Tyto Wetlands, Ingham and The Common, Townsville, Queensland.

Wetlands all day.

Australia, Day Twenty Four.

 

Bush Thick-knees (Burhinus grallarius).

We started the day with a cracking and very well behaved pair of Bush Thick-knees (Burhinus grallarius) in the car park of the reserve and in the surrounding area we added Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), Hornbill Friarbird (Philemon yorki) and Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta).

Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea).

Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea).

Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea).

Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) immature.

Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) immature.

On the way along the tracks to the first pool we picked up Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca), Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii), Varied Triller (Lalage leucomela), Brown-backed (Ramsayornis modestus) and Yellow Honeyeater (Stomiopera flava), Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton) and a very smart White-browed Robin (Poecilodryas superciliosa).

Green Pygmy-Goose (Nettapus pulchellus).

Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii).

Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton).

Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton).

On the first pool we spent some time watching the many Comb-crested Jacana's (Irediparra gallinacea) trotting around on the Waterlily pads amongst the stunning tall Waterlily flowers. 

Red-backed Fairywren (Malurus melanocephalus) male.

Red-backed Fairywren (Malurus melanocephalus) male.

Red-backed Fairywren (Malurus melanocephalus) female.

Chocolate Argus (Junonia hedonia).

In the same area we also found Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), Wandering Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna arcuata), Green Pygmy-Geese (Nettapus pulchellus) and as we walked out towards the second pool we had the first of many Chocolate Argus (Junonia hedonia) butterflies, Little Shrikethrush (Colluricincla megarhyncha), a fly over Great Bowerbird (Chlamydera nuchalis) and a party of Red-backed Fairywrens (Malurus melanocephalus) including a cracking male bird.

Cotton Pygme-Geese (Nettapus coromandelianus).

Cotton Pygme-Geese (Nettapus coromandelianus).

Red-backed Fairywren (Malurus melanocephalus) Male.

Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa) flashing it's speculum.

On the main lake there were good numbers of Australasian Grebes (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae), more Green Pygmy-Geese, Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia), a Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae) which was sat up in a tree drying its wings and the Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) which was sat in a similar spot as yesterday.

Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii).

White-bellied Cuckooshrike (Coracina papuensis).

Hornbill Friarbird (Philemon yorki).

Wandering Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna arcuata).

Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus).

We decided to do the walk which did a full loop of the main lake, as we went around we had good views of many of the species we had already seen and added a few more including Great White Egret (Ardea alba), Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis), White-bellied Cuckooshrike (Coracina papuensis), Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii), Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos), Hornbill Friarbird, Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis), Leaden Flycatcher (Myiagra rubecula), White-gaped Honeyeater (Stomiopera unicolor) and a flying but distant Pacific Baza (Aviceda subcristata).

White-browed Robin (Poecilodryas superciliosa).

Northern Fantail (Rhipidura rufiventris).

No-brand Crow (Euploea alcathoe).

Red-browed Firetail (Neochmia temporalis).

Common Crow (Euploea core).

We finished the loop and made our way back towards the car, on the way we saw a couple of butterfly species which were No-brand Crow (Euploea alcathoe) and Common Crow (Euploea core) as well as another Northern Fantail (Rhipidura rufiventris), a White-browed Robin which showed a little bit better and a flock of Red-browed Firetail (Neochmia temporalis) before we started to head south again to Townsville.

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus).

Neon Cuckoo Bee (Thyreus nitidulus) ????

Spotted Jezebel (Delias aganippe).

As we drove south we picked up Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis), White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia), Eastern Cattle Egret (Bubulcus coromandus), Brown Falcon (Falco berigora), Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae) and a Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans) which was yet another new species for me.

Leaden Flycatcher (Myiagra rubecula) male.

We got to Townsville and checked into our Cabins on the egde of the town and then went out onto what is called the Common, as we drove in we passed a couple of large pools where we stopped a found Magpie Geese (Anseranas semipalmata), Australian Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica ssp macrotarsa), Australian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus australis), Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus), a very large White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), Neon Cuckoo Bee (Thyreus nitidulus) and a stunning Spotted Jezebel (Delias aganippe).

Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus).

Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii).

?????????

The first and second hides that we visited were both fairly quiet and we only added Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis), Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida) to the day list.

Brush Cuckoo (Cacomantis variolosus).

Brush Cuckoo (Cacomantis variolosus).

Brush Cuckoo (Cacomantis variolosus).

However on the walk to and between the hides we picked up Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii), Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus), a couple of Brush Cuckoo's (Cacomantis variolosus) and we heard but did not see a Barking Owl (Ninox connivens).

Lesser Wanderer (Danaus chrysippus).

We returned to the car and drove back towards the accommodation but halfway back I shouted stop when I saw a brilliant looking Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus) and Ian was soon on the brakes and we all got good views of the bird as well as a Lesser Wanderer (Danaus chrysippus).