Vol. XXI 

 1922 



] CAMPF.ELL. Birds of Grootc Bylandt. 195 



FIELD NOTES from Diary of W. McLENNAN, R.A.O.U. 



1st May, 1921. — Turn out at daylight; breakfast, and go ashore. 

 Pick cut a place to camp and get Eric and the boys to rig up old tent 

 and fly. Go inland eastward along edge of swampy country for 

 about a mile to small mangrove-fringed creek. Bird life scarce. 

 Brown Honey-eater, Ground Doves {Gcopclia humeralis and placida), 

 and a White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike (Graucalus hypolcucus) noted. Follow 

 creek up short distance, then cross it and continue along edge of swampy 

 country for another mile. A single Native Companion (Antigone rithicunda) 

 the only bird seen about the swampy country. Head north along a sandy 

 rise, heavily timbered with messmate and bloodwood (Eiicalypts) and Wattle 

 (Acacia), undergrowth of saplings, shrubs and coarse grass -very thick. 

 A pair of Bronzewing Pigeons (Pliaps chalcoptera) flush from the ground 

 and away out of sight. Continue along this rise for a couple of miles. 

 Bee-eaters numerous, and a single Di'ongo (Chihia bractcata) and a 

 Forest Kingfisher seen. Northern Thickhead (Pachyccphala falcata). 

 Honey-eaters (Sfigmatops indistincta and Conopopbila albogitlaris), 

 Chestnut-rumped Pardalote also seen occasionally. Head to west 

 through similar country and strike belt of scrub behind the mangi'ove 

 along the passage into Nor'-west Bay. Several big tamarind trees 

 in this belt. Bower-Bird • ( Chlamydera nuchalis ) noted. Search 

 through the scrub. Brown Thickhead fairly numerous. A pair of 

 Rainbow Pittas only other birds seen; found two of their old nests. 

 Return to camp through the strip of fairly open countiy in from 

 beach; spear-grass very thick here. Few White-gaped Honey-eaters 

 seen in large-leafed bushes near beach. Flock of Blood-stained ' ' Cockles ' ' 

 and a pair of White "Cockles " seen flying past. Reach camp 3.30; 

 clothes a mass of spear-grass seeds. Go on board, have a cup of 

 tea; bring gear ashore and fix up camp for the night. 



2/5/21. — Daylight, rain squalls for a couple of hours. Breakfast, 

 and go out S.W. along foot of the Bluff for about li miles. All mess- 

 mate forest here; very" thick undergrowth, mostly Zamias and rank 

 grass. Birds fairly numerous. Bower-Bird, Oriole, Drongo, Pied 

 Butcher Bird, Silveiy-crowned Friar-Bird, Honey-eaters, Flycatchers 

 { Rhipidura setosa and Myiagra concinna). Red-backed Wren, Red- 

 Collared Lorikeet, Chestnut-rumped Pardalote noted. Go up spur 

 of Bluff, heavily timbered with messmate, bloodwood, Moreton Bay 

 ash (Eiicalypts), pine, wattles (Acacia), and other trees and shrubs, 

 and to S.E. for about two miles; pretty rough going most of the way. 

 Fewer birds observed. Brown Shrike-Thrush, Pardalote, Northern 

 Thickhead, Barred-shouldered Dove ( Gcopclia humeralis ), Brown 

 Honey-eater, Silveiy-crowned Friar-Bird, Pied Butcher-Binl, White 

 Cockatoo seen. Reach to edge of the Bluff; it drops away abruptly 

 to a great forest-clad valley, 200 feet below, which stretches away 

 for miles to the east and south to a series of lower forest-clad bluffs 

 and ridges. No open grass, or open swampy country to be seen. Go 

 down into the valley and through for a couple of miles; no bird-life 

 of any kind here; very poor class of country. Head back to the Bluff", 

 and cross a spur. Can get better view of the countiy about head 

 of Nor'-west Bay. It appears to be worse than this. No hope of 

 getting into the big central Bluff from there; it appears to be about 

 ten miles inland from the head of the bay. Go down into the forest 

 along the north side of Bluff and head through to the camp. Crow, 

 Crimson-winged Parrot, and Peaceful Ground Doves noted. Saw a 

 single Magpie [ Gymnorhina) flying ahead and set out after it, but 

 it eventually flew over the Bluff. Old nests of Friar-Birds, Finches, 

 and Pigeons were seen in this stretch of forest. Got back to camp 

 about 2.30 p.m. pretty tired: it is heavy work ploughing through the 

 rank grass and undergrowth. Lunch, and spent rest of the afternoon 

 hunting through the mangroves near camp. Broad-billed and Shining 



