25.4.15
Survey & Minnippi
Survey time again and I rocked up to
Merhyl’s place on Priestdale rd just after 6.30. A lovely cool, clear autumn
morning. Checked the dam and then walked through to the back of the property.
The sun was still rising and some beams fell through the trees and caught my
eye.
On the walk back the Noisy Miners went spare and to my
surprise an adult White-bellied Sea
Eagle flew through the trees. Apart from that there was little excitement.
It was my first birding morning with the hearing aids I was trialling – they
definitely made a difference. I heard a Yellow-faced
Honeyeater high in the canopy that I otherwise might have missed and a Rufous Whistler calling. Are they worth
the $5000+ price tag? Not so sure, but I’ll give them a run this weekend and
next and see how I feel.
Back at the house and coffee and
toast with Merhyl before heading off at 8.15 to Minnippi.
Stu was waiting in the car park and
we headed in over the bridge. The lake was very full - and very dead. No lily
pads, no mud, obviously no shallow areas and only a couple of Black Duck in evidence. The woods were
quiet too – the track still quite overgrown with long grass and spiders’ webs
to obstruct our passage. A couple of Grey
Fantails, a pair of Yellow Robins,
a Spangled Drongo and the first of
the Golden Whistlers to arrive for
winter.
Back out in the open and along the
side of the woods – a pair of Little
Friarbirds and a single Noisy.
Stu then called a Baza, which,
despite my hearing appliances I didn’t hear and, sure enough circling in the
distance was a single bird. Back to the lake and the usual Black Ducks, Dusky Moorhens, Purple Swamphens, joined by a single Eurasian Coot and 4 Hardheads. Up the hill and into the
airfield woods – more spider webs, including this one…..a female Garden Orb Weaver (Eriophora transmarina, Family Araneidae), body about the size of a 10 cent
piece, looking menacing hanging over the path, but is, in fact, non-toxic and
usually shelters during the day, emerging only at night to build her web.
Back to Stu’s Raptor Spot and we sat
for a while watching a couple of Pelicans
sail overhead, but seeing little else.
-Minnipppi%2BQ%2B12.JPG)
On to the cars and we convoyed to
Belesis for the usual breakfast, coffee and discussion.
19.4.15
Oxley
Mr D and I set off up the track in
the breaking dawn at 6.15. The usual stuff appeared as we went – a bit slow to
start, possibly because of our early arrival, but picking up as the morning
progressed. Not much over exciting – a single Brown Quail crossed the track ahead of us, a few Grey Fantails announced the coming
winter with their descent from the highlands, a single Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, a single Double-barred Finch and a pair of Variegated Fairy-wrens made for an Oxley bird-wave. The ponds were
still full, of water, not birds. A single Red-kneed
Dotterel, a pair of Australian
Grebes, a few Pelicans, Darters and
Cormorants, including the Pied Cormorant still hanging around. As
we walked back from the end turn point a flock of 6 Royal Spoonbills had magically appeared in the shallower of the two
ponds frantically feeding among the lilies. A pair of Spotless Crakes growled away in the thick reedbed at the second
culvert and a Striped Honeyeater
flew in to perch up and sing for a few moments.
All in all a relatively normal, quiet
morning at Oxley and we retired to the comfort of the Europa café for a well-priced and served breakfast and coffees in Sherwood.
18.4.15
Anstead & Moggill Swamp
When I arrived on site after another
damp overnight mist still clung to the canopy and the light was flat and grey,
the grass dripping with moisture, the trees hung still and limp. I headed up
the usual path and slowly but surely the place came to life – a flock of 20
plus Sulphur-crested Cockatoos moved
through the treetops causing no end of noise, drowning out everything else.
One
small flowering tree attracted 6 Noisy
Friarbirds, recently returned Grey
Fantails flicked between branches, a Peaceful
Dove called in the background and a male Cicadabird showed really well at the junction of the ridge and
outlook tracks.
 |
| Sulphur-crested Cockatoo |
I walked all the way to the northern
boundary and added Plumed Whistle Duck
and Dusky Moorhen to my site list,
as, along with an Australian Grebe and a single Black Duck, they were on a private dam, strictly outside the
reserve boundary but visible from within……..
Walking back along that track a male King Parrot sat up well and called briefly
before flying after its mate.
-Anstead%2BQ%2B2.JPG) |
| King Parrot (Male) http://youtu.be/cBaevn30X8Q I looked out from the outlook and checked the fig tree on the quarry track – nothing of consequence. Down the bitumen track and a pair of Red-browed Finches appeared to be collecting nest building material. A pair of Rufous Whistlers and a Yellow Robin put in an appearance here as well. |
 |
| Red-browed Finch |
I returned to the car without further
excitement and headed for Moggill Pocket Swamp.
