Weekends That Were - November 2025

3.11.25

Minnippi

It was a dull, heavily overcast, sticky start to the morning despite a pleasant breeze from the northeast. It didn’t brighten up until I was driving home and the poor 36 species (bird) list reflected the atmosphere.

I did have a nice, two meter plus, Carpet Python Morelia spilota draped over a hay bale beside the lake. I believed the hay bale was left behind by the 'Music at Minnippi' thing that happens on Sunday evenings and the snake had taken advantage of the extra height to gain as much exposure to warm up, as possible. It looked like it had had a feed recently too and moved off very sluggishly.

Carpet Python Morelia spilota

Interestingly, as I approached the bale, and still being unaware of the snake, a couple of Noisy Miners were going off and actually fluttered very close to my head. At the time I assumed they were just being Noisy Miners and possibly I was close to a nest or fledgling, and ignored them. However, I wondered afterwards if they were trying to warn me – obviously they were going off about the snake, but I was not sure if they were actually, basically, trying to tell me something or, imagining further, trying to gain my assistance. I was honestly not sure if Noisy Miners, or birds in general, would behave in that manner or with that level of intelligence. 

Butterflies were the usual plus a male Orchard Swallowtail Papilio aegeus on the M1 track. I also saw another Garden Orb Weaver Eriophora transmarina there and had a couple of Yellow-striped Flutterers Rhyothemis phyllis (Dragonflys) on the otherwise very, very quiet Airfield Track. 

I set up my trail camera on the M1 track with the intention of collecting it after 24 hours hoping something  of interest might show.

4.11.25

Wader Roost - Wynnum North/Fisherman's Island

Mr P contacted me to see if I would be interested in going to look at waders? They are not really ‘my thing’ but an outing is an outing and it had been a minute since I last wader watched so we were on site at the wader roost at the boat ramp in Wynnum North/Fisherman’s Island at 6.30 – the gate was locked, but a phone call to the POB security had it unlocked within 10 minutes and we headed in.

Before we did, while we waited, I noted a couple of 28-Spotted Potato Ladybirds Epilachna vigintioctopunctata nearby.

28-spotted Potato Ladybird Epilachna vigintioctopunctata

The high tide was predicted at 8.15 and we were setting up the scopes at about 6.50; there was a sizeable wader presence that remained stable until we left them at about 8.30.

The light was excellent – not too bright – and there was no heat haze, it being an overcast, on-the-cool-side morning; it was even spitting rain while we counted and searched through the various groups. The waders were still at distance (~200 meters) and a scope was more or less a necessity, but views were good and the birds were relaxed.

It was excellent to re-establish relationships with Eastern Curlews (~150), Bar-tailed Godwits (~1,000), Whimbrel (~200), Sharp-tailed Sandpipers (~400), Curlew Sandpipers (~150) and seek out smaller numbers of Great Knot (~80), Red Knot (~10), Black-tailed Godwit(~5), Marsh Sandpipers (6) and Red-necked Stints (~10) again. 

 

Eastern Curlew

There were also Chestnut Teal (~40), Royal Spoonbills (12), Australian Terns (4) (UKA Gull-billed Tern), Caspian Tern (1), Pied Stilts (~80) and Red-capped Dotterels (~5).

We had a few other birds on the way in and out and around, including Mangrove Honeyeater, Mangrove Gerygone, White-breasted Woodswallow and a Brown Goshawk. We also had an obliging Swamp Tiger Danaus affinis – a handsome butterfly.

 

Swamp Tiger Danaus affinis

We headed home, well pleased and had a coffee at Mackers before Mr P dropped me at my car, at his place – and I headed to Minnippi to collect the trail camera left overnight on the M1 track.

 

Update on the Trail Camera experiment:

 

I didn’t have a high expectation of anything startling or exciting, but the results were encouraging and I was determined to repeat the exercise in due course.

The main activity involved an Australian Brush Turkey that moved in and out of frame on several occasions during the daylight hours. Whether it was the same bird or 3 or 4 different birds I could not ascertain, but it did prove the camera worked!

After dark a Swamp Wallaby Wallabia bicolor showed up very close to the camera and fed as it moved slowly off stage right. A short while later a (presumably female) Common Brush-tailed Possum Trichosurus vulpecula with a juvenile on her (sic) back walked across the clearing and off into the shadows.

So, nothing unexpected, but definitely worth the effort.

5.11.25

Instead, Moggill Pocket Swamp & Moggill SF

After a fast 30 minute drive I arrived on site at Anstead at 6 to a nice cool, calm, quiet, bright sunny morning.

