Australian Good Birding Guide: Northern Queensland. Ted Wnorowski
Bowen-Ayr Coast
This area covers the coast and its corresponding hinterland from Proserpine to south of Townsville.
1 Bowen
5 Ayr Area
9 Bowling Green Bay National Park
10 Wongaloo (Cromarty) Wetlands
11 Nome
Bowen
Bowen is the oldest town in North Queensland. It is located near Bruce Hwy (A1) in the Whitsunday region, half-way between Mackay and Townsville. The range of habitats in the area includes mangroves, beaches, freshwater lagoons, woodland and the Bowen Saltworks; the latter are good for the migratory waders.
There are two turnoffs leading to town from Bruce Hwy: Lower Don Rd when approaching from the north and Don St when approaching from the south.
Mullers Lagoon Park
This 23ha area is the best and most popular birding site in Bowen. It consists of a large freshwater lagoon and 12ha of the local botanical gardens. The site supports a wide variety of ever-changing selection of the waterbirds and waders.
The site is located in the centre of town near Woolworths, at the corner of Herbert St and The Soldiers Rd. Main access is from Soldiers Rd. Site facilities include a picnic area with toilets, benches, picnic tables and barbecues. A walking track runs on the southern border of the lagoon and through the peninsula.
Over 140 bird species have been recorded in Mullers Lagoon Park. Key species are Radjah Shelduck, Black-necked Stork, Red-necked Avocet, Nankeen Night-Heron and Cockatiel. Other birds of interest include waders, Bush Stone-curlew, Pallid Cuckoo, Torresian Imperial-Pigeon, Grey Butcherbird, Great Bowerbird, Yellow-throated Miner and Red-winged Parrot. Rarities include Chestnut Teal, Sooty Oystercatcher, Plum-headed Finch and Little Eagle.
A 1.5m-long old freshwater crocodile likes to rest on the banks of the lagoon. It is tame and nice.
In the evening, a white cloud of Cattle Egrets and Australian White Ibises descends to roost in the park. Bush Stone-curlews breed on site and are tame. The lagoon is a reliable site for Radjah Shelduck, a small flock is resident here. A family of Black-necked Storks is a regular feature of the park; they have a nest in the area.
A mixed breeding colony of waterbirds is established on the island in the middle of the lagoon, mostly Australian White Ibises and Little Black Cormorants. Among them you may spot the nests of Nankeen Night-Herons, Australasian Darters, Royal Spoonbills, Plumed Egrets and Little Pied Cormorants. The place is appropriately noisy and smelly. In the lagoon vegetation, Plumed Whistling-Ducks, Pacific Black Ducks and Australasian Grebes are nesting.
Breeding colony on the island in Mullers Lagoon
In the dry, waterbirds congregate here in huge numbers, particularly Grey Teals and both species of Whistling-Ducks. In August 2015, about 5,000 Plumed Whistling-Ducks completely covered the islands and filled the lagoon. Also in the dry, waders appear to take advantage of the emerging mudflats, particularly large flocks of Red-necked Avocets, Black-fronted Dotterels and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. Other waders recorded around the lagoon include Latham’s Snipe, Marsh Sandpiper and Curlew Sandpiper.
Don River Mouth
Don River mouth is a good wader site. It can be reached from Queens Beach Esp. To get there, if driving from Mullers Lagoon Park, drive north on The Soldiers Rd, turn left into Tollington Rd which will change the name to Golf Links Rd, turn right into Mount Nutt Rd and proceed onto Queens Beach Esp, driving to the carpark at the end of the road. GPS coordinates here are 19o58’02’’S and 148o13’22’’E.
Look for the waders along the beach, they often roost and feed at the river mouth. Common species here include Far Eastern Curlew, Whimbrel, Grey-tailed Taller, Pacific Golden Plover, Lesser Sand Plover and Red-capped Plover. Beach Stone-curlew is a regular feature.
Other birds in the area include Little Egret, Striated Heron, White-bellied Sea-Eagle and Brahminy Kite. The mangroves support a good population of Collared Kingfishers. Bush birds include Great Bowerbird, Yellow Honeyeater and Torresian Imperial-Pigeon.
Horseshoe Bay Foreshore
There are several parks and native vegetation stands around the Horseshoe Bay. A pathway runs along the beach through the parks and in front of holiday accommodation. A variety of bird species can be found in this area. Check the fruiting palms and figs; we got there Torresian Imperial-Pigeon, Brown-capped Emerald-Dove, Eastern Koel, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Australasian Figbird, Helmeted Friarbird, Great Bowerbird and Pied Currawong. Cones on the casuarinas attracted a large flock of Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos which then stayed the night in the palms in front of our guesthouse. White-bellied Sea-Eagle and Brahminy Kite were patrolling the beaches.
During the night, Tawny Frogmouth was hunting moths by the swimming pool. Families of Bush Stone-curlews, scattered through the area, were calling the whole night.
Other birds along the foreshore included Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Yellow Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Yellow-throated Miner, Pale-headed Rosella, Olive-backed Sunbird, Fairy Gerygone and White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike.
Yellow-throated Miner
Bowen Jetty
This is the best place for the waders in Bowen. They feed on the mudflats that stretch from the saltworks up to the marina. To observe them, drive along Santa Barbara Pde, selecting suitable vantage points along the route.
You’ll have a chance to observe Beach Stone-curlews that gather here in good numbers (up to 6-8 birds) to feed on crabs. In winter, a large flock of Australian Pied Oystercatchers stays on this beach. Other common waders here include Grey-tailed Tattler, Pacific Golden Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit and Red-capped Plover. Occasionally, Sooty Oystercatchers visit the area. Feeding among the waders may be Little Egrets, Eastern Reef Egrets and masses of Grey Teals and Pacific Black Ducks.
You can always find here good numbers of terns, particularly Caspian Tern and Australian Gull-billed Tern. From time to time, Black Noddies visit the harbour.
Bowen Rest Area
This rest area is located on the foreshore of McCanes Bay, just opposite the Bowen Visitor Information Centre (with the Big