The usual Dusky Moorhens, Purple Swamphens, Grey Teal and White-headed Stilts were on site. I
crossed the road and checked the other side for much the same. As I walked
towards the more distant part of the swamp a Black Kite flew off a power pole and flapped heavily away and
appeared to be joined by a second bird. I hadn’t noticed it, or them, and as it/they
couldn’t soar due to the lack of thermals in the still damp morning air they
both disappeared quite quickly over the local vegetation. I checked the far
corner and walked back to the car – as I was putting my stuff in the boot a
pair of hysterical Galahs made me
look up in time to see (one of) the Black
Kite return and perch up nicely in the top of a roadside tree. It seemed
quite happy to sit and look, possibly again because the air was so ‘heavy’.
I took my photos and left him to
it…..
 |
| Black Kite |
STILL WITHOUT INTERNET
Lost my home internet on 21st March thanks to a very close lightning strike.
Called Optus 23rd March to be advised it would be repaired by 8th April (17 days....)
On 8th April got a txt message to advise the external problem had been rectified.
Found it still didn't work - rang Optus again.
Was advised they would send me a replacement modem.
17th April - still no modem. (28 days....)
Rang Optus again - was advised the courier couldn't deliver to my work place because there was no one there. That's right its a secure building you pick up the phone in the foyer and you dial the number supplied with the instructions! Its not brain surgery.
Thanks Toll Courier for YOUR lousy service.
Now I have to ring Toll on Monday and arrange delivery. (30 days......)
Not Happy.
12.4.15
Sandy Camp & Lindum
Mr D turned up on time and we headed
off for Sandy Camp first, figuring the waders would always be at Lindum, but
the early birder gets the birds at SC……..
Still very full, no waders and only a
few duck in evidence, however, Rainbow
Bee Eaters and White-breasted
Woodswallows scooped insects out of the air overhead and at least 3 Forest Kingfishers picked small silvery
fish out of the pond. At the end of the first part of the track a covey of 6 Brown Quail hurried along the edge of
the ling grass while we looked for Double-barred
Finches and Chestnut-breasted
Mannikins and a pair of Leaden/Satin
Flycatchers proved elusive in the eucalypts above.
 |
| Brown Quail |
 |
| White-breasted Woodswallow |
The flooded ponds produced very
little in the way of water birds – 2 Wandering
Whistle Ducks in the third pond were its only occupants and even the
fourth, deep pond was almost deserted. As we approached the end of that pond
and prepared to join the main track again a hullabaloo of birds in the trees
ahead attracted Mr D’s attention and resolved itself into a magnificent Grey Goshawk cowering sheepishly under
the swooping attacks of a pair of Magpie
Larks and a Grey Butcherbird. It
didn’t hang around long, but dropped from the tree and flew low towards the
other end of the track. I thought we’d lost it altogether when a flicker caught
my eye and I re-located it approx. 150 meters away. I decided a photo
opportunity existed and started off. Unfortunately the persistence of the local
birds succeeded again and before I could get within decent range the hawk flew
again and this time disappeared for good. I only got a couple of poor photos to
support our sighting.
 |
| Grey Goshawk |
One of the Ospreys flew past us, grabbed up a fish and perched up to eat
it….alive
We headed down the road to Lindum.
Entering from Kianawah Rd we set up
and scoped the mud and water – White-headed
Stilts in abundance (140), 4 Marsh
Sandpipers, 6 Red-kneed and 2 Black-fronted Dotterels, large numbers
of Grey Teal with a few Chestnut Teal among them. No brown
waders at all. We didn’t stay too long, there wasn’t much to see, although the Marsh Sands did look nice as they
acquired their summer plumage, and soon headed off to
breakfast on bacon and eggs at
Belesis, once again.
11.4.15
Minnippi
Once again I ventured out alone,
arriving on site at 6.30 to a lovely, cool morning although a bit overcast and
cloudy.
Walking in across the bridge the
signs of recent flooding were obvious, but the ground appeared to be drying
out. The lake itself was full to the brim and had very few birds on it, the M1
woods were quiet - the track almost obliterated by the rank grass encouraged by
the rains.
Pretty quiet all over, although there
were birds to be had – Striated
Pardalotes, who always seem to almost disappear in Summer, were bouncing
around calling enthusiastically and looked to be nest hole hunting, Noisy Friarbird, Bar-shouldered Dove, Brown
Honeyeaters, female or juvenile Rufous
Whistlers and back to the lakeside again for half a dozen European Coots and a couple of Hardhead along with about 35 Black Duck.
 |
| Hardhead |
Over the hill and down to the
airfield woods and they were quiet too – a number of Spangled Drongos and a few Butcherbirds,
both Pied and Grey, and not a fairy-wren to be seen. I guess they have either
been hunted out or are keeping a very low profile with these predators around.
A small flock of Silvereyes passed
by along with a single Grey Fantail
– first on site for the season – and a lone Yellow-faced Honeyeater put in a brief appearance.
A large flock of Little Corellas – approx. 80 birds – flew in over the canopy
calling in that despairing, moaning way they have, circled a few times and
headed off somewhere else. On the way out I stopped off at Stu’s Raptor Lookout
but nothing showed.
Noting the removal of the mangrove
boardwalk by the council for some unknown reason, I headed back down the path
stopping for a Blue-faced Honeyeater
posed on an African Tulip (?) flower, before reaching the car and heading home
for a second breakfast.
 |
| Blue-faced Honeyeater |
 |
| Spangled Drongo |
4.4.15
Oxley
As neither of my usual companions
were available and the weather was inclined to be inclement (i.e. it looked
like it was going to rain any minute) I headed for Oxley alone.
