Petersen Creek Walk, Yungaburra

In clear winter sunshine we went for an afternoon walk along Petersen Creek in Yungaburra. The path here is maintained by a group of volunteers from the village.





Rainbow Bee-eaters flock to our area in large numbers during the winter. As they fly out from their perches in pursuit of bees and wasps their wings flash bronze or orange depending on the light.







One distant view of a Platypus was all we got but at that time of day more than we expected.

This is a great spot for Platypus which are often seen in the early morning or late afternoon.

Did you know that Platypus have electro-sensors in their bills to detect the nerves firing the muscles of their prey. this enables them to hunt in total darkness.






Despite it being the middle of winter there is plenty of new growth in trees and shrubs along the creek. The Grey Bollywoods, Noelitsia dealbata, produce pendant flushes of white new leaves which age to pink and then bronze before standing out into their normal position and turning darker greens as they age.







Laughing Kookaburras do sit in gum trees but don't eat gum nuts as one of my guests recently sang to me in their version of the children's song. They eat snakes, lizards and large insects. These birds are resident in Yungaburra but in winter are sometimes joined by the more colourful Blue-winged Kookaburras. As well as the more extensive and brighter blue, they have blue rumps. The males also have blue tails while those of the females are orange and black.

Not so many butterflies are flying at the moment but there are some hanging around waiting for warmer weather. These larvae are of the Orchard Swallowtail and Ulysses Butterflies.

Return of the Cranes and Bustards

Today along Forsayth Road I came across five Bustards strutting their stuff across a fallow paddock.

Winter on the Atherton Tablelands bring us birds which spend other parts of the year elsewhere. The more distant of these two males Bustards is the older bird. While we often have the odd Bustard on the inner Tablelands, it is now that their numbers increase and one might see a dozen in a paddock. The males can inflate their throat pouch when displaying. Bustards fly with slow deliberate wing beats.

The Sarus Cranes were feeding next door. These stately birds breed in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria wetlands but many winter, or rather spend the dry season, here. Australia's other crane, the Brolga, has only a small red patch on the back of the head. As you can see the Sarus Cranes have an extensive red area. Their legs are pink in contrast to the grey of the Brolga.

Sarus Cranes dance to build and maintain their pair bonds. Pirouettes, bows and high hops are accompanied by high pitched calls. As the season progresses they become more intense in this and will often throw high above their heads the grass or sticks they have in their bills. This second year bird has not yet developed the full red on the head and neck nor the pink legs. It is not stopped by this in practising a few dance steps.

Cuckoos love Caterpillars

On Sunday 22/06/08 Maria and I were birding with Birds Australia North Queensland Group at Eubenangee Swamp near Innisfail. Apart from birds we saw a couple of big crocs.

In the trees along the creek we observed the catterpillars of the Four O'clock Moth, Dysphania fenstra, on Carallia, Carallia brachiata . Also known as Corky Bark the fruits of this tree are eaten by many birds. This bright yellow and black larva develops into a very attractive moth which flies in the afternoon, hence its name.

A female Little Bronze Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx malayanus, with some of the features of the subspecies russatus, was feeding in the bushes accompanied by a juvenile. On finding this large larva it set to work for some time before freeing the tenacious caterpillar.

Success at last!

Testing Testing

Here I am testing the waters of this technology which is new to me. Actually this is a Coppery Brushtail Possum, Trichosorus vulpecula johnstonii. These are the most common of the possums seen on my nocturnal tours. They eat a wide range of leaves, fruit, flowers, bark and even the odd insect and bird’s egg.