Northern Queensland adventure

The final week of the Eastern Tour took in the areas of Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands.  This region hosts the highest diversity of species in the country, including many of the continent’s signature species.  We had incredible experiences with many of these this year.  Just a sampling of our favorite sightings included a wonderfully cooperative (eventually) roadside Southern Cassowary near Etty Bay, male Australian Bustards strutting their stuff and perched Blue-winged Kookaburras out in the dry savannah near Mount Carbine, juvenile Great-billed Heron, motionless Azure Kingfishers and a nesting Papuan Frogmouth along the Daintree River, a very cooperative male Golden Bowerbird in higher elevation forest up on the tablelands, and an amazing experience with a displaying Victoria’s Riflebird near Lake Eacham.  Also making the participants favorite lists was this Australian Masked Owl (the first ever for a WINGS Australia tour) and this particularly bold Nankeen Night-Heron that was strutting around a fast food patio in downtown Cairns. 

As always, tours to Australia are never solely about the birds; and in particular our lengthy views of this cute Krefft’s Glider (one of an impressive 29 species of mammals for the tour), a bevy of cute frogs, like this Green-eyed Treefrog or this Ruddy Treefrog that we found peering up out of the sink in the mens room at Kingfisher Park. 

We finished the Eastern Tour with an impressive 302 species, and an amazing 430 species for the two tours combined.  It is always with a touch of sadness that I board the plane to leave this amazing continent, and I very much look forward to next year’s duo of tours!