1.10.25
Mt Nebo & Mt Glorious
Once again I picked Brian (BP Ireland) at 5.30 and we arrived at our first stop at 6 – the Spotted Quail Thrush track on Mt Nebo.
We quietly walked the track from the main road across to the side road into Bellbird Park itself without any Quail Thrush success, but did have a couple of Channel-billed Cuckoos fly over screaming wildly, as they do.
We walked down the side road to the first gate on the right and spent some time watching the forest floor and listening. Brian wandered off down the slope for a few minutes and I continued to look from the gate area. A few minutes later and Elliot appeared, a birder I had known for several years but hadn’t seen in some time. He waved me down and I joined Brian and Elliot’s client (he was guiding) further down the side road where we all watched a male Spotted Quail Thrush perched up singing. Nice find, thanks Elliot! Brian was rapt with the lifer and the view.
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| Spotted Quail Thrush (Male) |
They pushed off fairly quickly and Brian and I continued to bird the road as we worked our way back to the car. We had a couple of White-naped Honeyeaters (lifer no 2 for Brian), Striated Pardalotes, Leaden Flycatcher, Pale-headed Rosella, Australian Golden Whistler and a single female Scarlet Honeyeater. The light was harsh, it was overcast and difficult to get colour of any sort.
We moved on to Bombana and tried for Striated Thornbill without success – this was a day for targeting specifics – then on through Mt Nebo ‘village’ and 200 meters before the Westridge Outlook found the Bell Miner colony I had heard a couple of weeks previously.
There were about 20 birds calling along the road, but were incredibly difficult to find in the upper canopy. We did eventually – dodging cars, bikes and motorbikes on the road – get identifiable views (lifer no 3 for Brian) of a couple of birds and then moved on again.
Lawton Rd and we parked up and walked in – an attempt here for Red-browed Treecreeper that failed. I added a couple of species to my site list but otherwise it was disappointing.
By this time we needed a coffee so returned to the Café at Mt Glorious and had breakfast on the back verandah accompanied by Green Catbirds, a female Satin Bowerbird, Little Wattlebird and the resident (?) Lewin’s Honeyeater which licked egg off my plate.
Brian needed to be back in reasonable time so we left the café at 10 agreeing to a brief stop again at Bombana.
We got there, walked in 50 meters and had excellent views of Striated Thornbill (lifer #4 for Brian).
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| Striated Thornbill |
It was then that Brian realised he’d lost his glasses.
We searched the area and the walk back to the car, then the car, then drove back to the Café.
No sign of the glasses there and the staff hadn’t found them, so back to Lawton Rd.
We walked slowly the 200 meters or so down and back along the track searching with no result – so back to the café again, again with no success.
Brian wanted to try Lawton Rd again as that was his last memory of having the item, so we drove back there and again walked the 400 meter round trip slowly and patiently.
Heading home we again checked Bombana with no result and I eventually dropped him off at 12.45.
3.10.25
Minnippi
On site at 6, a cool, clear, calm, sunny morning – typical of this time of year. By the time I headed home at 9, it was a hot 22 degrees. There was a mist low along the creek that reminded me of the movie, Apocalypse Now, but it quickly dissipated in the warming morning.
A pretty average morning overall, nothing much to write home about. A couple of Pale-headed Rosellas nesthole-prospecting on the M1 track – the Oriental Dollarbird also put in an appearance.
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| Pale-headed Rosella |
The Magpie Geese all appeared to have vanished – moved on or eaten remains anyone’s guess – while the White-bellied Sea Eagle perched up in the Cormorant Tree appeared to be roosting as it flew off coastal bound a short time later.
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| White-bellied Sea Eagle |
I heard a Pale-vented Bush Hen calling down on the riverbank from the Raptor Lookout and two Rainbow Bee Eaters were again perched up along the Airfield fence, but the Airfield Track was pretty quiet, bird-wise.
Walking back along the fence line a Brush Cuckoo showed well.
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| Brush Cuckoo |
I did have a brief view of a Brown Goshawk soaring overhead above the trees and later further down the still-barricaded-but-no-workers-around-so-I-walked-along–the cement track a Collared Sparrowhawk slashed across in front of me to the instant consternation of a group of Noisy Miners who never saw it coming.
Meadow Argus Junonia villida and Brown Ringlets Hypocysta metirius were out in number along with heaps of Common Grass-blues Zizinia labradus, especially on the Airfield Track. Also had a Monarch Danaus plexippus, a Cabbage White Pieris rapae, a Black Jezebel Delias nigrina and a few other higher flying butterflies I failed to ID.
