aussiebirder

We have been away up Far North Queensland on a tour of the Cape York Peninsula right to the very Tip of the Australian mainland. We even went further to the Torres Strait Islands with a premium touring company called Outback Spirit which we have toured with on previous occasions. My wife was hoping to see the Palm Cockatoo, which is Australia’s largest and endangered Cockatoo, only found in this region. Sadly, they did not turn up for us. However we did see a dozen new lifers which are only found in the wild wilderness like area of tropical rainforest, savanna and open woodland of Cape York Peninsular.

Of course we saw many species that we look forward seeing whenever we travel to Cairns, where our adventure begins, after a couple of days exploring the famous Cairns Waterfront Esplanade, where many waterbirds and tree birds are seen. The sound of the Australasian Figbird can be heard constantly as they feed from the numerous fruiting fig trees which Australia is rich with many species. This Northern species known as the ‘Yellow fronted’ Figbird has a male with a yellow belly and much redder eye ring than our southern race.

As night falls in Cairns you begin to hear the loud high pitched unusual cries of the Bush Stone-Curlew as they come out at night to hunt for insects, small reptiles and mammals and also to socialise with other birds of their species. This unusual bird will stand motionless for some time thinking it makes the best camouflage, but is great for photographing them. Many of these peculiar birds walk the streets at night calling to one another all night long. Click on image to enlarge it.

Can you imaging listening to this all night…

Our first lifer was the seeing its cousin the Beach Stone-Curlew, which is an endangered species decreasing in number yearly. This was an exciting moment as we have been hoping to see this bird for years. Instead of running about the town, these birds walk the low tide mud flats of Cairns, where it experiences extreme tides that go our for kilometers. It likewise was standing motionless on the low tide mud flats as it watched us watch it. They are hunting for small crabs, molluscs and marine creatures in the wet sand. Here is our special photo:

The main attraction being Spring here in Cairns is the return of many species of migratory waders from their time breeding in the Northern Hemisphere. We just managed to see some of the flocks return, especially for our next lifer the Great Knot. There were mixtures of Sandpiper which included Common, Curlew, Terek and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and one Lesser Sand Plover. The occasional Gull-billed Tern were among the flocks. Eastern Curlew, Eastern Reef Egret and Whimbrel were also present in single numbers scattered over the mud flats.

There are advantages of being in a flock, even if it is mixed like our multicultural communities. We benefit in safety both physically and emotionally knowing someone is there, and birds are no different to us in this aspect.

Sandpiper landing

In next week’s post we will begin our journey up the coast through the ancient coastal tropical rainforests and rivers lined with Saltwater Crocodiles. It is very difficult photographing and even seeing birds in dense dark rainforest habitats. Enjoy your week and weekend as the seasons once again change and many species of migratory birds all over the world enter the flyways once again to move to their warmer climate as our Australian migrating birds are currently doing.

My favorite migratory bird the Bar-tailed Godwit was also present in small numbers on the Cairns waterfront as they begin returning from Alaska and Siberia on their non stop 14,000 to 16,000 km journey across the Pacific Ocean to Australia and New Zealand. This amazing bird is highlighted in my book What Birds Teach Us for its resilience. This is a wonderful beautifully illustrated book selling well already as an excellent Christmas gift. this book not only has beautiful coloured photographs of our Australian birds and interesting facts about their behaviours but in addition, each bird teaches a valuable life lesson or skill which will assist the reader in making wise life choices. Click on the image below to find out more:

If we view life with a positive mindset and view our journey as one full of challenges to grow, strengthen and make us more resilient people, we can be much happier knowing that our Loving Creator is at work in each of our individual lives forming and shaping us to become the best person we can. Every so called ‘problem’ is an opportunity to take up the challenge and with the help of that same Loving Creator who constantly watches over us, overcome and achieve what appeared unachievable. Fear and doubt prevent us from taking the risk but faith, insightful wisdom along with determination together transport us into previously undiscovered, uncharted areas of achievement previously believed impossible.

“Jesus looked at them [his followers] and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26 (NIV)

“I can do all this [be content with every life situation] through him [Jesus] who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13

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Adv. Dip. in Counselling and Family Therapy.

Member of Birdlife Australia

To introduce people to our unique Australian birds,

And learn from them how to live a healthy and happy life.

NOTE: All photos, videos and music used on this website are photographed, composed, performed  by the site owner and remains his copyrighted property, unless otherwise stated. The use of any material that is not original material of the site owner is duly acknowledged as such. © W. A. Hewson 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.