Wonders Down Under: Singapore and Australia June-July 2009 (1 Viewer)

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Day Eight: June 26th, Two People's Bay, WA

I was down in the Albany area to try and look for the three 'skulking endemics': Noisy Scrub Bird, Western Bristlebird and Western Whipbird. All are somewhat legendary in their abilities to avoid being seen, and this made the following few days quite hard work. The weather, which became increasingly windy, didn't help either but the morning of 26th was actually rather fine and calm.

I arrived just after dawn at Two People's Bay and began at the Little Beach car park. Following the advice on Frank O'Connor's website, I waited in the car for quite a while in the hope that a Western Bristlebird would scuttle across in the open. It didn't, although I thought I might have heard one in the distance. I went down to the shore and had very distant views of a Sooty Oystercatcher. Later I saw three much closer. A few Australasian Gannets were drifiting about offshore. On the rocks I had some good views of a few hulking Pacific Gulls, both the dark tailed adults and the very dark brown immatures.

After spending a bit of time getting lost, I eventually found O'Connor's recommended site for Noisy Scrub Bird, and soon heard one singing in the distance. It was at this point that it became apparent exactly why this species is so hard to see. The scrub was very dense and, assuming the bird stayed on the ground, it was going to be impossible to see unless it crossed the very narrow path. I gave it a bit of time, but it wasn't getting any closer, so I thought I'd explore some of the other sites in the area.

On returning to the car I heard some scuttling about in the undergrowth nearby. On investigating I was rewarded with very close views of a lovely Southern Emuwren. Unlike the fairywrens I'd been seeing this was a cracking blue and rufous male with its long feathery plume-like tail. I then headed over to the visitor centre from where I watched a Wedge-tailed Eagle soaring across the hillside.

I spent the next few hours exploring the Sinker Reef track, which leads from near the visitor centre down towards the sea. It was livelier for birds than Little Beach, but wasn't too good for the skulking specials. There were very large numbers of New Holland Honeyeaters - much the commonest bird of the heathland. Some more interesting honeyeaters were a gabbling group of Western Wattlebirds, looking distinctly different to the Red Wattlebirds that I'd been getting used to seeing. Also around were some Western Spinebills and a single Tawny-crowned Honeyeater. I had quick views of two Brush Bronzewings flying up from the firebreak alongside of the track and there was also a party of Red-capped Parrots in the scrub.

Nearer to the coast I began to see some small, green Rock Parrots flying up from the firebreak. Unfortunately they were almost impossible to see on the ground. While I was looking for them a couple of small birds hopped up into a bush and I was delighted to see that they were Red-eared Firetails - one of the trickier endemics and perhaps the most beautiful. These are small, delicately spotted and barred finches with bright crimson on the ear coverts and the tail. Really splendid birds.

I spent a while at the clifftops looking out to sea and began to notice some cloudy spurts of water drifting up from the waves. Soon I noticed that these were coming from at least four rather distant Humpback Whales that were drifting serenely across the bay.

I returned to Little Beach for the rest of the afternoon. It was good for raptors and I had regular sightings of at least a couple of Little Eagles and two or three White-bellied Sea-eagles hawking over the hillsides or the bay. A few Crested Terns were quartering just offshore. Our skulking friends were more difficult. I heard another Scrub Bird and then returned to where I'd heard the first bird in the morning. This was singing a bit closer to the track, but it didn't seem to be thinking of actually coming out into the open. After some waiting the weather began to deteriorate and I made my way back to the car. Clearly seeing these skulkers was going to be even more difficult than I'd initially thought.

Here's a recording of the Noisy Scrub Bird, battling against the wind, and a couple of pictures from Sinker's Reef.

 

[Mike Richardson]

I'm really enjoying this report Andrew. It brings back many happy memories.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Day Nine: June 27th, Oyster Bay to Cheyne Beach, WA

Glad you're enjoying the report Mike.

Early the next morning I had a short walk around Oyster Bay near to where I was staying. Several Common Bronzewings were giving great views around the caravan park and a couple of Ospreys were again seen well. Fortuitously I then met a couple out walking their dogs who actually turned out to be quite knowledgable about birds (perhaps a bit of a rarity in the southwest). They gave me a few tips that helped to set up the rest of the day's birding. One species I'd ask them about was White-breasted Robin, an endemic that I'd thus far been unable to find. They told me I should look just a short distance further along the track and, lo and behold, about a minute later I was watching one hopping about along the trail. These aren't as brightly coloured as some of the Australian robins but are really smart and engaging birds all the same.

