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Tour leader Carol Iles continues her diary of a private birdwatching and wildlife holiday organised by Naturetrek in Northern Queensland...
Figbird by Phil Shaw
We set off for Lake Eacham, one of three volcanic Crater Lakes on the Tableland. On a short walk along part of the Circuit Track we were fortunate enough to find an Eastern Whipbird and its very young chick, a Tooth-billed Bowerbird singing above his ‘stage’ of leaves, and a foraging Musky Rat-kangaroo, one of the few diurnal Australian mammals. On our return to the car we encountered a flock of Barred Cuckoo-shrikes, feeding in a conveniently low tree with Australian Figbirds and a sleek White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike.
In order to have time to relax before dinner, we left the lake to head for our accommodation at the lovely Rose Gums. From the verandah of their treehouse, level with the treetops, the clients, were treated to a great view of a perched Topknot Pigeon, as well as Lewin’s and White-cheeked Honeyeaters feeding in the flowers below. Once suitably relaxed we headed for the in-house restaurant and enjoyed the sumptuous food! The stroll back to the guests’ treehouse was punctuated by the rustling of Northern Brown Bandicoots, intent on finding some grub of a different sort!
Read more about holidays on offer in Australia.