News from Coquette Point

Hello from the refreshed rainforest of Coquette Point, 

The Nutmeg Pigeons returned to their nest early this afternoon as the sky darkened and fresh winds blew from storm clouds that cooled the forest. Sheet lightning split the sky and rain fell gently. The  rumble of thunder startled the cassowaries and sent the starlings scurrying for shelter in the safety of a macaranga’s broad leaves.  The first summer-storm was welcome.

---

A new male Emerald dove arrived this week and immediately caused conflict. I could not believe my eyes when I saw him walking on his wings and stalking the resident male. He then flew into the air and used his wings like a spear to repeatedly hit the submissive male. The episode lasted about five minutes and was not accompanied by vocalisation. Today the male appeared to be offering seed to the female.

At long last we caught the main breeding sow and the last of her piglets. Unfortunately she would not go in my cage: she saw her other piglets go in that cage and was wary of it. We used the trip wire cage to catch her. However, Martin set it at 7pm and released it at 4.30am until we at last caught her. 

Out of the six piglets five were male. Pigs like many other animals control the sex of their offspring depending on food availability. With only one female in the litter it is an indication that food is short in the forest.

---

It was lovely to have Anne and Laurie Martin visit this week. They arrived at lunch time just as Dean was leaving for lunch. Gloria was about to take the puppies for a walk on the beach as she does most lunch times when Dean said “I wouldn’t today as there is a crocodile on the beach”. I think Anne and Laurie thought it was a joke. I took off with the camera and sure enough ‘Midget’ was sunbaking on the beach.

He looked at me as I took the photo and slipped into the water and disappeared. ‘Midget’ is about 1.5 metres long.

---

Only one whimbrel has arrived at Coquette Point this year. In past years I have seen three or four. This loan bird spend most of its time around the same bit of sea-grass feeding in the mud.

I went for a walk around to the front beach on Thursday. Still no sign of the Little Terns. No sign of a sign informing people of the sea-bird nesting site either. There were footprints of man and dogs across the dune and while I was there a man was walking an unrestrained dog.  The red-capped dotterel’s chicks have hatched and the adult birds kept the chicks on the move while I was there. The chicks are so tiny and vulnerable.

---

The dragon-fly numbers have increased dramatically over the last week. They must know that mosquitoes, their main food source, are sure to increase now with ideal conditions of high humidity and rain.

---

One of Dad 4’s chicks is now exhibiting territorial displays. This week ‘Don’ started chasing ‘Q’ away from the feeding station.  Little ‘Q’ still chirps when confronted by ‘Don’ or one of the other cassowaries.  It will be interesting to see how long ‘Q’ stays around this area.

---

Dad 2’s chicks are almost as large as their father but still staying close by him with no sign of separation. This could be an indication of the shortage of food available. However both Dad 2 and chicks are looking plump and healthy due to some help by local residents.

The Amethystine Python that I call ‘Monty’ shed his skin last night. There was lots of noise at the back of the house and on investigation found ‘Monty’ using the capping tiles on the roof to help remove his skin.


This morning the Wildlife ranger who brought the cassowary food helped me measure the skin. It was in perfect condition and measured five metres long. A large poo was deposited on the roof close to the skin.

---

The exquisite little skink Lampropholis coggeri, (that is what I think it is)  is showing red neck colour and no doubt will be finding a mate soon.

he buff-banded rails are still sitting on eggs and every afternoon the female comes off the nest for a wash and feed. Watching them play in the water makes a lovely end to my day.

If you haven’t completed a submission on the Draft Management Plan for Hinchinbrook and island waters you only have until the 31 October.

To make it easy to do so there is a link to a form submission on my web-site http://violets-and-lace.com//  

Cheers for now,

Yvonne C.

---

---

Yes, the dust was washed off nicely. Looking forward to some night-time lightning displays....

Here's one shot of a Litoria on Licuala (at least I think its a Litoria of some sort) . . .

---

. . . and a black noctuid moth on a red petunia.

Cheers

Bill Farns

---

---

Hi Bill

Your frog looks to be Litoria bicolor aka the Northern dwarf tree frog which is very similar to Litoria fallax the eastern dwarf tree frog but in fallax the white stripe usually stops at the forearm.  

I always enjoy your additions to the Coquette news and please keep me on your list! 

Speaking of frogs here is a little pearl from Dinner creek, Litoria rheocola, that DEWHA kindly stepped in to protect from being buried under tonnes of rock courtesy of Cairns Regional Council. It is an endangered species and is a torrent frog that lives mostly in the creek.

The story made state wide news and the papers http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/09/15/182445_local-news.html  and it was nice to see the EPBC Act protect something special....full marks to DEWHA investigating officers!

Cheers Russ

Ps dove shots were great Yvonne!

---