Birdline North Queensland Weekly Update

Birdline North Queensland Published sightings for the week ending 14 Sep 2014. Fri 12 Sep Peaceful Dove Loyalty Beach Immature peaceful Dove from Loyalty Beach are still present. Another image. Greg McKay Channel-billed Cuckoo Gregory River camp area Gregory Downs Single bird observed early this morning feeding on large grasshopper high up in the trees lining the river. Greg and Janice McKay Thu 11 Sep Common Starling Tinaburra Boat Ramp, Lake Tinaroo One bird seen, introduced species which is not normally found this far north although there has been odd sightings on the Atherton Tableland and Cairns. Further north on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula one was seen at Pompurraw whist conducting BirdLife Australia surveys in about 2001. Chris Doughty via Keith Fisher Mon 8 Sep Wilson’s Storm Petrel Michaelmas and Upolu Cays National Park offshore pelagic Uncommon in area. One bird seen whilst traveling from Michaelmas Cay to Hastings Reef. Chris Doughty via Keith Fisher Red-footed Booby Great Barrier Reef–Michaelmas Cay 4 birds present. Uncommon in area. Four birds were also reported on 29th August from Agincourt Reef out from Port Douglas, maybe same birds? Chris Doughty via Keith Fisher Thu 4 Sep Peaceful Dove Loyalty Beach Caravan Park Bamaga We observed this pair of doves at our campsite over the3 days we were there. The size of Peaceful Dove we didn’t pay much attention to them until one morning one landed very close by in a tree next to me and I was able to observe its unique eye markings. Its partner had the same. (Moderator Note:- Your photo shows an immature Peaceful Dove of the sub-species peninsulae. It is an interesting photo as The Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds {HANZAB} says ” Bare parts of juvenile peninsulae not known”, this was published in 1996). Greg and Janice McKay Fri 29 Aug Red-footed Booby, Roseate Tern Agincourt Reef, Great Barrier Reef Apologies for late post. At least four Red-footed Booby with around 35 Brown Booby on helicopter platform as we arrived at the site, as well as several Black-naped Tern, 40-odd Sooty Tern and around 150 Common Noddy. All birds dispersed as helicopter arrived, and I observed Roseate Tern fly past thereafter. Noted largely red bills, very long white tail streamers and dark upperside to outer primaries with no dark trailing edge on underwing. Steve Davidson