Returning along the track I found a couple of fairywrens flitting about in the low vegetation and soon identified these as a female and eclipse male Red-winged Fairywren. I then had one of those 'Oh my God' moments when out popped an absolutely gleaming breeding plumage male, which had an almost 'glow in the dark' electric-blue crown. Finally I'd seen a 'real' fairywren and it was even more stunning than I'd expected.

The couple had tipped me off an another species that could be found around the entrance to the caravan park so off I went in search. Eventually, perched in a tall tree, I found a dashing male Australian Hobby. Soon after I found the female and both birds gave good views for quite some time.

I headed off then to continue my search for the skulkers. My destination was Cheynes Beach, which I'd been told was a better bet than Two People's Bay, particularly for the scrub bird. I arrived there mid-morning, by which time the weather was already rather windy. There's a shop at the caravan park and I went in to see if anyone there knew anything about birds. I wasn't too optimistic that anyone would but the lady at the counter immediately produced a large folder detailing sightings over a number of years. She said that Noisy Scrub Bird could always be heard around the caravan park and a quick wander outside demonstrated the truth of this. One was belting out its song from thick cover just by the entrance. It also became apparent why this site is recommended as a place to see the scrub bird because this individual's territory included some quite broad roads and tracks that it would have to cross from time to time.

I thought I would take a walk across the heathland towards Back Beach. The wind meant that there was very little activity from passerines. The first notable bird I saw was a Brown Falcon gliding across a slope persued by a Nankeen Kestrel. I made my way down to Back Beach, which is a very lovely spot. Looking out to sea I noticed several Crested Terns and Australasian Gannets. Then, piquing my interest in seawatching somewhat, I saw a couple of albatrosses flying out of the channel between the headland and Bald Island. The birds were quite distant so I decided to make my way around the headland to get closer views. I spent a good hour or two seawatching productively from here. Eventually some albatrosses began to appear again and I was able to identify four Yellow-nosed Albatrosses and two Black-browed Albatrosses. Splendid birds as always. In the distance I could see some dark looking petrels but these were way beyond the island. Luckily one came through the channel at much closer range and was clearly a Great-winged Petrel, gliding in steep arcs over the water. I also saw three Brown Skuas at various distances. The best bird was a real surprise. I noticed a storm-petrel darting over the waves quite close to the shore. Its dark underparts, white saddle and direct, swallow-like flight readily identified it as Wilson's Storm-petrel - a first for me. As well as the seabirds, the channel was also being traversed by at least three Humpback Whales, which came quite close to the shore at certain points, bashing their tail flukes against the water. A further bonus came as I walked back along the edge of the heathland towards the beach. A nightjar flew up from cover, showing quite rufous plumage and white ovals on the primaries, identifying it as a Spotted Nightjar. So some good birds, although not necessarily the ones I was looking for.

The remainder of the day was spent searching for the Noisy Scrub Bird by the caravan park. It seemed to be sauntering slowly along the scrub by the main road, but was never particularly close to any of the tracks. While I was looking I had absolutely crippling views of a Red-eared Firetail, which I managed to call in by imitating its thin, slightly mournful whistle. I was even more impressed with this bird than I had been with the previous day's sighting. I hung around till nightfall, hoping that the scrub bird would scuttle across a track, but it lurked doggedly within cover until it was too dark to see.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

1. Female Australian Hobby with a Galah
2. Female
3. Male
4. A view from my seawatching spot at Back Beach

 

[chowchilla]

This looks like a really beautiful location Andrew. At least the lack of skulkers was partly compensated for by the other stuff you saw.

Really enjoying this trip report!:t:

 

[halftwo]

At least the lack of skulkers was partly compensated for by the other stuff you saw.

