Hi all,
A north-westerly flow has brought hot, humid winds onto the coast and the temperature in the nursery has been around 34 all week. On Monday a low on a trough formed off the coast and for a few hours we were on a severe weather warning. However, the low moved south and we were left in the doldrums. I think the monsoon will be here before Christmas with lots of cool rain.
Went for a walk around to the front beach at Coquette Point last Sunday with my son Martin and grandchildren Liam and Pearl. A log at the mouth of Crocodile Creek became a boat for captain Liam to look out for hazards-crocodiles and things. We saw a flash of red against the green of the forest and Brahminy Kite was hunting for anything that moved in the forest. He followed us as we walked along the beach.
A north-westerly flow has brought hot, humid winds onto the coast and the temperature in the nursery has been around 34 all week. On Monday a low on a trough formed off the coast and for a few hours we were on a severe weather warning. However, the low moved south and we were left in the doldrums. I think the monsoon will be here before Christmas with lots of cool rain.
Went for a walk around to the front beach at Coquette Point last Sunday with my son Martin and grandchildren Liam and Pearl. A log at the mouth of Crocodile Creek became a boat for captain Liam to look out for hazards-crocodiles and things. We saw a flash of red against the green of the forest and Brahminy Kite was hunting for anything that moved in the forest. He followed us as we walked along the beach.
As we approached the rookery we noticed a lot of activity on the sand spit. We counted 26 Little Terns leaving the western end of the mound they went onto the river to fish and were returning with small fish in their beaks which they were offering to the females sitting on the mound. One Little Tern dropped his fish almost on top of Liam.
We counted another 12 Little Terns leaving the eastern end of the spit and we estimated another 10 on the wing. At least 50 little terns were at the site on Sunday.
Wimberals and other waders were busy fishing on the sand-flats. Three sandpipers were working together to catch any fish in the shallow pools of water left when the tide went out.
Wimberals and other waders were busy fishing on the sand-flats. Three sandpipers were working together to catch any fish in the shallow pools of water left when the tide went out.
About 100 crested terns were near the mound and the Little Terns were sitting and fishing with them. The Crested terns are in full courtship plumage.
As we walked around to the ocean side of the beach we saw a pair of beach stone curlews running together and catching fish. We saw another pair at the far western end of the beach.
As I was taking photos of the curlews Martin sang out that the midden was uncovered. Around 1973 I observed a shell midden on a dune behind the mangrove forest. It was partly in a fresh water lagoon. Cyclone Winifred which crossed the coast on the February 1, 1986 brought waves into the coast which topped the dune system and covered the midden. An investigation by the Queensland Museum to find the midden about 25 years ago was unsuccessful.
As I was taking photos of the curlews Martin sang out that the midden was uncovered. Around 1973 I observed a shell midden on a dune behind the mangrove forest. It was partly in a fresh water lagoon. Cyclone Winifred which crossed the coast on the February 1, 1986 brought waves into the coast which topped the dune system and covered the midden. An investigation by the Queensland Museum to find the midden about 25 years ago was unsuccessful.
The exposure of the midden now is a measure of the erosion that is happening on this shoreline. The midden was a good fifty meters back from the ocean front in 1973. It is now below high tide. The midden consists mainly of cone and fresh-water mussel shells. The muddy remains of the old mangrove forest can be clearly seen on the erosion line.
I have advised Wet Tropics of the midden and the return to nest of the Little Terns.
There was a lot of soft seaweed on the beach and we counted five hermit crabs on one piece of seaweed.
There was a lot of soft seaweed on the beach and we counted five hermit crabs on one piece of seaweed.
The children dipped their feet into the cold water of the mountain spring running out onto the beach they then followed it up the mountain to find water running into a clear rainforest pool.
A giant melaleuca that had fallen to ‘Yasi’ became a bridge out of the rainforest.
There were fish boils in pool on the beach and in one pool we saw hundreds of juvenile larval stage fingerlings with the egg sacks still attached.
We were fascinated by the antics of an Egret as it fished in a shallow pool. It used the shadow of its wings to startle the fish and then it would run to catch and eat the fish only to repeat the successful fish-catching-tactic again and again.
As we returned we disturbed the terns again and another count confirmed our first estimate of about 50 Little Terns and 100 Crested Terns. A storm was brewing out to sea and the air was thick and sticky. As we walked down the track to the road two pairs of Forest kingfishers were singing in courtship amongst the mangroves and their cherry calls echoed above the noise of the terns.
The metallic starlings nesting in the fig tree across the river at the Coconuts have hatched their young. On Wednesday I observed the adults had changed their eating from harvesting fruit to catching insects in swoops in and around the melaleuca trees. In the afternoon they returned to eating fruits. Adult metallic starlings feed on rainforest fruits however, they feed their young on insects.
Cheers for now,
Yvonne C.
Cheers for now,
Yvonne C.
