Weekends That Were - June 2014

29.6.14      Anstead

Rob picked me up in the dark at 6.00 and we arrived on site at 6.30. A small group of Apostlebirds flew over the car as we arrived and a Bush Turkey took his life in his hands trying to cross the road.

We parked up and walked up the grassy slope to the edge of the tree line where the visiting Scarlet Robin had been re-discovered in the past week, having re-located from the bitumen track. No sign of it in the relatively cold dawn.

On along the track and plenty of birds moving around – Noisy Friarbirds, Golden Whistlers (mainly females), Grey Fantails, dozens of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Striped and Spotted Pardalotes and Red-browed Finches while Rainbow and Little Lorikeets hammered overhead. Top of the track and a mixed flock of some of these species plus Double-barred Finches and Silvereyes took our focus. Two Fan-tailed Cuckoos showed and a well coloured up Rose Robin put in an appearance but remained outside photographic range – as they do. A Speckled Warbler was more obliging.

Speckled Warbler

On along the tracks and we added other good birds such as White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Little Shrike-thrush, Shining Bronze Cuckoo, Peaceful Dove and another (plain) Rose Robin.

Returning an hour and a half later to the carpark we walked up the slope again to check for the Scarlet Robin. A Spotted Harrier flew low overhead – a new  site bird for me. At the tree edge a pair of photographers had set up camp – literally  - with a camouflaged hide and massive lenses set up on heavy duty tripods. They assured us the Robin had been around and, sure enough, it shortly returned to perform admirably for all.

Scarlet Robin 1 

Scarlet Robin 2

We drove out to Moggill Swamp to find approx. 80 Purple Swamphens and a few Dusky Moorhens and Grey Teal, but little else.

Stopped off at the Kenmore Hotel for breakfast and a hot cup of coffee or two.

28.6.14      Oxley

Arrived at Oxley alone at 7.15 to a bright, sunny, cool morning. A flock of Brown Quail flew low overhead as I headed for the gate and quickly scuttled off into the undergrowth. The track was quite birdy with flocks of Honeyeaters congregating on available food sources. Yellow-faced were predominate. The first mixed flock included Brown HEs, Sivereyes and a bonus – an Eastern Spinebill that was a first on site for me.

Further along the track I had 2 Double-barred Finches, a White-throated Gerygone, a Willy Wagtail, a Grey Fantail, a couple of Fairy-wrens and a Rufous Whistler in the same tree.!

Double-barred Finch 1 

Double-barred Finch 2 

Above a trio of Pied Butcherbirds were singing together.

Then three became two.

On to eventually reach the lakes and 4 Red-kneed and 6 Black-fronted Dotterels pattered through the mud. Black-winged Stilts, Grey Teal and a few Dusky Moorhens were joined by a Black Duck with 9 ducklings and a perched up Great Cormorant. – not a common bird at Oxley.

Black-fronted Dotterel

Red-kneed (in water) and Black-fronted Dotterel

On the fence Welcome Swallows rested between flights along with a couple of Tree Martins.

Welcome Swallows

Walking back along the track I flushed a groups of Crested Pigeons some of whom perched up for some easy photos!

Crested Pigeon

All in all it was a good morning.

21.6.14   Minnippi

Another quiet birding weekend – only activity was on Saturday. Picked up Rob at 6.45 and arrived at Minnippi at 7. Walked the tracks and scanned the pond for a good list (60species), but nothing outstanding. No sign of any Gerygones, either Mangrove or Brown, and no migrating Pittas responded to playback. We did have a very small male Collared Sparrowhawk fly overhead at the entrance to the M1 track and an Eastern Yellow Robin called from deep in the bush. A good number of Scarlet Honeyeaters were scattered across the area and Yellow-faced, as winter visitors, sucked up the nectar while a pair of Pale-headed Rosellas finally showed after calling on and off while remaining hidden. The water levels are quite low at the moment and lots of exposed mud holds promise of waders – if it stays like this till Spring……

Minnippi 

Met Stu at the raptor lookout point and chatted about world cup football scores and birding in South America for a while. A Brown Goshawk put in a timely appearance, circling over the creek below, before Rob and I headed off to Belisi’s again for breakfast – the pancakes of last week had left a lasting impression….

15.6.14    Minnippi

Challenged by the fact that Stu had Brown Gerygone yesterday after I had claimed Mangrove at the same place I decided to try for the birds again…..went at 12.30 which was a bit of a waste of time, as it was quite windy and there were a lot of civilians around the lake itself. No Gerygones responded to playback so I didn’t prove or disprove my sightings. Things were generally very quiet around the bush – and the usual birds only around the lake, although 40 Masked Lapwings perched up on the mud were exceptional!

14.6.14     John Oxley res, Pine River

Rob picked me up at 6.00 and we picked up coffee on the way across the city to the reserve just upriver from the Pine River Bridge. Sitting in the carpark waiting for the light to improve, Gavin G appeared and the three of us headed down the track together. Our interest this morning was a roosting White-throated Nightjar and we quickly found it in its, apparently, favourite tree. Another birder had joined us – a visitor from the UK, here for a few days – and he was happy to see a bird like this perched up, appreciating the rarity involved. Mangrove Honeyeaters, Yellow Robins, Brahminy Kite and a few other common local species were also seen on our circuit in the reserve.

White-throated Nightjar

Rob and I bade GG farewell and headed back to the southside, stopping off at Dowse Lagoon at Sandgate to check the occupants – the usual Ducks, Grebes & Cormorants – a Pheasant Coucal scuttled around in front of the viewing platform, but other than that it was very average.

Breakfast in Belisi’s in Coorparoo was a success with pancakes on the menu providing good value for money.

7.6.14     Minnippi

Went alone to Minnippi arriving at 7.15. Walked the tracks as usual – with 2 Mangrove Gerygones on the M1 track and a Fan-tailed Cuckoo that put in a close appearance. Good numbers of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and a few Golden Whistlers, 2 Bee Eaters (over wintering or passing through?) and a single Bush Turkey and a (later identified) White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike along the Airfield track. While sitting at the raptor spotting site an Osprey flew past being mobbed by crows.- only my third on site and the last one was in 2005. Stu turned up a little while later and we chatted for a while before I headed home and he headed on.

1.6.14    Lindum, Fowler, Sandy Camp & Manly

Lindum first – nothing special, no brown waders at all. Good numbers of Black-fronted Dotts at Fowler and Red-kneed and Marsh Sands. Excellent exposed mud. Sandy Camp - only 1 Glossy Ibis as notable, otherwise just usual birds. Manly – wader nos lower than expected, possibly due to not-very-high tide, 25 Double-banded, but only 3 Tattlers.