BIRDER

BIRDER

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Mackay Qld Butterflies

After being washed out of Eungella I had one day in Mackay.

Sadly my 100mm-400mm lens took in water up on the mountain to the point where is was so fogged up I was unable to use it. I'm hoping it will dry out but it may need to be sent off for repair.

Not wanting to miss the opportunity to get some photos I invested in a 18mm-55mm lens and spent a few hours at the Botanic Garden.

Mackay is a great place for birds as well as Butterflies and Dragonflies. Next time I think I'll wait for the dry season though!




Eastern Water Skink
 



                                                                      Eastern Water Skink




Cycad Blue
 

Scalloped Grass Yellow
 
 


Cycad Blue 
 

 
 

                             This is the foggy look through my water-logged lens.... Chocolate Argus




Another fogged up lens photo - artistic yes, but not what I was after!  Blue Tiger
 
 
 
 
 
 

Bordered Rustic
 





                                                                     Orange Bush Brown







 Varied Eggfly
 

 Varied Eggfly
 
 
 
 
 
 

 Grass  Yellow
 
 
 
 
 

 Varied Eggfly
 




 Varied Eggfly
 




 Varied Eggfly
 
 
 

 Varied Eggfly
 
 
 
 
 

Pale Orange Darter 
 
 
 

Zodiac Moth Alcides metaurus
 
 
 
 

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Eungella in the Wet

Eungella means Land of Clouds and this weekend I found out why!

Eungella township is also known as Dalrymple Heights and is 85 km west of Mackay. At 725m it literally reaches the clouds!








With only one honeyeater left to complete the set and four days off work I headed straight to Eungella to find the rare Eungella Honeyeater.

I booked into the Broken River Mountain Resort which is 5 km from the township and was pleasantly surprised at the comfortable accommodation, friendly staff and stunning surroundings. Platypus can be observed easily in the river right next door to the resort!


 
 

 
 


I immediately set off to find the Eungella Honeyeater as a cyclone was heading towards the area meaning that by Sunday it would be wet, windy and the weather would deteriorate! Thankfully I managed to hear one calling within the first hour or so but try as I did the bird decided to remained hidden in the upper canopy and refused to budge. I then tried another location and after searching finally found another one calling. Again a frantic search of the canopy and finally YES! TICK 702!!  YAY - got the honeyeater set! 




Kookaburra






With the pressure off I was able to look around and enjoy the surroundings. Found some nice birds before the weather deteriorated to drizzle and mist.  Some birds seen include Cicadabird, Black-faced monarch, Drongo, Bustard, Red-browed Finch, Eastern Yellow Robin, Red-tailed Tropicbird, Forest Kingfisher, Kookaburra and Scrub Turkey.



Red-browed Finch
 
 
 
 

Top-knot Pigeon




Pale Pea Blue
 

Scalloped Grass Yellow
 
 

Evening Brown
 
 

Graphic Flutterer
 
 

Macleay's Swallowtail
 
 



Platypus




Australian Bustard
 
 
 
 
By Sunday the cloud was right on the mountain, it was rainy, drizzly and hard to see anything further than 10 metres away.

The cyclone is due to hit tomorrow so I think birding may be over for now :-)