Please be warned that this post is all about one of my favourite Daintree water birds which I first saw nesting on Barratt Creek in 1986. At that stage we were a long way from restoration work and any bird activity away from the narrow esplanade along Barratt Creek was minimal. At various times we would hear the throaty call of a Great-Billed Heron and when we eventually had a boat on the creek we often saw one perched or if we disturbed it we would watch its majestic form flying above the water as it flew ahead of us towards the main river.
Once we had established wetlands in the early 2000s I was thrilled to occasionally catch a glimpse of a Great-billed Heron or know from it’s call that it was not far away. Now some twenty years later sightings are more frequent although being in a suitable location with a camera at hand is another story! This particular bird we are presuming is a regular visitor as it seems to be less nervous. We also presume that it has been watching us more than we have seen it and has now decided that we are not such a threat. I hope so.
After flying up to perch in a nearby Leichhardt tree (good sturdy horizontal branches) as I approached our rather open ‘hide’ this Great-billed Heron started to relax and preen. I tried to remain as unobtrusive as possible and eventually it flew down to the mudflat right in front of the hide.
I loved watching the slow and careful footsteps as the bird approached the water, seemingly it was totally focused on any potential prey movement.
I was poised, ready to record some action…………
Then it turned around and walked slowly in the other direction before having another preen.
After all that potential excitement it was then back to the favourite game of ‘statues’ – a very typical pose.
After such regular rainfall through the ‘winter’ months I thought our main mudflats were, once again, to remain an underwater mystery. Luckily ‘the tap’ was turned off for a few weeks as the heat increased and much to the delight of several bird species, in addition to the resident humans, the mud was revealed in all it’s glory with lots of yummy insects.
At first glance it may appear a somewhat drab outlook, however there is a veritable feast awaiting avid foragers such as the Buff-banded Rail in the photo above. It shared the space quite amicably with a couple of Pale-vented Bush-hens and a Jacana which, although often seen on the water lilies, couldn’t resist the abundant caterpillars on the mudflat.
A visiting Oriental Cuckoo joined in the feast and occasionally a White-browed Crake would sneak out from the cover of the sedge to feed quite manically in the shallows.
It is lovely to have the opportunity to actually see some of the birds that reside here. When the water levels are high we often hear the calls but it is fun to watch the interactions between the species feeding together. The White-browed Crake, which does tend to be a timid species, runs for cover as soon as the Jacana approaches.
Our camera doesn’t really cope with the distance but it was such fun to see the Shining Flycatcher share the perch with the Azure Kingfishers for a few minutes.
I started uploading these photos a few days ago and since then we’ve had more than 80mm of steady rain which is a wonderful soaking and has cheered up the vegetation that was starting to look a bit thirsty. The downside is that the retrieval of the weeds that I left on the edge of the mud are no longer ‘on the edge’. Looks like it is going to be another very muddy experience!
Recently we have been seeing evidence of Cassowary visitation around our orchard and along some of our tracks. From the size of the droppings we knew there was an adult bird as well as a younger although we had no idea if they were travelling together. This morning the mystery was revealed with two birds appearing outside our kitchen window as they picked around looking for some Jaboticaba fruit.
After taking a few photos through the window I ventured into the carport but the youngster was curious and walked towards me so I backed away to avoid any potential conflict with the male. The male appeared quite calm so we were not surprised to find, after comparing head shots of the bird who last visited in March ’22, that it is the same bird.
As the birds wandered away from the house towards the vegetable garden I took a couple of steps away from the carport for one last photo of them leaving – and that was one step too far for Mr Cassowary. In a flash his head was down and he was running towards me. I took off for shelter behind our outside shower screen then retreated to the house which allowed my heart rate to return to normal. The big birds left the house environs soon afterwards and I went on with my gardening pursuits later in the morning while keeping a watchful eye open just in case.
It doesn’t matter how many times I see them they are truly awesome.
