Birding 2003

 04-06.04.03

Lamington NP

Headed up to Lamington National Park, SE Qld last Friday. On the way stopped off at Eagleby wetlands to look for Jabiru and Plumed Whistling Ducks as I had been told they were there recently. 

A WHISTLING KITE flew over the road as I approached and (all nos approx) hundreds of COOTS, 50 BLACK DUCK, 20 AUST GREBES, 40 BLACK-WINGED STILTS, 20 BLACK SWANS, 20 WOOD DUCK, 6 GREY TEAL, 1 PELICAN, 2 WHITE-FACED HERONS, 6 HARDHEAD, 4 MOORHENS, 4 MASKED LAPWING and 1 lone male SHOVELER swam gaily around. A single SEA EAGLE and a single GLOSSY IBIS, 1 REED WARBLER, STRIATED PARDALOTES, 2 BEE EATERS and 2 WHITE-BREASTED WOOD SWALLOWS just about completed the picture. No Jabiru or Whistling Ducks. I’m pretty sure I have seen both these species many, many years ago, but am keen to confirm those sightings. I have looked in various locations for both during the past 2 years and, although not rare or even uncommon, have had no luck. Friday was to be another “pass”. mmmmmm, starting to think I’ll never see them!!

Anyway – proceeded on to Lamington arriving uneventfully about midday. I set up camp at a secluded spot and sat down to a cup of coffee. I was soon joined by 3 BRUSH TURKEYS. several WHITE-BROWED SCRUB WRENS and, when a LEWIN’S HONEYEATER landed on my table to share in the butter, I knew I’d picked the right camp site! A WHIPBIRD wandered out of the bush a few feet away and YELLOW ROBINS perched on my guy ropes – ahhh heaven!

Later in the afternoon took a walk down to Moran’s Falls, a fairly easy stroll of about 5Kms return. Most of the ‘track’ is bitumen reflecting it’s popularity, but the falls themselves were running well and quite spectacular. At the top in the drier eucalypt I had GOLDEN WHISTLERS, YELLOW-FACED HONEYEATERS, YELLOW THORNBILLS and WHITE-NAPED HONEYEATERS. Returned to camp via the connection onto Red Road.

Before I had left home I had prepared and frozen a couple of meals and had decided on a rice, vegie and salmon mixture for dinner. (Some of my make up meals are a little strange, but they do work, sort of!) I had left this out on my table to defrost while away. As I walked back into camp I saw a plastic container on the ground that I didn’t remember seeing before? What’s that?….. yes, the Turkeys had found and devoured the rice, vegies and salmon! They were still walking around the site – just like  nothing had happened! Judging by the rumbling and jerky movements the food hadn’t exactly agreed with them – serves them right! I told them I hoped they’d get diarrhoea; then considered barbequed turkey to replace my dinner – after all they were already stuffed with rice etc weren’t they? I figured a quick throw of the peg hammer and I’d be fed, but decided against it due to the fact I’d forgotten to pack my basting brush……….

(I’m thinking of writing to National parks to advise them to update their signs – they presently read “Please Don’t Feed the Animals”. They should read “Please don’t BOTHER to feed the animals – THEY’LL BLOODY HELP THEMSELVES”!!! )

I had also brought pre cooked chicken wings so placed these to defrost in my metal billie, put on the lid and LOCKED IT IN THE CAR. Let’s see you get AT THAT!!

Anyway – back to the actual birding…I had arranged to meet Nevil Amos of Melbourne and sure enough he turned up right on cue and after meeting and greeting we headed out to search for Frogmouths and Owls. We went into the forest to one of the locations I had received advice about and set up the portable CD player with Dave Stewart (the elder)’s CD and a couple of little speakers I had acquired, and began to play the Marbled Frogmouth and Sooty Owl calls. The playback had sounded a lot louder at home, out here in the bush it seemed to be a very tiny voice in the wilderness!

However, within a couple of minutes a Frogmouth answered and within 10 minutes of on again, off again, playing we had excellent views of an individual MARBLED FROGMOUTH sitting and calling about 20 (?) meters away. Excellent!! Another was calling a little further distant but we couldn’t spot it. 

Despite trying for the Owl there and at another spot we didn’t have any luck. (I tried again on Saturday night at 2 different locations but, again, no response. It was very windy on Saturday night so the calls sounded even smaller in the darkness!) Just to reassure – I didn’t overplay or push the playback more than about 10 minutes at each location and, once the frogmouths were close, ceased and desisted while they continued to call to each other. No-one looked uncomfortable or freaked out in any way – apart from Nevil, that is……. (only joking)

It rained all Friday night and my one man tent developed a slight ooze denying a full night’s sleep – you know how it is, once it starts you have to check it every half an hour! 

Up at 5.30 and off at 6.30 to walk the Border track and try for that elusive of all species the Rufous Scrub Bird. Along the way two ALBERT’S LYREBIRDS gave us brief glimpses while SCRUB ROBINS, THORNBILLS,GERYGONES,CATBIRDS, YELLOW ROBINS and WHISTLERS attracted attention. WONGA and WHITE HEADED PIGEONS called but were not seen. There was very little activity along the escarpment between Bithongabel and Wanungara, certainly no sight or sound of the scrub bird. We returned via the Toolana Creek Circuit at a fairly rapid clip – Nevil had a date with a plane at 18.30 so speed was of the essence.

