Weekends That Were - October 2016

31.10.16

Norman Creek, Holland Park West

A cloudy, cool morning pending expected rain at 6.35. A good morning at the creek - a list of 31 species, equal best of one previous visit.

A pair of White-browed Scrub-wrens, Grey Shrikethrush and a, heard only, Channel-billed Cuckoo all only the second time recorded. A pair of Magpie Larks nest building over the creek at an easily viewed site will be nice to watch in the coming weeks. The Pacific Black Duck shepherding two remaining ducklings. A new-to-site butterfly – Glasswing – finished off the 50 minute visit.

30.10.16

Toorbul wader roost

Mr P drove and we were on site two hours before high tide. A Little Curlew was claimed here last Sunday afternoon, but hadn’t been seen since. The photos left open some doubt – and the number of Whimbrel on site this morning leads me to believe the original sighting as at least questionable.

Around 300 Whimbrel – more than either of us had ever seen in one place before – and the size variance quite remarkable. 500 Bar-tailed Godwit hid 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 80 Great and 3 Red Knot, 80 Eastern Curlew, 10 Red-necked Stint, 5 Curlew and 40 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers made up a good number of waders pushing closer to the beach as the tide rose provided excellent viewing. (all numbers approx!)

We stayed till the larger waders started to leave and fly Bribie Island direction.

One Bar-tailed Godwit had 5 flags/bands on its legs – green and orange flags on its upper right, a double yellow on the lower right and another yellow band on its lower left leg. Seemed a bit overkill especially for birds that fly thousands of kilometres.

5 flags?? Really necessary??

Heading back we stopped off for breakfast at Mackers, then dropped in to Tinchi Tamba to look for the previously reported Pectoral Sandpipers – unfortunately the swamp they had been in was completely dry and they had departed for parts unknown.

29.10.16

Trotter

Headed out on a very still, cloudy morning at 6.00. The woods and water were as empty as ever with big dead spaces between sightings. Ended up with all of 36 species and a handful of butterflies and dragonflies – nothing exceptional. Two White-throated Needletails over the trees my second seasonal record, a singing male Golden Whistler was, I thought, a little unusual, thought they all should have moved back up to the hills by now. I used my Tascam recorder to record a calling Noisy Friarbird and played it back as an experiment – and it came in for a look, which reassured me that it will work when really needed. A pair of Grey Teal with two well developed, but still flightless, ducklings was a nice confirmation of breeding and a Macquarie Turtle pulled out on a log to sunbathe was a new, but not unsurprising, addition to my species list. I did get a nice photo of a female Blue Skimmer, but that was about it!

Blue Skimmer female Orthetrum caledonicum

27.10.16

Minnippi

I picked up Mr P and we were on site at 6.00. A warm, cloudy-bright morning. Lots of butterflies, average to good birding. All the usual suspects plus a Brush Cuckoo calling on the M1 track, but remaining well hidden, a very discreet Little Shrikethrush on the airfield track and a Brown Goshawk from The Lookout. Four Channel-billed Cuckoos flew overhead in their pterodactyl-like way and an adult Tawny Frogmouth sat awkwardly on two well grown chicks in a nest in the same tree as last year over the carpark.

The main feature of the morning was the butterflies The masses of Caper Whites – hundreds had emerged and were literally everywhere; two Blue Triangles were the first of this season and Large Grass-yellows, Meadow Argus, Common & Dainty Grass-blues and worn looking Long-tailed Pea-blues made up the rest.

We checked the ‘new’ flooded marshy area near the playing fields but only a Royal Spoonbill and a few Dusky Moorhens were in sight – looks like great potential though.

26.10.16

Norman Creek, Holland Park West

A quiet sunny, warm morning at 7.00 and down the road again. Birds very quiet, although a brief, distant view of a lone White-throated Needletail heading south was my first of the season.

Butterflies were in number and very active, loads of Common Grass-blues and Caper Whites, Cabbage Whites and Meadow Argus common and one single Monarch. I took some photos of a dragonfly but it will have to be referred to the museum for help in identification.

24.10.16

My Eye

Time for another injection.

Cycled in as normal, discussed the situation with Sunnil and we agreed there had been no improvement. It would seem that the medicine (B) used the last few times is not having any effect.

When he had first injected me, a year ago, he had used Medicine A. This had had a dramatic effect the second time, in that I had lost vision immediately after the injection, the pressure in my eye had gone stratospheric and he had had to draw liquid of my eyeball to reduce it. He had been reluctant to use that stuff again.