During a quiet read after lunch I was vaguely aware of a scrabbling sound coming from the other end of the house. Being deeply engrossed in my book it took quite a few seconds to realize that it couldn’t be a branch scraping against the house as we keep our house clear of vegetation. As I went to investigate I met a youngish Lace Monitor coming along the passageway. I spoke to it in a quiet voice suggesting it would be best if it returned from whence it came and so it turned around heading back into the guest room. As it had been a fresh breezy day I had earlier opened the sliding glass door, leaving the screen door in place but it’s a bit loose in its track and easily pushed to one side – I imagine that entry was gained by accident but who knows?
Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) looking out the window quite calmly.
I took this photo while lying across the bed so I could get into a suitable position without being too close. I didn’t want to cause panic as I had no wish to find out what those claws would do to my skin! I was simply delighted at such a close encounter – it didn’t take very long for the monitor to see the opening and so my unexpected guest was soon back into the safety of the garden.
Heading back out into the garden.
Last October we had a much smaller version of the above which I think gained access through ill-fitting louvres. As we often have skinks coming into the house at first I presumed the movement in my peripheral vision was that of a skink but the moment I looked properly it was obvious it was a very young monitor. Luckily I managed to catch it quite quickly as trying to move across the tiled floor was making it panic.
Such perfection – a rare treat to be able to look so closely and take a quick photo. Pity I didn’t think to remove the foot fluff before taking the photo; evidence of an inside excursion!
We also have unexpected appearances from plants which have quietly established themselves and then announce their presence with some lovely flowers. I noticed these flowers when I was working on weed eradication nearby so I took some time to enjoy them.
Dioclea hexandra is quite a rare climber in this region
While the temperatures were still quite high towards the end of summer this cheeky Carpet Python decided to cool off while perhaps hoping for a snack. As we felt it was probably not in a ‘sharing mood’ with all the birds wanting a turn in the birdbaths, the snake was gently encouraged to leave.
This unusual sight required gentle intervention.A healthy and very clean snake!
Our tropical winter has seemed quite cool this year but this is very much a subjective observation. As we rely on passive climate control in our house we have been closing doors and some windows in the late afternoon to try and retain some warmth. I know that as we head towards our summer season these cool temperatures will rapidly become a distant memory.
In the last few weeks the Green Orioles have been announcing a change of the seasons, especially notable during their morning dawn chorus. The migratory Metallic Starlings have returned, chittering in the trees as they discuss their recent travel experiences and the Rufous Fantail which has been a frequent visitor to the birdbath for the last few months is no longer with us.
Pandercetes gracilis – Australian Lichen Spider
Now that I’ve identified this spider with Greg Anderson’s assistance I have found it in the garden on several occasions in spite of it’s very clever camouflage.
After consistent, steady rain yesterday it was lovely to get outside this morning for a walk around the tracks. Not many flowers at this time of the year but there is more than just green in a rainforest when you look closely.
Dillenia alata – Red Beech
Once a mowed path, now a natural track crossed by tree roots requiring some careful footsteps.
Floscopa Scandens
We originally identified a remnant patch of this plant with the help of a local botanist who said it was becoming harder to find. As it belongs to Commelinaceae it was not hard to propagate and plant in a few swampy areas. It is now well established and provides a lovely groundcover contrasting with areas of sedge along the edge of the wetlands.
Subtle colour but Floscopa Scandens has such a pretty flower.
When I returned from my walk I found this Green Tree snake moving along behind my plant pots on the verandah. We thought it was probably on a hunt for frogs but a Black Butcherbird keeps a close eye on our house frogs and they have got very good at hiding during the daylight hours.
The sound of Allen chatting quietly in our bathroom last Sunday morning alerted me to the visit of a cassowary. While this may seem odd, he doesn’t usually talk to himself and he has a particular tone he uses when talking to cassowaries.
Such an amazing sight – right outside the bathroom.
I was astonished to see the size of this bird standing just a few metres away on the lawn – definitely a different, older bird compared to our most recent visiting cassowary. As we stepped outside to take some photos she walked towards us, so we stood still and continued talking quietly. She emphasized her size by stretching upwards and gave a short rumble before moving away slightly to look around.
I just couldn’t take my eyes off the size of her legs and feet! For reference, the pavers are 400mm x 400mm.