That's got to be one of the greatest understatements, Chowie!
Great stuff.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Day Ten and Eleven: June 28th-29th, Cheynes Beach, WA to Sydney, NSW

It was still windy the following morning. I got up early to see if I could find the local Noisy Scrub Bird. It was singing a hundred metres or so along the road from where I'd left it the previous evening. Hoping it was heading back towards the caravan site I stood opposite where the bird was singing from. It went quiet for a minute or two and then started singing again - from a hundred metres back down the track! Presumably in travelling it must also have crossed a broad side track and been visible. Darn. While I was waiting I did see a pair of White-breasted Robins, which was a bit of a consolation.

I headed off into the heathland where I heard a rather distant sweet song. Checking my recordings, I was sure it was a Western Bristlebird and soon there was another one singing. They would sing for perhaps a minute and then go quiet for ten or fifteen minutes. Apparently they can sometimes sit up on bushes to sing, but I suspect that in a raging gale this might be less likely. With neither bird singing from at all close and both of them getting quieter as the day drew on and the winds grew stronger, I didn't have too much hope. While I was hanging around I did manage to see White-cheeked Honeyeater, Western Spinebill and another White-breasted Robin.

I could hear a couple of scrub birds - one rather distantly and the other the 'local' bird, which had moved back to the area around the caravan park. After a time, I noticed that it seemed to be singing from closer to the road so I headed back from the heath to see if it might become 'seeable'. Sure enough, it was singing from the corner of the junction with the road into the caravan park and, unless it went back on itself, I knew that it would eventually run across one or other of the roads. So I stood and waited at the junction. After several minutes I glimpsed something furtively edging along the road but it disappeared before I could get my bins on it. Then, maybe a minute later, a Noisy Scrub Bird darted full pelt and head down across the road. It might have been in view for a couple of seconds, but at least it was a view.

I had another go for Western Bristlebird but they were hardly singing at all. The wind didn't put off raptors too much and I had good views of Nankeen Kestrel, Brown Falcon and a couple of Little Eagles. But, unfortunately I knew I had to be in Perth around 450km away in 24 hours. An easy overnight trip for Mr Stratford no doubt, but a bit harder for me, so I had to set off on the long road back to Perth.

I actually took a bit of a detour, via Lake Muir, Manjimup and Bridgetown, in the hope of finding some birds on the way. This didn't entirely work. Lake Muir looked good but was almost devoid of birds except for Australian Shelducks. The forests at Bridgetown looked good and I found some Red-capped Parrots and Western Rosellas there, but not the black cockatoos I hoped I might. By this time it was beginning to rain and, as I drove north, the showers became more and more torrential. I stayed the night in Harvey, a small town an hour or two south of Perth that I suspect gets very few visitors. Then I drove up to Perth airport through more downpours the following morning and from there I flew across the continent to Sydney, where I spent the next night before embarking on the next leg of the trip.

So that was the southwest: some great birds and mammals, a few misses, some mixed weather and very few people. And I managed to avoid hitting anything in the car, which was quite a big result for me.

Attached are some more recordings from Cheynes Beach. The first is a very loud recording of Noisy Scrub Bird, which will indicate why they get their name. The next recording also has a scrub bird on it but is mainly a very quiet recording of Western Bristlebird.

 

[chowchilla]

Well one skulker's better than none I suppose.... Congrats on the NSB, brief though it was!

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Day Twelve: June 30th Sydney, NSW to Cairns, Queensland

About 24 hours after leaving Perth I arrived at the opposite end of Australia in Cairns. It was, and this was really a good thing, much warmer up there than it had been in the southwest. After settling in at my accommodation (Caravella Backpackers) I had a wander along the famous Cairns Esplanade. The tide was well out, which meant that birds were fairly hard to come by but I still managed to see plenty of Australian White Pelicans, Royal Spoonbills, Masked Lapwings, Gull-billed and Caspian Terns and one or two Eastern Reef Egrets and Brahminy Kites. There weren't too many waders except for the odd Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit and Australian Pied Oystercatcher. Eventually I found a fetching Black-fronted Dotterel in amongst the channels in the mud.

There were a few landbirds in the palm trees along the Esplanade including lots of Rainbow Lorikeets and some noisy groups of Australian Figbirds and Metallic Starlings. One or two Spangled Drongos perched up prominently and there were some Peaceful Doves quietly feeding on the ground. In amongst the trees I found some Varied Honeyeaters - a bit like the Singing Honeyeaters I'd seen in the southwest but yellower underneath. I also managed to get better views of a bird I'd seen briefly at the airport: White-breasted Wood-swallow.

