Monthly Archives: March 2011
Burton’s Legless Lizard
So when is a creature that looks like a snake not a snake? When it’s a legless lizard of course! The continent has a great number of these snake-like reptiles but Mission Beach can only boast a small number including … Continue reading
Common Tern
Tourism is a major industry in Mission Beach and one regular group of tourists from overseas are Common Terns which arrive here in numbers each March/April as they move north toward their breeding grounds in the northern parts of the … Continue reading
Large-billed Scrubwren – Mission Beach
“Little brown bird” is a phrase that people often use when describing something they’ve seen and can’t identify easily and this certainly applies to the Large-billed Scrubwren, a common understorey species in the Mission Beach rainforests. Curious, active and noisy … Continue reading
Yellow Honeyeater – Mission Beach
One of our many members of the Honeyeater family is the chubby, cheeky Yellow Honeyeater. Although these plump little birds usually avoid rainforest, they may be found easily enough in gardens and ti-tree scrubs at Wongaling Beach. Their diet comprises … Continue reading
White-Bellied Sea Eagle
The White-bellied Sea Eagle is a common and majestic sight around the coastline of Mission Beach. These large raptors are unmistakable with their adult plumage of black and white, long upswept wings in flight, piercing yellow eyes and powerful lord … Continue reading
Rose Crowned Fruit Dove – Mission Beach
Fruit Pigeons are colourful and common inhabitants of the extensive Mission Beach rainforests. One not so often seen as heard is the elusive Rose-crowned Fruit-dove, a bird which feeds high in the canopy, is usually solitary and certainly quite secretive. … Continue reading
Emerald Dove – Mission Beach
Pigeons are a colourful and attractive group of birds and we are fortunate in being well represented here in Mission Beach with a number of beautiful rainforest species including the delicate Emerald Dove. A ground feeder, this charming little bird … Continue reading
Rufous Night Heron – Mission Beach
Any visitor to Mission Beach will know that we experience a drop or two of rain here in the village! This of course is good news for our wetland birds as it provides them with abundant food and habitat. One … Continue reading
Crested Tern – Mission Beach
We have spent time discussing a few of the bush dwellers but as Mission Beach also boasts superb beaches, this blog will look at one of our shorebirds. Several species of Tern are either resident or migratory in these waters … Continue reading
Bee-eater – Mission Beach
The Bee-eater is a common bird throughout the region, often seen perched on power lines and usually encountered in small flocks. As their name implies, these birds eat bees amongst a range of other flying insects with most prey taking … Continue reading
