Going South now -- 01

There had been a lot of rain and subsequent flooding in country NSW so I decided to head west from Cairns and go home via Alice Springs. Two nights were spent at Cumberland Dam just west of Georgetown on the Savannah Way which links Cairns to Broome. Cumberland Dam is a favoured grey-nomad-rest-stop on the east-west run. It is pretty good with shelters, space and new loos.

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae
This bird was doing a great Nankeen Kestrel hover.

Blue-winged Kookaburra Dacelo leachii
being harassed by a woodswallow

Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus

Young male Cotton Pygmy-goose

Double-barred Finch Taeniopygia bichenovii

Green Pygmy Goose Nettapus pulchellus

Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus
being harassed by a Willie Wagtail

Red-backed Kingfisher
Todiramphus pyrrhopygius

Rufous-throated Honeyeater
Conopophila rufogularis

Squatter Pigeon
Geophaps scripta peninsulae

Their forte is quickly walking away! "What? Me? No way guv."

Yellow Honeyeater Lichenostomus flavus

Yellow-tinted Honeyeater Lichenostomus flavescens

Go South 06 -- Tyto Wetlands, Ingham

This is a great spot just to the south of Ingham township. Saw about 40 species of birds here on a walk around most of the wetlands freshly overfull after a LOT of rain in the previous two days. Tyto Tony blogs about this place; always well worth a read. John Young [of Night Parrot fame] had a major role in the design.

 Here is a selection of birds seen.

Rainbow Bee-eaters Merops ornatus
These birds were fresh in from southern climes
on their northward migration

Yellow Honeyeater
Lichenostomus flavus

Rufous-throated Honeyeater Conopophila albogularis

White-browed Robin
Poecilodryas superciliosa

Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leugophrys with a LARGE meal

White-Breasted Woodswallows Artamus leucorynchus

Crimson Finch Neochmia phaeton

Chestnut-breasted Mannikin
Lonchura castaneothorax