Following a quick shower and cuppa he departed for the two and a half hour drive. We had discussed the location, and possibility of reaching, the Nudgee Rd end of Boondall wetlands close to the airport – Nevil wanted to try for Mangrove Honeyeater and Gerygone. he had just left when I realised he’d left his borrowed Referdex street directory on my table. A fast, headlight-flashing, drive later through the trees and oncoming traffic and I caught him on the road. I think the little Asian gentleman I (almost) forced off the road will recover given time………..

Saturday night, no rain, but wind? Holy Moly, I was sure at any time I would be blown off the mountain and land in Beaudesert! I wasn’t in a big rush to get up on Sunday morning, the temperature dropped overnight, but when I did I decided I would try the Cainable part of the mountain for Spotted Quail-thrush. I wandered around in the bush for a while seeing only a pair of LOGRUNNERS and a couple of GOLDEN WHISTLERS.

Packing up I headed for Duck Creek Road to find it ……. closed “due to weather conditions” ?? I assume there has been some water damage from the rain? I was bitterly disappointed. This had been a main part of my plan for the weekend, I had wanted to try for Glossy Black Cockatoos and whatever else this road had to offer. I had to settle for stopping off at a couple of spots on the main road down the mountain. No sign of Quail thrush or Bristlebird (I hadn’t really expected to see either!) but some good prospecting for the future.

Reached the Wonglepong area and did a U-turn to have a look at a lake/wetland area I have passed on a number of occasions. It is on private land but readily visible from the road. As I did a second U-turn to gain position I noticed the name of the property opposite – Jabiru – and wondered if it was an omen. It certainly was!! Because there, 300m away on the other side of the lake, pacing sedately along like a minister returning from church (it was Sunday after all) with his prayer book under his arm, was……. YAHOO………a JABIRU.!!  Lady luck was really on my side as, after a couple of minutes, he (?) broke into a shambling run and rose gracefully into the sky to disappear into the setting sun……(well. not quite, it was midday, but you know what I mean!) 

At last, the curse broken, the boogie picked, the tick ticked, ect I drove on towards Eagleby thinking “I’ll probably see them everywhere now” – as you do! Surprise, surprise – at Eagleby another Jabiru at about 150m standing quietly, contemplating life – or breakfast. 

None for 2 years, then 2 in an hour, typical isn’t it?

18 - 21.04.03

Sundown NP

We deliberately left the drive west until Good Friday morning to avoid the worst of the traffic. Leaving Brisbane around 10.30 we drove at a leisurely pace, to frustrate the police radars, arriving at Sundown National Park around 2.30. 

Driving in from the main road I eagerly searched the surrounding fields for anything ‘different’. This was my first serious birding trip west of the Main Range. I have been beyond Warwick before but not really focused on birding - and that was 20 years ago. I had read and researched everything I could find about Sundown and had heard some amazing tales of Turks and Robins and was very keen to get started. My non-birding-but-very-supportive partner, however, was keen too. Keen to get the tent up, find out where the water was, how many toilets there were, did the showers work? and all those mundane-but-very-necessary type of things one has to do! So…. bins aside, but not very far away, we spent the afternoon settling in.

A very still, quiet night broken only by the grunting, almost tiger like, growls and grunts of rutting Fallow deer bucks chasing does around, Oh and the moronic pair next to us who insisted on talking till midnight, then waking at 3am to light a fire cause they were cold and slammed car doors all night. If you’re out there, mate, no apologies, you need to learn to camp in a crowded campsite, you have no idea how close to death you came!!……………Sue was really pissed!

Daybreak on Saturday and I left my partner snuggled deep in her sleeping bag and walked back along the track to the area I had been assured held most of the birds in the park! Being a sceptical sort of person, I found it hard to believe all these promised species could be in such a small area, however, just in case….. I decided I would prove them all wrong and find birds everywhere…… well, they were right!

First up, JACKY WINTERs, flicking, landing, they seemed to be everywhere. Over the weekend, in fact, it became a case of “it’s just another Jacky Winter” – even the aforementioned n-b-b-v-s partner, Sue, relegated them to the ‘only’ category. Next CRESTED SHRIKE TIT in the tree overhead, then, what’s that? WHITE PLUMED HONEYEATER (tick) with it’s cute white collar and pale green head, Very pretty, these, too, were ‘everywhere’.

In the fields near the warden’s house (the promised land, so to speak!) RICHARD’S PIPITs courted and fed, WELCOME SWALLOWs caught the eye while YELLOW-RUMPED THORNBILLs hopped through the grass and then FAN-TAILED CUCKOO, quickly followed by SPECKLED WARBLER in and around the trees near the buildings. A COMMON BRONZEWING in the longer grass near the water tanks, then a brief glimpse of a pair of WHITE-BROWED BABBLERS (tick) – didn’t worry too much, there’ll be plenty of them around…..wrong, they were the only ones I saw. Typical isn’t it? However, no time to worry…”Check Everything, Assume Nothing” was my motto and searched every flight, every call, every flicker. A pair of RED-RUMPED PARROTS gave a bit of a heart lurch as they landed near the track, a couple of EASTERN ROSELLAS, too, caused momentary consternation, then a SPINY CHEEKED HONEYEATER (tick) put in an appearance. Much bigger than I had imagined – easily distinguished by their pink ‘lipstick’ and smart markings. Working back along the track a female HOODED ROBIN (tick) showed on a small twig before flying off into the distance. “I want a male, I want a male”, I thought, but was still happy to see another new bird. 

