Bird Watching

w w w . s a v a n n a h w a y . c o m . a u 5 Bird Watching in the Gulf Savannah 4 Bird Watching Hot Spots Mareeba Wetlands is home to Pygmy Geese, Ducks, Grebes, Brolga and many more species. Mount Hypipamee National Park is a special upland habitat featuring the Golden Bower Bird, Fernwren and Mountain Thornbill. Ask at Tablelands Visitor Information Centres for more tips on Bird watching in this region of diverse and rewarding bird watching. Towns such as Georgetown often have green gardens and standing water, so they can be good places to start bird watching.The racecourse in Georgetown hosts many bird species. Call at local information centres to find the latest information and to share what you have seen. Undara is rightly famous for its wildlife as well as the lava tubes. Explore different habitats on bushwalks and enjoy the chortling Magpies around the resort and daring Kookaburras at breakfast. www.undara.com.au Ask birdo’s Pam and Pete at Mount Surprise Gems about bird sightings at current water and food sources. www.thegemden.com.au Cumberland Chimney’s Dam , 20km west of Georgetown, is a wonderful spot to see Grebes, Comb Crested Jacana and many other species, particularly at dawn and dusk. Flat Creek Station offers bird watching tours and breeds Gouldian Finches. Camp or Station Stay and visit the dam and other habitats to see Black-throated Finch, Green Pygmy-Goose, Cotton Pygmy-Goose and the Pink-eared Duck. www.flatcreekstation.com.au Cobbold Gorge provides a close up of Darters drying their wings and a rich variety of species around the dam and gorge. www.cobboldgorge.com.au Gilberton has a range of habitats and over 100 birds on its bird list. The bird hide at Lake Belmore , only 4 km from the town of Croydon , and the town historical walk have many interesting birds. Between Normanton and Karumba the road is a birding hot spot. The grassed plains and pans are interrupted by shrubs and trees where the soil is deeper. Look for Zitting Cisticola on the plains. The mangroves of the Norman River and the Gulf contain the specialists of that habitat like the Great Billed Heron, Arafura Fantail, Red-headed Honeyeater and Yellow White-eye. Waders roost there on high tides. Mangroves can be accessed from the shore but the expert Ferryman Cruise at Karumba can get you into them safely. www.ferryman.net.au Burketown is situated near the mangroves and salt pans but also has access to streams and grassy plains. A bore drain just west of the town has created a small wetland which draws interesting birds. Boodjamulla National Park (Lawn Hill Gorge) is home to the wonderful Purple-crowned Fairywren and Sandstone Shrike-thrush. Look for the Fairywren in pandanus thickets along the streams and the Shrike-thrush on the cliffs and gorges. Look for Black Bittern in the reed beds. Adele’s Grove can provide up to date information. www.adelsgrove.com.au For those lucky enough to visit one of the gulf islands or fish offshore the suite of seabirds increases again. www.sweers.com.au White Faced Heron Red-tailed Black Cockatoo Australian Bustard Cattle Egret (breeding) Tawny Frogmouth Great Bowerbird Galah Whistling Kite