Once again I’ve stolen some photos (with permission) from the Facebook page of Scott Ritchie of Cairns, Australia. Scott has documented a trip to Queensland, and his text and IDs are indented. You can enlarge his photos by clicking on them.
Artemis Station, Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia. The name that signifies excellence in Australian birding. This past weekend, I went on a wonderful camping trip with the Cairns Birders, led by Shane Kennedy and Doug Herrington, to Artemis Station. Doug then led us on a drive past Musgrave Roadhouse to Marina Plains. The last time I went up the Cape with Doug, we saw an adult Southern Cassowary with its chick at the top of the Kuranda Range. Well, lightning did strike twice.
Up the cape. It was magic. The weather was great, the sunsets so beautiful. The night sky was full on Milky Way. The sunrises were full of bird song. And the key “lifers”, the iconic Golden Shouldered Parrot (GSP) and the Red Goshawk, were on show. Here are some of my favourite photos from this trip.
My hat goes off to the staff of Artemis Station. Not only for hosting us, but for their heroic conservation efforts to save the last of the “termite” parrots in Queensland. Thank you Sue and Tom Shepherd, who own the station and tend to the parrots.
Adult Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius). Great way to start the trip!:
And his chick!:
Galahs (Eolophus roseicapilla) were common, flying around in noisy flocks at dawn and dusk:
Galahs, in the outback!:
Patrick of Artemis Station shows us the ant (termite) mound used by Golden-Shouldered Parrots (Psephotellus chrysopterygius). They dig a tunnel in the mound. An electric fence barrier us used to keep out marauding snakes and monitor lizard. Great lengths are taken to maximise survival and production of these critically endangered birds.
The ant hill also has interesting camouflaged invertebrates, such as this cicada:
Female and male Golden-Shouldered Parrots (GSP) at a feeding station. Wild birds are provided with a feeding station of grass seeds to enhance survival:
An immature male GSP flies past a trail camera at the feeding station. They keep an eye out for predators, and to monitor bird health and numbers:
Another critically endangered bird, the Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus), also lives in Cape York. A male goshawk keeps a sharp eye on his partner:
. . .who is building a nest for the seasons brood:
We were greeted at the campsite by an Australian Boobook (Ninox boobook):
This cute owl kept a close eye on us for 2 nights.:
An Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis), a species of falcon, was seen regularly at a nearby pond:
Thanks for the beautiful photos!
That is an extremely gorgeous Cicada, looks like it should be royalty!
What an awesome trip, and great pictures!
I find it interesting that most every kid is interested in dinosaurs, and that many don’t outgrow that passion as adults.
A terrific set! I was not familiar with any of these except for the Cassowary.
Really outstanding photography, even for WEIT’s very high standards.
I’m often amazed by the high quality fauna in the country I grew up in and didn’t know about.
And a cassowary: the favorite pet my wife won’t let me keep in the apartment!
D.A.
NYC 🗽
Thank you so much for these beautiful photos. I’m glad you were able to see such wonderful, unusual birds.
Cassowaries can be very dangerous and are best left alone. Great photos though.
Beautiful!
Great pictures. Thanks!