Peter Valentine | Conservation Officer
Some of us found it hard to get out of bed so early and head to Atherton for the monthly Hasties Swamp National Park Survey. Given that it was the first day of the Malanda Show we surely knew what to expect. Even so, the nine birders who participated were well rewarded.
As we gathered at the carpark there was a beautiful view of a soaring adult White-bellied Sea-Eagle directly overhead. Magnificent. Then I could hardly believe my eyes. I watched as a bird flew in to a white fruited lilly-pilly, next to the carpark and commenced eating the fruit. It was a Tooth-billed Bowerbird.
In over 200 surveys at Hasties Swamp over two decades, I had never recorded a Tooth-billed Bowerbird there. These are usually confined to rainforest yet here was one, perhaps an immature, enjoying a feed. It had to be the bird of the day!
With drizzly rain coming down, the hide was the place to be for a while and we searched for the usual waterbirds.
One surprise was the lack of a Darter, but eventually four were seen. Huge numbers of Magpie Goose were flying in long skeins across the sky, heading out to feed. Meanwhile, numerous Plumed Whistling-duck lined the water’s edge or perched on any dry patch or log. Many were loafing in front of the hide. It was good to see some young Dusky Moorhen: suggesting successful local breeding. The four Black Swans, recent arrivals at Hasties, were still present but we could not find the Pink-eared Duck that has been seen for the last fortnight.
From the hide we also observed two brown-coloured Victoria Riflebirds scoffing the fruit of the Bleeding Heart tree, competing with several Brown Cuckoo-Doves.
While walking along Koci Road to the south we discovered many honeyeaters feeding on the high eucalypt blossom above the road. Six species were identified including several Bridled Honeyeaters and these were joined by many lorikeets. A male Red-backed Fairywren showed well and the usual crowd of Grey Fantails (the northern Qld upland subspecies, keasti – see photo below) and Willie Wagtails followed us around. The extremely photogenic Eastern Yellow Robin pair posed nicely and a single Yellow-breasted Boatbill was recorded.
At the end of the morning the martins turned up and put on a show back at the hide (to which we had retreated because of the rain). These were all Tree Martins, accompanied by a solitary Welcome Swallow.
It was agreed that a total of 47 species was sufficient for the usual reward of freshly baked Amaretto biscuits courtesy of Jennifer Brown.
Words and photos by Peter Valentine (substitute for Barry and Lesley Deacon).
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