Kingfisher Park Birding Lodge

Australia's most beautiful mammal, Striped Possum , the prehistoric-looking Boyd's Forest Dragon and master-of-disguise Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko were just some of the highlights. Papuan Frogmouth was roosting in the orchard and about 15 species of forest bird each afternoon descended to drink at the creek. No trip to the Cairns region would be complete without dropping in to Kingfisher Park. It's one of the most famous birding lodges in Australia and with good cause. It's located in its own patch of rainforest, with a rich variety of birds, mammals, frogs and reptiles. There are many things you can see here that you would search fruitlessly for in other parts of the Atherton Tablelands. Our success had much to do with the hard work and dedication of owners Keith and Lindsay Fisher, who pain-stakingly search the grounds each day. Ask Keith what's around and what you'd like to see, and there is every chance he'll be able to help you. One of the real pleasures of being in a country with a wealth of nocturnal wildlife, is to go out spotlighting. The kids also enjoy it as they get to search for and see things that are normally hidden away during the day. We went out spotlighting with owner Keith Fisher, who can help anyone who stays at Kingfisher Park. The orchard provides a great focus. The smell of fermenting fruit is quite over-powering and it's a wonder the Spectacled Flying Foxes can even fly in a straight line after consuming them. The bird tables at reception are a good place to start about an hour after dark. Northern Brown Bandicoots , Bush Rat and if you're lucky (as we were), Giant White-tailed Rats , which are normally arboreal, descend to feed. Keith took us over the neighbouring park where three unfledged Barn Owls were sitting pretty in a big gum tree. A Sooty Owl called briefly later on. In the forest that's around the camping areas, there's a good chance of finding Northern Leaf-tailed Gecko but look hard. Although one of the largest geckos in Australia, they are perfectly blended against the tree bark. This is also where the Long-nosed Bandicoots live. They look like Bilbys, having pointy-ears and grey shiny fur. What I really wanted to see however, was Striped Possum . It has to be one of Australia's most beautiful animals. They are not uncommon but in winter, they can remain holed up for several nights in a row. We were lucky. Toward the end of the night, we heard the tell-tale movement high up in a tree and there he was looking down at us. Spotlighting is a great thing to do with the kids. Around the orchard, we challenged them to find Northern Dwarf Tree Frogs . They sit on the grasses around its edge but are only about a centimetre long. Visit the Kingfisher Park websiteView Wildiaries trip report

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