However, it did seem to have had a positive effect on the fluid in my pupil back then so we also agreed to try that one again today.

The injection was the usual tense drama ( for me, not Sunnil) and all went black again immediately after it, however, the pressure remained OK and my sight began to return fairly quickly.

Now a few hours later, I have taken the pad off and I can see the medicine floating around in my eyeball. This is normal for this stuff, in time it will dissolve.

Fingers crossed it will make the improvements we want.

24.10.16

Norman Creek, Holland Park West

6.35-7.20 visit this morning in bright sunny conditions. Birds much the same as usual including Pale-headed Rosella and Tree Martin, two I haven’t seen here recently. Two new (for site) butterflies were the real bonus – Spotted Grass-blue Zizeeria karsandra and Evening Brown Melanitis leda, with Monarchs, 2 Meadow Argus, a Caper White, Cabbage Whites and Common Grass-blues in supporting cast role.

23.10.16

Oxley

Mr P picked me up and we were on site at 6.30. A cold morning as a southerly change had gone through overnight including a light shower - still cloudy, but lovely to have a cool breeze for a change.

And the change was reflected in the activity along the track. Quite birdy with a total of 56 species for the morning including a new site species for me – Silver Gull! Two birds flying around tern-like over the first lake and flying off north as we approached brought my site total to 162.

A White-bellied Sea Eagle and a pair of Whistling Kites overhead were the raptors for the morning and most of the usual expectations.

A nice Eastern Cattle Egret in very flushed breeding plumage perched up and, although I have featured them before, was too photogenic to ignore.

Eastern Cattle Egret

One our return walk we bumped into the Professor leading a group of students - and an Orange Spider Wasp Cryptocheilus bicolor actively hunting its prey among the dead leaves.

Orange Spider Wasp Cryptocheilus bicolor

We retired, as usual, to Café Europa for our breakfast and made plans for the coming weeks expeditions.

22.10.16

Anstead

Onsite at 6.15 and up the track in a bright, warm, calm morning – beautiful……and F All birds. In total for the morning I listed 27 species. Pathetic! I was starting to think it was just me, but I ran into a couple of photographers – guys I’ve met elsewhere, but don’t know - and their comments reassured me – they hadn’t seen much either and remarked on how (God, I hate this word) 'quiet' it was….

So I turned my attention to other naturalist pursuits and was rewarded!

Turning over rocks, as you do, I grabbed a small squirming snake-like thing which turned out to be beautifully marked and was a Black-necked Delma Delma tincta.

 Black-necked Delma Delma tincta.

And here it is close up in my hand so you can see the true size of this little beauty.

I also found a ‘new’ grasshopper – Black-kneed Gumleaf Grasshopper Goniaea carinata which was also pleasing. 

Black-kneed Gumleaf Grasshopper Goniaea carinata

Butterflies were very active – Monarchs, of course, Meadow Argus by the dozen, a couple of Dainty Swallowtails and several Glasswings and I added two more species to my site list – the everywhere-at-the-moment Long-tailed Pea-blue and Dainty Grass-blue so the morning was not a complete waste.

Best bird? Two female Common Cicadabirds that provided some good views.

Common Cicadabird female

PS The fly featured in 6.10.16's post from Mt Nebo, and sent to the Queensland Museum, was unable to be identified specifically - only as Bushfly sp Scaptia sp

18.10.16

Norman Creek, Holland Park West

A good morning ‘down the road’. 23 species seen or heard. Nothing new. The grass has been cut in the small park beside Birdwood Tce and random cut tracks through the rest. There was still plenty of long grass but the number and variety of butterflies much lower - only one Common Grass-blue Zizina labradus seen. The Black Duck still had 3 ducklings with her so appears to have avoided the Goshawk threat.

17.10.16

Sandy Camp & Lindum

I was on site at 6.45 and walked the usual track around the ponds. Nothing out of the ordinary and, as a breeze picked up, it seemed the get less birdy!

A couple of Wandering Whistle Ducks perched under the trees, nesting White Ibis, Little Black and Little Pied Cormorants, Black Ducks and Dusky Moorhens with young and I added a new dragonfly to my list – Common Bluetail, female. Resorted to photographing a Giant Waterlily.

Giant Waterlily Nymphaea gigantea

Moved on to Fuller at 8.15 and it was pretty quiet too – water level high so no waders. A few Magpie Geese hanging around looking anxious.

