23-24.11.02
Brunswick Hds, NSW
Left Brisbane at 10.00 with Jade and, live in Hong Kong student, Elisa, who had never camped before. Stopped off briefly at Hastings Pt, nothing of interest. Travelled via old road – less busy, much quieter. Regular fruit stall closed? Permanent closure since new road opened?
Arrived 12.00 at B Hds and set up camp at site 107. Strong breeze from NE prevented successful use of the new tarp/awning/extension to tent. Gave up after struggling for half an hour. Need to set the tent further back so have at least 5 meters available in front. Will probably need to set it up again in the garden and practice different variations!
We all had a swim then the girls drifted down river on outgoing tide to the beach about 100m away and spent an hour or so building a sand castle. At 13 and 17 I thought this would not be the thing but they were happy as pigs in shit! After a bite of lunch we headed around to the North wall of the river – I thought we could walk out along the wall, but J decided to go rock scrambling, taking E with her and ended up swimming again in a deeper rock pool. Had a Wandering Tattler on the inside side/river side of the wall. Very close views – overall darker grey, very yellow legs, dark bill, eyestripe stopped at eye, short flights on bowed wings – like a common sand. Didn’t notice/look for the longer nostril – probably could have seen that too, I was very close.
Terns and gulls on the rocks on the ‘sea side’ of the wall, several Crested Terns plus a number of Common. Two individuals very pale and ‘Roseate Tern’ looking but could not confirm ID, Seemed to have a lighter weight dark coloured bill and appear more ‘elegant’, no dark shoulder evident, dark red legs, tail streamers looked long. but not much longer than Common. Got very close – which really didn’t help! Very patient Darter sat on rocks about 20m away while K & E swam in pools.
Tried fishing all night – used mullet fillet – plenty of bites – didn’t manage to hook anything.
Got up at 5.30. Drove around to Nature reserve near road and walked slowly down along dirt track to oyster farm. Fan-tailed cuckoo, wattlebirds, whipbirds (2 pr at least), 6 Yellow Robins – 3 together, 1 GS Thrush, Brown thornbills (identified call finally), Variegated and Blue wrens, White browed Scrub Wrens. Also a bird calling – suspect another cuckoo – rising repeated whistle sort of call. Fairly penetrating ‘tsseeep’ – thought of Bronze Cuckoo, but couldn’t see anything. Driving back to camp a White-necked Heron flew over road – very distinct silhouette.
After breakfast went round to North side of river mouth again and had a swim. Then drove to Byron Bay and quick circuit of the lighthouse and town. Packed and left camp at 2pm. Stopped off at Hastings Pt again, nothing of interest, arrived home 16.15.
29.11.02 - 01.12.02
Inskip Pt
Along with a visiting birder from the USA (Alan Grenon of Isabelline Wheatear fame) I headed north on the great BBQ (Black-breasted Button Quail) chase this past weekend. It was one bird Alan had NOT seen, and had not expected to, so my planned camping expedition was an unexpected surprise. I didn't PROMISE anything, but did suggest that it was 'as definite a possibility as it could be'!! (as I hadn't seen them either I wasn't feeling tooo confident!)
We arrived in the camping area well after dark on Friday night with a new (Australian) bird under my belt already - so to speak! Barn Owl high in a tree at the side of the road - looking starkly white in the car and torch light. Pitched the tent only - deciding to leave the newly acquired
extension tarp until daylight as I wasn't confident of success with it's first real test.
Up at 5.30 and eager for the chase - a quick coffee or 2 for me - Alan had a carrot & water - (I guess there's no accounting for taste!!) and off to the recommended site where all others have gone before. Quietly stalking through the woods, examining platelets much as new parents examine
the first of their offsprings nappie contents, discussing possible age and origin.
An hour it took and Alan saw a movement under some thick scrub, a few quick fleeting glimpses and then, finally, a female making a platelet, seen through several layers of branch and leaf. Not very satisfying, but a definite ID none the less. We spent the next 3 hours sitting quietly or
moving slowly through the area ears pricked, eyes straining, to be rewarded only with, yet another, 10 second fleeting glimpse.