By mid-afternoon the tide was well up and there were more waders around. Amongst the Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrel were at least 30 Great Knot, a few showing some bits of rufous breeding plumage, and four very long-billed Far-eastern Curlews. The best were a group of eight Grey-tailed Tatlers that arrived in briefly before disappearing off.

I then met up with Tony (Chowchilla) who'd kindly offered to show me around his rather impressive local patch. Almost immediately he found the long-staying Laughing Gull amongst the Silver Gulls on the mud: a proper Australian vagrant. Further up the Esplanade we found several more Black-fronted Dotterels, 15 Red-capped Plovers and 47 Red-necked Stints, all adding to the wader list. This proved to be a good thing because I hardly saw any waders anywhere else in Australia. One downer was narrowly missing a pair of Beach Stone Curlews, which had apparently flown off just before we arrived.

Soon after getting to the northern end of the mudflats where the mangroves begin to encroach I picked out a couple of Mangrove Robins feeding at the bottom of the mangroves. Some other visiting birders told me that they'd tried several times in the past to see these birds and Tony commented that been unusually easy to see recently. I was pretty grateful for this. We concentrated on landbirds after this and Tony soon helped me to see quite a few other new birds including a beautifully patterned pair of Bar-shouldered Doves, some Yellow Honeyeaters and some strange looking Helmeted Friarbirds. I was impressed with a very smart Leaden Flycatcher and we saw both Black-faced and White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes. I had distant views of a blue and white Forest Kingfisher, a bird that's gratifyingly common in northeast Queensland. I also saw a species I'd seen back in Singapore: an Olive-backed Sunbird.

Things were a bit quieter towards dusk but I was amazed at the vast numbers of Rainbow Lorikeets that head towards the Esplanade trees to roost. Thanks to Tony for helping me make a great start to my trip to the northeast.

 

[chowchilla]

No worries mate! Sorry I couldn't drive you anywhere though!

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Day Thirteen: 1st July, Cairns - Great Barrier Reef, Queensland

Today's report will be a bit more of a 'photo essay' dare I say it. I went on a boat trip to Michaelmas Cay in the Great Barrier Reef. It was, in many respects, remarkable, although I didn't see as wide a variety of seabirds as I was hoping. The only species around were Sooty Tern, Crested Tern, Brown Noddy, Brown Booby and Silver Gull. There were quite a few of some of them, particularly on Michaelmas Cay, where the Sooty Terns were in various stages of breeding. I also did a bit of snorkeling, which was good except I kept getting water in my mask. It's a bit weird breathing through your mouth as well.

In Cairns I saw the Laughing Gull again and also saw an Australian Darter snaking into the shallows.

Below is a recording from Michaelmas Cay and some more general pictures.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

1. Brown Noddy
2. Brown Noddies, with a Crested Tern lurking at the back
3. Silver Gull finding something to eat amongst the tern colony
4. Some fish. I don't know what sort

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Some Sooty Terns at various stages

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Some Sooty Tern parent - chick interactions

 

[chowchilla]

Some great pics there Andrew! Thanks for sharing.:t:

You know, I scanned carefully thru my Sea Fish book and came up blank on those fish, which is odd. But there's thousands of them, so whilst scanning the pages I could easily have missed it I guess...

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Day 14: 2nd July, Cairns to Daintree, Queensland

Early the next morning I set off up the Esplanade again. With the tide fairly well in there were again some waders on show, including Great Knot and Red-capped Plover. I had a scan with the scope up to the end of the mud and just before the mangroves appeared I could see a pair of rather distant Beach Stone-curlews. These looked very weirdly proportioned birds even at a considerable distance and I was looking forward to getting a closer view. Sadly, when I checked a minute or so later the birds had disappeared. A couple of Sacred Kingfishers, the only ones of the trip in fact, were near the mangroves.

I then headed for Centenary Lakes. My first circuit produced almost nothing except for an Olive-backed Sunbird. When I got to the other side of the lakes I came out onto a road where I soon found a lovely Rainbow Bee-eater, which lived up to its name (well, at least the 'rainbow' bit anyway). Up in a tree top was a hefty looking Black Butcherbird, with a particularly handy looking bill. I walked back through Centenary Lakes and was delighted to find a small group of three Double-eyed Fig-parrots. I'm becoming rather a big fan of small parrots and so it was good to get some excellent views of these green, blue and red gems - one of my favourite birds of the whole trip. An Australian Swiftlet dashed over and there were also several Figbirds and another Leaden Flycatcher.