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| Common Grass-blue Zizinia labradus |
Along the Airfield Track I found a hole apparently dug by a Bandicoot sp – narrow, deep digging – with several reptile eggs in and around the hole. There were 3 or 4 broken, but 6 remained whole. I retrieved the remaining ‘whole’ eggs with the intention of hatching whatever it was inside.
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| 'Reptile' eggs |
I picked up Mr P at 6 and we were on site at 6.10; a coolish, bright, sunny, calm morning, very pleasant and very typical of this time of year. By the time we were leaving at 9.15 it had warmed up considerably, although only 26C at that stage.
A better than average morning in terms of quality – a 54 bird species morning for my list with a cou8ple of nice additions –
Pacific Baza fly by and Black-shouldered Kite perched up completed the raptor list and we had two of each both Buff-banded Rail and Spotless Crake along the edges of the island.
Bird of the morning, however, was an Azure Kingfisher perched up quietly on the end of the island closest to the ‘mainland’. Mr P picked it up and it sat for some time on a couple of perches fishing occasionally. We had got ‘used’ to the idea of it being on site at dawn and, basically, pissing off back to the creek immediately after, so its presence at 7.30 was a very exciting surprise.
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| Azure Kingfisher |
We walked the Airfield Track and, notably, had 2 Red-bellied Black Snakes Pseudechis porphyriacus. One near the start of the track and the second sliding its way towards us as we walked back along the edge of the Airfield itself. Both animals approximately 1.5 meters, so on the smaller side for this species – both, however, in excellent condition and very alert.
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| Red-bellied Black Snake Pseudechis porphyriacus |
Butterfly-wise, much the same as my last visit – Brown Ringlets Hypocysta metirius, Meadow Argus Junonia villida, Dainty Grass-blues Zizula hylax and Common Grass-blues Zizina otis all in number. We also had a couple of Wide-brand Grass Darts Suniana sunias and 1 Large Purple Line-blue Nacaduba berenice.
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| Large Purple Line-blue Nacaduba berenice |
On the way to breakfast we stopped off briefly at Bowies Flat Wetland and Mr P pointed out the Tawny Frogmouth on nest and a nearby sleeping adult. We also had a Buff-banded Rail and a few other common species around the small waterhole.
7.10.25
Mt Nebo & Mt Glorious
I had had a brainwave the other day – although some would call it a brainfade or a ‘complete lack of thought’ or maybe a ‘moment of madness’, however, I had decided to get up before dawn and try spotlighting at Boombana on Mt Nebo. So I set my alarm for 3.45 and hoped for the best.
As usual I was awake before the alarm and dragged my sorry ass outta bed at 3.40. I was on the road at 3.55 and, after a relatively easy drive given the lack of traffic, arrived on site at 4.30.
It was still dark, of course, although a really big full moon shone brightly through the trees and Eastern Yellow Robins were already banging away in the forest. Dawn was at 5.30 so I headed down the track to the boardwalk area surrounding the huge fig tree.
Cutting to the chase it was, in terms of Owls and Frogmouths, a complete disaster. I heard and saw nothing of the targets, although I did hear a distant Southern Boobook, apart from that it was just regular birds waking up and announcing their presence.
Back at the car I made a cup of coffee and sat in my camp chair drinking that until 6 when I walked the circuit. While I finished my coffee 2 Wonga Pigeons walked casually into the car park. My camera was in the car and they looked a little apprehensive when I got up to retrieve it, but settled down when I sat again. They really are a superbly handsome bird.
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| Wonga Pigeon |
I walked the track but heard more than I saw, adding a couple of expected species to my site list, but seeing nothing very exciting. A gusty wind in the canopy didn't help the job.
7.30 and I headed up to Lawton Rd at Mt Glorious. I walked this steep track for about 400-500 meters but it was generally very quiet, once again, hearing a lot more than I was seeing and still struggling with call identification. The only really bright spot was a Grey Goshawk that glided above and along the road providing a brief view. Close to the top of the track, on the return walk, a Lace Monitor Varanus varius slunk quietly off into the bush without giving me a chance with the camera. I did have a couple of enthusiastic Yellow-throated Scrubwrens out on the track, but as usual, they didn’t sit still for very long and provided challenging photo opportunities.
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| Yellow-throated Scrubwren |
9.00 I decided it was time for a coffee and drove back to the Mt Glorious Café and had a Lund coffee on the back verandah accompanied by the Little Wattlebird in the Banksia, a White-headed Pigeon that landed in the tree nearby and the resident Lewin’s Honeyeater looking for a handout.
