The big city of far north Queensland. Cairns had a population of 169,312 people in the 2021 census but it seems to grow rapidly between every visit and will certainly be bigger now. And the traffic is crazy … good preparation for what’s to come down the coast.
Birding hot spots include the Centennial Lakes, Mount Whitfield, the Esplanade and Cattana Wetlands. It makes a good gateway to the Tablelands. Fly in, rent a car, two nights here and then escape the crowds.
One very good reason to be here is the Varied Honeyeater. It’s fairly reliable on the Esplanade which is about the southerly limit of its range. It occurs in the odd spot up Cape York and then New Guinea. I had never managed a photo of them before but I noticed a couple of them anting in some leaf litter. They were chest to the ground with wings spread and appeared to be in ecstasy. When they’d finished they lingered in some low vegetation giving me a good chance to get the shot.
Yellow Orioles have a distinctive voice. Their three note call “Al Co Hol” is heard everywhere across the north of Oz from just east of Broome but usually they are hidden in the foliage or high in a tree. I photographed this one and the Sunbirds at Catana Wetland. Bush Stone-curlews are doing well in Queensland. We have had them visit the van on a number of evenings. I photographed this couple in the Centennial Gardens. Sadly they are not doing at all well in Victoria.
Next stop is Innisfail looking for the elusive Cassowary.
bobmcgee 