Cairns Birds
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Cairns Birds
Just spent an awesome time in Cairns over Christmas where I was lucky enough to explore a wide area of this diverse place. Over 120 species in 5 days was pretty cool going, with a lot of "not sure" birds also. This area is just awesome, with such a wide variety of birds in many different habitats all within such a small area geographically speaking. I can't wait to go back. Then down to the Sunshine Coast where I managed another 30 odd as well. These 2 pictures had me a little puzzled though. I believe the second one is a Great Cormarant chick?? Very strange colouring though and I wondered if this was normal. The first photo is I believe a white Ibis but again I was unsure if it could be a Straw Necked Ibis, based on the colouring of the wings. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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Re: Cairns Birds
Hi Rowey,
I happen to have read about it recently. It's a Little Pied Cormorant whose plumage is stained from tannins or oxides in the water. HANZAB states: "
"Underparts and sides of thighs, white (in Aust. often reddish brown or orange by iron-staining)" and "ABERRANT PLUMAGES: Underparts prone to ferrous-oxide staining (e.g. Keast & D'Ombrain 1949)."
Cheers,
Matthias
I happen to have read about it recently. It's a Little Pied Cormorant whose plumage is stained from tannins or oxides in the water. HANZAB states: "
"Underparts and sides of thighs, white (in Aust. often reddish brown or orange by iron-staining)" and "ABERRANT PLUMAGES: Underparts prone to ferrous-oxide staining (e.g. Keast & D'Ombrain 1949)."
Cheers,
Matthias
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Re: Cairns Birds
The other cormorants with it are Little Black cormorants, which makes a nice group in which to compare bills, length of tails, plumage patterns etc.
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Re: Cairns Birds
The first one is a juv Straw-necked Ibis with White Ibis.
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Re: Cairns Birds
Thank you for the replies. Much appreciated.
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Re: Cairns Birds
Just going through some photos from my trip and came across this one. Unsure of the birds on the left and right. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Was taken at the mouth of the Barron River.
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Re: Cairns Birds
Marsh sand or Common Greenshank is my guess.
- philbattley
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Re: Cairns Birds
The RH bird is a greenshank, and the others probably are too.
Phil
Phil