Cairns Pioneer Cemetery

We were given a tip about a pair of Brahminy Kites nesting in a tree in the Cairns Pioneer Cemetery. When we got back from our day at Kuranda there was about an hour of light left so I decided to go and investigate.

On arrival I counted five Bush Stone-curlew skulking around the graves.

Bush Stone-curlew, Pioneer Cemetery, Cairns Qld

More intriguing was the interaction between a Laughing Kookaburra, perched on a low branch and a Willie Wagtail that clearly objected to it being there.

Laughing Kookaburra + Willie Wagtail, Pioneer Cemetery, Cairns Qld

The Kookaburra refused to fly away and the Willie Wagtail persisted for at least 20 minutes giving me time for a range of shots. Mostly this is just luck as the action happens so quickly you just have to try and predict when things will happen and fire off a short burst, hoping to catch something interesting.

Having seen enough of this, and with the light fading, I went off in search of the kite nest, soon finding it in a fork of a large pine tree. One bird was sitting on the next, almost totally obscured from sight.

Brahminy Kite, Pioneer Cemetery, Cairns Qld

As I walked around the tree looking for a better viewing angle, a pair of Pied Imperial Pigeons landed in a palm nearby.

Pied Imperial Pigeon, Pioineer Cemetery, Cairns Qld

Just as the sun was setting and clouds came over the western sky, the second kite landed on a dead branch at the top of the nest tree. It was so dark, I popped the flash on to brighten up the bird.

Brahminy Kite, Pioneer Cemetery, Cairns Qld

Almost immediately, a Magpie Lark that had previously been feeding on the ground at the base of the tree, did it's best to discourage the kite from staying.

Brahminy Kite + Magpie Lark,
Pioneer Cemetery, Cairns Qld

As with the Kookaburra and Willie Wagtail, this interaction went on for some time with neither giving in.

Tyto Wetlands (Part 1)

I spent a fantastic weekend in Ingham with the BirdLife Photography group. This is my first time this far into North Queensland so it was a great introduction to the local birdlife with 4 new species for my lifetime list on the first morning at Tyto Wetlands :-)

Before we had even left the car park, I had my first lifer for the day

Pied Imperial Pigeon, Tyto Wetlands, Ingham Qld

The mown grass along the edge of the tracks proved to be a good location for several species including the gorgeous Peaceful Dove,

Peaceful Dove, Tyto Wetlands, Ingham Qld

while the branches of nearby shrubs provided perches for two more lifetime firsts.

Brown Honeyeater, Tyto Wetlands, Ingham Qld

Crimson Finch (male), Tyto Wetlands, Ingham Qld

The open water of the ponds didn't provide much in the way of birdlife but a solo Green Pygmy Goose cruised past, while I was searching the edges, albeit a long way away.

Green Pygmy Goose, Tyto Wetlands, Ingham Qld

The edges proved more fruitful with sightings of several Comb-crested Jacanas and my first ever White-browed Crake, which walked out of the reeds directly in front of me.

White-browed Crake, Tyto Wetlands, Ingham Qld

and a Yellow Honeyeater (lifer no. 4 for the morning) took a bath in the adjacent pond and perched precariously on a lily flower stem to shake itself dry.

Yellow Honeyeater, Tyto Wetlands, Ingham Qld

We saw several oriole nests along the tracks and finally came across one being tended by a pair of birds.

Olive-backed Oriole, Tyto Wetlands, Ingham Qld

As we arrived back at the car park at the visitor centre, a flock of Plumed Whistling-Ducks flew into a pond and I couldn't resist a few shots.

Plumed Whistling-Duck, Tyto Wetlands, Ingham Qld

... Part 2