Hi - I just found this forum today. I live in FNQ and am a VERY amateur bird watcher/identifier. I do love to see birds in the back yard though. Here's a list of some of the birds I've observed in the past year or so (and identified with a little help from a friend who IS a bird watcher!):
Brown Cuckoo-Dove
Butcher Bird
Common Myna
House Sparrow
Lewin's Honeyeater
Noisy Friarbird
Peaceful Dove
Rainbow Lorikeet
White Cheeked Honeyeater
Scaley Breasted Lorikeet
Rainbow Lorikeets
Common Myna
White Cheeked Honeyeater
Willie Wagtail
Little Kingfisher
Rufous Whistler
Happy New Year, everyone :-)
Where exactly are you Susan to have such wonderful species in your yard? I'm particularly envious of the Little Kingfisher as I've tried unsuccessfully a number of times to spot one of these beauties.
Cupladaze (great name btw), I live in Atherton on the Atherton Tablelands behind Cairns. The Little Kingfisher was spotted in October last year when my much more experienced birdwatching friend visited and helped me identify most of the birds in my backyard. I have since noticed that this one sometimes comes and sits on my clothesline. I will have to try to get a picture of it for you one day.
Susan
Please do Susan. I'm due for a few days holiday in that part of the world and when I do I'll be concentrating on birds this time, so there's hope I'll see that Kingfisher. With luck I could find one closer to home (Ayr) but they've eluded me so far.
I would try the Hastie's Swamp bird hide on the Ravenshoe side of Atherton - the woodland around there is often bristling with birds including this little guy!
Susan