I headed back into central Cairns, checked out of my hostel and then picked up a hire car. I headed north, along the windy road up the coast to Daintree. I was staying at the lovely Red Mill House right in the village. On arrival I received a friendly greeting from Andrew and Trish and was given the run down on birding sites and possibilities in the area.

I decided that as good a place as any to start was the garden. I soon found one of the Orange-footed Scrubfowl that was responsible for the large mound by the pond. It wasn't long before I was puzzling over honeyeaters. The peculiarly patterned MacLeay's Honeyeater was distinctive enough and the coppery-brown Dusky Honeyeaters were distinctively indistinct. The tricky ones were the 'lookalike' honeyeaters I was regularly seeing. A Lewin's Honeyeater, bulky and with a half-moon ear spot, was easy enough and, after quite a bit of scrutiny, I figured out I'd seen a Yellow-spotted Honeyeater too. A bit easier to do were a smart pair of Emerald Doves quietly walking the borders. My first Sulphur-crested Cockatoo flew noisily over. I was very enamoured of the orange and black Spectacled Monarch that was feeding in the canopy. Down at the small pond I had close views of a pair of Large-billed Gerygones.

After lunch I headed along Stewart Creek Road, which gives entry to a wide range of habitats including river valley, fields and forest. A Brahminy Kite was seen from the valley lookout. A little further along I found a pretty pair of tiny Mistletoebirds, which were very like the Scarlet-backed Flowerpeckers I'd seen in Singapore. Nearby I found my main target, a group of three Lovely Fairywrens. These really did live up to their name, particularly the absolutely pristine male. There was another moulting male and a female. The females of this species are quite striking, being bluer above and whiter underneath than other fairywrens.

I followed the road down to the bridge, stopping regularly. Royal Spoonbill and Black-fronted Dotterel were both scoped in the distance on the banks of the river. A few Forest Kingfishers were seen well and a couple more Double-eyed Fig-parrots flew over. Passerines began to take centre stage and a number of new species were soon encountered including Little Shrike-thrush, Fairy Gerygone, Varied Triller and the obscure looking Grey Whistler. At the bridge I had wonderful views of a pair of vivid blue and orange Azure Kingfishers. Over the fields lots of Rainbow Bee-eaters and White-breasted Wood-swallows darted. At dusk I had distant views of a large, grey coloured heron flying slowly up the valley; it could only have been a Great-billed Heron. Six more flyover fig-parrots brought a really good day to a conclusion.

Here are some pictures from Centenary Lakes.
1. Rainbow Bee-eater
2&3 Double-eyed Fig-parrot

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Day 15: 3rd July, Daintree - Cape Tribulation, Queensland

I seem to be slacking off a bit with this trip report write up, although this wasn't helped by me mysteriously deleting an entry before I posted it the other evening. Let's hope I do better this time.

The following morning I was on the early trip on the Daintree River with Chris Dahlberg. It was a bit misty early doors but there were soon some good birds appearing in the gloom. Azure Kingfishers were zipping about over the water and in the mangroves near the edge were a lovely pair of Shining Flycatchers - the male jet black and the female a fetching mix of rufous, black and white.

We drifted a short distance up Stewart Creek and soon had reasonable views of a couple of massive Great-billed Herons. Nearby a sub-adult Nankeen Night Heron was lurking in the bushes. There were a few passerines in the riverside trees including Grey Whistler, Large-billed Gerygone, Leaden Flycatcher and a couple of Yellow Orioles.

One of the features of these river trips is the opportunity to see roosting Papuan Frogmouths and Chris managed to find us three, including a pair huddled closely together on a low branch. These birds really are something else - almost like you'd expect birds to look on another planet. They're surprisingly big too and the river cruise enables you to see them close up and at eye level.

Further down the river we had views of a Gould's Bronze-cuckoo singing from a tree top, giving a distinctive whistled tune. There were some raptors about too. I had brief but close views of a Brown Goshawk flying from a tree and there was an Australian Hobby perched up nicely across the river.

