Birdline North Queensland Weekly Update

Birdline North Queensland Published sightings for the week ending 21 Dec 2014. Sun 21 Dec Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher Garden, West End, Townsville Bird sitting watching me have breakfast on the deck at 6am. Good views but gone by the time I got my camera. Only my second sighting in my garden (or in Townsville) in 27 odd years, the other sighting was about the same date as this one. Ed Pierce Sat 20 Dec White-browed Crake Bamaga: Lake Wicheura en route to East Coast 10 46S 142 33E 1′ Cell One flushed from low reeds, calling when flew, to dense reed beds then walking along edge in scope. First sighting for the general area on eBird although I had heard one 6 months ago in a different location. Klaus Uhlenhut has recorded 3 specimens over 30 years. Rob Reed Fri 19 Dec Latham’s Snipe and Large-tailed Nightjar Tyto Wetlands, Ingham Found a lone Latham’s Snipe foraging at the waters edge of the first small dam. Then later in the evening came across a mother Large-tailed Nightjar and her fledgling chick. I also found another female sitting on two eggs. Also found was a 2-3 meter long Scrub Python. Andrew O’Brien Thu 18 Dec Pied Heron Cairns Botanical Gardens and Centenary Lakes One Pied Heron seen on the freshwater lake at Centenary Lakes, Cairns. The bird was quite tame. Fourteen Rajah Shelduck also present. Terry Reis Sun 14 Dec Rufous Owl Riverside Gardens, Douglas, Townsville 4 Rufous Owl, mum, dad and 2 well-developed youngsters high in trees, riparian to Ross River. Ed Pierce