I returned to camp and breakfast, rapt in this start to the weekend, high in anticipation of the next couple of days. As we finished eating and prepared for a bush walk a WHITE-THROATED TREECREEPER flew through the campsite and SILVEREYES and a RUFOUS WHISTLER foraged through the bush nearby. 

We headed up the well worn track to the ‘permanent waterhole’ where the track basically disappeared so we crossed the relatively, dry riverbed and continued on over the rough rocky surface for a kilometre or so before turning back. I was confident we could go on and would find our way back, however, Sue did not share my enthusiasm, or have as much trust in my sense of direction as I did, so we headed back. I was happy – we had seen a WHITE-EARED HONEYEATER and a ROSE ROBIN (female) (were there any male robins around??) among other more common species – WILLY WAGTAILS, GOLDEN WHISTLER, PEACEFUL DOVE, RED-BROWED FINCH and more Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters. We also encountered a particularly sneaky little cactus, which shed bits that stuck to our boots and, in some cases, our legs, with nasty little hooks that pulled at the flesh as they were removed. 

Late afternoon and I was on my way back to the fields, accompanied this time by the n-b-b-v-s partner. As we entered the area, brushing aside the Jacky Winters, I noticed a wood-swallow high in a dead tree. Closer inspection revealed a pair of DUSKY WOODSWALLOWS (tick) and as we watched them swoop and glide Ruth and Bill from southside Brisbane wandered out of the bush. They were staying with a group from the National Parks Association. I had met them briefly a few weeks ago at MC Trotter reserve and we had parted with a  ‘see you at Sundown’  - as you do. Exchanging further notes it appeared we had seen much the same so far – but R & B had seen a Red-capped Robin near their campsite at least twice and I vowed to look for it the next morning. R & B headed off and Sue and I made a couple more circuits of the field – as we were about to leave a RESTLESS FLYCATCHER (tick) zipped in, caught a fly and zipped out of sight. 

What a day!! 6 new birds plus 7 (what I consider) ‘good’ birds and all within a few hundred metres. I know they’re not rare, most of you have probably seen them all over and over, but it was bloody exciting!!  Heading back to camp for a shower and dinner I was well satisfied.

Sunday morning and we were off again at daybreak. Meeting R & B again in the field we moved through the fields together checking everything – then, while watching STRIATED PARDALOTES and Thornbills in a tree, Ruth spotted a DIAMOND FIRETAIL (tick). Sitting right at the top of the tree preening the sleep from his feathers we all managed to get a great view of this beautiful bird. Unreal. One I had REALLY wanted to see! Still pushing Jackie Winters, Will Wagtails, R Pipits, Spiny-cheeked Hes, YELLOW ROBIN, Yellow-rumped Thornbills ect ect out of the way we headed back to R & B’s for coffee and robins, red-capped, please. Coffee was great, but no Robins, although a pair of BROWN TREECREEPERS (tick) were excellent substitutes. 

Getting back to camp Sue chose to have a little rest so I headed down into the bush directly opposite the campsite. Didn’t see anything new but had STRIPED HONEYEATER, 2 SHINING BRONZE CUCKOOS, several SUPERB FAIRY WRENS, 1 WEDGE-TAILED EAGLE, 2 OLIVE-BACKED ORIOLES, more Spiny- cheeked and White-plumed Hes, Brown Treecreepers, Fan-tailed Cuckoos, Restless Flycatchers, Golden & Rufous Whistlers, more Jacky Winters and 1 BROWN THORNBILL. Also watched a male Fallow deer chase two does around grunting and roaring at their perceived behaviour.  Returned to camp to a bit of a relax myself (with Pizzey, of course) when Peter the warden dropped in. I had mentioned when I booked the site that I intended to bird and he turned up to say hello. A really genuine guy and  a keen birder himself, he volunteered directions for the Turks in the area and some other general hints too. Great to find a warden so interested and enthusiastic in his job. 

Deciding we wanted to get ‘something to drink with dinner’ we chose to spend the afternoon driving to Texas via Glenlyon Dam wall and the Pinnacle Road. It was a very interesting drive I must add, with some lovely scenery and some great birds along the way……

Not much on the way there,   WHITE-WINGED CHOUGHS as well as a couple of KESTRELS, MAGPIES, PIED BUTCHERBIRDS, GALAHS ect.. Not much in Texas on a Sunday afternoon either! On the way back the first flock of APOSTLEBIRDS appeared beside the road. (I hasten to add they were seen in the park, but not by me) I persuaded Sue to stop beside one of the small creeks while I walked along it for the length of a cigarette only flushing a WHITE-FACED HERON, a  few NOISY MINERS and Wren sp.. 

