Gumlon Falls 2

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Getting around the sandstone cliff face is at times very difficult especially when you are continuously looking for small birds who reside near the Spinifex Grass. Early morning, very quiet light, and outstanding views make it worthwhile.
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South-East Face, early morning.
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North-East Face early morning
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Helicia austalasica
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Salmon Gum Eucalyptus alba
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Bush Apple Syzygium angophoroides
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Xanthostemon psidioides
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Verticordia cunninghamii
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Gumlon Falls and Pine Creek

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For three days I wandered around the stone escarpment in hot dry conditions. I walked early and while the rocky surrounds seemed quiet, I saw enough life to keep me interested and my mind off the steep and gnarly rocks I was scampering over. I also wandered up the dry river bed for several kilometres where an occasional deep water hole was lined with Bloodwoods or Paperbarks. The inhabitants are very shy and its hard to get around on the quite because of all the underbrush and sandy banks.

Pine Creek was full of life in the morning as many birds come to drink. I was lucky to see the Hooded Parrots drinking from water collected on the pavement from overnight watering. It is quite clear from this outing that water is essential and nothing lives very far from it.
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Coutship:Agile wallaby Macropus agilis
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Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca
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Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus
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Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera
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Hooded Parrot Psephotus dissimilis
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L-spot Basker Aethriamanta nymphaeae
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Northern Rosella Platycercus venustus
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Pygmy Percher Nannodiplax rubra
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Radjah Shelduck Tadorna radjah

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Robber Fly Asilidae Asilinae
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Sandstone Shrike-thrush Colluricincla woodwardi

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Silver-crowned Friar Bird Philemon argenticeps
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White-lined Honeyeater Meliphaga albilineata
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Mary River & Mary River Excavation Pits

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Predawn arrival at the Mary River Excavation Pits insured I had front row seat and the action got very hot until mid-morning. I was hoping that another finch might be about but no luck yet. I spent some time near the entrance road to Bird Billabong and managed to get the Tree Creeper to come out from hiding from the sun long enough to get the shot. The Kingfisher was out hunting and I was only able to get a long shot. Seems every type of Kingfisher is wanting his picture taken at the moment.
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White Winged Triller Lalage Tricolor
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Banded Honeyeater Certhionyx pectoralis
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Crimson Finch Neochmia phaeton
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Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula female
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Black-tailed Treecreeper Climacteris melanura
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Red-backed Kingfisher Todirhamphus (Halcyon) pyrrhopygia
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Agile Wallaby Macropus agilis airborn
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Peaceful Dove Geopelia placida
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Windy Afternoon At Buffalo Creek

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A windy balmy afternoon at Buffalo Creek. The River mangrove are in flower but it was fairly quite because of the wind.
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White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster immature first year
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Red-headed Honeyeater Myzomela erythrocephala on a
River Mangrove Aegiceras corniculatum
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Towards sunset in the monsoon forest quite a few birds were annoying the Lemon-bellied Flycatchers currently nesting. They in turn were fizzing them back(the sound they make when indicating their territorial rights). One such innocent bystander was the female Shining Flycatcher.
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Shining Flycatcher Myiagra alecto female
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Pongamia pinnata in flower
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Large-billed Gerygone Gerygone magnirostris
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Kingfisher

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Its very exciting finding a different looking Kingfisher. They all seem to be shy especially if they sense you are stalking them. On the other hand they can’t seem to resist the temptation to see what you are up to after they have scampered away and feel safe.
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Collared Kingfisher Todirhampus (Halcyon) chloris
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Those Dragonflies

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Exquisite flying machines we see but never see.
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Palemouth Brachydiplax denticauda female
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Palemouth Brachydiplax denticauda female see through
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Palemouth Brachydiplax denticauda female front end
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Palemouth Brachydiplax denticauda male
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Buffalo Creeking Again

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Walking through the quiet corridor between the mangrove and vine forest I came across the Caesalpinia bonduc seedpods. I recognised them as the seeds used by a local Great Bowerbird to line some of his bower. Not surprising when I read that the seeds remain vital for many years. The last thing you would want in your bower is rotting seeds.
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Caesalpinia bonduc
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I have also watched the Kapok Tree flower and now shed its bags of down like fibre which almost reminded me of the snow country the way the fluff collected on the floor beneath several of the trees.
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Kapok Tree Bombax ceiba var leicarpum
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I also saw swarms of elegant dragonflies.
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Slender Skimmer Orthetrum sabina
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Blue Skimmer Orthetrum caledonicum
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