Birdline North Queensland Weekly Update

Birdline North Queensland Published sightings for the week ending 23 Nov 2014. Sat 22 Nov Eastern Grass Owl Tyto Wetlands, Ingham Two female and one male Eastern Grass Owl flushed from swamp ricegrass at western end of main lagoon this morning. Also Red-backed Button Quail in tree reveg/weed area at north end of first (kidney) lagoon. Tony Ashton Kelp Gull Seisia wharf, Bamaga Cape York Tip 1. About 150m south of wharf on water’s edge among much human activity, mainly boats. Typical mature Kelp Gull of southern Australia: approx. 60cm size, vermillion patch lower (only) mandible near tip (excluding Pacific), dull grey-green legs, broad white trailing edge to wings and all-white tail readily seen in flight. Closest possible vagrant phenotypically would be Lesser black-backed gull but did not have the bright yellow legs in the birds (Heuglin’s) I had seen this year at Mai-Po marshes. 4 previous most northerly records in Cairns (on ebird) between 1988 and 2005. Local fishing guide John Charlton alerted me to a “large, lonely gull hanging around the wharf”. Rob Reed Fri 21 Nov Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher 1km offshore just south of Cullen Point, Western Cape York Came from NW direction, looked tired! Also noticed Cattle Egrets today and a few days ago from same direction 6 first time 3 today, all breeding plumage. David Milson & Neil Drogemuller Thu 20 Nov Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus) Seisia near Bamaga, North Queensland Spotted flying around the wharf at Seisia. It landed on the beach and was photographed there. David Baume, Master of the cargo vessel Trinity Bay Wed 19 Nov Black Falcon TinarooFalls Rd near Favier Rd intersection A Black Falcon shortly before dusk, briefly pursuing mynahs and then landing on top of large fig in paddock, possibly to roost. John Grant Yellow Wagtail Harper Ave, Lake Tinaroo Two Yellow Wagtails on spit to east of Harper Ave. Both dull plumaged, one quite gray and probably a juvenile. Also 2 Marsh Sandpipers and a Greenshank present. John Grant Sun 16 Nov Little Curlew Cairns Esplanade Not often seen on the Cairns Esplanade. Eleven reports from 09/11/1982 to 03/11/2008. Norton Gill Sat 1 Nov Yellow Wagtail Mungalla Station–Forrest Beach, Queensland Yellow Wagtail seen and heard several times by Palm Creek near old stockyards today. Plenty of yellow showing so different bird from previous report from same site. Also, male Little Bittern, in nearby hymenachne today. Tony Ashton