Cairns Esplanade, Centenary Lakes and Botanic Gardens, Queensland.

Our first day in the frozen North, well not quite but it was a tad more chilly than expected.

Australia, Day Twenty.

 

Cairns Esplanade, the Sunshine State 😁😁😁 we arrived on the coldest day for 39 years.

We left the Cairns Queens Court Hotel and headed down to the Esplanade / Prom for us Brits and found one of the many free parkig places, the tide was quite low but we still picked up quite a few new species including one of my top target species the Beach Thick-knee (Esacus magnirostris) which was the first bird we saw out on the mud.

Beach Thick-knee (Esacus magnirostris).

Beach Thick-knee (Esacus magnirostris).

In the same area we had Great White (Ardea alba) and Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca), Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae), Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida), Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) and Varied Honeyeater (Gavicalis versicolor).

Varied Honeyeater (Gavicalis versicolor).

Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis).

Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena).

Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus).

We walked down towards the port, on the way we picked up Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica), Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris), Grey-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes), Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles), Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena), White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus), Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus), immature and adult Striated Herons (Butorides striata), a fly over of a smart looking Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus), Australasian Figbird (Sphecotheres vieilloti), Hornbill Friarbird (Philemon yorki) and White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae), Pacific Reef-Heron (Egretta sacra).

Pacific Reef-Heron (Egretta sacra).

Pacific Reef-Heron (Egretta sacra).

Striated Heron (Butorides striata) adult.

Striated Heron (Butorides striata) immature.

Nankeen Night-Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus).

White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae).

Near the Port we stopped for a coffee and watched a very smart immature Nankeen Night-Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus), Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis) and a slightly less good looking Hornbill Friarbird (Philemon yorki), Coffee stops were going to become a nice habit during the trip, later we retraced our steps back to the point where the car was, Ian went over to the car whilst Deb and I continued on along the front down as far as the Mangrove area.

Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca).

Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis).

Black-necked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus).

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus).

Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus).

Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida).

On the way we picked up Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), Australian Gull-billed  (Gelochelidon nilotica ssp macrotarsa), Great Crested (Thalasseus bergii) and Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia), Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus), Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis), Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus), Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris), Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus), Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) and just before the Mangroves an Eastern Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) sat on the roof of a block of flats.

Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles).

Great Knot (Calidris tenuirostris).

Grey-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes).

Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus).

Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus).

Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris).

In the area behind the Mangroves we had Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta), Australian Swiftlet (Aerodramus terraereginae) and the ever-present Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys).

Double-eyed Fig-Parrot (Cyclopsitta diophthalma).

Double-eyed Fig-Parrot (Cyclopsitta diophthalma).

Great Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii).

Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis).

Australian Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica ssp macrotarsa).

Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata).

Mud-Skipper Species.

We returned to the Esplanade and walked back down towards the car, on the way a stunning pair of  Double-eyed Fig-Parrots (Cyclopsitta diophthalma) flew into a palm tree next to us and allowed us to get some nice pictures.

Trying to keep out of the rain but we all failed.

Australian Bush-turkey (Alectura lathami).

Barred Cuckooshrike (Coracina lineata).

We reached the car and we went for a run to the nearby Centenary Lakes and Botanical Gardens, by now it was starting to rain and when we arrived we found the area was very wet and even flooded in parts but we still had a couple of hours of great birding even if the photography was difficult.

Hornbill Friarbird (Philemon yorki).

Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii).

Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis).

We walked several of the many trails dodging the showers by any means possible but added a good number of new species again including Australian Bush-turkey (Alectura lathami), Orange-footed Scrubfowl (Megapodius reinwardt), Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii), Barred Cuckooshrike (Coracina lineata), Shining Flycatcher (Myiagra alecto) female, Olive-backed Sunbird (Cinnyris jugularis), Hornbill Friarbird, Blue-winged Kookaburra (Dacelo leachii), Black Butcherbird (Cracticus quoyi), Olive-backed Oriole (Oriolus sagittatus), Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Bar-shouldered Dove (Geopelia humeralis) and Deb also had a Pallid Cuckoo (Cacomantis pallidus) which Ian and I missed.