She is a mature bird but not very old judging by the size of the casque. We believe that the size of her feet identifies her as female. We wondered if she may have chased off the younger cassowary but later in the afternoon the younger cassowary appeared again. Our domestic chooks who had been pecking around in front of the verandah suddenly took off in fright as the younger cassowary strolled past on the lawn.
The younger cassowary which Allen now thinks is a male, due to the slightly drooping tail feathers seen here so beautifully displayed.
The next morning, washing dishes and occasionally casting my gaze around outside I thought perhaps all the action was over for the moment but a few minutes later the younger of the two birds approached the other side of the house. As I greeted it with ‘there you are…’ it briefly stepped onto the verandah, then turned to check a wind chime for edibility before walking off downhill.
The next day we left early for Cairns leaving the chooks locked up in their secure pen with extra greens for the day, as Allen thought the python sunning near the outdoor enclosure was a little close for comfort.
Amethystine python basking in the morning light and showing some amethyst colours.
Probably the same python which caused a night-time disturbance recently. I was in our outside shower when one of the chooks started screaming so grabbing my glasses and some sandals I took off after Allen who had sensibly grabbed a torch. We both expected to find a chook being strangled by a python. There was a python but it was on the floor of the shed with a mouthful of feathers and a furious Layla (our blue egger) standing next to it still screaming and giving it an occasional peck! Allen opened the door and ‘encouraged’ the snake to leave but it took quite some effort to persuade it to move on. The snake had made a hole in some rusty wire which was repaired by Allen the following day.
Anyway…….. back to cassowaries. Daily sightings of at least one bird continued for the week. We’ve been pondering what fruit is attracting them. A couple of weeks ago Allen identified Ficus hispida in a scat but in recent days we have noticed both birds have very muddy legs and feet. As the Nauclea orientalis (Leichhardt trees) are fruiting we think both birds have been in the swampy areas. This theory is also supported by the tracks they are using.
Strolling across our front lawn with fresh mud on her legs and a cloud of mozzies on the black feathers.
On Friday afternoon Allen walked down to the bird hide just to check out the pond scene. All fairly quiet but he did spy the young cassowary on the bund wall and with a ‘oh there you are’ he took a few photos. Hearing footsteps a few minutes later he opened the door of the hide thinking I had come to join him but it was the young cassowary standing half-way down the stone steps just wanting to see what was happening.
Just standing around preening and wondering what’s happening next.We treat these birds with respect and it feels like it’s a mutual arrangement. Allen took this lovely portrait.
What a wonderful week it has been, with so many special moments worth recording. We have constant reminders that we form only a very small part of the big picture and we need to do our best to fit in.
It’s been more than 12 months since we have seen a cassowary at Wild Wings & Swampy Things. During recent seed collecting excursions Allen has observed a few cassowary droppings which pleased us as it was good to know that a cassowary was feeding on fruit from trees we had planted. Then, a few days ago we saw a bird outside our kitchen reaching up into the Jaboticaba tree for some fruit. Allen was immediately sure that it was the same bird which had visited regularly for some time last year but I took a bit more convincing.
The slightly naïve trust that the younger bird exhibited when in our proximity has been replaced by nervousness at our appearance, and our first sighting was very brief as it disappeared quite quickly after seeing me in the garden. Today I started talking quietly as I stood inside the house behind a screen door and then I was able to open a door and get a couple of photos while the bird walked about on the lawn
A quick preen – ignoring the shutter clickAre you looking at me? I’m just tidying myself up…………And then a chance for a head shot as she looked at her reflection in a window
We were both talking quietly, telling her not to worry about her reflection and after a couple of light pecks at the glass she walked off. Cassowaries have been known to kick and break glass when convinced that their reflection is another bird threatening their territory. If this is the same bird that visited last year, (and I’m beginning to agree with Allen that he/she is the same) then the wary behaviour must be a result of encounters with other cassowaries and quite possibly other humans and that is a good sign.
After a somewhat serendipitous inquiry earlier in the year, we had an interesting day a couple of months ago with a crew of enthusiastic ecologists working with high tech laser scanners. The Arbormetrics team measured the volume of growth in some of the first areas to be revegetated on Wild Wings & Swampy Things, in the early 1990s. Although these areas were originally planted as ‘timber plots’, at quite wide spacings, they have gradually filled in with rainforest species. Visiting wildlife, especially birds, are responsible for increasing the diversity of any plantings and it is particularly obvious when the initial plantings are so widely spaced.
