VOL. 8 (2) JUNE, 1979 1974 National Photographic Index 57 Robinson, J. W., 1976. Falconry in Australia. The Falconer 6 (4) : 202-5. Storr, G. M., 1964. The Birds of Depuch Island. W .A . Mus. Special Pub!. 2: 80-81. Sutton, J., 1935. Some additions to the South Australian Museum Collec­ tion. S.A. Ornith. 13: 29-34. Walsh, B. P., 1978. Observations on Peregrine Falcons nesting in Werribee Gorge, Victoria. Australian Bird Watcher 7 (5): 137-142. ABW Birds of the 1974 National Photographic Index of Australian Birds Expedition to Central Cape York Peninsula, Queensland By MURRAY D. BRUCE, cjo Dr. G. F. Mees, Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Postbus 9517, 2300RA, Leidon, Netherlands. Introduction A summary list of the 138 species recorded during the first expedition of the National Photographic Index of Australian Birds to Cape York Peninsula in October 1974, is presented herein. The following localities between Laura and Wenlock were visited (text abbreviations and dates indicated): l. HR - Hann River area: around the main road and the nearby lagoon, October 10-15, 23-25. 2. CR - Coen River area: near to Coen, and including the Horne and Peach Creeks and Port Stewart areas, October 15-20, 22-23. 3. RJ - Rokeby Station: the Jaribu Outstation area, about 35 mil es west of Coen, October 20-22. For a map and additional details covering the birds of this area see "Birds from Cape York Peninsula, Queensland", by George Mack (1 953, Mem, Qld. Mus. 13 : 1-39) . In 1975 a second expedition to Cape York was successfully completed; this time to Iron Range (see Anon, 1975, Viet. Nat. 92: 254-255, for general details). Some of the results of these expectitions can be seen in the "Complete Book of Australian Birds" , 1976, edited by H. J. Frith , (Reader's Digest, Sydney) . Special thanks are due to the other members of the expedition, M r. Donald Trounson (Executive Officer of the Index, Sydney), Miss Moll y Clampett (Australasian Office of the BBC, Sydney, and assistant to Mr. Trounson), and Mr. Eric Zillman (Gin Gin, Qld.). Mr. Zillman's previou s field experience on Cape York greatly contributed to the success of the expedition. Financial support was generously provided by the Bank of New South Wales, through special funds based on a grants scheme to the Index covering four years. Systematic list Status: Where it is not indicated, thespecies was considered to be rela­ tively common. Those birds noted in small numbers (S) were only observed once or a few times at the indicated locality. Additional com­ ments are included in somes cases: AUSTRALIAN 58 BRUCE BIRD WATCHER Australian Little Grebe HR(S) Crested Hawk HR(S), CR(S) Little Black Cormorant HR(S) Black Kite HR(S) Little Pied Cormorant HR, CR(S), Square-tailed Kite HR(S) RJ(S) Whistling Kite HR, CR, RJ(S) Darter HR(S), RJ(S) White-breasted Sea Eagle HR(S), Black Bittern HR(S), RJ(S) RJ(S) Nankeen Night Heron HR(S), Brown Goshawk HR, RJ RJ(S) Collared Sparrowhawk RJ(S) Large Egret HR(S), RJ(S) Grey Goshawk HR Plumed Egret HR(S) Wedge-tailed Eagle CR(S) Little Egret HR(S), CR(S) Osprey HR(S), CR(S), RJ(S) Jabiru HR(S), RJ(S). Also, four Nankeen Kestrel HR, CR(S) juvenile birds at a river crossing Brown Falcon HR, CR, RJ south of Coen. Peregrine Falcon HR(S) Eastern White Ibis HR Orange-footed Scrub Fowl RJ(S) Royal Spoonbill HR Brush Turkey HR(S), CR(S) Magpie Goose HR Brown Quail HR, CR Whistling Tree Duck HR Brolga HR(S), CR(S) Grey Duck HR, RJ(S) Uniform Swiftlet CR(S) Lotusbird HR(S) Spine-tailed Swift CR(S), RJ(S) Masked Plover HR(S), CR(S) Fork-tailed Swift RJ(S) Whimbrel CR(S) Azure Kingfisher HR(S), CR(S), Eastern Curlew CR(S) RJ(S) Bar-tailed Godwit CR(S) Laughing Kookaburra