Sandfly Creek is just down the river from the centre of Mackay and was close to where I was staying over the weekend. It's great to see conservation areas set aside so close to towns, especially for visitors. I was only in Mackay for a short visit so I managed an early Saturday morning walk along the path which goes alongside a mangrove forest, tidal river and grasslands. The tide was high so there were a few waders in close; Eastern Curlew; Whimbrel, Greenshank and Pied Oystercatchers and a Nankeen Night Heron.
Immature Channel-billed Cuckoo... I wonder what bird was it's host parents.
A loud screeching found me staring up at a immature Channel-billed Cuckoo which was great because I don't get to see them that often. My books indicate their hosts include Pied Currawong... the last time I had seen Channel-billed Cuckoos was on the waterfront at Wollongong right beside a busy road. There was two adults in a Norfolk Pine tree harrassed by a pair of Pied Currawongs. One of the Cuckoo's was in the Currawong's nest. It consumed three eggs whole... it picked the eggs up one by one and down they went. The other Cuckoo then came down and swallowed the fourth one. No chicks for that pair of Currawongs.
Mangrove Honeyeater. A far more attractive bird than it's Singing relative. I particularly like the bold yellow face and the blue eye.
I decided to go to Sandfly Creek to find some Mangrove Honeyeaters and there was plenty of them there although they seem fairly shy compared to Singing Honeyeaters. I like their blue eyes. Red-backed Fairy-wrens were in plentiful supply, the males perched high on the grass stalks.
Non-breeding Golden-headed Cisticola...
I always get the grass birds mixed up but I reckoned there were lots of non-breeding Golden-headed Cistacolas. They were flying overhead, calling loudly, rapidly flicking wing beats, then descending into the grass. Below is a photo I took in Timor Leste a few years ago. Both Zitting and Golden-headed Cistacolas are found in Timor Leste and Indonesia.
This photo was taken in Timor Leste I believe is a Zitting Cistacola... the slightly raised tail and spikey hairdo... ideas anyone?
A lone Pheasant Coucal flew past carrying on a bit...
I've got much clearer phtos of Pheasant Coucals but the underwing pattern of this fuzzy bird appeals to me.
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