Monday, July 8, 2013

Winter in the Daintree - Kingfishers galore!

A busy time of the year in the Daintree with school holidays in all the cold southern states. What could be better than escaping to the tropics?!
It is a lovely time for wildlife - whales off-shore, crocs and tree snakes basking in the sun on the banks of the Daintree River, frogs hiding indoors during the day and lots of lovely birds.
Winter can be good time for seeing kingfishers, and at this time of year the following are visible around Daintree Village.

Little Kingfisher - Australia's smallest - shy and always near water.

Azure Kingfisher - bright and confiding and nearly always seen on the Daintree River.

Forest Kingfisher - often seen on power lines or fences, hunting for skinks, grasshoppers etc. Recognisable by the two white 'headlights' above the bill.

Sacred Kingfisher - more common in winter as it settles into the warmer weather. Another feeder of arthropods and others.

Laughing Kookaburra - our early morning chorus. 'Laugh, Kookaburra, Laugh'.

Blue-winged Kookaburra - more common in the open areas, rather than forest. Great haircut!!