Checking out the edge of a plot and planning the work.
The crew divided up into 3 teams so they could cover the 1994 plantings as well as the 1995 plot which is to the left of our driveway. After the initial inspection it was all carried out very efficiently but still took more than 4 hours.
Setting up the scanner near where the vehicle was parked in our orchard which gave reasonable access to two sites.
The equipment is heavy and awkward to transport on foot and these guys were loaded up with water packs ready for several hours work. We were impressed with the thoroughness of the measuring; the scanner was set up every 10m along a bearing for at least 100m before starting again 10m distant from the last bearing.
Allen and I spent most of our time walking with James and Anthony as they were working through dense undergrowth consisting of three different Calamus species. (Wait-A-While). We were both impressed with the techniques these guys had developed to get out of tangles while carrying heavy and very precious equipment. The work takes considerable concentration in order to keep out of the way of the laser beam and maintain accuracy. It means either walking ahead of the beam as the scanner turns or squatting down below the beam when the vegetation is too thick to move through easily. It was a novel experience squatting under a tripod with 3 other people for 46 seconds, I was being very careful not to bump the tripod legs but I was informed that it wasn’t necessary for me to whisper!This beautiful 4-spined Spiny Orb weaver needed to be relocated after she decided to investigate the scanner more closely.Jerry and Marcus with the scanner in a horizontal position to get a reading on the height of the surrounding trees. There were two scans taken at every point in dense forest to give an accurate picture of the volume.
After lunch and a short break they packed up their camp equipment and we drove in convoy to a Rainforest Rescue property north of the Daintree River. This beautiful forest contains some spectacular old trees. As the wind had increased after lunch it was decided to set out marker cones and return to the forest in the early evening when it was forecast to be calm.
James, Rob, Marcus and Jerry with Allen at Lot 18
Setting out the cones is, in itself quite a task but makes it possible to carry out the readings at night when the air is usually still. The cones are all labelled so everyone is able to check they are at the correct place.
Putting the cones into the correct order ready for distribution.All sorted and ready to go.
Marcus taking a reading then making sure everyone is in line before putting a cones down. This process repeated every 10m.
Then it was on to check out the next site, have a meal and come back to work at night. Allen and I were happy to head home after a very interesting day.
Paddling around in our little dinghy on the wetlands, pulling weeds from the water, may appear messy and unappealing to some but it really isn’t a dreaded chore for me. I just love those moments of quiet amongst the water lilies watching the dragonflies and apologizing to the Magpie geese for disturbing them. My safety is assured with Allen’s dedication to thorough and accurate crocodile observations which gives me the freedom for some ‘water play’ while he keeps watch, just in case.
Carefully pulling up the grass to ensure the root is with it – nothing so disappointing as a broken stem!
This year we both found our winter wetland maintenance work was surprisingly uplifting. Although we have had further outbreaks of the dreaded Hymenachne amplexicaulis, our big efforts at clearing extensive invasions last year have not had to be repeated. This year we’ve just had a few patches which have been manually removed. Unfortunately we couldn’t get it all before some plants had flowered and produced more seed as our timing for any wetland work depends on our confidence regarding the whereabouts of our regular crocodile visitor. After two months with neither sighting nor any sign of where she has been sunning herself we were fairly sure she had retreated to the creek, however we maintained our safety routine…… just in case.
Taking the time to pull out a single plant can save a lot of angst in a few monthsThere is nothing elegant about paddling a dinghy of muddy weeds but the waterlilies are lovely.
What continues to delight us both is watching our revegetation efforts mature and I especially enjoy the shady edges along the ponds as well as observing the variety of species that are becoming well established. Birds and fruit bats have assisted us in increasing the biodiversity of our planting, which confirms our philosophy of planting a framework of trees and leaving the rest to wind and wildlife.
Melaleuca Swamp in between two of our front ponds. August 2021The same area as above from a different viewpoint. September 2004 – planting has just started. 2004 – at the start of our first wetland creation and the beginning of a wonderful relationship.
