Beach Stone-curlew is a regular feature.
Other birds in the area include Little Egret, Striated Heron, White-bellied Sea-Eagle and Brahminy Kite. The mangroves support a good population of Collared Kingfishers. Bush birds include Great Bowerbird, Yellow Honeyeater and Torresian Imperial-Pigeon.
Horseshoe Bay Foreshore
There are several parks and native vegetation stands around the Horseshoe Bay. A pathway runs along the beach through the parks and in front of holiday accommodation. A variety of bird species can be found in this area. Check the fruiting palms and figs; we got there Torresian Imperial-Pigeon, Brown-capped Emerald-Dove, Eastern Koel, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Australasian Figbird, Helmeted Friarbird, Great Bowerbird and Pied Currawong. Cones on the casuarinas attracted a large flock of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos which then stayed the night in the palms in front of our guesthouse. White-bellied Sea-Eagle and Brahminy Kite were patrolling the beaches.
During the night, Tawny Frogmouth was hunting moths by the swimming pool. Families of Bush Stone-curlews, scattered through the area, were calling the whole night.
Other birds along the foreshore included Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Yellow Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Yellow-throated Miner, Pale-headed Rosella, Olive-backed Sunbird, Fairy Gerygone and White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike.
Yellow-throated Miner
Bowen Jetty
This is the best place for the waders in Bowen. They feed on the mudflats that stretch from the saltworks up to the marina. To observe them, drive along Santa Barbara Pde, selecting suitable vantage points along the route.
You’ll have a chance to observe Beach Stone-curlews that gather here in good numbers (up to 6-8 birds) to feed on crabs. In winter, a large flock of Australian Pied Oystercatchers stays on this beach. Other common waders here include Grey-tailed Tattler, Pacific Golden Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit and Red-capped Plover. Occasionally, Sooty Oystercatchers visit the area. Feeding among the waders may be Little Egrets, Eastern Reef Egrets and masses of Grey Teals and Pacific Black Ducks.
You can always find here good numbers of terns, particularly Caspian Tern and Australian Gull-billed Tern. From time to time, Black Noddies visit the harbour.
Bowen Rest Area
This rest area is located on the foreshore of McCanes Bay, just opposite the Bowen Visitor Information Centre (with the Big Mango) on Bruce Hwy (A1) south of Bowen. There is a good bush strip along the beach, and you can watch the waders from there. Look for Australian Pied Oystercatcher, Sooty Oystercatcher, Whimbrel, Red-capped Plover and Common Greenshank.
Mangrove Honeyeaters are resident in the mangroves. Other birds found in the area include Eastern Reef Egret, Little Egret, White-breasted Woodswallow, Great Bowerbird, Olive-backed Oriole, Dusky Honeyeater, Striated Pardalote and Brahminy Kite.
Striated Pardalote
Molongle Creek Mouth
At this site search for the Australian Yellow White-eye. To get there, from Bruce Hwy (A1) about 40km northwest of Bowen turn into Molongle Beach Rd and drive 6km on a sealed road to the creek mouth. GPS coordinates at the turnoff from the highway are 19o53’03’’S and 147o42’10’’E.
Check the mangroves for the Australian Yellow White-eye at the creek mouth behind the Molongle Creek Caravan Park. Watch for the crocodiles. An approximate GPS position here is 19o50’16’’S and 147o42’01’’E. There are also sporadic records of Mangrove Golden Whistler from this site.
In the mangroves, look also for Mangrove Honeyeater, Dusky Honeyeater, Mangrove Gerygone, Shining Flycatcher and Collared Kingfisher (occasional sightings).
The creek mouth is a good high tide roost for the waders that stand on constantly shifting sandbars. Look for Australian Pied Oystercatcher, Pacific Golden Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Far Eastern Curlew, Great Knot, Caspian Tern, Australian Gull-billed Tern, Little Tern and Little Egret. Brahminy Kite may circle over the mangroves.
In the surrounding coastal scrub, you may find Olive-backed Sunbird, Golden Whistler, Spectacled Monarch, Rufous Fantail, Spangled Drongo and Leaden Flycatcher. On farmland near the caravan park, look for Squatter Pigeons; they like to sunbathe on the road.
Wunjunga Wetlands
These spectacular wetlands are located along Beachmount Rd south of the Burdekin River mouth. To get there, from Bruce Hwy (A1) about 30km south of Ayr turn into Beachmount Rd and drive to the coast – the road is sealed. Approximate GPS coordinates at the turnoff are 19o47’13’’S and 147o31’35’’E. The wetlands are scattered along the 5km stretch of the road. The end section of this road is called Wunjunga Rd. It runs along the beach and leads to the Burdekin River mouth.
A mix of good bird habitats here includes freshwater wetlands, mangroves, coastal scrub, saltmarshes and beaches. The site became popular with birdwatchers in December 2018 when Little Ringed Plover decided to stay in the area for several months.
Over 110 bird species have been recorded at Wunjunga Wetlands. Key species are the waders, Zitting Cisticola, Black-necked Stork, Glossy Ibis, White-winged Black Tern, Little Tern, Cockatiel and Swamp Harrier. Other birds of interest include Brolga, Magpie Goose, Australian Bustard, Horsfield’s Bushlark, Brown Songlark, Black Butcherbird and Yellow Honeyeater. Rarities include Little Ringed Plover, Australian Pratincole, Oriental Pratincole, Baillon’s Crake, Australasian Shoveler and Peregrine Falcon.
Good birding happens along the whole 12km-long Beachmount Rd, from the junction with Bruce Hwy to the river mouth. The wetlands start about 5km from the turnoff from Bruce Hwy, after passing the third cattle grid. The famous Ring Plover was found in the area of that third cattle grid. It continues to visit every summer; last time it was recorded in March 2020.
We visited this site several times and the most spectacular visit was at the height of wet season in February 2020. Just at the turnoff from the highway, three Australian bustards welcomed us, close to the main road. Water was everywhere. The huge mass of birds on the flooded land resembled the Kakadu National Park at its best. The fields were white and black with thousands of white egrets, Royal Spoonbills and all three ibis species, even Glossy Ibis was plentiful (over 200 birds). In several places, the paved road was under the flowing water. The birds packed tightly at these points, picking up small fish and invertebrates carried with the current and clearly visible over the bitumen. White swarms of Whiskered Terns were hunting over the flooded land. Among them were several White-winged Black Terns, already in their pretty breeding plumage. Pied Stilts were nesting on temporary islands, formed by the rising water levels. Ducks and grebes dispersed far away from the road.
Fishing on the road at the Wunjunga Wetlands after heavy summer rains
At the end of summer, when the wetlands start to dry out, large numbers of waders can be found there, in particular Pied Stilt, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and Red-capped Plover. It is a very good spot for Marsh Sandpiper that can be found in ditches along
