News from Coquette Point

A bit late with the News, computer problems again. However, thanks to a ‘white knight’ called Laurie I am now all sorted as he showed me how to use the f8 key.Record rainfall fell last week and a flood warning was issued for the Johnstone River on Tuesday. Quite amazing as it is the middle of the ‘dry season’. However the deluge, this time, didn’t result in a lot of sediment runoff and by Wednesday the Johnstone River was running clean.

Some large logs were deposited on the beach and when Laurie & Anne visited on Wednesday, they were amazed at the shapes of these once rainforest giants.

Today there was a welcome change in the weather, the wind died down, the rain stopped and this afternoon the sun came out. The Innisfail Outrigger Club held its regatta today and all had a wonderful time on the river with lots of cheering and glee sounding across the river from first light this morning. The crested terns who have been fishing up the river all week, due no doubt to the bad weather, flew over the boats curious to see what all the fuss was about so early in the morning.

It was heart-rending to watch the birds cope with the constant rain. They would fluff up their feathers and put their back to the wind and look miserable.

Rainbow bee-eater cold and wet

Spangled drongo fluffed feathers

However the warm weather today brought the sunbakers out and 'Monty' and 'Monica' enjoyed a sunbake on the roof and 'Charlene' took the sun on the beach.

Monty and Monica

Charlene

Cassowary Jessie is still following Snout, this is the third week of their courtship. There is still no sign of Little Dad. if he has hatched chicks he has taken them deep into the rainforest, if so, that is a good outcome.  It is lovely to watch these birds walking so purposefully.  Snout frequently looks over his shoulder to check that Jessie is following.

Snout stopped for a drink at the old bath under  ‘Plastic Cas’ and it looked as if he was playing tribute to the statue.

On Tuesday I heard the unmistakable chatter of a Hawk coming from the trees. As I walked toward the sound I heard the shrike of a frog and before my eyes a Hawke flew into a tree above me with a green frog in its claw.

On Tuesday I heard the unmistakable chatter of a Hawk coming from the trees. As I walked toward the sound I heard the shrike of a frog and before my eyes a Hawke flew into a tree above me with a green frog in its claw. I think it was a collared sparrowhawk, what do you think?. I have seen it briefly again, every day this week, but have been unable to get another photo. If you look closely you will see the frog held in its claw.

Many birds were active today enjoying the fine weather  and were busy gathering food.

Shining flycatcher, male, fishing in the pond

juvenile butcher bird, left its nest

Helmeted friar bird eating ripe black sapote fruits from the top of the tree

Orange footed scrub fowl running in the forest with particularly orange legs

The scrub fowls have been very active this week, working on their mound, and constantly calling to each other through the rainforest.

Praying mantis are hatching and the egg case, ootheca, can contain over 100 little mantids. Keep an eye out for these little cases on leaves and even fences.

  I was again drawn to the fastidious of these little creatures as I watched one little mantid clean itself.

ootheca

Foot in mouth

Cleaning antennae

Aaron Russell and Kevin Lentton from Biosecurity Queensland visited the nursery this week. They were purchasing plants for a lecture on Myrtle rust.

 It is a timely remainder to keep a look out on all myrtaceous species. I have attached a bio-security brochure on myrtle rust.

Cheers for now,

Yvonne c.