HR, CR, RJ Bush Curlew CR(S) Blue-winger Kookaburra HR, CR, Silver Gull CR(S) RJ Common Bronzewing HR(S). Four Forest Kingfisher HR(S), CR(S), noted 35 miles north of Laura RJ(S) and only one in the Hann River Sacred Kingfisher HR(S) area. Rainbow Bee-eater HR, CR Squatter Pigeon HR, CR, RJ Dollarbird HR, CR, RJ Bar-shouldered Dove HR, CR, RJ Welcome Swallow CR(S) Peaceful Dove HR, CR, RJ Black-faced Cuckooshrike HR, CR, Diamond Dove HR(S) RJ Purple-crowned Pigeon CR(S) Papuan Cuckooshrike HR, CR, RJ Torres Strait Pigeon HR(S), CR(S), Cicadabird HR, CR, RJ. The calls RJ(S) of the Cape York birds are quite Rainbow Lorikeet HR, CR, RJ distinctive when compared to Red-tailed Black Cockatoo HR, those of birds further south. The CR Cicadabirds of south-eastern Galah HR, CR, RJ Papua New Guinea have calls White Cockatoo HR, CR, RJ that are apparently quite similar Golden-shouldered Parrot. A flock (L. W. C. Filewood, pers. comm.) of this very rare parrot (3 and the Cape York birds are females; 2 immature males) was probably the same subspecies found. Due to the extreme rarity (aruensis). More field work is of this species, the locality is not needed to settle this matter. listed. Varied Triller HR(S) Red-winged Parrot HR, CR, RJ Grey-crowned Babbler HR, CR, RJ Pale-headed Rosella HR, CR, RJ Red-backed Wren HR, CR, RJ Pallid Cuckoo HR(S) Brush Cuckoo HR, RJ Green Pygmy Goose HR Little Bronze Cuckoo HR, CR, R J VOL. 8 (2) JUNE, 1979 1974 National Photographic Index 59 Koel HR, CR, RJ White-throated Warbler HR(S) Channel-billed Cuckoo HR, CR, RJ Black-throated Warbler HR, CR , Pheasant Caucal HR, CR, RJ RJ Boobook Owl HR(S), CR(S) Large-billed Warbler HR(S) Barking Owl CR(S) Buff-breasted Warbler HR, CR, RJ Tawny Frogmouth HR(S), CR(S), Weebill HR, CR, RJ RJ(S) Lemon-breasted Flycatcher HR, Papuan Frogmouth HR(S), CR(S). CR,RJ A number of frogmouths were White-browed Robin HR(S) seen very well and we were able Pale Yellow Robin HR(S) to determine that both species Northern Fantail HR were present for a least two local­ Rufous Fantail HR, CR ities. A more detailed account of Leaden Flycatcher HR, CR, RJ the frogmouth observations will Black-faced Flycatcher HR(S) appear elsewhere (Bruce, in Spectacled Flycatcher HR(S), prep.). CR(S) Owlet Nightjar HR(S) Australian Pied Flycatcher HR(S) Grey Swiftlet CR Rufous Whistler HR(S), CR(S), Grey Thrush CR(S), RJ(S). Both RJ(S) the 'Grey' and 'Brown' morphs Banded Honeyeater HR(S) were distinguished by calls, but Noisy Miner HR(S) the records are combined. Red-browed Finch RJ(S) Rufous Thrush CR(S) White-rumped Doublebar HR, Mistletoebird HR CR(S), RJ Red-browed Pardalote HR(S), Black-tailed Finch HR, CR, R J CR(S), RJ(S) Shining Starling CR(S) Warbling Honeyeater HR, CR(S) House Sparrow. Sm all numbers at Dusky Honeyeater HR(S), CR(S), Musgrave Station, north of the RJ Hann River. Scarlet Honeyeater HR(S) Olive-backed Oriole HR, CR , R J Grey-breasted Honeyeater CR, RJ Yellow Oriole CR , RJ Yellow Honeyeater HR, CR, RJ Yell ow Figbird HR(S), CR , R J Yellow-tinted Honeyeater HR(S) Spangled Drongo HR(S), CR(S), White-gaped Honeyeater HR RJ(S) White-naped Honeyeater HR(S) Magpie-lark HR(S), CR(S), RJ(S) White-throated Honeyeater HR, Dusky Woodswallow HR(S) CR, RJ Black-throated Butcherbird CR , R J Blue-faced Honeyeater HR, CR , RJ Black-backed Butcherbird HR(S), Little Friarbird HR, CR, RJ CR, RJ Helmeted Friarbird CR, RJ Black Butcherbird CR , RJ Silver-crowned F riarbird HR(S), Black-backed Magpie HR(S), CR, RJ(S) CR(S), RJ(S) Bar-breasted Honeyeater HR(S) Pied Currawong CR(S), R J(S) Brown-backed Honeyeater HR(S), Great Bowerbird HR, CR , RJ RJ Australian Crow HR, CR , RJ Golden-headed Cisticola CR , RJ ABW .