We looked for Beach Stone Curlew (none seen) and checked out the waders - a few Curlew, Red-necked Stint, Red Capped Plovers, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Golden Plover, a few Great Knot and 1 Greenshank - and, of course the bush birds - Mistletoe bird, Rufous Whistler, Yellow Robin, Peaceful Dove, Brown Thornbill, Lewin's HE, Brush Turkey, White-browed Scrub Wren, Mangrove Honeyeater & Gerygone, Noisy Friarbird, Varied Triller, heaps of Bee-eaters, 1 Leaden Flycatcher and 1 Little Shrike-thrush.
There were 100s if not 1000s of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters shearing around the bay inside the point and 1000s of Terns - mostly Common, with good numbers of Gull-billed and Little, Crested and Caspian among them constantly flying overhead from bay to surf.
A little disappointed (with our sighting of the BBQ) we headed back to camp for a late breakfast ('elevenses' at this stage) and an attempt at putting up the shade tarp. After one false start we succeeded, much to my delight, and then relaxed under it's welcome shade to sit out the heat of
the day.
In the afternoon we moved into the shade of the Casurinas on the beach and watched the terns come back from fishing. A White-breasted Sea Eagle soared overhead and a very large turtle (Loggerhead?) raised his head just off the beach.
We had considered trying for Ground Parrot and Grass Owl in the nearby National Park - but had found the access road CLOSED for some unexplained reason. Should we try for more BBQs or go for the wader roost on the other side of the bay - a round trip of approx 180 kms? We plumped for
more BBQs but decided to concentrate on the immediate area rather than going down to the recognised spot. We were ground breaking here - no 'follow the herd for us!' We soon found some more platelets near the road and then began walking down the bitumen road casually watching and observing other species in the late afternoon light. We added White-cheeked and Brown HEs
and Forest Pigeon to our list and more Varied Trillers and Leaden Flycatchers.
After a few hundred meters we turned back and, finally, were rewarded in our patience, about 20 meters from our camp 'turnoff' with, firstly, a female turning platelets, then a male, then another male leading 3 tiny chicks through the ritual. YAHOOO!! Great views from the road, all
birds about 15 meters away seemingly oblivious to us, and the occasional 4WD, passing by!
We returned to camp, happy and elated. Just on dusk and we drove to the end of the point to look for Beach Stone Curlew again - we had heard a whistling (non-Curlew) call near our
campsite, but nothing on the beach. Despite checking all possible spots we didn't succeed in seeing anything of any consequence, but, returning to our 'home', I nearly ran over a couple of big eyed Bush Thicknees, one of whom obliged us by standing still beside the car for a few moments before running off into the bush.
Up at 5.15 Sunday morning and a quick conference over coffee and carrot - we would pack up, go for the wader roost 90 kms away, then return, and try the road through the national park to head home via the beach.
An hour later and we were leaving our campsite to, eventually; reach Tuan via Booneroo (thanks for the directions, Tom) without incident and still close to high tide. At first glance we could see no waders, but poking around the area we came across them just North of the main 'town'. In the
process I scored another new bird - Red-winged Parrot at the bottom end of it's coastal range - great views as it sat on some convenient electricity wires!
We searched through the waders - hoping for Asiatic Dowitcher or, for Alan, Broad-billed Sandpiper (actually for both of us, but one has to maintain a certain poise!) Terek Sand 110, Curlew 60, Bar-tailed Godwit 1000, Red-necked Stint 50, Common Greenshank 15, Black-winged Stilt 30,
Red-capped Plover 10, Great Knot 20, Grey-tailed Tattler 5 - but no AD or BBS unfortunately.
So... back to town for fuel and then off into the forest to try for the beach. A beautiful Emerald Dove on the side of the track was the only joy - we had to back off, and come back out, after encountering heavy sand and a mutual agreement to 'give it a miss'. So a long relatively boring ride home with no traffic problems until we reached the dreaded Bribie Island turnoff (it should be a rule - either get off the island and go home before 3 pm or stay, and go home, after 10pm!!!)
Oh well, back to the insanity of 'civilisation' with memories of quiet little birds moving through the bush, chicks in tow.
13.12.02 - 15.12.02
Woodgate National Park
Last Friday (13th !!!) I scored a day off work and headed north to Woodgate National Park with visions of Red-backed Kingfishers, dancing Brolgas and lots of other possibilities churning in my head. This is a (short) tale of birding and camping and has elements of stupidity and adventure (I hope) - if you don't want to read on but do want the bird list pls feel free to ask.