Starting off again we had gone a couple of kilometres when two parrots flashed overhead and into the trees. No clear id seen, but they had been blue and green… we hastily pulled over and advanced on the tree line bins in hands. There, up there, just flashing off, was it? Not sure, where did it go? Over there, Oh it’s gone down…. there it’s up again…is it? …. YES…. TURQUOISE PARROT (tick) Smaller than I had thought, beautiful, blue head, green wing with red ‘shoulder’, almost budgie like. Soooo cute. Then – they were gone. But we were triumphant!! Walking back to the car smiling, glowing with success when a bird flew off the ground. It’s a ……..RUFOUS SONGLARK, very nice, let’s get a better look at it….more birds, moving on the ground…..Brown Treecreepers again, cool, then what’s that, a small Pied Butcherbird??? No way - a male Hooded Robin. Wow!! It all happens at once sometimes!! We had (as the man said) Crippling views!! Absolute magic. This had been another really, really, really wanted one. You know the way some birds – you just WANT to see THEM?? To finish off a couple of BLUE-FACED HONEYEATERS flew over towards the creek for a wash and a drink. The location of this spot? Two kilometres after the start of the unsealed section going from Glenlyon dam toward the Pinnacles there is a grid, there is also a white gate on the left. The ‘creek’ is just beyond and to the right of the gate. 

We got back to camp with our $17 bottle of nine dollar wine……had dinner and a quiet night. The morons had been replaced by a family of four who were all asleep by 8. WE were probably the noisy ones crawling into bed at 10!!

Last morning and determined to make it worthwhile. Up at 5.45, had some toast and coffee to sustain us for a few hours and back to the fields again, Turquoise Parrots (or Turks) our target species this morning – I really wanted to see them in the park too. We checked through the fields again, the usual species flitting and flying – although numbers seemed a little lower this morning. Then into the trees behind Peter’s house and moving slowly through towards the riverbank as he had described. Two green and blue parrots flew through the bush calling with a thin soft type of screech. When they landed we had a not very good view, but I couldn’t see any blue face or red shoulder. I did see a faint orange on the yellow belly on one and concluded they were Red-rumped Parrots. Another group of birders appeared out of the trees opposite and assured us they were Turks – immature birds. We all moved together towards an open grassy paddock and there on the ground, not 30 metres away, were two, more adult, Turks in the sun, blue faces shining, red wing bar showing on one. They fed happily for a few minutes walking around like little animated toys before taking to the air so quickly one didn’t really see it, they were there then they were flying. Seemed to be no in between. We walked out into the field and pointed out WHITE-NAPED HONEYEATER, a distant Diamond Firetail briefly atop a dead tree and Dusky Wood-swallows. The Parrots flew past a couple of times with that soft screech but Sue and I decided to head for an appointment with a Robin. Called into see R & B to get the latest update – 2 Red-caps now, same spot, both males, in the sun. Righto, last expected possible tick for the weekend. Cheerio. 

Forty five minutes later Sue dragged me off kicking and screaming – yes, she’s right, I’m never happy. I consoled myself that I had to leave SOMETHING to come back to!!  

We stopped at the entrance to the park on the way out for a quick look. There had been Plum headed Finches seen there the day before. We didn’t see any but did finish off the weekend with 3 GROUND CUCKOO SHRIKES, more White Plumed Hes, Yellow Robins and NOISY FRIARBIRDS, another female Hooded Robin and Rufous Songlark. 

A terrific weekend, we will return. 

30.05.03 - 02.06.03

Goomburra State Forest 

I visited Goomburra State Forest at the weekend. Located behind Main Range Nat. Park 200 kms west of Brisbane I have been to Goomburra a couple of times, but not in Autumn/Winter. I was hoping for Robins or any other western species that may have made the trip east as winter approaches. 

By 10.15pm I had the tent up, coffee made and was thinking of bed. A light rain was falling – increasing, of course, the second I left the shelter of the tarp in spotlight search of a BOOBOOK OWL I could hear calling. I retreated – I’ll follow it up tomorrow night when it’s not raining, I thought. (It wasn’t raining on Saturday night, but he wasn’t calling either – maybe it was the snoring of the other camper that put him off!!)    

Woke to a damp, cool morning and SULPHUR CRESTED COCKATOOS screaming over the campsite. I watched as SATIN BOWERBIRDS, PIED CURRAWONGS and BELLBIRDS called and flew through while breaking my fast with some oats and dried fruit. At 7.15 I headed off on the Cascades Trail (6 Km, 3 hrs) intending to follow on to the Ridge Trail (5 kms 2.5 hrs).

The Cascades section begins with some open eucalypt, grassy, areas changing, as one travels upstream, to thick rainforest. There are several river crossings along the route – none difficult as, despite the rain, the creek was only trickling gently between the rocks. Birds were few and far between and, in fact, overall, I was a little disappointed with the numbers and variety over the weekend. 

Plenty of WHITE-BROWED SCRUB WRENS, THORNBILL sp (mainly BROWN but with a few irregulars thrown in here and there – none positively identified – I’m still struggling) CRIMSON ROSELLAS and a few KING PARROTS flew from the trees and WHIPBIRDS called occasionally. Weather damp and ‘low’, everything dripping. I reached a point just below the Cascades – the main waterfall that provides the trail’s name – and it really started to rain. I decided that, as time was not important and I would only get soaked on the more exposed ridge I would sit it out. So for over an hour I sat and watched the drops falling through the trees, the occasional bird fly past or land in a tree top. A flock of approximately 30 TOPKNOT PIGEONS were within sight for a while, LEWIN’S HONEYEATERS called and chased and a GOLDEN WHISTLER passed by. Normally I guess I would have been itching to move on, but, given the excuse, it was very rewarding sitting on the track watching the forest absorb the rain and trying to work out how it might affect the birds’ life. 