9.30 And I walked the Miala/Rainforest Circuit. There were a couple of groups of people but it was pretty quiet humanoid-wise. It wasn’t particularly birdy either but I did have a nice Green Catbird perch up on the track in front of me that I watched for some time until one of the humanoid parties walked onto the scene – not something you see every day.
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| Green Catbird |
Notably the only Fruit Dove calling was a single Wompoo who basically just grumbled away to himself and the only other audible Dove/Pigeon was a single Brown Cuckoo Dove. I didn’t have any Pale Yellow Robins and only 1 or 2 Eastern Yellow. There were 3 Noisy Pittas calling but they all shut up when I called them back. I did, eventually, have a few small birds at a soak below me near the end of the circuit and a Russet-tailed Thrush joined them briefly.
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| Russet-tailed Thrush |
Other than that it was, overall, a quiet morning – some nice birds and some good camera type opportunities but I was surprised at the apparent lack of typical rainforest species I would have expected to be calling and active at this time.
I paid for my quick outbound trip on the return - I had just passed the Cornwall st exit when the traffic came to a dead stop. It took 30 minutes to travel the remaining 2 or 3 ks to my exit thanks to a crash and the accompanying ambulances, police cars, traffic management cars and Fire & Rescue crews.
9.10.25
Oxley
On site at 5.45 – warm, calm, bright, clear; by the time I was leaving at 8.15 it had warmed up considerably, although BOM advised 24C it felt closer to 30.
A fairly average morning, the track was relatively quiet, although I ended up with a 56 specie list, the only bird of any interest a Black-faced Monarch halfway along the track, close to where I saw one a week or so ago.
The ponds were busier than they have been and I climbed the gate expecting there to be less there, however, still added Grey Teal (~15), Australian Grebe (1), Black-fronted Dotterel (2) and European Starling (3) to the list.
Butterflies were still quiet at this time of day with Monarch Danaus plexippus as always, and 1 Meadow Argus Junonia villida, however, close to the gate on the return leg I took some photos of a Grass-dart that I am now pretty confident was a new species for me – Greenish Grass-dart Ocybadistes walkeri – not a rare species, I just haven’t been confident of one before.
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| Greenish Grass-dart Ocybadistes walkeri |
Mr D picked me up at 6, on site 15 minutes later; a slightly cloudy but bright, warm, calm morning. The track was quite busy with walky-talkies, joggers and dogs.
It was a pretty average morning with the highlight being a Long-billed Corella on the ground feeding with a small number of Galahs at the gate as we drove in. Only my third site record.
A couple of Double-barred Finch on the track to the ponds was a bit reassuring, as I haven’t seen any for some time. We didn’t climb the gate so probably missed adding a couple of other species to the 50 birds morning list.
We had breakfast, as usual when in this area, at Arte & Gusto in Graceville.
14.10.25
Minnippi
On site at 6; a dull, overcast morning and, as I walked in, it started to spit rain – more a misty kinda effort than real rain. This persisted for the next hour or so, then brightened into sunny spells.
I heard a Spotless Crake call, voluntarily, from the bridge but it didn’t put in an appearance.
As I stood surveying the lake, a Nankeen Night Heron flew towards and then past me towards the creek – it had appeared to have come from the island and was possibly going to roost along the creek somewhere.
The M1 track was quiet with just a Brush Cuckoo calling somewhere unseen.
There was nothing exciting around the lake but a couple of Welcome Swallows perched up very obligingly.
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| Welcome Swallow |
The Airfield Track didn’t add anything stimulating either and all in all it was an average 49 species morning.
Due most likely to the precipitation and resulting damp atmosphere the butterflies were quiet too, although a goodly number of what appeared to be female Common Grass-blues fluttered around my feet (they were very small but on close examination were very ‘bland’ on the underwing, missing the black dots necessary for Dainty G-blue), 1 Cabbage White showed at the creek, along with several Long-tailed Pea-blues Lampides boeticus.
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| Long-tailed Pea-blue Lampides boeticus |
On site just before 6, a rather dull start, calm and clear, brightening and warming up as the morning progressed. The track was pretty quiet – and very dry – and only a couple of non-combatants ran their way to an early heart attack.
The main pond was quite busy – in contrast to recent visits – and I had my first Latham’s Snipe of the season.