I arrived at Woodgate (south of Bundaberg, north end of Hervey Bay) after an uneventful 4 hour drive (or 'bounce' in my little Suzuki). Nothing much to Woodgate - a post office, one restaurant, one pub, one caravan park, so eagerly headed for Burrum Point campground. There is a 5 km sand track, 4WD only, very soft that leads to a campground about 50 meteres short of the beach at B. Pt. Toilets, cold showers and plenty of water (I think it may be town water piped in 'cause the pressure was fearsome and no restrictions).
Only one other camp site occupied (there are about 10 available) so chose the furtherest away for their, and my privacy, and set up camp. Checked out the beach (I took the long way - via the bush - to then find there was a marked walkway at the other end of the campsite - this was an omen for the weekend!)
An endless sandy beach stretched before my eyes. Caspian Tern cruising the surf, Red-capped Dotterls beating the waves, a couple of lonely Curlew hunched and 2 Needletails salshing across the tree tops. Not another bugger in sight, so quick skinny dip to remove the sweat. This is not a surf beach - hence, possibly, the lack of interest by the general populace - thanks, God.
Let the sun drop a bit (Koels and Channel-billed Cuckoos calling) then set off on my first walk - expected to be about 5 kms to a "birdhide on the edge of a shallow lake" that "offers excellent views of a variety of waterbirds" - so quoted the Nat Parks literature. Walking through the bush I had Leaden Flycatchers, Yellow Robins, Olive-backed Orioles (heaps), Drongos, Noisy Friarbirds (lots), Br Gerygones, Br Thornbills, Scarlet Honeyeaters, Rufous Whistlers, Little Shrike Thrushes among the more common species in the dry coastal scrub. I did find some platelets which suggested Black-breasted Button Quail, they looked recent, but no birds apparent.
On reaching the hide - later than I had planned as I took the long track..... I found the lake almost dry and so the NP's promise unfullfilled. Not their fault, but a bit of a disappointment. However, water bottle nearly empty, headed back to camp arriving just on dark. Nothing more exciting - tried some spotlighting, but no success. Very quiet. Crashed.
Up at 5am and ready for a big one. Took 2 litres of water this time - I'm not a great water drinker at the best of times, preferring a regular caffiene hit, however, I figured better safe than sorry.....famous last words!
Set off at 5.30 on the Melaleuca Track (12.3kms return) intending to call into the bird hide again and continue on to Walker's Point 'township' returning back via the beach. Figured a return to camp about midday.
Not long after I hit the M track I saw new platelets, but still no birds. Walked slowly through the bush seeing much the same as yesterday, adding Red-backed and Variegated Wrens, White-browed Scrub Wren and Red-browed finch until around 8am a pair of BBQs ran along the track in full view ahead of me. I'd seen them recently at a better known location but it was great to see them somewhere else.
Reached the hide again and started exploring the drying lakes - 2 White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes, 23 Sharp-tailed Sands, 5 Black-winged Stilts, 1 Marsh Sand and 1 Greenshank. White-breasted Wood swallows flew close overhead warning me off and then - the one and only tick for the weekend - 5 White-browed Wood Swallow feeding 2 or 3 juveniles. Great views, lovely bird - love that white eyebrow, looks like it's frowning! Decided to walk, off track, around the drying mud and, predictably, got temporarily lost, but found my way back again... I knew where I was I just had to find my way back! (White-winged and Varied Triller and Cicadabird)
Reached the track to Walkers Point (Mangrove Honeyeater and Gerygone) and, with visions of an ice cold can of Coke (yes, my preference to beer) floating in front of my eyes I strode heartily down to this haven of civilisation perched on the bank of the Burrum River. Now it was only a short stroll back along the beach - after my Coke of course...
Two things you should note here.
1 Walkers Point has no shops...therefore no Coke and
2. It is not possible to walk along the beach from Walkers point to Burrum Point - but noone told ME! Swallowing my Coke-less disappointment with another mouthful of tepid plastic water I headed out resolutely along the beach. After a km or so I reached some mangroves - no problem I can walk, then push, through this - until I came to a creek. At this stage I probably should have quit and walked back, but, Oh No, I am nothing if not adventurous (and this is where stupidity come in!!) Stripped to speedos - clothes and precious bins tied up and held above head, boots (muddy) dangled around neck by laces I waded into the mud - and crabs - and roots - and mosquitoes - and began an odyssey that I thought would never end.
