Birds And Places To See Them
Olive-backed Sunbird; Kennedy Track. All photos Jeff Larson
Mission Beach Birding
Why Go Birding Around Mission Beach?
This is a great spot for a birdwatcher – it’s close to rainforest, rivers, estuaries, sandy beaches, rocky headlands, offshore islands, human-made plantations and the high country of the Tablelands. This mix of habitats and altitudes makes it a fascinating place to spend quite a few days, to see many of the Wet Tropics special birds and get the feel of the environment. Even manicured gardens may attract over 20 species, and it is just a short walk to see birds like fruit-doves, pittas, riflebirds, shrike-thrushes and stone-curlews. In the monsoon (Wet) season, Greater and Lesser Frigatebirds may sail along the coast, getting out of the way of an incoming cyclone.
Why Go Birding Around Mission Beach?
This is a great spot for a birdwatcher – it’s close to rainforest, rivers, estuaries, sandy beaches, rocky headlands, offshore islands, human-made plantations and the high country of the Tablelands. This mix of habitats and altitudes makes it a fascinating place to spend quite a few days, to see many of the Wet Tropics special birds and get the feel of the environment. Even manicured gardens may attract over 20 species, and it is just a short walk to see birds like fruit-doves, pittas, riflebirds, shrike-thrushes and stone-curlews. In the monsoon (Wet) season, Greater and Lesser Frigatebirds may sail along the coast, getting out of the way of an incoming cyclone.
Black Butcherbird; Wongaling Beach. This bird survived Cyclone Yasi (identifiable by broken bill). We call him 'Beaky'.
Places to Find Birds - Around Mission Beach and Nearby
The beaches and rocky headlands – Beach Stone-curlews inhabit sandy beaches, while Grey-tailed and Wandering Tattlers have been seen on rocky headlands.
At Bicton Hill, Clump Mountain National Park (https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/clump-mountain) – the rainforest track up to the top of the hill may produce anything from a fantail to a cassowary and the view at the top is spectacular (unless it’s clouded in).
Visit the Edmund Kennedy Memorial Walking Track. It’s not often that one can follow the footsteps of an early explorer, but here you can, starting by the South Mission Beach boat ramp and ending at Hull Heads in Hull River National Park. It’s a long walk, but even the first part to Tam O’Shanter Point is worthwhile, for birds and beauty. Eastern Osprey, Superb Fruit-dove or Southern Cassowary may be seen along the way (cassowaries often walk on the upper beach here due to fences around large properties nearby).
The beaches and rocky headlands – Beach Stone-curlews inhabit sandy beaches, while Grey-tailed and Wandering Tattlers have been seen on rocky headlands.
At Bicton Hill, Clump Mountain National Park (https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/clump-mountain) – the rainforest track up to the top of the hill may produce anything from a fantail to a cassowary and the view at the top is spectacular (unless it’s clouded in).
Visit the Edmund Kennedy Memorial Walking Track. It’s not often that one can follow the footsteps of an early explorer, but here you can, starting by the South Mission Beach boat ramp and ending at Hull Heads in Hull River National Park. It’s a long walk, but even the first part to Tam O’Shanter Point is worthwhile, for birds and beauty. Eastern Osprey, Superb Fruit-dove or Southern Cassowary may be seen along the way (cassowaries often walk on the upper beach here due to fences around large properties nearby).
Left: Red-capped Plover at Hull Heads; right: acrobatic Rainbow Lorikeet feeding on palm nectar; Wongaling Beach.
On Dunk Island, Family Islands National Park (https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/family-islands), you will see most of the lowland forest and coastal birds that you can see on the mainland, but within an island national park. Access is by small boat or water-taxi.
At Hull River and Hull Heads, you’ll need a boat to explore the river, but walking around boat ramps and the river mouth may produce terns, herons or Eastern Osprey.
The Lacey Creek Circuit track, Djiru National Park, though short, is a very good spot to visit. Noisy Pitta, Spectacled Monarch and Spotted Catbird may be seen, and the spectacular Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfishers arrive for the Wet Season.
The Licuala Rainforest Walk (Musgravea Track), Djiru National Park, is an excellent long walk, although parts of the track may be closed by fallen trees, broken footbridges or running water, depending on present conditions. Southern Cassowaries may be seen (droppings and footprints guaranteed), as well as Victoria’s Riflebird, Rose-crowned, Superb and Wompoo Fruit-doves.
At Hull River and Hull Heads, you’ll need a boat to explore the river, but walking around boat ramps and the river mouth may produce terns, herons or Eastern Osprey.
The Lacey Creek Circuit track, Djiru National Park, though short, is a very good spot to visit. Noisy Pitta, Spectacled Monarch and Spotted Catbird may be seen, and the spectacular Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfishers arrive for the Wet Season.
The Licuala Rainforest Walk (Musgravea Track), Djiru National Park, is an excellent long walk, although parts of the track may be closed by fallen trees, broken footbridges or running water, depending on present conditions. Southern Cassowaries may be seen (droppings and footprints guaranteed), as well as Victoria’s Riflebird, Rose-crowned, Superb and Wompoo Fruit-doves.
Eastern Koel checking out Livistona fruit; Wongaling Beach.
Inland tracks
Mena Creek, is at the eastern end of the 26 km Gorell Trail, following old logging roads through valleys and ridges. Parts are not very “birdy”, but it is a beautiful and interesting walk.
Murray Falls is a popular and pretty place, good for cooling down in the river. The usual forest and open country birds (e.g. finches) are here.
Tully Gorge is accessible via Tully and is a good place for honeyeaters, gerygones, Barred Cuckoo-shrike, Yellow-breasted Boatbill and other forest birds. There is a short informal track down along the river but be cautious as the Tully River is very swift and water levels may rise suddenly.
Where to get information
Birds Australia North Queensland has a North Queensland bird list and useful birding guides for a number of locations in North Queensland, that may be downloaded and printed for personal use. (https://birdlife.org.au/groups/birdlife-northern-qld/).
The Mission Beach Visitor Information Centre offers a choice of a number of different bird books that can be purchased. (https://www.missionbeachtourism.com.au/listing/mission-beach-visitor-information-centre/).
And go to for further information on birds, blogs and other good sites.
Murray Falls is a popular and pretty place, good for cooling down in the river. The usual forest and open country birds (e.g. finches) are here.
Tully Gorge is accessible via Tully and is a good place for honeyeaters, gerygones, Barred Cuckoo-shrike, Yellow-breasted Boatbill and other forest birds. There is a short informal track down along the river but be cautious as the Tully River is very swift and water levels may rise suddenly.
Where to get information
Birds Australia North Queensland has a North Queensland bird list and useful birding guides for a number of locations in North Queensland, that may be downloaded and printed for personal use. (https://birdlife.org.au/groups/birdlife-northern-qld/).
The Mission Beach Visitor Information Centre offers a choice of a number of different bird books that can be purchased. (https://www.missionbeachtourism.com.au/listing/mission-beach-visitor-information-centre/).
And go to for further information on birds, blogs and other good sites.