The trip was a smorgasbord of birds.
It is hard to know where to begin. I will start by thanking the chief cook and bottle washer Mark Clayton for getting us there and Fred van Gessel for making all the necessary arrangements for the camp.
Before I commence I should stress that like all good smorgasbords not all dishes where sampled by all diners.
Entrees were served on the way to Iron Range and included Spotted Whistling-duck from Weipa and Golden-shouldered Parrot and Red Goshawk from the Musgrave area.
The main course included all of the Cape York specialities (except for the Red-bellied Pitta). I will not list them all. I will merely list the highlights. The banders were unstinting in sharing there catches and deserve a special thanks. Little Kingfishers were in plague proportions (8 caught), as were the usual suspects (White-faced Robins and Little Shrike-thrushes). Other birds of note that were also caught and banded were Buff-breasted Paradise-Kingfisher, Frilled Monarch, Chestnut-breasted Cuckoo, Magnificent Riflebird (especially a male) and a very irate Trumpet Manucode. Eclectus Parrots, Red-checked Parrots and Palm Cockatoos were seen on the wing and one particular female Eclectus was most obliging at a nesting hollow. Northern Scrub-robins were reasonably easy to find once you knew the call. Another frustrating call was that of the Yellow-billed Kingfisher. All heard it but until the last hour before we left most had not seen it. Martyn Moffat deserves special mention for the calm and considerate way in which he was able to point it out to all of those present. From all the dishes served it is difficult to come up with a favourite. For me the one that stands out was a Southern Cassowary (the smaller northern race) lurking in the forest just off the road.
Side dishes came from the sea (Chilli Beach and Quintel Beach). Streaked Shearwater, Roseate Tern and Bridled Tern deserve mention, as does and exceptionally large crocodile which cruised along just off Chilli Beach.
Dessert was served by spotlight. The dessert chef was Neil Hermes. The pick of the offerings were Grass Owl, Rufous Owl (complete with bat in talons) and Papuan Frogmouth. All served with lashing of Large-tailed Nightjars.
Coffee and port were served at Mt Carbine. Two delicacies featured. These were Grey Wagtail and Isabelline Wheatear (Australia's first record).
After such a feast what can one say. I think I will find a shady tree somewhere and sleep it off.
Noel