When the rain eased I headed on up to the ridge, on the way flushing an ALBERT’S LYREBIRD that sprinted along the track ahead of me before disappearing into the bush. The track up to the Ridge Trail is heart attack material but I made it and walked through the old growth eucalypts, grass trees and misty rain. Nothing much to report along the ridge, but a lovely walk all the same. Coming down the steep sections at the far end I speculated whether I would see a YELLOW-PLUMED HONEYEATER again. The only one I have ever seen had been in this area, but I reckoned my chances were 10.000 to 1. Well surprise, surprise almost exactly where I had seen the previous one I saw another one (or is it the same one?) Strikingly beautiful, the black contrasting with the bright, bright yellow – WOW. I watched, in fact, 3 or 4 birds feeding and calling before they, and I, moved on.  A flock of WHITE-NAPED and YELLOW-FACED HONEYEATERS moved through the trees overhead as I cleared the last of the trees. 

After lunch I decided to take a drive and a quick walk to the Araucaria Falls – a 3 km (2 hr return) walk through rainforest to another waterfall - the entrance is located off the State Forest road about 5 kms from the campsite. Not much seen here although an immature LOGRUNNER caused some interest and an EMERALD DOVE flying off the track was a stir. On the way back to the campsite I drove along the road through Gordon County – a private property open to the public for camping, but virtually empty at this time of year. As I had expected I saw 1 JACKY WINTER catching insects off a stump and a WOOD DUCK unexpectedly threatened the car while his family looked on in admiration as the vehicle was ‘seen off’ by their lord and master! I thought he was pretty gutsy!! Then over the road – Yes – 2 RED-TAILED BLACK COCKATOOS. I thought I had heard them earlier while in the forest and was really pleased to see them – only my second time and very close, perched in a dead tree – as they are wont to do! 

I returned to camp and had tea while preparing to go spotlighting/calling for Frogmouths and Owls. The bush closest to the campsite had looked ideal for Marbled Frogmouths and/or Sooty Owls and so I prepared my speakers and CD player for the event. 

As soon as it was dark I headed into the forest and finding a suitable spot set up my equipment, turned off the torch and waited. Now, I have to share with you the amount of control it takes for me to do this!! Many years ago, in another life, 3 friends and myself had an extremely scary experience that has never been fully explained and I have had a problem, since that night, with trees and darkness. I am also cursed with a vivid imagination and can be quite ‘sensitive’ to atmosphere.  As soon as I enter the woods at night I have to, almost physically, clamp down mentally and focus on the task at hand - otherwise I’d run screaming back to the light! So, sitting in the dark, back against a large tree (that way, you see, no-one can sneak up behind me!) I listened to the hair raising screams of Sooty Owls, then the gurgling, bill snapping Frogmouths and waited in anticipation of a reply from the wild….nothing. Move on to another location.

I was at my fourth ‘spot’ and was about to call it a night – there had been a possible responsive gurgle near the river, but nothing had eventuated. Once again I had my back to a big wide tree that an orc couldn’t get its’ arms around, even if there were orcs in Goomburra, which I was fairly sure there weren’t. It was dark, black, solid, impenetrable, couldn’t see my hand in front of my face kind of stuff,  black as the insides of a cat’s guts, dark as the tomb…. You know what I mean? No moon, nothing reflective in the deep, dark, forest…The only light was a few miserable stars visible between the tall, dark, over hanging tree tops and what good was that light?? A billion miles away and created even before the dinosaurs…..

I had switched off the CD and was sitting silently listening for a response….when in the darkness on the track I could hear a jogger!! A JOGGER??? In the middle of the night??? In the DARK with NO LIGHT????  HOW could THAT be?? 

The hair stood up on my neck, I went cold inside, my heart missed several beats and, control lost, my mind went wild…it’s an 

ANCIENT TREE LOGGER…..WITH AN AXE… DRIBBLING…...LONG DIRTY HAIR…..COME TO GET SOMEONE… AND IT’S ME!!! I’LL BE BURIED ALIVE AND EATEN BIT BY BIT. OH MY GOD, WHAT CAN I DO??? My legs were useless, I couldn’t run, the JOGGER WAS RUNNING PAST – WHAT……………??????

I turned on the torch and the jogger, or, as it is more commonly known, the bandicoot, stopped dead in his tracks and blinked at me like a little old man caught urinating in public. 

I swear he was brown before I switched on the light, but he was grey when I saw him!! I was so relieved I nearly relieved myself…..

Exiting into the camp ground, my tent in sight, other campers round their fires I felt proud – I had conquered my fear again….but it had been a close thing this time.

Sunday dawned a little more promising and I headed up the North Branch Trail (7 Kms 3.5 hrs) This proved to be a relatively easy walk along Dalrymple Creek. BELLBIRDS again, WHITE THROATED TREECREEPERS and 1 RED-THROATED (great views), GOLDEN WHISTLERS, SCRUB WRENS, lots of LEWIN’S HONEYEATERS, CRIMSON ROSELLAS and KING PARROTS, SATIN BOWERBIRDS and 1 SPOTTED PARDALOTE. 

Got back to camp, packed up the wet tent and headed home. I was planning on returning to Brisbane via Killarney, I had been advised it was a lovely road with ‘lots of birds’… It was and there were – I saw my first. SE Qld, Common Bronzewing – and managed to hit it with my car into the bargain (it’s still alive, missing feathers but otherwise quite well). I also got ‘lost’ and ended up in NSW in Woodenbong, but that’s another story….. 