On to Lindum and the main wet area was very thinly occupied. A White-headed Stilt nest was within camera range and the eggs were visible – the first time I have seen this I think.

White-headed Stilt nest & eggs

Down Burnby Rd and the pond at the far end had a flock of about 20 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, 4 Curlew Sands and 4 Marsh Sands. There were also 3 Red-kneed Dotterel and a Black-fronted Dotterel present under a cloud of about 50 Welcome Swallows. All the insect activity must have been down there today.

The Sharpies were a fair distance away, but I don’t think there was anything else among them.

15.10.16

Oxley

A bright sunny morning at 6.30 and the track was quiet birdy. Nothing out out of the ordinary, but good local birding never the less.

A, unfortunately only briefly, perched up Brown Falcon provided a good view, while 2 pairs of Sacred Kingfishers chased each other round establishing territories and one, for a change, posed nicely...

Sacred Kingfisher

Butterflies showed well in the still, warm conditions – Cabbage Whites Pieris rapae, Monarchs Danaus plexippus of course in numbers, a couple of newly hatched Lesser Wanderers Danaus chrysippus and I added Meadow Argus Junonia villida, Common Grass-blue Zizina labradus and Long-tailed Pea-blue Lampides boeticus to my site list.

Long-tailed Pea-blue Lampides boeticus

A Lewin’s Rail grumbled in response from the second culvert reed bed and a small flock of Red-browed Finches fed quietly on the grass the locust-like Green Army have so far overlooked……

I took some more photos of unidentifiable weeds that looked like flowers....

14.10.16

North Stradbroke Island

With the promise of 30 knot east south-easterlies, and feeling the wind at home, I headed out for the usual car/boat/bus trek to Pt Lookout.

October is not a brilliant month for seawatching, however, it is approaching the petrel season and one never knows – especially with all the apparent environmental stuff going on at the moment.

On site the wind was blowing almost straight in off the sea, strong enough to blow the contacts outta your eyes. Small shelter behind the rock and the scope was trembling in the gusts. The sea was foam flecked and crazy and the glare was horrendous for the first hour until the sun moved.

It took a while before anything showed apart from Great Crested Terns and then it was a sporadic showing of Short-tailed and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters. Only had two ‘flocks’ of Shorts go by, one of 15 and one of 6 birds – otherwise it was all singles or doubles at most. The Wedgies were the usual, 1, 2 or 3 at a time cruising past more sedately, but slower, than the Shorts, making the most of the howling wind.

I watched mostly with the bins propped on the scope turned sideways and this way could cover all the visible ocean from near to horizon – and then use the scope to zero in on anything distant. This worked well given the bumpy conditions and is preferable when I am on my own as there is no one watching the close action if I’m face down in the scope.

I had one dark phase Pomarine Skua heading south and 4 juvenile Australian Gannets through the 2.5 hour seawatch and, surprisingly, a single Common Noddy heading north – over my head! Humpbacks were out there, but difficult to spot, along with the usual in-shore pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins and a humungous turtle which I believe was a Loggerhead.

I got the usual bus at 10.50 and spotted two seperate Bush Stone Curlews alongside the road. Back at the ferry terminal the tide had dropped exposing sand and mud to a couple of Whimbrels and an Eastern Curlew, but no sign of the Beach Stone Curlew of the last visit!

11.10.16

Norman Creek, Holland Park West

A bright sunny morning and the butterflies responded! Two new site species – Meadow Argus Junonia villida, seems to be popping up everywhere recently, and Common Grass-blue Zizinia labradus along with previously recorded Monarchs Danaus plexippus and Cabbage Whites Pieris rapae. Also my first Dragonfly for the site – Common Bluetail Ischnura heterosticta.

The birds were pretty normal, but the Black Duck family has been reduced from 8 ducklings to 3 and the apparent reason? A Brown Goshawk stalking the creek – seen twice, low along the creek line. The Cisticolas were nowhere to be found and the Willy Wagtails hidden away somewhere – possibly because of the Goshawk red threat alert.    

10.10.16

Trotter

The morning looked grey and still and cloudy so I took my time getting on site – arriving at 6.45 – and it was grey and still and quiet initially. The sun came out about 30 minutes into it and the place livened up a little insect-wise, but was still very quiet bird-wise.