Reading and listening to many personal accounts of life during 2020 constantly reminded us of how lucky we are to live in our relatively isolated tropical paradise. While we continue to abide by any recommended Coronovirus safety procedures we have been able to enjoy many wonderful experiences with close friends in our local area. A morning with our friend Murray on one his Daintree Boatman tours is always a delight, especially when the tides are suitable for him to navigate Barratt Creek. He always gives us plenty of time to admire these magnificent Water Gums – Tristaniopsis exiliflora which grow next to the outflow from our wetlands. I don’t know their age but I have loved these trees since I first saw them in 1985.
A favourite view of these magnificent Tristaniopsis with reflections in the still waters of Barratt Creek.
We have been fortunate in that we had already planned for a year at home in 2020, long before the current global pandemic took hold. Last year we caught up with several building maintenance issues in addition to giving our house garden and orchard some much needed tender loving care. Allowing ourselves time to simply enjoy being here, in addition to the satisfaction we have in our achievement has given us both a renewed love for Wild Wings & Swampy Things. It is a wonderful feeling to admire trees that we have grown from seed which are now providing food and shelter for our local wildlife.
One of the major regular tasks is grass mowing which, although considerably reduced in recent years, remains an energy consuming activity. Earlier this year I had my first experience of walking through a ‘food forest’ harvesting fruit from a variety of trees as we went. Although I knew of the concept I hadn’t experienced the sheer delight and I was inspired to rethink our house garden as well as the orchard. After collecting seed from fruit gifted to me during the abundant tropical summer harvesting period I have grown a collection of several exotic tropical fruit trees to add to the diversity in our orchard as well as creating a more productive garden near the house.
Our energetic young friend Nina with a February harvest from a nearby food forest – Marang, Chempadak, Engkala, Rollinia and Abiu along with a bunch of greens for our salad that evening. I helped carry the fruit but she was the one climbing the trees – up one Chempedak to 20m!Sweet melt-in-the-mouth morsels of Marang fruit, a member of the Moraceae family.
Just looking at that photo of the Marang takes me back to our hot and humid summer days spent sharing a wonderful variety of fruits and making new friends. From exotic fruit to native rainforest – such is the diversity of our lives. We continue our voluntary work with Rainforest Rescue identifying properties which may be suitable for purchase and subsequent protection. We make a thorough assessment of the property’s vegetation on site which gives us the opportunity to explore some interesting forest. It also exercises our memories or in my case, tests my identification skills as I’m not as methodical as Allen! This is followed by a check through a criteria list that Allen has developed, taking in to account the property’s connectivity to National Park, World Heritage or other protected land, it’s likelihood of being settled, the extent of weed incursions etc.
Ground level view through old rainforest
Allen is also spending time collecting seed for the Rainforest Rescue nursery, as production is increasing to meet the demand for trees. We are pleased that there are now a number of large regeneration projects happening in the area – wonderfully positive news!
Gomphandra australiana bravely germinates on the forest floor – so fragile amongst the forest debris.Marine, RR’s nursery manager, exploring Lot 18 Kimberley Road with us. The terrain can sometimes be a bit challenging but there is virtually no lawyer-vine on this site which makes movement through the trees much easier.Agyrodendron peralatum – a delicate winged seed called a samara, which helicopters its way to the forest floor.
There is so much to observe in the rainforest, so much beauty on the forest floor, the trunks of the trees and the everchanging shapes and hues of the foliage as light filters through.
Fan Palm understory at Lot 18 – magnificent old rainforest.
We have always known that a walk in the forest is good for our souls – I believe the term is now ‘forest bathing’? Whatever it might be called we hope that residents and visitors to the area will still be able to experience a quiet walk through tropical rainforest in the years ahead.
Now that our major restoration projects are complete we are taking more time to simply enjoy the privilege of living in such a beautiful, peaceful and endlessly interesting area.
While there are always a few maintenance tasks the work is not onerous and we can take time out to enjoy our walking tracks as well as to sit and simply look around.
It is immensely rewarding to observe the growth in the vegetation, watch trees mature and to delight in the variety and number of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects both residing on and visiting the property.
Allen
Barbara
Wild Wings & Swampy Things 