Well, I’d qualify the remarks you attributed to me somewhat, Patrick. Boatbills do live in rainforests, but in the lowlands and hills – Martin Cachard or Alan Gillanders can advise how high they climb, but I wouldn’t describe them as an uplands species particularly. They can also get into adjacent eucalypt, vine scrub and more open environs; I saw one just outside Julatten along a roadside earlier this year, for example.
It’s 27 kilometres from the FNQ coast to Lizard Island. I’m not sure whether Boatbills are present on any of the local offshore islands, but I would have doubted, despite my remarks above, that there’s any suitable habitat for them on Lizard. But I’ve never been there, so could be wrong.
Andrew ===============================
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G’day Mike It has already been discussed & agreed off-site that Patrick’s bird on Lizard Is was an Olive-backed Sunbird. Cheers Martin CachardCairns0428 782 808 CC: pintado@ozemail.com.au; scullyp3@gmail.com; birding-aus@vicnet.net.au
G’day Remember that birds lost at sea, or caught up in cyclone or tropical storms quite often land on boats (sail boats, motorboats, whatever) and I doubt you would say that was normal habitat for them. Such birds do turn up as ship-assisted vagrants. Might this have happened to a YB Boatbill? Cheers
Mike ===================Michael Tarburtontarburton.m@optusnet.com.au=================== ===============================
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G’day
Remember that birds lost at sea, or caught up in cyclone or tropical storms quite often land on boats (sail boats, motorboats, whatever) and I doubt you would say that was normal habitat for them. Such birds do turn up as ship-assisted vagrants. Might this have happened to a YB Boatbill?
Cheers
Mike =================== Michael Tarburton tarburton.m@optusnet.com.au ===================
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Hi Matin, Thanks for your post. I think that as Andrew suggested it must have been a Yellow-bellied Sunbird, possible female. It was early birding days for us. Best wishes, Patrick
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Hi Andrew, Patrick & evryone else… I would have to say that it would be extremely unlikely for YB Boatbills to be on Lizard Is !! Habitat is totally wrong for them there – you have me wondering now what on earth you saw there Patrick that caused your confusion…?? I’m racking my brains & I can’t think of a similar bird that you may have seen there…Boatbills occur at pretty much all altitudes, in my experience. There is a good population of them at pretty much sea-level at Stoney Creek in the Barron River NP, in the outer Cairns suburb of Kamerunga. I would imagine also that they are at near sea-level in plenty of other locations up here too – I can confirm that they are on Hinchinbrook Is, also around Mission Beach & also at Behana Gorge closer to Cairns. They are pretty numerous close to Cairns along Lake Morris (Copperlode Dam) Rd as well. I wouldn’t be surprised if they still persist in pockets of the Whitfield Range in Cairns as well, but I’ve never had them there, d espite living on it for 3 years. They must also must be down in the lowlands at places like Cape Trib/Daintree, Mossman Gorge, Tully Gorge etc… They are very widespread (& probably most common) at mid-altitude at places like Kuranda, Julatten, Palmerston NP, etc etc.Also, they are very widespread & common at high altitude throughout the Wet Tropics at very many sites. But to expect them to be at Lizard Island is, I think, stretching it a bit… I wonder what it was that you saw there Patrick…?! Cheers for now & I hope this helps… Martin CachardCairns0428 782 808 > From: pintado@ozemail.com.au
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