Birdline North Queensland Weekly Update

Birdline North Queensland Published sightings for the week ending 12 Oct 2014. Sun 12 Oct White-throated Needletail Newell Beach 15 birds observed flying low along the coast to the south (Moderator:-first record for the season?). Doug Herrington Sat 11 Oct Long-billed Corella Ingham-Abergowrie road near Ashton (no relation) Hotel Four Corellas feeding on roadside weeds this morning. Two showing red on face and throat, two very plain white in plumage, so two adults and two immatures, I suppose. Can’t recall ever seeing species anyway near Ingham, though still feral flock on Ross River at Townsville, I think? Tony Ashton Thu 9 Oct Red-necked Crake Tyto Wetlands (Ingham) Red-necked Crake (Rallina tricolor) feeding along edge of creek pool near osprey nest tree early today. My first sighting in 10 years. Tony Ashton Wed 8 Oct Carpentarian Grasswren Lady Annie Mine Road Observed two families of Carpentarian Grasswren 8km along Lady Annie Mine Road, rock pile on the right road in for 1km or less in breakaway country. Used to see them more on the left when we lived here some years ago. Even with all the mining activity now, it’s still a great area. Birds were very confiding. Two birds on first breakaway and three birds on the second breakaway. John & Sue O’Malley Mon 6 Oct Latham’s Snipe Orient Road, Toobanna (near Ingham) Queensland One snipe seen in remnant pool beside the road. Ian Boyd and Gil Crabtree Pacific Golden Plover Orient Road, Toobanna (near Ingham) Queensland One bird seen in a remnant pool of water on the side of the road. Ian Boyd and Gill Crabtree Sun 5 Oct Pacific Golden Plover Mungalla Station–Forrest Beach, Queensland One plover seen while spotlighting in an open paddock on the property. Early arrival. Ian Boyd and Gil Crabtree Sat 4 Oct Satin Flycatcher Coquette Point Possible female Satin Flycatcher in cottonwoods near mangroves no sign of male. First sighting 2014. My impression was that the cap was a darker grey. certainly the tail and wings were brown and her call was not harsh as is a Leadens’. We have a good population of Leadens here in winter but they left early September. So I was surprised to see this bird. Of course it is more likely to be a late Leaden rather than a straggling Satin. Yvonne Cunningham Fri 3 Oct Eastern Grass Owl Mungalla Station-Forrest Beach, Queensland Two Eastern Grass Owl seen while spotlighting in open paddock on the property. This is private property so permission must be gained before entering. Ian Boyd, Gil Crabtree and Doug Herrington