13 - 15.06.03

Inskip Pt

I arrived at my campsite at Inskip Pt, gateway to Fraser Island, at 21.15 last Friday night and set up camp by the light of the silvery moon. Great site, 4WD access only, right on the edge of a 2 meter sand cliff overlooking the ocean.

Up at 5.00 on Saturday morning and off to the Cooloola Way, a rough track running through Cooloola Nat Pk to Kin Kin. Three kilometres in and I turned off down another track to a previously described ‘spot’. It was dead still, misty and damp, promises of a beautiful day ahead. 

Not having visited before I wasn’t sure exactly which way to head into the surrounding grassy, banksia strewn, boggy-looking ground. I stuck to the car track until I came upon another sandy track winding off across the area. Following this kept me relatively dry and as I went hundreds of WHITE CHEEKED HONEYEATERS, LITTLE WATTLEBIRDS and NOISY FRIARBIRDS woke and began ‘singing’, preening, chasing and feeding. The mist quickly burned off in the rising sun and the birds became more active – but not my quarry…. yet.

I stopped to do what I had to do – relive myself… at the side of the track, and, suddenly, bursting from cover the first of my target species. A GROUND PARROT (tick) lifted and flew low over the undergrowth with the typical ‘snipe-like’ (such an accurate description) wing beats and glides for about 60 meters dropping out of sight again almost as quickly.  (This seems to happen so regularly I believe I have a product to develop. Yes, I am presently working on an amplified tape of zips being undone and clothes being opened. I believe this will seal my fortune for ever, all birders will eagerly purchase my ‘Twitchers Exposure’ CD, giving me the funds to travel the world and see all those birds I only dream about!)

Moving right along, I followed the track and explored the small treed area at the end discovering a beautiful creek flowing through sandy banks. Returning to the car I did not raise any more GPs despite wearing out every zip on my clothing…..

Finishing a cup of coffee and considering my options I saw a small brown bird move in some heavier reeds and strange plants (botanist I am not) – on further investigation I spied a female SOUTHERN EMUWREN (tick) moving very discreetly through the stems. It was calling, as was another, but only the female was seen. The fat, reddy brown, little body with the, almost, invisible tail, distinctly different from a fairy wren. The call clear, although sounding more like a zeet to me than the seet described in Pizzey, but my ears are not a very reliable indicator.

I spent some more time walking through and around the area, but neither parrot or wren appeared again.

Headed back to camp, happy with the day so far, and decided to check out the Black-breasted Button Quail site, to no avail, in fact, no obviously new platelets, maybe they move away during winter?

Spent the day, dozing and reading, until at 16.00 headed back again to the same site on Cooloola Way. Arriving at 16.45 it was again dead quiet, the sun going down behind the hills, clear blue sky, flushed with orange and indigo, it reminded me strongly of summer evenings in the hills in Wicklow outside Dublin, aided probably by the landscape as much as the conditions. Lovely.

I had been hoping to hear the Parrots singing, or maybe my third target species, Grass Owl, heading out for an evening’s hunt. Alas, none of the latter and although I did see two more parrots from the same track, I did not hear any singing. Once it was definitely dark and there was little or no hope of the owl I headed back towards Rainbow Beach and then off on the Freshwater Track. This track cuts through about 25kms of mixed forest to the main beach north of Noosa. It is definitely 4WD only – being at times a very soft sand track, rough and rocky. I had attempted to traverse it in November last year, but had backed out half way through due to the conditions then. I had noticed at that time, however, that it looked good for further investigation and that was my intent tonight. 

I got to the Bymien picnic ground (2WD access to this point) and, just beyond, I parked, and placing the speakers on the roof, began to play the calls of the Sooty Owl on the CD. Within 5 minutes, maybe less, I had a response! I turned off the player and began spotlighting the trees – there, immediately above me, 2 SOOTY OWLS (tick) holding their wings up and calling directly at me. Wow!! What a view! 

I could see the inside of their mouths (orange) and every detail of their dark faced features. Unreal!! I didn’t pester them, of course, with more CD calls, but they persisted around the tree tops for 15 – 20 minutes afterwards, finally moving off, probably quite chuffed with their ability to deal with a stranger!! 

I began playing the MARBLED FROGMOUTH calls and was rewarded with distant responses – playing a bit then turning it off, waiting, then playing again, and they were in the trees nearby within 10 minutes. Responses ranged from the deep ooom ooom to actual gurgling and bill snapping. Brilliant! Echoing through the still forest it is so exciting to hear these creatures. I didn’t want to upset them too much, either, so settled for a quick spotlight of one on a branch 20 meters or so up a nearby tree. I could see the plumes around the bill and the shape of the tail from underneath as it sat quietly in the torchlight. I think there were about 4 in the immediate area with, possibly 2 more further out. 

I left them all to it and headed home, encountering a BARN OWL in the trees along the road near the campsite. Checked it’s leg coverage – bare shins, definitely not a Masked Owl – would have been asking too much I suppose……!

Next morning again up at 5 and off to Cooloola Way yet again. The car knew the way so I just slept…

Spent a couple of hours wandering the track, zipping and unzipping, just in case, but no parrots or emu wren fell for that trick. 5 DUSKY WOODSWALLOWS glided and darted over the road, very neat looking birds, but other than that just the usual species noted previously. Interestingly the list of birds was low in total, very specific habitat results in low species variety, I pondered that as I wandered. Deciding at 8.30 that it was time to give it away I hopped in the car and headed off and, of course, a GROUND PARROT flew up off the side of the road after about 50 meters, typical eh?

