Termite mounds in Queensland

Queensland, Australia 2014-09-05--09-25

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Last stop before Kingfisher park
© NF Photos 140911

Close to Kingfisher Park on a camping
© NF Photos 140914

In a forest looking for Golden-shouldered Parrot

© NF Photos 140915  Lakefield NP

Termite mounds on wiki

I was really fascinated by the Terminate mounds in the northern part of Queensland. I did see at least 3 different kinds. Probably one more but I can´t find it right now. They came in all sizes and shapes and colors from red over yellow to dark grey. Quite stunning!

Snippet from wiki:

The structure of the mounds can be very complicated. Inside the mound is an extensive system of tunnels and conduits that serves as a ventilation system for the underground nest. In order to get good ventilation, the termites will construct several shafts leading down to the cellar located beneath the nest. The mound is built above the subterranean nest. The nest itself is a spheroidal structure consisting of numerous gallery chambers. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Some, like Odontotermes termites build open chimneys or vent holes into their mounds, while others build completely enclosed mounds like Macrotermes. The Amitermes (Magnetic termites) mounds are created tall, thin, wedge-shaped, usually oriented north-south.

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140914 Queensland Kingfisher Park to Lotus Bird Lodge

Queensland, Australia 2014-09-05--09-25
140914 day 10 Sunday

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© NF Photos 140914

Today we are going noth to the lower part of  Cape York. But before we can go we have breakfast and have to wait for the new birdguide whos estimated arrivel would be at 9 clock.  That gave us time for a short birding at Kingfisher Park. But birding?? When I came to the meadow I found a couple of guys standing looking into the tree trunk where we found a big snake yesterday. I asked them what they were looking for. The snake they said. That made me giggle. Take a look ON the tree trunk. The snake is not IN it. It is ON it. Guess if they looked stupid.

 The snake, Morelia amethistina is a non-venomous species of snake, known as the amethystine, scrub python or Sanca permata locally, acc to wiki. The snake did not seem bothered by us, it probably was warming up after a chilly night.

 The guide arrived as planned and we left Kingfisher Park with a nice lunchbox from our landlady.  We made the first stop already after a  few minutes. It was a campsite where some wrens was nesting. We did see them but they were so quick and in the trees so I did only get blue dots on my images. :) Then the long trip up north started.

After a couple of hours we came to Lakeland and made stop for coffee and refreshments. I bought myself an Icecream. And found some great birds overhead. A lot of Black Kites in the air and we also saw a few Black.-necked storks soaring. Image to the right!

This seem to be a country of big contrasts. The car at the café has a boat on. And the name of the place was Lakeland. Yet to me in, September, it was a very dry country. And we should soon see the signs of flooding and much water. But today it was dust all the way.

I was sitting in the car that the new guide was driving. And he was a speeder. He forgot to check if the other two was following. Because of that the people behind us could not see the eagle on the road. I think it was a roadkill and the eagle, a Wedge-tailed Eagle, and some black birds was picking at each other over it. There was another bird of prey too, probably a harrier, but I can´t ID that one for sure. I was sitting in the backseat but managed to get a few shots through the window.

  

We continued. Made some stops at creeks here and there. Some filled with a little water but not much.

Then we arrived at Musgrave and went to see if we could find the freshwater crocks they have in some small ponds.  And we saw them but only the noses, and lots of ducks and a campingsite with happy children more interested in horses then crocks and ducks. I understand them.  :)

Then we continued to Lotus Bird Lodge and arrived early enough to have time to check our "homes" for two nights and the area around it. We were warned at arrival that this IS wild country. We should walk loudly and not too close to the water in the pond. Small, deadly, snakes are there. And, yes I saw one when I walked around a bit.

I was surprised and almost felt like a queen. I have my own house with veranda and all. Great view over the pond and the location where they feed kangaroos in the evening.

We was served a nice meal and after that, went through the birdlist sitting on the veranda. When doing so another bird appeared. An owl checked us out. When I went to my house it was sitting on the path too. Then it was time to go to bed. Take a shower and look through the photos from today. They said we travelled 370 km today.

I think this image below is Kennedy Creek. You can see a little water in the pool and the dust from a passing car on the road.

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140913 Queensland, Mt Lewis and Abattoir Swamp

Queensland, Australia 2014-09-05--09-25
140913 day 9 Saturday
© NF Photos 140913
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Kingfishers Park. Breakfast at 7. This was a quite lazy day and we started with birding around the lodge. And, now people are getting sick to their stomachs. Those of us that was healthy walked around the area for an hour.  Our host took us to one of the meadows to show us two sleeping Papuan frogmouths. They were high up but clearly visible. And another species then the ones we saw the second day. I still have not seen the pitta though that is supposed to be here. :( 

Then we left to go to Mt Lewis. We drove uphill for a while then parked and started out on a forest path. One had to be a bit careful as it was rather steep on the lower side. We had a nice fantail displaying and dancing for us. And I saw a big black snake. But as I was a bit behind the others the snake was gone before I could tell them. It was a nice walk and back to the bus we went to the other side. There was a small meadow with high grass. Lots of butterflies fluttering around us. I managed to catch these.  Blue Triangle Butterfly - Graphium sarpedon

Back at the lodge we had lunch packages waiting for us in our fridges. We ate it in the little alcove enjoying the "wildlife" around us.

