Visited: year round

Recommendation: The rainforest walk at Malanda Falls is fabulous for great access to rainforest birds and a resident population of Tree Kangaroo.

I always like coming to Malanda. The visitor's centre always seems to have helpful staff and the rainforest walk opposite always productive. They have walked me over there in previous visits to show me Tree Kangaroo. I have them myself at times but could only get shots of an armpit. Not an award winning photograph but good to see them anyway. The falls that people visit the area for are a little disappointing and the surrounding recreational area run down and a bit miserable. Lucky I was only really interested in the rainforest. 

At certain times of the year, the catbird's strangled call reverberates around the area. On some visits, there seem to be a lot of them, calling and chasing each other around. Their focus is often on each other and not me makes it easier to photograph them.

Spotted Catbird (Ailuroedus melanotis)

I stayed at the local caravan park and was amazed to see my Diamond Doves wandering around with the Peaceful Doves. I thought they were dry country birds so I didn't expect them here. Just as I finished photographing them, 3 loud birds flew into the tree above me. Barred Cuckooshrike. Rare and difficult to find, I have only ever seen them once. I was over the moon to see them. They only stayed for a minute or 2 and then away. I was just thankful to the doves as I was all set up for photographing them.

This patch of rainforest is great to see some wet enivronment specialialists, although photography is very challenging in the gloom.