Quiet was the operative word. Dead would be more accurate. There was very little in the first ‘section’ – and very little left of the Lantana, admittedly an invasive species, which usually harboured Fairy and Scrub Wrens and was food to many butterfly species. The local ‘landcare’ crowd had been busy and virtually eliminated the plant entirely – just dead branches that appeared to have been poisoned, with a few leaves remaining turning the area into a ‘eucalyptus desert’. There is little pretty about dry eucalyptus forest – it doesn’t provide much in the way of nourishment or cover and is generally rather sterile. I didn’t see any small passerines that usually hang out near the ground. The only birds along that first stretch of track – usually highly productive – were a pair of Leaden Flycatchers, (yes, definitely Leaden) and a pair of White-throated Honeyeaters on the only flowering tree I saw.

It picked up a bit from the top of the quarry track and down the bitumen – but not much. Total of 37 bird species, the most interesting possibly being 3 Apostlebirds.

I did find an Australian Christmas Jewel Spider Austracantha minax which is a stunning little insect, an Eastern Golden Orb Weaver Nephila plumipes, a Red-necked Wallaby Macropus rufogriseus that hopped off the track and propped nicely for me and a new moth species - Narrow-eyed Striped Noctuid Grammodes oculata so it wasn’t a complete waste.

Australian Christmas Jewel Spider Austracantha minax

Eastern Golden Orb Weaver Nephila plumipes

Red-necked Wallaby Macropus rufogriseus

Narrow-eyed Striped Noctuid Grammodes oculata

A couple of Peaceful Doves did show well.

I drove down to Moggill Pocket Swamp and found a White-necked Heron that also posed nicely before flying away.

 

White-necked Heron

Back to West Vets for a coffee and little sit down – both to have a rest and to allow the morning to warm before going to Moggill – primarily for butterflies.

And luckily I went to focus on them, because the birds were very, very quiet. It wasn’t particularly hot but everything seemed to shut down anyway. I did have a brief view of a new bird for this site for me - Square-tailed Kite - overhead.

I had 12 butterfly species in the end – and maybe a couple that escaped my ID.

Orchard Swallowtail Papilio aegeus 4

Clearwing Swallowtail Cressida cressida 6

Large Grass-yellow Eurema hecabe 1

Caper Gull Cepora perimale 5

Caper Gull Cepora perimale

Striated Pearl-white Elodina Parthia 1

Brown Ringlet Hypocysta metirius 6

Leafwing Doleschallia bisaltide 4

Leafwing Cepora perimale

Meadow Argus Junonia villida 2

Common Crow Euploea core 1

Large Purple Line-blue Nacaduba berenice 1

Common Grass-blue Zizinia labradus 10

Dainty Grass-blue Zizula hylax 1

Not super busy and nothing exciting – most identified by photo after the event as I have become quite out of date with butterfly ID.

 

As I walked back along the track two small (approx 1 meter in length) Lace Monitors Varanus varius came charging through the bush and erupted onto the track beside me.

The pursued decided I was less of a threat than the one chasing him and bolted past me and off into the bush on the other side of the track. The pursuer chose to stop, turn and dash back into the side he had come from. First time I have almost been run down by a Goanna.

Closer to the car and a 1.5 meter Common Green tree Snake Dendrelaphis punctulata slid across the track in front of me. Nice!!

 

Common Green Tree Snake Denrelaphis punctulata

I usually say that I am happy if I see 12 snakes a year. I have seen 9 in the last 3 months so it’s looking good!

I headed home and spent the rest of the day sorting the 400+ photos.....

                                                                                7.11.25

                                                                         Oxley

Usual time and similar conditions – calm, cool, bright and clear. Overall it was a quiet morning, nothing unexpected or overly exciting, A 49 species list was OK, but even the butterflies were quiet with only 3 basic species recorded.

I did find a web with 17 Eastern Golden Orb Weavers Nephila plumipes hanging in it; some obviously female – the big ones - and several, presumed, males – tiny. There were a few others of medium size that could have been juvenile females or maybe large males, my experience and understanding of spiders in general isn’t adequate for that level of distinction.

                                                                    10.11.25

                                                                    Minnippi

A dull, grey, overcast morning that later developed into spotting rain, other rain showers over the previous few days had dampened everything down which made the environment more attractive – but it was still a very quiet morning overall.

Nothing unusual or exciting – possibly the only notable sighting was a flock of 30 Little Corellas that flew eastwards overhead. Butterflies were almost non-existent with just a few Common Grass-blues Zizinia labradus fluttering around half-heartedly. A bird list of 44 species wasn’t too bad, but numbers were very small.

