos and footage of the bush stone curlew. I remember seeing them once at a wildlife sanctuary in Queensland and how funny and awkward they looked when they sat down! Also enjoyed your video of the bee eater taking a quick swim!
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Thanks Sue, they are one of the most unusual birds I have ever seen. It is quite a treat to pass them in the street at night as they maintain the freeze position as you pass. Yes, the bee-eaters are such super fast flashes of colour, it is a challenge to catch them in flight. Hope its not too cold down there, have a great weekend!
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Yes, a bit on the cool side lately, but enjoying some rain today. Spring and daylight savings aren’t too far away now!
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How beautiful that God gave you and your wife the rest you needed and brought the birds right to you! Very interesting that the bird is nocturnal and I loved the video of it at night. The figeater bird is beautiful as is the Shelduck, which reminds me very much of our wood duck. An informative and beautiful post as always…so nice learning about birds on the other side of the world! May you and your wife continue to find rest and have numerous blessings brought to you both! 🙂
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Thanks so much Jen, the internet has enabled us to get a more comprehensive view of life in other parts of the world so much better than when we were kids and only TV docos, travel shows and Encyclopedia Britannica were around. Amazing how far it all has come in our lifetime. Thanks again for your kind comments and blessings and my our Lord bring to you and your hubby more beautiful blessings like in your last post which I did enjoy immensely. Have a wonderful week my friend!
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Thank you!
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Hey Ash,
your bee eater pics are incredible!
I’m really grateful for your sharing of what God puts on your heart, to wait and He will come to me – be patient. Thank you for being such a Godly example to a lost and hurting world. I just resigned from my job with the hope of establishing a coaching business, scripture is so comforting. So glad you are both resting and feeling better. Love to you and Rob. xxx Keep your dreams alive!
Christine
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Thanks so much Chrissie,
Rob and I had such an enjoyable time watching them at the resort and capturing their beatuful colours. The fly so fast it takes a high speed capture to get their full beauty.Thanks also for your kind encouraging words dear sis, and we are praying it all works out for you in your new season of work. The Lord will make your path straight: ‘I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.’ – Prov4:11. Say hi to Garry for me, we pray he is able to establish his new business soon also. Please pray that I will get part time work soon, as I have finished writing the second book. Love to you both 🙂
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What favor from the Lord to have the birds come to you!
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Thanks Myra, yes it is the favor of our Lord for he delights in his children delighting in him and his works. I will share more of this in future posts. Special thanks also for your email and pics. Hoping your birdwatching journal turns up soon for you. Enjoy your weekend!
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Figbirds are my favorites. Love those eyes. Another interesting post.
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Thanks Lee, It was interesting to discover in our latest bird guide that we now have 3 subspecies, when we use to have 2, but I have not found this to be entirely accurate in my geographical Figbird findings. The problem with a tree full of noisy Figbirds is that you have trouble seeing them as the Fig trees are so large and dark underneath.
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That’s funny! You don’t have to go after the birds, they come to your house! Great story, Ashley. 🙂
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Thanks HJ,
This was our experience on our holiday, so we did not have to go far to find birds, they came to us on many occasions while away. We see it as God’s favor or gift to us.
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Simply amazing displays of our Father’s creation. You expressed my exact thought, “he faithfully brings them to me, and do not need to strive after them.” Such personal love from His hand!
Thank you for brightening my morning with videos & audios of birds I’ll never see myself.
God bless you and your home.
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Thanks Lisa Beth, his love is so amazing and sure true, we just need to wait for him to make i happen. This is the ‘treasure in the trial’ from my current situation. So glad my post has brightened your morning and brought blessing to you and honour to our glorious Father of Wonders. These birds reflect his beauty and magnificence and his Intelligent Design. Enjoy your week!
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A very inspiring encounter, Ashely. What a lovely way to spend an evening.
You’ve managed to share some great photos of these amazing birds.
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Thanks David, it certainly was a surprise to have this bird appear as large as life only feet from our table and to stand there wondering for several seconds wondering which way to go. It was good that on this trip we got great footage of birds we saw last year and a few more lifers, without travelling too far to find them.
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