I ate, packed up and travelled the Freshwater track quite comfortably, the Suzuki handled it well in High 4, rain had settled the track and there was no need for extreme 4WDing. A 40 minute drive down the beach, onto the ferry across the Noosa River and the 1.5 hour road haul back to Brisbane. 

Aaah, but all those other drivers didn’t see Sooty Owls, Ground Parrots, Marbled Frogmouths and Emu-wrens – they don’t know what they’re missing!   

August 2003

NW NSW Driving holiday

            We left Brisbane at 8.30 on Tuesday 19.8 – mileage 32235 and headed south-west via Cunningham’s Gap. Reached the top of the range at 10.00 and refuelled at 78.9c/litre $34.64. Sue found some hyacinths at the garage and insisted on sticking her nose in them while I noted Swallows nesting in the underside of the service station roof. 

            Arrived at Warwick at 10.45 and Stanthorpe by 11.30. Beautiful sunny day, clear skies and slight breeze. Wandered along Stanthorpe’s main street looking for a bakery and bought pastries at two locations for morning tea. Headed on down the road to Tenterfield, turning off the main road just across the NSW border, to find a quiet place to brew coffee and sample our pastries. Eastern Rosellas, Noisy Miners and Striated Pardalotes were the only birds around, however, as we headed back towards the main road Sue spotted a pair of Red-rumped Parrots feeding beside the road and we parked directly opposite to watch them for a while. Flushed by my leaving the car they flew across a field, straight to a dead tree and the female disappeared straight into a hole - obviously a nesting site.

            Continued on to Glen Innes – our first planned stop – and cruised around checking out the B & Bs from outside – just to see what they looked like! Sue then suggested the Red Lion Tavern as a possibility and, having time to spare, we drove the 22 kms south on the Armidale road to have a look. Situated on the side of the highway, a bit glitchy looking, the tavern was empty apart from an older individual who welcomed us casually and pointed the way to the second floor to have a look a the rooms. $66 a night for bed and breakfast (continental, but cooked if we preferred) and an evening meal available, seemed like a good deal so we said we’d be back – we were keen to see the Balancing Rock - famous in this area. Back up the road towards Glen Innes and pulling in beside the Balancing Rock signpost we scaled the fence and headed off across the field. Watching the cattle in case of mad bulls, we wandered around the scattered rocks, Sue taking photos, me birding (Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Grey Fantail, Superb Fairy Wren, Straw-necked Ibis, Noisy miners and Crimson Rosellas) and flushed 

a couple of rabbits. The Rock itself was interesting – a car sized hunk of granite balancing on a point on top of another slab. It lost it’s unique appeal, later, when we saw several other similar formations without signposts or fanfare! 

Making our way back to the car we went into GI proper and visited the Bi-Lo for necessary stocks of cheese and Clix. We’d missed lunch and Sue was feeling the pinch. As the afternoon drew on it was getting colder, but we decided to visit the Standing Stones – another ‘famous’ landmark in this area. These turned out to be a major disappointment as they were not naturally standing, but placed by the city fathers to represent different contributors and immigrant groups in the Glen Innes area. Nearby a small ‘thatched’ cottage offered afternoon teas and Gaelic knicknacs at exorbitant prices backed by bagpipes and Irish music – seemed very popular as most of the tables were occupied, mustn’t be a lot to do in Glen Innes?

I managed to talk Sue into going to Beardie’s Dam, just down the road from the Standing Stones, so, while she made a phone call I walked the road and bridge across the dam. Black Swan and cygnets, lots of Grey Teal, Black Duck, Hardheads, Coots, Little Pied and Little Black Cormorants, a few Shoveler, Masked Lapwings, Great Crested Grebes and Swallows and a few Australian Grebes I tried to turn into Hoary headed  - with no luck.  

We headed back to the Red Lion and spent the evening with Wils (we’d met earlier, an ex-shearer who ran the pub for) Andy (the owner and cook, ex accountant with Comalco, had lived in Ascot and also has a farm up the road with sheep and cattle) and John (local sheep farmer). Interesting conversations with Guinness on draft followed by a couple of really good steaks ($19 each – Sue struggled manfully through with her braces!) During the course of the evening we were advised, much to our horror, that 30,000 people were expected in the Narrabri & Coonabarabran area for an agricultural extravaganza called Agquip. This was to be the topic of conversation with just about everyone we met on the rest of the trip… Our vague plans had been to head towards Narrabri and on to Coonabarabran from Glen Innes, but, obviously, that was not a good idea now, especially as we had no accommodation pre-booked. A re-consideration was necessary, so we booked in for another night in the Red Lion Tavern to think about it… after all the Guinness was on tap! 

