Monthly Archives: May 2011
Pelican
The Pelican is a familiar bird as it occurs over mainland Australia and has become well loved. Pelicans however, along with other common birds such as Silver Gulls and Crows, are rare sightings in Mission Beach. The first two are … Continue reading
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Lorikeets are members of the parrot family and well represented in Mission Beach. Rainbow Lorikeets are certainly the most common species encountered in the town but another smaller Lorikeet that also occurs is the Scaly-breasted. Shyer than the Rainbow, scaly’s … Continue reading
Northern Quoll – Mission Beach
One of the rarer creatures around Mission Beach is the beautiful and endangered Northern Quoll or Native Cat. These small marsupials used to be a common sight throughout the north but the advent of the Cane Toad wiped out huge … Continue reading
Monarch Flycatcher
The Monarch Flycatchers are a large group of mostly rainforest dwelling birds and well represented in the Mission Beach area. The most common of them is the Spectacled Monarch, a confiding species which often inhabits gardens and is bold and … Continue reading
Red-backed Wren – Mission Beach
The Red-backed Wren is one of only two native Wrens found in the Mission Beach area, the other being the rare Lovely Wren. Red-backs like damp places and are often found on the edges of wet paddocks where sufficient cover … Continue reading
Bush Stone-curlew – Mission Beach
Although the iconic Cassowary must be Mission Beach’s signature bird, second place would surely go to the Bush Stone-curlew. Common around the village everyone is familiar with their mournful night songs, often involving more than bird as they chat to … Continue reading
Tawny Grassbird – Mission Beach
Mission Beach with its encircling rainforests may not seem the place to search for grassland birds but there are a surprising number of species present here. One is the Tawny Grassbird, a secretive species that lurks amongst sedges and other … Continue reading
