Varied Lorikeet: A spectacular Lorikeet of the top end, often seen in small parties or large groups. It feeds on flowers or fruit, often seen in tight formation darting through the trees and bushes. They are found in tropical forest and melaleuca woodland. They will breed at any time but mostly May to September.

Victoria's Riflebird: Better known as the Bird of Paradise, this is one of the spectacular birds of the rainforest. I've found a number of them in the Daintree. Sometimes they give their location away by their calls, trying to draw a female's attention to their display perch. When a female comes close they flip their heads back and forward, concealing it one moment, then showing it the next.

Queensland Sunbird: This is common small honeyeater, usually found close to people. The yellow bird is the female, the male somewhat spectacular with its blue thorax. They make a hanging nest and when photographed can be spectacular images with the chicks hanging out of the nest. The nests are always found low down, usually on verandas. I have even seen them built on the ropes of a tent, but certainly always near people.

Crimson Finch: fairly common in the north of Qld. it does not feed on the ground but likes seed heads of grass a meter or so high , usually seen in pairs or small parties, I came across quite a number while in Kakadu.

Gouldian Finch: Truly magnificent little birds, but sometimes hard to find. I came upon a group drinking at a water hole. They inhabit open tropical woodland with scattered trees, never usually far from water. You occasionally see them in flocks, feeding in tall grasses.

Little Bronze Cuckoo: I spotted this one in a swamp in Kakadu. It looks as if it completely missed the snack beside it, a pair damsel flies. A very attractive bird. This was the first time I'd found them.

Male Hooded Parrots: This shot was taken somewhere on the Stuart Highway. The male was seeing off the immature male. These birds are hard to find. I was lucky, a gardener was watering the grass which brought in a number of birds.

Till the next time.

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