Tag Archives: birdwatchers
Helmeted Friarbird
The Helmeted Friarbird owes its name to the bare patch of skin on top of its head. It is in fact a Honeyeater and as often the way with the family, aggressive. These birds are common throughout Mission Beach and … Continue reading
Koel
The Koel is a distinctive spring visitor to Mission Beach and the birds remain in the village until the end of April or early May before migrating north to PNG and possibly further north. Arriving in August or September they … Continue reading
Large-tailed Nightjar
Australia has 3 Nightjar species with all being recorded from the Mission Beach environment. The most common of these is the Large-tailed Nightjar, a bird with a distinctive call resembling the chopping of wood. Indeed early pioneers named this the … Continue reading
Welcome Swallow
The Welcome Swallow is one of the most common birds along the east coast of Australia. Aerial feeders, these birds have adapted well to human settlement and often nest in outbuildings or under eaves. The distinctive mud nests are well … Continue reading
Brush Cuckoo
Cuckoos come in numerous shapes and sizes from the tiny Bronze Cuckoos to the large Channel –billed and fitting nicely in the middle of this range is the common Brush Cuckoo. Resident around Mission Beach these birds undergo some seasonal … Continue reading
Pied Imperial Pigeon
The Pied Imperial Pigeon which has had many names including Torres Strait Pigeon, Nutmeg Pigeon, probably because of their fondness for the fruits of Native Nutmeg, and a handful of others, remains a common spring and summer visitor to Mission … Continue reading
Yellow-breasted Boatbill
The pretty little Yellow-breasted Boatbill is an uncommon rainforest bird that is rarely found far from water. A member of the Flycatcher family, the Boatbill builds one of the smallest, best concealed nests of all Australian birds, hence the nest … Continue reading
Macleays Honeyeater
Despite its huge area, the Wet Tropics region of Queensland has only a small handful of endemic birds; endemic being the term to describe a species that occurs nowhere else. One of these is the common Macleays Honeyeater, a bird … Continue reading
White-breasted Woodswallow
The White-breasted Woodswallow is a common bird resident throughout the year in Mission Beach. On a cool or windy day, these sociable little birds may be seen sitting 4 or 5 abreast cuddled up to each other on a power … Continue reading
Kestrel
The Kestrel is a small member of the Falcon family. Distinguished by its sharply pointed wings and tan brown colour, Kestrels are nomadic Hawks, moving rapidly from place to place in search of their insect diet. Birds of open country, … Continue reading