I downloaded the trail camera that had been onsite since Saturday (48 hours) and left it set up on site for another few days. The only activity recorded during that time was at least two individual Australian Brush Turkeys who made repeated visits, eating the seeds I had, probably foolishly, scattered in front of the camera. I had hoped that the seeds and feeding activity of the Turkeys would attract other species – but this didn’t eventuate.

                                                                11.11.25

                                                          Birding Pal Stuff

Allan’s plane was a little delayed and we didn’t get away from the airport until 7.00, arriving on site at Anstead at 8.00. A bright, warm, calm morning which got hotter but not excessively. 

Despite the late start we had a fairly successful 3 hour visit with good views of Varied Sitella, Variegated Fairy Wren, Oriental Dollarbird and a Pacific Baza. 

Butterfly-wise we had my first Glasswings Acraea andromacha of the season, Clearwing Swallowtail Cressida cressida, Meadow Argus Junonia villida ect.

We drove out to Moggill Pocket Swamp and checked out the mostly usual stuff there plus a nice Latham’s Snipe and a White-belied Sea Eagle overhead.

West Vets for a late breakfast, then on to Moggill State Forest at 12.30. It was dead as bird-wise – we saw 3 species – and even the butterflies were pretty average with some of the same species I had seen the previous week. 

A medium sized Lace Monitor Varanus varius scrambled up a tree and we had a few Yellow-spotted Planthoppers Desudaba danae and a Green Jumping Spider Mopsus mormon, but it was too hot to think really so we gave it away and I dropped him home to the Marriott at around 14.00.

                                                                12.11.25

I picked Allan up at the Marriott at 5am and we headed south. 

We saw 4 Whip-tail Wallabys along the road during the two hour drive but when we arrived at O’Reilly’s on Green Mtn, Lamington NP, my heart sank. The trees were suddenly tossing and heaving in a wild southerly wind. We had had no warning of a high wind over the previous days and it was a complete surprise – I knew it was going to be hard birding around the resort area and even in the rainforest. It was also quite cold - an unexpected bonus - and remained cool for the rest of the day.

We walked up to the bird feeding area and then quickly further on to a crowd of visitors who were being entertained by a member of the resort staff feeding Satin and Regent Bowerbirds and Crimson Rosellas and Australian King Parrots. They were just dispersing prior to heading in on a guided walk to the Tree Top walk so Allan had some opportunities to film the Bowerbirds ect still hanging around looking for a handout.

We decided to walk in on the main Border Track to avoid the crowd, but it was, as expected, tough birding with the winds in the canopy and falling leaves. We walked past the junction to the Tree Top walk and a couple of hundred meters past on the main track before turning back and diverting to the Tree Top walk as the crowd had gone.

We didn’t see a lot up to that point but by around 8.30, along the boardwalk, the wind dropped off and things started to happen. We heard our first Noisy Pitta there and I tried a little encouragement, however, the bird appeared to move away. We had moved on approximately 10 meters when suddenly it started calling again just behind us and very close and we did eventually manage to get OK views of the bird – and Allan managed to get some photos.

Back at the resort I had a cup of coffee on the verandah and then we walked down the road to the Python Rock/Moran’s Falls track. We walked in about two thirds of the Python Rock track then back up the road for another coffee.

Overall, after the wind was gone, it was a pretty good morning. We didn’t manage to find a Lyrebird but saw most other expected birds well and Allan spent time taking photos to his satisfaction - including two Eastern Spinebills, two female Paradise Riflebirds, a couple of Australian Logrunners, a few Black-faced Monarchs and a host of Scrubwrens and Gerygones. We failed, however, to actually see a singing Rose Robin that eluded us high in the canopy. Butterflies, too, were thin on the ground and I didn't manage to fully ID any.

Possibly of note - we did not hear a single Pigeon or Fruit Dove calling anywhere in the forest and only saw 5 Topknot Pigeons very briefly fly over the road.

As we approached the Satin Bowerbird bower in the picnic area opposite the main building, a beetle flew past me which Allan snatched out of the air without damaging it and we found it to be a pretty cool Feather-horned Beetle Rhipicera femorata.

Feather-horned Beetle Rhipicera femorata

We watched a male Satin Bowerbird putting some final touches to his bower before going for another coffee break for me. As we sat on the verandah a Wedge-tailed Eagle appeared quite close and soared around briefly - a new site tick for me.

We left just after 14.00 and headed down the hill, stopping firstly for a 1.5 meter Lace Monitor Varanus varies crossing the road and, secondly, at Cainable Cabins to look, unsuccessfully, for Glossy Black Cockatoos.

