Jenny and all,
When you said ‘John at Mareeba’, I thought at first you meant me (a different John!), as I was at Mareeba at a friends house to watch the eclipse spectacle between birding. I didn’t notice any unusual bird response, in fact the overhead flock of magpie geese continued as business as usual, and perhaps the backyard honeyeaters and lorikeets quietened down a bit. This contrasted with a noticeable behavioural response from the humans in the vicinity, with plenty of justifiable hoots n hollers. It was an amazing few minutes – more dramatic than I’d expected. I did shake off the effects of the Champaign to get to last year’s Mt Molloy Buff-breasted BQ site by 7AM, not long after the eclipse, and have just now given up, five hours or so later. There doesn’t appear to be the same grain-bearing state of the grasses as I noticed in January, at which time I failed. Main reason I came back to Cairns was to pursue that bad-boy, not the eclipse, but with or without the BQ, I’m very than kful I had the chance to see the eclipse. AND I managed to snag one of the last of the common bird species I need to see on the mainland, just a few minutes ago – Eastern (Pacific) Koel, which I think makes my year total 728. But cannot find proper feral population of Guineafowl. Please, if anyone has recent info, would really appreciate the help. Will invest tomorrow on the job if given good clues; please contact me off-line jweigel@reptilepark.com.au. Going to do the obligatory night (two nights) at Kingfisher Park from tonight, so will ask there as well.
No super rarities on Boigu, Dauan or Saibai last week, but did get chance to photo all three of the regular specialties – Red-capped FP (saw 6 on Boigu, none on Saibai); Collared Imps, a few single flyovers on Boigu and Saibai, and a nice perched bird in the mangroves of Saibai; and lots of Singing Starlings in bush, and at the Church fig tree on Boigu only. Off to Christmas and Cocos at end of week – will advise listserve if the Fairy Pitta and or Asian Brown Flycatcher grace me with a view. Then the Albany to Hobart and Hobart to Macca boat-rides.
Best wishes all, John Weigel
Message: 2 Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2012 10:54:30 +1100 From: “Jenny Stiles”
We were watching the eclipse from Coconut resort at Cairns and to our relief had pretty good views! Totality did look like it was going to be hidden but just after it started appeared from behind the clouds, ging us an amazing view of the void like sun and surrounding corona followed by the diamond ring. I was too distracted by the eclipse to think about birds at totality, but did see several Torresian Imperial pigeons flying overhead [coming from the coast] shortly after. John; how early did you leave for Mareeba and what was the traffic like? We considered driving there too. ===============================
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