Bird Watching at the Northern Beaches

Access to Thuringowa’s Northern Beaches is from the Bruce Highway north of Townsville and each area is well sign-posted. Bushland, Saunders, Toolakea, Toomulla and Balgal Beaches are popular for a range of attractions, including bird watching. All provide ideal habitats for seabirds and migratory waders. Of particular note are the Beach Stone Curlew, Pied Oystercatchers, Red-capped Plovers and several species of Terns. Raptors are ever present in the sky, while a good assortment of forest birds can be spotted in the vegetation behind the dunes.

Large numbers of migrating waders can usually be seen on the beaches between September and April. Care should be taken on the beaches to ensure dogs do not disturb the birds. Motorised transport is prohibited on the beaches and the dunes. Walks in the bush behind the dunes and along the edges of the mangroves will generally reveal some of the more elusive forest birds.

Birds likely to be seen include: Eastern Reef Egret, Strawnecked Ibis, Osprey, Black Kite, Whistling Kite, Brahminy Kite, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Whimbrel, Eastern Curlew, Red-necked Stint, Black fronted Dotterel, Silver Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Little Tern, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaley breasted Lorikeet, Red-winged Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Redbacked Fairy-Wren, Mangrove Gerygone, Helmeted Friarbird, Blue-faced Honeyeater, White-winged Triller, Olive-backed Oriole, Black Butcherbird.

Bird Watching at Bluewater

Bluewater is a 30 minute drive on the Bruce Highway north of Townsville. Turn left off the Highway into Forestry Road at Bluewater and drive 18km west into the forest. The road is closed during the wet season, but is generally accessible by conventional vehicle in dry weather. Caution is advised when driving on the gravel road up the range. Before venturing into the area, it is suggested that information regarding accessibility and road conditions be sought from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service in Ingham on 07 4777 2822.

At the southern end of the Wet Tropics World Heritage area is the Bluewater Section of Paluma State Forest, which is the closest accessible rainforest to Townsville, offering great views over the coast and offshore islands. This is a popular retreat in summer, but few facilities are provided, so visitors must be self-sufficient and camping is prohibited in the forest. Good bird watching is also available in the parkland and camping area on the left just after the turn off from Bruce Highway into Forestry Road.

Birds likely to be seen include: Brown Cuckoo Dove, Barshouldered Dove, Superb Fruit- Dove, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Topknot Pigeon, Red-tailed Black- Cockatoo, Crimson Rosella, Paleheaded Rosella, Brush Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Dollarbird, White-throated Treecreeper, Fairy Gerygone, Lewin’s Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Dusky Honeyeater, Lemon-bellied Flycatcher, Eastern Yellow Robin, Eastern Whipbird, Golden Whistler, Yellowbreasted Boatbill, Spectacled Monarch, Leaden Flycatcher, Figbird, Spotted Catbird, Red-browed Finch.

Click here (129KB) to download your free Birding Checklist for the Northern Beaches area, courtesy of the Townsville Region Bird Observers Club and Thuringowa City Council.