Dick Eussen's trip to the Arnhemland Barramundi Nature Lodge in late Marchl 2006

The trip took place at the end of March and, a time when the wet season is normally on the wane. I left Cairns two days after Cyclone Larry, which blasted us here at Mareeba. No one was predicting Cyclone Monica, though I was holding out for more rain, seeing that the wet season started late.

I spent 5 days at the lodge, with two full days looking for birds, though while we were fishing we added a few more species to the list. Many were still nesting and along the Tomkinson and Mann Rivers were lots of honeyeater nests, while a rookery on the Mann River was full of young - egrets, cormorants, herons, etc. There were plenty of raptors about. It rained for three days, so bird watching for that time of the year is not good.

Once the ground dries out and vehicle access becomes possible onto the floodplains, probably in about 3 to 4 weeks time, the numbers will really improve with day numbers of 100 odd or more species becoming possible. I recorded 77 species of birds on this last trip, though this could be added too if we had headed out to the islands, Haul Round, Second, and Field. It was too rough due to weather conditions. Some waders were gathering about the tidal flats along the river and off Juda Point.

I lived in Kakadu National Park for 10 years and have been a regular visitor to the Territory since 1962, but I have never seen a Hooded Parrot, even during my September 2005 survey. This time I saw three pairs all within 12 km from the lodge. That was truly remarkable, and I believe we also found their breeding ground. Another parrot that is relatively rare is the Northern Rosella, we saw five this time. Both species are restricted and certainly not common.

There is much more to discover when it comes to birds and with some of the Aboriginal people taking an interest in this new venture, I am sure that some fine areas will be open where relative rare and uncommon species will be found. Arnhem Land is a birding frontier, something I discovered back in the 1980's. I wonder what took it so long.

Dick Eussen