I took the long way round, turning left at the first junction and walking along behind the two houses that border the reserve, then down through the bush to the upper reaches of the lake. The water levels have been very low now for several months and the bush has crept back in a lot of places with grasses and weeds and young sprouting trees appearing on the exposed lake bed. One would think this habitat would be of interest to certain bird species? But, no, it was as empty of obvious life as always.

The waters that remained were exceptionally deserted this morning, despite my hopes. A few Australian Pelicans, Black Duck and Little Black Cormorants along with a single Australian Darter were the only inhabitants.

I did add a number of butterfly species to my site list, however. Meadow Argus Junonia villida, Brown Ringlet Hypocysta metinius, Dainty Grass-blue Zizula hylax, Common Crow Euploea core, Monarch Danaus plexippus and Black Jezebel Delias nigrina and a Dragonfly – Common Bluetail Ischnura heterosticta. I also had a heap of the same moth species seen at several locations recently – no common name - Asura cervicalis and a new one Epicoma zelotes.

Epicoma zelotes

I did tape a few calls – sort of tossing up whether to start collecting bird calls or not….and photographed a few more ‘flowers’ – I say that with caution, cause I’m struggling to id them and I’m not sure if they would be rated as ‘flowers’ at all…..

I believe this is Wallum or Leafy Wedge Pea Gompholobium virgatum

I  am not confident in any id of these....

8.10.16

Minnippi

Mr D and I met Mr P in the carpark as arranged at 6.15. Mr D’s last chance to see Purple Swamphen before he takes off for the wilds of Norway and Spain next week…..

It was a good morning – but not spectacular. On the way in we could hear a Pale-vented Bush Hen calling from the river and later two calling from the bike path in the same area. We had a good list of the usual species with most of the returned winter vacationers back on site – Channel-billed Cuckoos flying around, Pacific Koel calling, 2 Oriental Dollarbirds perched up over the M1 track, several Sacred Kingfishers in the trees and a Pheasant Coucal clumsily flying a short distance over the reed beds (although these are probably on site all year round). We also had a Varied Triller on the M1 track.

Butterflies were in increased numbers welcoming the above average heat of the day – Monarchs Danaus plexippus in abundance, Common Crow Euploea core, Long-tailed Pea Blue Lampides boeticus, Large Yellow Grass-dart Taractrocera anisomorpha, Meadow Argus Junonia villida and Dainty Grass Blue Zizula hylax – all seen on site before.

Dainty Grass Blue Zizula hylax

Mr D also pointed out a a very small ladybird for my benefit – Striped Ladybird Micraspis frenata 

Striped Ladybird Micraspis frenata 

and for my sins I started taking photographs of flowers, God help us all…… I think they’re all weeds as I haven’t been able to id any yet so you’ll just have to wait for this new avenue of madness to develop.

We also saw a turtle on the riverbank – there are probably dozens of turtles in Minnippi and Bulimba creek, but strangely enough we don’t see them very often. This one was a Macquarie Turtle Emydura macquarii – seems to be the only local turtle with a yellow stripe on the ‘cheek’ and above the eye.

Macquarie Turtle Emydura macquarii

We retired to Belesis as our usual café link to Minnippi.

6.10.16

Thylogale track - Mt Nebo

It had been a while since I had walked this track, but in the past had had some remarkable success so I thought I’d give it a go again. The track starts at Jolly’s Lookout and winds through the forest to Bombana, the next picnic ground. The sign says 4kms, I assume, for a one-way walk.

On site at 6 after a relatively easy drive and was met by a Wonga Pigeon risking its life in front of the Jeep. I parked up and walked back down to the trail start. It was quite cool to start with, given the time of year and the predicted 29 degrees.

It’s a mix of vine scrub, a couple of patches of rainforest and a bit of eucalypt. I didn’t have an exceptional morning – best bird was a female Paradise Riflebird which was new for my site list, but nice to catch up with Yellow-throated Scrubwrens, Brown Cuckoo Doves, heaps of Rufous Fantails, Black-faced Monarchs (5 in total) and the like.

I walked as far as a fire trail, then, instead of continuing on to Bombana, I walked back via the road hoping for butterflies. I got back to the Lookout just after 9, had a cup of coffee and then walked part of the track again – this time for insects and reptiles. Neither were particularly active, although I did see Caper Whites, a Clearwing Swallowtail and Black Jezebels, no lizards or snakes, but did photograph one fly which persisted on trying to suck up my finger - I have forwarded to the Museum for aid in identification.