It was a traffic-heavy drive back to Brisbane and I finally dropped him home at 17.15 - 12 hours, 15 minutes after picking him up.

Weekends That Were - October 2025

 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.

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). 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

'Reptile' eggs

6.10.25

Minnippi again

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.

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.

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.

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

 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. 

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.

Greenish Grass-dart Ocybadistes walkeri

11.10.25

Oxley

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.

 

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.

Long-tailed Pea-blue Lampides boeticus

16.10.25

Oxley

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.

Yellow Migrant Catopsillia gorgophone

17.10.25

Birding Pal stuff

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.

 

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.

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.

 

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

                                                                                    23.10.25

                                                            Oxley

On site at 5.45 to a fresh, bright, clear, calm, very-quiet-to-start-with, morning. The track was the usual – minimal activity – and overall it was not super exciting. Surprisingly I had a Fan-tailed Cuckoo perch up in front of me – I would have expected them all to have headed upland by now. I didn’t hear any calling so maybe it was just passing through.

The main pond on the right was quite busy, but the deeper pond further on was deserted.

I climbed the gate to find the flooded field drying out fairly dramatically, but still hosting a good number of Grey Teal, Australian Wood Duck, Pied Stilts and chicks and 2 Black-fronted Dotterel. 

I had ‘the’ Black Falcon perched up on the pylon then flying around ‘beyond the gate’ – still suspect breeding, but unsure of the nest location. 

Brown Falcon

On the way back a covey of 5 Brown Quail trotted into the longer grass beside the 2^nd culvert.

Butterflies – Monarchs Danaus plexippus, Common Grass-Blues Zizina labradus and 2 Yellow Migrants Catopsilia gorgophone. again – but not in the same place. Given the scarcity of butterflies in general - at this time of day anyway - I figured they may have been the same two I saw the previous week. A 53 bird species morning.

25.10.25

Metroplex

I just felt like going somewhere so arrived on site at 5.45. A grey, cooler, gusty-windy morning - not the best conditions. 

I circumnavigated the upper lake and tried to do the same to the lower, but was turned back by an impenetrable mass of vegetation at the eastern end that even I deemed too thick to tackle, and walked back, then down the bike path to the river bank and along as far as the bridge.

Mostly usual species, although fewer Buff-banded Rails that my last visit, I did have a Pale-vented Bush Hen dive into cover along the western edge of the upper lake. 

The Australian White and Straw-necked Ibis colony was in full swing with the colony of Grey-headed Flying Fox Pteropus poliocephalus hanging overhead and I managed to add a few new birds to my list – nothing amazing, just common birds I just hadn’t observed at this site on any of my previous 39 visits.

Down along the river it was pretty quiet, but at the bridge, just as I wondered if they were still there, a male Peregrine Falcon put in his death-on-wings appearance and perched up quietly on a lamp fitting high up under the bridge itself. I had two other raptors – a Brown Goshawk, which was new on my site list, and an immature White-breasted Sea Eagle that must have regretted its flight path as it was thrashed by every Torresian Crow in the area.

Two large European Hares Lepus capensis appeared at the upper end of the upper lake, which was surprising given the minimal cover and, to my mind, space – but they did manage to then completely disappear into a tuft of grass. 

I had never recorded any butterflies here previously, so started my site list with Caper White Belenois java and Common Grass-blue Zizina labradus.

A relatively quiet type morning with only 33 bird species recorded, but an easy outing none the less.

27.10.25

Birding Pal - Mt Nebo & Mt Glorious

I collected Allan, from California, at 6.00 at the international airport as arranged and we headed straight out for Mt Nebo. A high of 38C was predicted for the day – the highest temperature ever recorded in October in SEQ as far as I knew, so we were not expecting a long day. The wind was also predicted to increase during the morning and it did – blowing heavily from the northwest from about 10.00. This made birding difficult on the exposed western slopes, but Miala, the rainforest circuit at Mt Glorious was relatively sheltered. I had specifically chosen the 'mountains' with the temperature in mind and it was a few degrees cooler in the rainforest.

We started at Boombana, Mt Nebo at 7 and tried for some species from the carpark area without a lot of success. Just as we arrived a loud siren sounded and lasted for about 5 minutes. There was no smell or sight of smoke so we assumed it was a test of the system - certainly would have heard it clearly!

Later at exactly midday a second siren sounded at Mt Glorious - with the same result and assumption.

