April saw our Melaleuca blossom in and around Kingfisher
Bay Resort and bought with it a change in the birdlife we spotted on Fraser.
With such a bounty of food available
in and around the Wallum – an area
that’s just a stone’s throw from the resort’s centre complex that is
characterised by floristically-rich shrubland and heathland on deep, nutrient-poor acidic sandy
soils - there was certainly no shortage of nectar feeders in our midst.
As the month progressed, flocks
of Rainbow Lorikeets started arriving from the mainland and congregating on the western side of Fraser
Island. This literal ‘tide’ of colour peppered
the greenery surrounding the resort.
The more elusive upper canopy nectar feeders such as Dusky Honeyeaters and Scarlet Honeyeaters were also easily spotted feeding in the Wallum. And in other Honeyeater news, our resident White-cheeked Honeyeaters started their second nesting cycle. With the freshly fledged ‘teenagers’ adding their boisterous behaviour to the mix, taking a wander through the Wallum has certainly been filled with excitement and colour.
A rare up close cameo of one of our Buff-banded Rails provided an early morning treat for our eagle-eyed bird watchers. Whilst sharp-eyed beach walkers have been fortunate to catch the splash of aquamarine as our resplendent Sacred Kingfishers surveyed the dunes.
Closer to home, our resident Kookaburra family (see above - pic by the very talented Lachie in the Jetty Hut) kept our guests amused down at the Sand Bar bistro and The Jetty Hut. These cheeky, and very social, Kookaburras are best known for their unmistakable call, which sounds uncannily like loud, echoing human laughter – good-natured, but rather hysterical, cackling.
Kookaburras are carnivorous
and eat lizards, snakes, insects, mice, other small birds – they’ll also try to
snatch tidbits from the plates of unwary diners – though we definitely try to
discourage that.
For the fisherfolk amongst us, the past month saw an astounding start to the annual Mullet run. Locals will always know best and our resident Whistling Kites have been up early to beat the fisherman. Closer to shore another regular, our White-faced Heron, was spotted busy patrolling the shallows; standing near motionless for extended periods before deploying a swift and effective strike.
With the blossoming bounty expected to continue, we’re expecting plenty more avian antics to amuse over the coming weeks and into May, so stay tuned.