Radjah Shelduck (Radjah radjah).

Great White Egret (Ardea alba).

Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii).

We walked from the Botanical Gardens into the area of lakes and did a loop around there before rain finally stopped play but not before we again added a good number of species, in amongst the many Australian Swiftlet Deb again picked up a species which I missed but Ian managed to get onto, a Pacific Swift (Apus pacificus).

The Pools.

Terrapin Species ??????

I did manage to see Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae), Radjah Shelduck (Radjah radjah), Magpie Geese (Anseranas semipalmata), Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa), Australasian Figbird (Sphecotheres vieilloti), Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus) and a Terrapin species which still needs a name.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita).

We returned to the hotel and later Ian and I headed out to get a take-away and hit the Booze shop.

Eagle View, Adelaide Airport in South Australia and later Cairn's in Queensland.

Part of the day at the farm and then a flight up to the North East.

Australia, Day Nineteen.

 

We started the day by again feeding the animals, later I had a look around the garden before finishing off my packing ready for the flight to Cairn's in Queensland this afternoon.

Birds seen at the farm included New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax), Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera), Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata), Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor), Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus) and Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus).

Later Renate, Deb's mom came to collect us and we headed to Adelaide Airport for the second part of the big Adventure, it was the first visit to the area for Deb and Ian for nearly 30 years as well.

On the way Ian went on a route to give us the chance of getting a lifer for the day and we did when a group of Noisy Miners (Manorina melanocephala) flew across in front of the car.

The flight was uneventful but when we arrived in Cairn's it was piggin cold and wet, unfortunately Ian had to drive to our accommodation in an unfamilliar car and very heavy rain, next morning we heard it had been the coldest day in Cairn's for 39 years. 

Eagle View, South Australia.

Around the farm and a walk up the Hill.

Australia, Day Eighteen.

 

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita).

We started the morning by feeding the animals and then went down to one of the lower fields to do some work on the flock of sheep. 

White-throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea).

During the morning we had  a flock of noisy Sulphur-crested Cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) knocking around, Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes), Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla), New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Rainbow Lorikeets (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans), Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor), Little (Anthochaera chrysoptera) and Red Wattlebirds (Anthochaera carunculata), Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) and Western Grey Kangaroo's (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus).

Bassian Thrush (Zoothera lunulata).

After lunch Deb and I went for a walk up the hill near the farm to get me a New species to keep the run going, as we walked we picked up some regular species including Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis), Yellow-faced Honeyeater (Caligavis chrysops) which were followed by one more expected species which kept my lifer a day run going, a White-throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea) and then a much less expected Bassian Thrush (Zoothera lunulata) a much more difficult bird to see and photograph as it is always well under the scrub. 

Bassian Thrush (Zoothera lunulata).

We walked back down to the farm and later had a very nice evening meal.

Eagles View, South Australia.

Back at Deb and Ian's for a very short stop off to repack for the next part of the adventure.

Australia, Day Seventeen.

 

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita).

Today was a day around the farm, sorting things out after our trip up to the North West, around the house I picked up a few species including New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), Galah's (Eolophus roseicapilla), Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen), Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula), Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) and Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes).

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) male.

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) male.

Early on I helped with the feeding and then went out on to the far fields with Ian to check on the cattle out there, all was good and as we went round Ian showed me the nest of the resident pair of Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) which was high up in the top of a tall Eucalyptus trees.

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) male.

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) male.

In the same area we added Red-browed Firetail (Neochmia temporalis), Yellow-faced Honeyeater (Caligavis chrysops), Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor), Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera) and lots of Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus).

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) female.

Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) winter male.

Later I had a walk around the garden where I had nice views of a male Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) in the newly prunned fruit trees along with a good number of female and winter males.

Red-browed Firetail (Neochmia temporalis).

Also seen in the garden were European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), Little (Anthochaera chrysoptera) and Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata) and White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis).