RANGER'S NOTES          

Thanks to heaps of rain and a mild winter our birds are getting the jump on breeding this year. It's courting season!

All manner of birds have been pairing off, from Scarlet Honeyeaters (Myzomela sanguinolenta) literally falling out of the trees entwined to Laughing Kookaburras (Dacelo novaeguineae), Varied Trillers (Lalage leucomela) and Dusky Honeyeaters (Myzomela obscura). Male Shining Bronze-cuckoos (Chrysococcyx lucidus) have been arriving since May, calling mournfully for mates throughout the open forest, and at least one has had some success, observed basking in the sun with a mate, calling softly together.

The Beach Stone-curlews (Esacus neglectus) have already raised one chick and the whole family has been proudly strutting along the sheltered Great Sandy Strait beach in search of soldier crabs and other breakfast delights. And the Eastern Whipbirds (Psophodes olivaceus) too have at least one young - Rangers Duncan and Gen were thrilled to see a tiny black fluffball complete with miniature mohawk scrambling to the safety of its well hidden nest, a disappointed Lace Monitor skulking off as Mother Whipbird buzzed it scoldingly.

Our resident Tawny Frogmouths (Podargus strigoides) seem to have an on-again, off-again relationship, spotted alternately huddled together and then back to back studiously ignoring one another. No such antics for the Azure Kingfishers (Alcedo azurea) - they've been heard every morning calling incessantly to each other, and Ranger Sonya and guests returned elated from their Bird Walk last week after eyewitnessing lengthy and energetic mating!

BIRDWATCH REPORT JUNE 2008

In the afterglow of Bird Week it has been a restful month around the resort, with most birds observed busying themselves with resting, swimming and nestbuilding.

Welcome Swallows (Hirundo neoxena) are collecting shreds of seagrass, casuarina fronds and excrement to line their tiny tidy mud nests under the jetty, while Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) glide awkwardly overhead and around Little Woody Island trying to balance large sticks for their palatial residences.

Our Beach Stone-curlews (Esagus neglectus) are still strutting their stuff on the beach south of the resort, being seen regularly between mid and low tide. Most waders have headed abroad for summer breeding, but we have still had the occasional Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus pacificus) dropping in for a breather, and our resident Little Egret (Ardea (Egretta) gazetta) has been active fishing on the shoreline.

Around the Wallum new ponds have appeared after loads of refreshing rain - we've already filled our average rainfall quota for the year (1260mm). A Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa) has been enjoying the wet, along with Pacific Black Ducks (Anas superciliosa), and the sighting of the month (for Ranger Gen at least) a beautifully plumaged adult male Lewin's Rail (Dryolimnas pectoralis) having a bath under a Lemon-scented Teatree!