Bushfly species - unable to ascertain specific species status, per Queensland Museum

5.10.16

Cycling - Bulimba Creek Bikeway

As most of you know I used to cycle 40 kms a day - 20, or an hour, each way - commuting to work.

In 2014, my biggest year – I cycled 7,292 kms.

In 2015 – 6,620 kms – my last day commuting was 11.12.15

Overall between 2008 and 2015 I cycled 41,835 and by rough reckoning between 1991, when I started cycling, and the end of 2015, I think 80,000 kms is a fair, conservative figure.

So – be that as it may, on the 11^th December 2015 I stopped.

I just stopped riding. I had only ever ridden to commute and once that requirement was no longer necessary I quit.

In the last 9 months I have ridden about 5 times. Into the city – perversely when I needed an injection in my eye - and once to Southbank and that was about it.

I have also gained 7 kilos.

So I decided a few weeks ago to get back in the saddle and thought the Bulimba Creek Bikeway would be a challenging enough, safe option.

The first time I tried to ride it, I got lost and it took me one hour and 45 minutes finding my way as far as Wekker Rd in Mansfield. That was starting from Eight Mile Plains having driven to a point in a side street. The track is fine – so long as it exists. When you have to use part of a road or public footpath the signage leaves a lot to be desired and I kept making the wrong choices…..most likely another Colin FUP…..

The second time I cycled from home and got lost at the entrance to Nathan campus 5 kms from home…..

The third time I got as far as Scrub Rd, having reached Wekker Rd in 55 minutes.

So, today, I set off again at 7.05 and reached Wekker Rd after 40 minutes. I continued on and reached my original target – Minnippi parklands – after 1 hour and 10 minutes. I stopped for a drink and a museli bar in celebration!

Then I cycled on – to end up at Murarrie cycling grounds – the old Commonwealth Games site on Wynnum Rd.

Heading back I was pretty knackered come the 2 hour point. There were bits of my arse I didn’t know existed and I spent a lot of time out of the saddle! 

My hips started to hurt at the 2 and a half hour mark and I was pretty happy to get off the bike at 10.15, three hours and ten minutes after leaving and, I’m guessing, close to 60 kms later.

I haven’t lost any weight.

But…it did make me feel good and I’ll do it again in a week or so.

5.10.16

Norman Creek, Holland Park West

Another good morning at Norman Creek, Holland Park West!

Species no 73 and a bit surprising to boot – 2 Red-browed Finches feeding on the grass seeds. They seem to be increasing around Brisbane this year with flocks seen at Oxley and Minnippi that I am aware of. Prior to this year, in my experience, they have been a rare commodity in the inner Brisbane suburbs. However, here they were on my patch, the little darlings!

More of the usual stuff, but a 45 minute total of 21 species was, again, a goodly number, given the season average from my records is 18.

The 'field' with the creek on the left.

The creek

3.10.16

Moggil

Mr P picked me up at 6 and we were on site with the Bellbirds at 6.30. Almost immediately we heard Wonga Pigeon, Brown Cuckoo-dove………and Noisy Pitta. We managed to get one of the Pittas perched up.

Noisy Pitta

Moving down the track we reached the same spot as the previous visit and the pair of White-eared Monarchs put on a dazzling display providing crippling views. If they’d been any closer they would have been behind us!

White-eared Monarch

We found a pair of Black-faced and later a single Spectacled Monarch so all three local Monarchs in one morning made for good birding!

A strange burbling call remained unidentified but was reminiscent of a Lyrebird. As that is almost impossible we assumed it might have been a Satin Bowerbird, but, unfortunately were unable to find it in the dense undergrowth and it remains a mystery.

All in all it was a low numbers morning but the quality was excellent. A couple of male Clearwing Swallowtails and a handful of Caper Whites made up the butterfly activity.

Clearwing Swallowtail - male Cressida cressida

We repaired to Café Tara in Kenmore for breakfast.

1.10.16

Oxley

Mr D picked me up and we arrived on site at 6am.

Not a bad morning although nothing outstanding.

A Whistling Kite over the ponds, a Pacific Koel calling, a family party of White-headed Stilts (2 adults, 4 juveniles) pacing anxiously around the first pond. A pair of Wood Ducks with 6 well developed ducklings. A number of Asura cervicalis moths – black and yellow, very difficult to photograph as they never seem to stay still – in the weeds near the second pond.

The wind picked up as we left the ponds and limited opportunities on the walk back and headed off to Sherwood to our usual Hungarian breakfast location.