I climbed the gate and the flooded field was dominated by at least two families of Pied Stilts and one of Masked Lapwing with a number of chicks wandering around the muddy edges of the drying out claypan potentially providing targets for the single passing Brown Falcon. A Black-shouldered Kite also hovered nearby and in finch land I had 2 Double-barred Finches along the track and 4 or 5 Chestnut-breasted Mannikins just identifiable on the opposite side of the main pond.
Back along the track and I spent 20 minutes watching 2 yellow/white butterflies flit around, waiting for them to land, hoping for Orange Migrant, until I finally got a few average photos of one that landed for about 5 seconds and they proved to be Yellow Migrants Catopsilia gorgophone. The only other butterflies I saw were the ubiquitous Monarch Danaus plexippus (5) and a handful of Common Grass-blues Zizinia labradus.
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| Yellow Migrant Catopsillia gorgophone |
17.10.25
I picked up Tom from San Diego at 5.45 from his motel in Nathan and we were on site at Sandy Camp just after 6. Three hours birding produced a reasonable list including a few lifers for Tom, nothing out of the blue for me.
We moved on to the Wynnum Mangrove Boardwalk and checked the roosting Nankeen Night Heron that seems to have become a regular. At the very first bend a Torresian Kingfisher was going off, as a pair of male Rufous Whistlers chased each other backwards and forwards. We heard a loud call that I could not identify – till we saw the Grey-crowned Babbler perched up in the relatively low mangrove canopy. A bit of encouragement and the single bird was perched on the boardwalk railing and branches immediately overhead providing excellent photo opportunities. I had long known that this species was in the area, although had never actually seen it here, but was surprised to find it in the mangroves itself.
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| Grey-crowned Babbler |
We moved on and managed to get Torresian Kingfisher, Mangrove Gerygone and a selection of other common species for Tom, including a fly by at the end of the boards of a Brahminy Kite – long time no see for me.
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| Chestnut Teal (male) |
We drove to the visitor center area at the POB, but had no luck with Mangrove Honeyeater.
By this time we were both pretty hungry so headed back towards Mt Gravatt. We made one more stop prior to hitting the ‘mountain’ road – at Burys Flat Wetland where Tom ticked Tawny Frogmouth sitting on its nest and we had a Common Ring-tailed Possum curled up in the open sleeping in a fork of a tree.
Up towards Mt Gravatt Lookout and a quick stop off at the Square-tailed Kite’s nest site to see a single bird in the nest - unsure whether it was a juvenile or an adult, but at least Tom got the lifer.
A long lunch/breakfast to sit out the heat until 14.00 when we headed over to White’s Hill and walked in to the unoccupied Powerful Owl roost – but we did get Variegated Fairy Wren and a Koala for Tom.
We drove out then to Oxley and walked the track to the ponds and back – it was pretty quiet and we didn’t waste a lot of time, but got him, finally, his target of Superb Fairy Wren when a couple of males put on quite a show.
There was a nice showing of ~5, recently emerged, Chequered Swallowtails Papilio demoleus and I also got a site tick with Australian Painted Lady Vanessa kershawi.
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| Australian Painted Lady Vanessa kershawi |
I dropped Tom ‘home’ at 17.45 and wished him well on his on-going journey.
18.10.25
Araucaria Walk, Enoggera Resevoir
Mr P picked me up at 5.45, on site by 6.15. We walked in on a warm, sticky, bright morning along the track with unlimited numbers of walkers, joggers and talkers - this track has become so busy I still wonder why I bother.
There had been several reports of Black-breasted Buttonquails seen at several points along the circuit and we searched in relevant habitat for the bird – without luck. We did find areas of scattered platelets, some old, some recent, a few fresh, but saw no other sign of the birds at all. Reports and photos show the bird as seen from the track – obviously close and apparently feeding within easy range, but we didn’t have any similar luck. Overall we heard more birds than we saw – at least Mr P did – all in all it was a rather frustrating morning for me.
We returned to Stones Corner for our usual long breakfast.
21.10.25
Minnippi
On site at 6, another bright, clear, calm, warm, morning; dawn had been an hour earlier.
It was pretty quiet overall reflected in the 46 species list. Nothing overlay exciting or unexpected.
I walked the usual tracks and a few species MIA were more noticeable than those I did record.
A few butterflies – the usual Monarchs Danaus plexippus and Common Grass-blues Zizina labradus and a half a dozen Long-tailed Pea-blues Lampides boeticus around the bridge and I had a couple of Dainty Grass-blues Zizula hylax and two Caper Whites Belenois java on the Airfield track.
Dainty Grass-blue Zizula hylax
Caper White Belenois java
