wetland vegetation.
A group of non-breeding Australasian Grebes
Bush birds in the area include Brush Cuckoo, Pallid Cuckoo, Yellow-throated Miner, Yellow Honeyeater, Forest Kingfisher and Olive-backed Sunbird. In the grassy areas you may see Black-bellied Crimson Finch, Plum-headed Finch, Brown Quail and occasionally Red-backed Button-quail.
A good variety of nocturnal birds can be found at this site, especially on the Spotswood Park property. Barn Owls are common along Arthur Spotswood Rd. Barking Owls often roost near the entrance gate of the property. Bush Stone-curlews are common and can be seen anywhere. Other finding at this site include Large-tailed Nightjar, Southern Boobook and Tawny Frogmouth. The lucky ones have seen Eastern Grass Owl flying over the grassland at dusk.
Common raptors include Swamp Harrier, Osprey, Brown Falcon and Whistling Kite.
Wallace Creek Boat Ramp
To get there, from Bruce Hwy (A1) at Inkerman turn into Wallace Rd, then turn right into Peak Rd and drive to the end of the road where you’ll find a boat ramp on the Burdekin River. Site coordinates are 19o44’09’’S and 147o33’21’’E.
Red-chested Button-quails were recorded a few times in wet grasses along the road about 1km before the boat ramp. In the mangroves along the river look for Shining Flycatcher, Mangrove Gerygone, Mangrove Honeyeater and Brahminy Kite.
Along Peak Rd, you may come across Horsfield’s Bushlark, Australian Bustard, Pallid Cuckoo, White-breasted Woodswallow, Brown Falcon and Nankeen Kestrel.
Ayr Area
Ayr is a small sugar cane town located 110km north of Bowen and 90km south of Townsville. Most of the land has been cleared for sugar cane and other crops however there are some scattered good birding areas, mostly mangroves, saltmarshes, freshwater wetlands, beaches and estuaries. Small isolated populations of Australian Yellow White-eyes and Zitting Cisticolas can be found here. Also, a large variety of waterbirds and waders visit this region.
Plantation Creek
This is a well-known Australian Yellow White-eye site, situated on the private property just 12km from Ayr. To get there, take Queen St from Bruce Hwy (A1) in Ayr, then turn right into Soper Rd, followed by turning second left into Airdmillan Rd. Drive 12km to the site which is situated not far from the Plantation Creek. The road name will change half-way to Old Wharf Rd. Leave the car by the culvert at the start of the levee, with a freshwater pond on the right and saltmarshes on the left. GPS coordinates are 19o31’58’’S and 147o29’22’’E. Walk about 100m on the levee to the creek lined with mangroves. Find a decaying landing in the mangroves, it is not visible from the outside. The owner of this property is friendly towards the birdwatchers so please be mindful not to spoil this relationship.
This is the best spot for Australian Yellow White-eyes in the area. Look for them also further down the road, up to the boat ramp.
About 80 species are on the Plantation Creek’s birdlist. Key species are Australian Yellow White-eye, Azure Kingfisher, Shining Flycatcher and White-winged Black Tern. Other birds of interest include Collared Kingfisher, Black Butcherbird, Large-billed Gerygone, Olive-backed Sunbird, Spectacled Monarch, Glossy Ibis and Comb-crested Jacana. Rarities include Black Bittern, Mangrove Robin, White-eared Monarch, White-browed Crake, Common Sandpiper and Australian Pratincole.
While on Old Wharf Rd when driving to the site, check the wetlands on both sides of the road. With sufficient water, usually there will be plenty of Magpie Geese, Royal Spoonbills, Brolgas and Black-fronted Dotterels. Black-necked Storks are often observed. Stop when you see a patch of bush with plenty of Burdekin plums. When fruiting, Brown Cuckoo-Doves and Channel-billed Cuckoos should be there.
Walking along the levee to the old landing, in the freshwater swamp you may find White-browed Crake, Comb-crested Jacana, Green Pygmy-goose, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Little Grassbird and Australian Reed-Warbler. Sometimes the freshwater swamp is filled to the brim with Magpie Geese, up to 2,000 birds were recorded. In the saltmarshes on the other side of the levee, there may be Little Egret, Pied Stilt, Pacific Golden Plover, Red-capped Plover and Brolga. Whiskered Terns, Australian Gull-billed Terns, Caspian Terns and White-winged Black Terns are often observed hunting over the swamps.
A group of Caspian Terns with a single White-winged Black Tern (in the middle),
one Australian Gull-billed Tern and one Silver Gull
We found four Australian Yellow White-eyes in the mangroves near the old landing. There was also a pair of Shining Flycatchers busy repairing a nest. Other findings along the creek included Olive-backed Sunbird, Large-billed Gerygone, Sacred Kingfisher, Dusky Honeyeater and Spectacled Monarch.
In the mangroves near the boat ramp at the end of the road, we sighted a pair of Mangrove Robins. On the mudflats were Little Egret, Great Egret, Striated Heron and the usual raptors (Brahminy Kite, White-bellied Sea-Eagle) roosting in trees.
Alva Beach
Alva Beach is a relaxed coastal village located 16km northeast of Ayr. Mudflats and sandflats off the beach are a fantastic place for observations of the waders, particularly when they are feeding along the shore 1-2 hours after high tide. The sandspit is used by them later for roosting. Other habitats there include mangroves, saltmarshes, wetlands and grassland along Beach Rd.
To get there, from Bruce Hwy (A1) in north Ayr turn east into Burke St (signposted to a boat ramp). The road will change name to Beach Rd. The section of this road in Alva Beach is called Sandowns St, from where you’ll have access to extensive sandflats and the sandspit. From Sandowns St continue onto Causeway Rd, then on a track leading to Lynch Beach where you’ll find another good vantage point for the observation of the waders.
Over 180 bird species have been recorded in Alva Beach. Key species are the waders (including Beach Stone-curlew), Zitting Cisticola, Shining Flycatcher, Little Tern and White-winged Black Tern. Other birds of interest include Black Butcherbird, Forest Kingfisher, White-eared Monarch, Yellow Honeyeater, Green Pygmy-goose, Black-necked Stork, Brolga, Torresian Imperial-Pigeon and Osprey. Among the rarities are Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Grey Plover, Common Sandpiper, Terek Sandpiper, Australasian Shoveler, Plum-headed Finch and Black-tailed Native-hen.
A small population of Zitting Cisticolas resides near Alva Beach. Look for them on the cattle paddocks around the township and saltmarshes along Causeway Rd.
In the bushland along Alva Beach, you may see Dusky Honeyeater, Black Butcherbird, Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Great Bowerbird, White-eared Monarch, Golden Whistler, White-browed Robin, Yellow-throated Miner and Blue-winged Kookaburra. Rainbow Bee-eaters often roost in their hundreds on the foreshore.
White-winged Black Terns are regularly found in good numbers in March-April, often in their beautiful breeding plumage.
Twenty eight species of waders have been found at this site. On Alva Beach, Beach Stone-curlew is a regular feature. Common waders here include Pacific Golden Plover, Whimbrel, Far Eastern Curlew, Bar-tailed Godwit, Great Knot, Greater Sand Plover and Lesser Sand Plover. On Lynch Beach you may see Australian Pied Oystercatcher, Grey-tailed
