Kingfisher Lodge, Lake Mitchell, Big Mitchell Creek Reserve, Mareeba Golf Club, Track at Lake Mitchell, Mcleod River in Mount Carbine,

Doing some mopping up before we move on tomorrow.

Australia, Day Thirty One.

 

Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii).

We headed off out through Mount Molloy and down to Lake Mitchell where we had been given some information about Black-throated Finch (Poephila cincta) which was a species we all needed.

Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii).

As we approached we made a stop to scan the lake but it was surprising empty and we only saw several Magpie Geese (Anseranas semipalmata), Great White Egrets (Ardea alba) and a passing Eastern Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) but we did better just along the road at Big Mitchell Creek where we parked and walked out to a clearer area below the Pylon's.

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus).

We walked along the track there adding Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum), Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (Microeca flavigaster), White-bellied Cuckooshrike (Coracina papuensis), Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), Chestnut-breasted Munia (Lonchura castaneothorax), Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii), Red-backed Fairywren (Malurus melanocephalus), Australian Swiftlet (Aerodramus terraereginae), Brown (Lichmera indistincta), White-cheeked (Phylidonyris niger) and Yellow Honeyeater (Stomiopera flava), Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii) x4, Scarlet Myzomela (Myzomela sanguinolenta) and Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus).

Eastern Grey Kangaroo's (Macropus giganteus).

Eastern Grey Kangaroo's (Macropus giganteus).

Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus).

We returned to the without seeing the Finch we were hoping for and drove south to Mareeba, on the way we had a flock of over 100 Black Kites (Milvus migrans), Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis), Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus), Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides) and White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus).

Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (Microeca flavigaster).

Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (Microeca flavigaster).

At Mareeba we drove out along the side of the Golf Course but the spot were hoping to visit was covered in vehicles as there was a Rodeo event on so we returned to the Golf Course were we found large numbers of Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) as well as Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus), Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca), Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Diamond Dove (Geopelia cuneata), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) and Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys).

Lesser Wanderer (Danaus chrysippus).

Lesser Wanderer (Danaus chrysippus).

We decieded to head back North to Mount Molly adding Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos) before we turned off onto one of the side roads where we were again trying and ultimately failing to see the Finch, however we did have brief views of a pair of Pale-headed Rosella's (Platycercus adscitus) alomg with Double-barred Finch (Stizoptera bichenovii), Chestnut-breasted Munia (Lonchura castaneothorax), Lemon-bellied Flycatcher (Microeca flavigaster), Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus) and the first of many Lesser Wanderer (Danaus chrysippus).

White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica).

We continued on North through Mount Molloy to Mount Carbine, on the way we saw Wedge-tailed Eagles (Aquila audax) x3, Torresian Crow (Corvus orru) and a couple of Black Kites (Milvus migrans) feeding on what Ian tells me was a Black-headed Python (Aspidites melanocephalus).

Sapphire Flutterer (Rhyothemis princeps).

Sapphire Flutterer (Rhyothemis princeps).

Scarlet Percher (Diplacodes haematodes).

On the Northern side of Mount Carbine we parked at the Mcleod River where we walked up and down stream seeing White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica), Great Bowerbird (Chlamydera nuchalis), Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris), Leaden Flycatcher (Myiagra rubecula), Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus), Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta), Scarlet Percher (Diplacodes haematodes), Sapphire Flutterer (Rhyothemis princeps) and lots more Lesser Wanderer's.

Lesser Wanderer (Danaus chrysippus).

After we returned to the car we started back towards the Kingfisher Lodge but had a look along another likely looking trak getting much better views of the Pale-headed Rosella's, Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis) and a Brown Quail (Synoicus ypsilophorus).

We returned to Kingfisher Lodge and arranged to go out spot lighting with two American Birders that were staying, before we did this we had some fruit for our evening meal and I soon found out that I have a bit of an intolerance to Pawpaw when my face swelled up and I felt none to good. 

Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen).

I didn't go Spot lighting unfortunately as the others saw a few bits I didn't.