Mission Beach

28 - 29 January 2015

Reports on Eremaea Birdlines of some interesting birds in the Yungaburra area have inspired this short northern excursion. Near the shores of Lake Tinaroo, Red-rumped Swallows, Barn Swallows and a solitary Ruff have been spotted by local birders. The prospect of a few cooler nights and swims in Lake Eacham were added incentive to pack and go chasing birds. First though we headed to Mission Beach, a place with so much to offer I find it almost impossible to drive past. 

It felt counter intuitive to be heading north at the height of a heatwave in the middle of the wet season. A languid northerly wind pushed sodden, hot equatorial air down past Townsville making life very uncomfortable in the tropics. Ingham, just to the north of us was experiencing its umpteenth day above 37 degrees C. As we drove through most of the residents appeared well, some looked medium well and a few were  definitely medium rare. 

Chequered Swallowtail butterfly refueling with onlooker. Taken after the trip as the migration came through Townsville.

The further north we traveled, the more Chequered Swallowtail butterflies we passed heading the opposite way. A mass southern migration appeared to be in progress. Each individual was flying fast and low and I didn't see any stopping. Sadly, many were scattered lifeless on the road and would never reach their mysterious destination. I contemplate these little bio-machines with awe... how can they can travel so far on so little fuel while appearing to expend so much effort.

Well here we are in Mission Beach again. We headed off and had our first stop for coffee at Frosty Mango, between Townsville and Ingham (no need to rush!) Next we stopped the op shops in Ingham and Cardwell, then lunch in Cardwell and op shop and Kitchen Essentials in Tully (sound familiar?).

The weather forecast suggested temperatures in the high 30's - and they were right. We decided to stay at the Eco Village this time. We have stayed here quite a few times before, but this was the first time without the girls with us. A quick cup of tea then into the pool. Although not as cool as we had hoped, it was still a nice break from the heat. A nice way to relax after the drive - and our room was just a few steps away - you can't get much better than that.

Fork-tailed Swift flying high.

A Lesser frigatebird was also spied flying high overhead while in the pool.

There is no shortage of Pied Imperial Pigeons at Mission Beach

From the pool I watched a large flock of Fork-tailed Swifts hawking above us (the manager told us that there were heaps of flying ants around so these may have been the prey). The swifts are very hard to photograph because... well they are so swift and I'm not. Also seen from the pool were Black Butcherbirds, Metallic Starlings and Pied Imperial Pigeons feeding on the fruit of the surrounding palms.

This adult Metallic Starling was regurgitating fruit to feed the two young birds flanking it.

Cute little Fig Parrots flew in and out of the same tree as we watched.

After breakfast we visited the park to look for fruiting fig trees in the hope of seeing one of my all time favourite little birds... the Double-eyed Fig Parrot. These birds can be a challenge to locate being not much bigger than the leaves they feed among and about the same colour. Their high pitched screeching call told me there were some close by and I soon found a pair to photograph. Mick.