I crossed the same creek 3 times, I climbed through over and under more mangroves than I ever want to see again. I saw small crabs with HUGE orange pincers. I couldn't see anything beyond the next bush and so was moving more on instinct than anythig else. I lost my red pen in there somewhere and I'm sure some crab is waving it around to attract every female within miles. If a Blue and White Flycatcher or even an Isabelline Wheater had popped up in front of me in that desperate hour I would have requested it return to wherever it came from in no uncertain terms or language. I thought I was going to die.
I finally staggered out into trackless bush, mud from eyebrows to toes, dry, almost waterless, scratched, bitten and generally aching. I pulled on my filthy, sweaty clothes and, after another half an hour or so wandering found my way to the blessed beach and another naked dip helped restore some energy for the 45 minute trudge back to camp. (Actually had 2 Grey Plover fly off the beach as I staggered along)
Ate a little, slept a while - coffeed up and relaxed and by 5pm decided fishing would be the go in the lovely evening. (Warning - not much more on the bird scene if you're losing interest....)
So standing knee deep in the warm surf on this completely deserted beach, getting a few nibbles - nice way to finish the day and, Oh, what's that? a decent fish? Reel it in - a beautiful Blue-spot Stingray about the size of a dinner plate, but won't put him on mine - cut him free, turned him around and hooossshed him back to where he came from. In my enthusiasm to save the planet, and ensure his safe escape, I managed to stab myself in my big toe with the spike on his little tail. Hurt? you ask? HURT? It felt like someone had stuck a red hot needle up the middle of my foot!! Oh GOD! Cursing my stupidity (it's a day for it!) I hobbled up the beach and back to camp desperately trying to stay sane and remember the treatment - was it hot water and about two hours? Were blue-spot stingrays any different? More dangerous? I popped a couple of Neurofin and washed the bits of my foot I would allow myself to touch. JESUS CHRIST! SORE?? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!
I boiled some water and began applying via washer - the water has to be very hot, not quite boiling, but at this stage one thinks, nay, one believes, that a scalded foot would be better than the current agony!!
YES, Yes, it worked!! A few seconds after applying the hot poltice the agony diminished enough for me to dial 000 on my mobile and ask for advice. A friendly gentleman in Childers hospital reassured me that I was doing the right thing and "if I could manage it for a while - it was going to continue, but if it got any worse to get into Childers hospital" Yeah - right, I can drive 60 kms while pouring hot water onto my foot....... nice try and I appreciated his help, but I wasn't going anywhere! So for 2 hours I smoked, boiled water, let it cool a little, poured it over my foot....and cursed my stupidity.... sound familiar??? However, almost exactly 2 hours later - the pain disappeared, honest, one minute it was there, next it was gone, no kidding! And what a RELIEF. I almost danced, but.......I don't like dancing, ask my partner, so I simply sat back with a smug, satisfied grin. Yep, knew that would work, mate! I am sooooooo clever, uuuhhh doh...........
I walked around a bit to satisfy myself that it really was gone, flexed the toe. examined the puncture wound, cleaned my toe nails - now that I could finally touch my foot comfortably.... Crashed....
Up at 6 Sunday morning - no more stupidity I promised myself. I fished again for a while - 7-9am in speedos with, you guessed it, no block-out on, so am quite impressively sun burned. Interestingly - I had my bins around my neck (to watch a flock of approx 50 Needletails skimming the trees again and in case anything else turned up) so now have 2 white strap marks and a white shape on my lower chest where they rested!! Left the campsite at 11.30 and, as it was low tide, drove the beach back to Woodgate. The only hairy bit being getting off the beach where it was very soft and I had to use Low for the first time. (Couple of Brahminy and Whistling Kites above the dunes)
Arrived back in Brisbane at 3.30 - glad to see my previous posting requesting day trippers to get off Bribie before 3 or wait till later, worked.... no problem with the traffic. Excellent ending to a memorable weekend. Woodgate National Park - recommended. I'm going back after rain.
(I apologise to anyone who has found this boring and lacking in bird detail - but I just wanted to write about it, I hope it doesn't upset anyone. Look on it as a medical lesson if nothing else.... or a warning - don't come birding with me!!!)
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