As I parked, Prof P cycled across my
vision on his trusty steed, helmet perched awry, bins swinging in the wind. I
caught up with him on the pontoon after taking a couple of photos of a male Grey Butcherbird chasing insects in the
grass.
And so the morning developed – I
followed the Prof as he cycled ahead, catching up with him every now and again
along the track, as he dismounted to investigate a sighting or a call. Mostly it
was just the usual stuff with a Buff-banded
Rail, normally close to the lakes, an unusual spectacle halfway along the
track; a family party of Grey
Shrikethrushes calling strangely attracted attention; 3 Spangled Drongos display flighting
together; an Australian Hobby
perched up near the lakes was probably the same one as a fortnight ago.
We checked the lakes together as the
Prof had abandoned his bike at the turnoff. Most of the birds present were of
the larger variety – Pelicans, Little
Black Cormorants, Australian Darters, 1 Pied Cormorant and the like. I
commented on the lack of duck despite the flooded aspect and the Prof suggested
that because the water had been here so long the fish had matured and were
eating all the insects. As a result, other birds such as the ducks and waders,
had moved elsewhere as there was nothing to eat – but there were fish for the
larger predators.
Seemed like a strong theory to me, as
we have noted a lack of ducks and waders and an increase in Cormorants and
Pelicans, around most of the larger bodies of water in the area, for example at
Minnippi and Sandy Camp.
For whatever reason, anyway, we can
only hope there is a drying out period soon, when one would expect a return of
those species as the water level drops again.
We ‘broke the rules’ and climbed over
a gate to cross the field to the channel leading into the right hand pond – there
was nothing of significance there. Back to the track again and the Prof led me
over the opposite fence and into a paddock to get a view of the, usually
hidden, flooded area below the markets. A large number of Intermediate and a couple of Great
Egrets, and a single Royal Spoonbill
fed with Ibis in the flooded grass.
A handful of Little Corellas flew across the sky as we walked back to the
turnoff where the Prof resumed his bike trip - and I headed back to the car
park.
3.4.15
Anstead & Moggil Swamp
It rained all night and was still
chucking it down at 5.45 as I dragged my sorry ass out into the dark driveway
and waited for Misters P & D to show up. By the time we reached Anstead the
clouds had thinned and the light improved somewhat – it was still grey and
bleary and very damp, but at least it had stopped falling out of the sky.
Heading up the path things seemed
very quiet at first, but picked up as stuff started coming out to feed after
the wet night – 2 Leaden Flycatchers,
a male Cicadabird, a pair of Rufous Whistlers, 5 Varied Sitellas, a pair of White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes (most
reliable place near Brisbane for these), a couple of White-throated Gerygones, Spangled Drongos, a distant Wonga Pigeon and a hidden Brown Quail, while further up the track
a party of newly arrived Scarlet
Honeyeaters fluttered around in the canopy, White-browed Scrub Wren, Variegated Fairy Wren hopped through the
ground cover, an invisible calling Striated Pardalote and a pair or two of
King Parrots floating through the
tree tops.
We walked the top track all the way to the edge of the reserve and scanned a small pond/dam in a neighbouring property to add Australian Grebe and Wood Duck to the list. Then out to the look-out, but nothing was moving on the sludgy, brown, flooded river.
We walked the top track all the way to the edge of the reserve and scanned a small pond/dam in a neighbouring property to add Australian Grebe and Wood Duck to the list. Then out to the look-out, but nothing was moving on the sludgy, brown, flooded river.
On to the quarry overlook and a large
number of Black-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes,
more Spangled Drongos and Australian Figbirds all scattered and
dived for cover as a Collared
Sparrowhawk flashed through, low, looking for breakfast.
Walking back from the lookout, Mr D
suddenly yelped like a kicked dog, jumped about 3 feet off the ground and 3
feet sideways, half landed on top of me and, in response to my complaint,
pointed at the ground where a Green Tree
Snake lay calmly watching the chaos its presence had created. We took some
photos and I made an attempt to catch it before it had had enough of prancing
humans, smirked and slid off into the grass. Green Tree Snakes are, of course,
completely harmless, but quite a striking looking reptile.
We headed on and completed the tour
without much more incident apart from a brief view of a Whistling Kite which, possibly surprisingly, was my first site
record of the species.
On to Moggill Swamp and both sides of the road were nicely flooded. The
usual Dusky Moorhens, Black Ducks (+
ducklings), Masked Lapwing and Grey Teal (2) with the addition of two
family parties of Plumed Whistling Ducks
with a total of 14 ducklings – one party more developed and the juveniles
showing off plumes already even though they were still flightless. 3 Buff-banded Rails had emerged from the
long grass to take advantage of the sodden conditions which was a site tick,
but the Purple Swamphens had reduced
from about 30 birds two weeks ago to 3.
We headed off – rain threatening but
still staying clear – to breakfast at Macdonald’s as being Easter Friday
nothing else was open.
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