Then we went to visit a swamp,  Abattoir Swamp Environmental Park,  not that far away. It turned our the swamp was rather dry and not much water at all. And the wooden path out to the hide was an adventure in itself. Warning signs was not really necessary as the state of the boardwalk was obvious. But birders are used to all kind of troubles so we walked carefully out to the hide. And we got our reward. Fine trees were blooming and lots of small birds was there. A Willy wagtail couple was sitting on eggs in a fine nest. This trip was the highlight of the day.

Now it was time for Phil, the local guide, to go back home. Two of our people followed him. As we are going up north tomorrow we need to change the bus to three 4-wheeled cars. Our people returned in the evening with two cars and the third will come in the morning with a new local guide.

The rest of the day was obviously spent at the lodge. I took a nap and birded around.  And we was served a really good dinner. Today I had lot of time to upload and actually look at some of my images. COOL!

My clothes are now almost dry. Great, I need need to change tomorrow.

Abattoir Swamp

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140912 Queensland, Daintree River and Kingfisher Park

Queensland, Australia 2014-09-05--09-25
140912 Friday Day 8 since we left home.

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© NF Photos 140912

This day started early as we were to be at the boat at 7.00 h. We had been told that there was breakfast in our freezer but I did not pay attention to that so I forgot mine. But I managed anyway as I had a banana in my backpack. We arrived at Daintree village in good time. It was a small boat but all of us had seats in it. People was excited, they want to see crocs! I rather look at some fancy birds and great nature.  But..I´ll give you crocks!

 Daintree River

After the trip we went to visit a place that I think was a water cleaning plant. We could not go in there as it was fenced but there was lots of birds. The fence was not ment to keep birds in, but to keep people out!  

Then people was hungry and we found a restaurant. All but me ordered something and sat down in the restaurant. They had a nice garden and that is where I headed. Eating my banana and having fun with some blue butterflies I could not catch. They were too fast and too small for me and my camera. But I had fun and that is a good point.  Red waterlily and Yellow-spotted Honeyeater, below. Was also there.

  

It was afternoon and we drove back to Kingfisher Park. There was no agenda for the rest of the afternoon. I was tired after the days in Atherton Tablelands so I took the opportunity to sleep for an hour. I think most of us did. Then I boiled a cup of coffee and had my breakfast :)  then went out to explore the area.

There are some small meadws, a creek and some forested areas. I found some Platypus in the creek and some small birds. There should be pittas in the area but I did not find any. In one of the meadows I found some of us gathered around a fallen treetrunk. They had found a big snake in it.

The landlady is a good cook and dinner was great. We sat in the garden again with birds and kanguru rats running among the surrouding trees.

After dinner we was taken on a walk with the landlord. He showed us an owl high up in a tree.

Bar-sholdered Dove as dinnerguest.

I was washing up clothes yesterday and they are still wet. The air here is very high in moisture. It is a strange country, both dry and wet at the same time.

Uploaded the images and wrote a bit before going to bed.

A drake at the Daintree River.

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140911 Queensland , Atherton to Kingfisher Park

Queensland, Australia 2014-09-05--09-25
140911 Thursday

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Today we leave Chambers and will head north up to Kingfisher Park. Going through the images for the day almost makes me frustrated. How much can you actually experience in one day? It is amazing how many places you can visit in 10 hours and also be transported a 100 km up north.

First after breakfast we took a walk on the paths surrounding Chambers. It was nice as we did not had time to explore it earlier. To dark for shots though.

The first 50 km was the road we travelled earlier going south. But we made some short stops to check for birds here and there.  

This was the place with the black swans. But today I shot cows and gulls reflected in the pond.

 When we arrived at a golf course we made a stop for birds and kangaroos. That was a bit annoying as we could not enter the area as we were not members. Watching from a distance is not always fun. :(  The kangaroos seemed to have a lunch break, more or less sleeping. Birds was a bit more active.

At the next stop, a cattle market,  we saw some angels. At least it seemed like it. One of the cockatoos I think. Probably the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.  It was soo beautiful when back lit of the sun.

Next stop was quite weird. We walked through bushes and down into a dried out river. Hard to walk and easy to trip. And we did not find what our guide was looking  for. But rather fun experience still.

Se image below.

Now, one of the highlights of the day. Lunch! As usual the others found a restaurant and I took what I had with me and found a table opposite the street. While eating I noticed the trees beside me. Lots of honeyeaters. COOL! Lots of fun shooting the birds without people coming in my way. That´s what I call birding! And there was gorgeous flowers too. Probably Julatten

Next we stopped by a place called Art trail. There was lots of artwork one could enjoy but our goal was the Great Bowerbird that resided in the garden. This bowerbird collected all things white to his little garden. There was also some nice parrots there. Still have not ID:d them.

A bit further north we stopped at a dry forest with a little pond with beautiful flowers. There was some gorgeous small birds to watch. And...a heard of horses. I was in trouble, so much to keep track of. Both horses, birds and flowers soo gorgeous. I think it was a NP too but I did not catch the name.

Now it was getting late but we made another stop at Bustard Downs to look at Australian Bustards. And we had a great time watching them as the sun set.

When we arrived to the new lodge KingfisherPark, we got a bad surprise. The back doors of the van was jammed and would not open. There we were and could not get our luggage. After trying in vain the guide, Phil,  decided he had to go back to Cairns to fix it. Poor man, the landlady said he always gets in trouble and misses the dinner at their lodge. The dinner was served outdoors and very nice. It took 3h before Phil was back and we could finally unpack and go to bed after a long day.

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