Rather late, this year, but the Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfishers have arrived from New Guinea for the breeding season and are here in Daintree in large numbers. Particularly active and calling madly along Stewart Creek Rd - the patch of forest at the end of the road is home to at least 8 birds at present.
Another 3 or 4 can be seen and heard at the beginning of the road, close to town.
These birds are a favourite with everyone.
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| Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher |
Also, in the same areas are other fabulous birds like Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Superb Fruit-Dove, Pied Monarch, Black-faced Monarch and Wompoo Fruit-Dove. Early morning seems to be the best time!
The Daintree River cruises have been spectacular lately with good sightings of nesting Great-billed Heron and Papuan Frogmouth, Cotton Pygmy Goose and Latham’s Snipe, Little Kingfisher, Shining Flycatcher and many others.
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| Great-billed Heron |
The garden at Red Mill house has been excellent for Azure Kingfisher, Cicadabird, a range of honeyeaters, Varied Triller and Eastern Koel.
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| Eastern Koel Female |
Our two Olive-backed Sunbird nests have suffered different fates - one taken by a Black Butcherbird and the other surviving (fingers crossed) with the aid of a very unattractive ‘Scarecrow’ near the nest. It even frightens us when we forget it is there, but the sunnies don’t seem to mind it!
No photos - we may get done for defamation!!