We walked the circuit not seeing a hell of a lot – hearing a number of species, but little actually seen. We had at least 3 Noisy Pittas calling but, once again, none committed to a viewing. Towards the end, in the last 100 meters a fruiting fig tree attracted a heap of birds – mainly Australian Figbirds and at least one Pacific Koel – but it was very difficult to get a clear view of anything through the canopy, unfortunately.

We moved on towards Mt Glorious and stopped off just before the Westridge Outlook where we looked in vain for Bell Miner – we could hear them, but with the gusting wind it was next to impossible to see any.

At Lawton Rd the wind was even worse and we heard just a few species and saw even less. One Australian Golden Whistler male did respond very well to ‘squeaking’ but that was about it.

Australian Golden Whistler (Male)

Mt Glorious café for breakfast on the back verandah with a poor view of the Little Wattlebird in the Banksia and not much else.

We took on the Rainforest Circuit, Miala, although there were a surprising number of people walking the track – surprising, given it was a Monday and very hot by this time, maybe they had the same thoughts I did regarding temperature....

Again, we didn’t see a lot – poor views of Russet-tailed Thrush, brief, but acceptable views of 2 Pale Yellow Robins and a reasonable Black-faced Monarch – along with of course the usual Scrubwrens and Gerygone.

At that stage we decided enough was enough, although it was several degrees cooler on the ‘mountain’ – it was still too bloody hot for anything.

We had a few Pademelons all of which appeared to be Red-legged, although all were also in the rainforest. A few butterflies, although I didn’t spend a lot of time with them – nothing obviously outstanding, although a Striated Pearl White Elodina parthia in the rainforest on the Boombana track might be with noting.

I dropped Allan home to the Marriott at 14.00.

29.10.25

Minnippi

Following the horrific heat of the 38C day on Monday, Tuesday had been a day of only 22C and almost continuous rain – as Mr P commented, and I quote, ‘we’re living in hell’; this Wednesday morning was cloudy, comfortably cool and, of course, damp. It did brighten up after a while as the sun pushed through for short periods.

Observations of note::

A single Tawny Frogmouth in the first Paperbark tree after the bridge.

A Purple-banded Concealer Moth Chrysonoma fascialis on the M1 track

 

Purple-banded Concealer Moth Chrysonoma fascialis

Comb-crested Jacana on a nest in the lake.

 

Comb-crested Jacana

2 Common Myna near the Airfield – the first I had recorded on this site since 2022.

A Swamp Wallaby Wallabia bicolor in The Avenue.

There were a number of Caper Whites Belenois java and the usual Common Grass-blues Zizinia labradus, Dainty Grass-blues Zizula hylax, a Common Crow Euploea core and an Evening Brown Melanitis leda. Given the cooler temps and overcast skies the butterflies were sluggish and landed regularly – and were probably not as active overall as they might have been.

The entrance and first third of the M1 track had been slashed to widen the path – destroying the long grass previously used by Evening Browns and various Grass-darts for breeding. I don’t understand why they do this unless it’s an attempt to ‘protect’ walkers from potential snake paranoia.

A decent morning’s birding with 51 species.

31.10.25

Oxley

On site at 6 – an overcast start, migrating into a very humid, sunny, bright morning. The track was quiet humanoid-wise and showed random damage from the previous Sunday night’s storm that severely affected this area of Brisbane. There was no major damage, but along short stretches of the track recently cut and moved branches and split trees showed where elements of the wind had been at work.

The main ponds were very quiet, almost deserted, but I spotted a dead deer on the far side of the main pond and made the effort to walk in and check it out. It appeared to be a Red Deer Cervus elaphus hind and had, obviously been shot in the lower body, probably inaccurately and left to die, as it was not, in my opinion, a killing shot.

 

Red Deer Cervus elaphus

Walking in to check the ‘flooded field’ I was followed closely by a young steer who seemed fascinated by my presence and insisted on sniffing me – I had to push him away in the end and he ambled off happily – the usual Australian Grebe, Grey Teal, Black-fronted Dotterel and Pied Stilts were still hanging out on the replenished pond, thanks to the recent rain. A Brown Falcon self flushed from a nearby tree as well.

Overall it was an average type morning, not very birdy, but happy enough with a 49 species list. Butterflies, apart from Monarch Danaus plexippus, included a couple of Caper Whites Belenois java and 2 Cabbage Whites Pieris rapae, 2 or 3 Chequered Swallowtails Papilio demoleus, a host of Common Grass-blues Zizina labradus and a single Large Grass-yellow Eurema hecabe.

Large Grass-yellow Eurema hecabe

At the end of the track a single Orb-weaver showed that I believe was a Garden Orb Weaver Eriophora transmarina.

Garden Orb Weaver Eriophora transmarina