October 2016

Cape York, QLD, Australia
Part 3

Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis)

On the way back south we stopped overnight at Artemis Station and at a nearby dam came across this Australian Bustard having a drink at the water's edge.

Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis)

Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis)

At dawn the following morning, the station's owner took us out to a waterhole located on their property that is frequented by the rare Golden-shouldered Parrot. We didn't have too long to wait for a small group of them to turn up for their morning drink...

male and 2 female/immature Golden-shouldered Parrots (Psephotellus chrysopterygius)

Golden-shouldered Parrots are an endangered species whose estimated total wild population numbers only 2000 birds, of which 70% of these are 1st-year immatures.

female/immature Golden-shouldered Parrot (Psephotellus chrysopterygius)

female/immature Golden-shouldered Parrot (Psephotellus chrysopterygius)

female/immature Golden-shouldered Parrot (Psephotellus chrysopterygius)

The waterhole attracted a range of other birds as well as the parrots.

Olive-backed Oriole (Oriolus sagittatus)

Only the adult Blue-faced Honeyeater has a blue face, with the bare skin surrounding the eye being green in immatures.

immature Blue-faced Honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis)

Great Bowerbird (Chlamydera nuchalis)

Dollarbird (Eurystomus azureus)

October 2016 (Cape York pt.2)

2016 Index

November 2016 (Tablelands pt.1)