Back at Red House Mill I finally got some convincing views of a Graceful Honeyeater, another of the 'lookalike' honeyeaters but with a distinctive call and, rather inevitably, a graceful shape.

I spent the rest of the day north of the river along the road to Cape Tribulation. On the way to the ferry a Black Kite was sailing over the sugar cane fields. After being tugged across the river I headed through the lush forests along the road, stopping first at the Alexandra Range Lookout. I was hoping for some raptor activity and soon had success when a Grey Goshawk shot past at close range. That was all the activity as it turned out, but the view from the mountain top was good.

I headed a bit further along to Jindalba Boardwalk, which goes through some beautiful tall forest. The forest was very quiet most of the way around with just a few Graceful Honeyeaters, Little Shrike-thrushes and Spectacled Monarchs. I again had some good views of a Double-eyed Fig-parrot. The good stuff happened just a few hundred metres before I returned to the car park. There was a movement on the forest floor and I noticed a smallish bird creeping through the leaf litter. Lifting my bins I was delighted to find a mass of blue, chestnut, red, black and orange - a Noisy Pitta. It continued to walk across the path, giving great views as it went. What a bird.

Around the car park were a few other interesting birds, including Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Varied Triller and Yellow-spotted Honeyeater. I also heard the strange but distinctive call of a Wompoo Fruit-dove.

I continued along the road until I reached the Marrdjah Boardwalk, which leads through mixed forest and mangroves. I soon saw an inquisitive Black Butcherbird, which was very interested in the squeaking noises I was making. For a time things were quiet apart from a few Mistletoebirds and Olive-backed Sunbirds. Then I saw a medium-sized bird moving to the side of the trail - a lovely Spotted Catbird. It was also quite keen on a bit of squeaking and came in for a closer look. Further along I watched a gangly goanna, possibly a Spotted Tree Monitor, creep down from a tree.

Just before I returned to the car park I hit a busy flock of birds. There were a few Spectacled Monarchs, a pretty Rufous Fantail and some Large-billed Gerygones. Better still were a pair of lovely Yellow-breasted Boatbills, with their peculiar laterally flattened bills and strange trilling calls. Then a larger bird with a short tail and long bill appeared in a nearby tree. Despite the dull brownish plumage it was a bird of paradise: a female or immature Victoria's Riflebird. I pointed this out to a passing group of American students who then told me they'd recently seen a Cassowary further back towards the mangroves. Restraining my desire to hurl abuse at them, I headed back along the boardwalk. Predictably I didn't find any Cassowaries but I had good views of a couple of strange looking Bridled Honeyeaters - an endemic species with peculiar tufts behind the eye. There was also another pair of Shining Flycatchers and another Rufous Fantail.

I headed back along the road towards the ferry - it was now late afternoon - and didn't see too much else. I was disappointed not to see the Cassowary but, given that I had seen my first ever Frogmouth, Pitta, Bowerbird and Bird-of-Paradise, the day hadn't been a complete write-off.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Here's some pictures, the first three from the river cruise.
1. Forest Kingfisher
2&3. Papuan Frogmouth
4. The view from the Alexandria Lookout
And then there's a not very loud recording of Wompoo Fruit-dove.

 

[pete woodall]

Hi Andrew,
My suggestion on your fish photo is that they are Hump-headed Batfish Planax batavianus - probably sub-adults. This species is more elongate than other batfish and I think their shape fits those in your photo. The subadults lack much of the dark bands of the adults, although in your photo I think that I dectect a faint dark vertical band going through the eye and another faint one further down the body. I am using Gerry Allen's 1997 "Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and south-east Asia" WA Museum. His illustration of a sub-adult doesn't show the distinctive colour pattern of the pectoral fins in your fish so my identification is tentative but otherwise it is a fairly good fit. I'm a fishwatcher but by no means an expert.
Cheers, Pete

 

[chowchilla]

Great stuff Andrew. Noisy Pitta is always a good bird to get as they can be very hit and miss.

I always think Wompoos sound like they're trying to call through a mouthful of toffee and trying not to choke in the process!

I've known tourists to ID Brush Turkeys and Bush Stone Curlews as Cassowaries. Any chance of this being the case here? OK, maybe not! You were in prime Cassowary habitat!