Next morning up at about 6.30 and out to see the frost on the grass and fences. It was cold and crisp but the frost disappeared quickly as the sun’s warmth hit the ground. We had decided to opt for the cooked breakfast (scrambled eggs that Andy claimed were the ‘Best in Australia” – bacon and parsley mixed in) and which Sue dropped in her lap while I spilled the coffee. In the alcoholic warmth of the night before Sue had expressed an unexpected interest in sapphire earings. Wils and Andy had excelled themselves with information and phone calls to ensure her ears’ desires were satisfied, so after breakfast we headed out down the road opposite the tavern, turn left after you hit dirt, turn left again at the letterboxes, Sid’s place is the varnished wood place, last on the left. With me driving this time and Sue hanging on anxiously to the door, roof handle or dash we followed the directions until the dirt road became a really basic, almost 4WD track then backtracked to the ‘last’ place which looked like varnished wood to find no one home but 2 or 3 small dogs locked in a pen on the verandah, barking fit to wake the dead, never mind alert the missing occupants. (Saw Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Aust Kestrel and Brown Thornbill here). Headed back to the Tavern to interrupt Wils splitting logs. He rang Sid, apologised and arranged for him to visit the tavern at 4pm for Sue to see the sapphires.

By now it was 10.00 and we were still not really sure what to do with the day. We headed south towards Armidale, rolling countryside, lots of calves and lambs in the fields, eventually turning off at Tubbamurra Rd, then onto Bagot rd (dirt now) until we reached Little Llangolthin Lake. This was a surprise as it’s actually a nature reserve and there is a walk around the lake that we didn’t feel we had time to do. There were a few hundred Grey Teal a few Black Duck, Black-winged Stilt and Black Swans and, in the distance, a male Musk Duck. The water was a fair way away from the path – it may get closer as you walk around - and in the far distance a Swamp Harrier circled the reed beds. The wind was cold and we had rugged up even though the sun was out and bright, so after a short while we headed on to see if we could reach the main Llangolthin Lake – we couldn’t, at least not from this point, maybe more accessible from the other, northern, end.

Headed on to Armidale and visited the Information bureau. We collected a lot of information on National parks, towns and other areas of interest. Then headed east along the ‘Waterfall way’ to turn off, after 22 kms, to Baker’s Creek Falls where we had toasted cheese sandwiches for lunch. Quite a dramatic viewpoint – one would never know the gorges and waterfalls were there until one left the main road. Yellow-faced honeyeaters, Yellow-rumped and Striated Thornbills, Grey Fantails, Crimson Rosellas, a Yellow Robin and a Grey Shrike Thrush visited the lookout during lunch. Sue found a discarded Hustler magazine and expressed her disgust at it’s presence, I kept my peace.  Returning to the tavern for our second night we topped up with fuel again (32919, 84.9c/litre - $42) and visited Ben Lomond, a very small town, off the main road, but on the extinct railway line. Sue saw a house here she thought she might buy and we wandered around it and the defunct railway station taking pictures and speculating on restoration possibilities. (White-necked Heron, Crimson Rosellas and Crested Pigeon along the sides of the road) When we arrived back at the tavern we struck up conversation with 2 old locals who, it turned out, lived in Ben Lomond and knew everything there was to know about the railway and the house and it’s owners and it’s price - $69,000 and just sold. 

Sid turned up as the Guinness was being drawn and we spent the next 2 hours listening to his stories and looking at his sapphires. Unfortunately he did not have 2 matching stones to suit earrings so we paid for his beers and apologised for wasting his time. We thought we would vary our diet tonight, so I had the beef casserole and Sue had the Chicken ‘n’ chile ($14 each). We should have gone for the steak again. I chewed through the casserole and Sue scraped the chile sauce off the chicken before it burst into flame. We finished with a possible Galway Pipe port and then repaired to the bar for a final drink before bed, meeting Wayne the truck driver and Clayton the jackeroo, once again with a fund of stories and jokes. 

            Out again this morning bright and eager at about 6.30 – ice, real ice, on the windscreen. Once again the frost disappeared quickly as the sun rose, but we had to scrape the ice off the glass. If we’d left it till after breakfast it would have been gone, but it’s the thing to do! A couple of small birds landed in the top of the pine trees beside the tavern and I quickly scanned them as my binoculars misted up  - Goldfinches!! A new bird for Australia and many years since I had last seen them in Ireland. 

            We had a continental breakfast this morning then headed up to Andy’s ‘farm’ – 200 acres beside the main road back near Glen Innes with approximately 200 head of sheep and about a dozen cattle. We spent the next hour and a half driving around looking for lambs with ???? the terrier alternately hanging out the window or standing on Sue’s lap at the windscreen. We did find one new born who was a bit shaky – so Andy took him back to the farm for bottle feeding. A wether was also looking the worst for wear and despite two attempts to get her up on her feet looked unlikely to make it. Red-rumped Parrots, Starlings, 2 Richard’s Pipits and Eastern Rosellas noted during this time. 

            Finally saying goodbye to Andy and ????? we headed off south towards Armidale. We had decided the previous night that we would head for Gloucester. Due to Agquip and the accommodation problems it seemed pointless to head west – as originally planned – so this sounded like a good option. 

Before Armidale I noticed a White-necked Heron in a farm dam and an Emu in a paddock – seems a bit too far east for the latter, however, it appeared wild – no obvious signs of domestication…

            Stopped in Armidale to post cards and have a coffee. sat outside the café in the freezing breeze so we could smoke and had really nice coffee and cake. Moving on we headed for Uralla, then turned off for Walcha. Suddenly, as I was driving, Dangar’s Lagoon appeared on the left. I’d heard of this place but had not planned on visiting it. Persuaded Sue to let me stop for 15 minutes and checked out the birds…

Coot, Pink-eared Duck, Black Swan, Masked Lapwing, Bl-winged Stilt, Aust Grebe, Grey Teal, Dusky Moorhen, Purple Swamphen, Starling and a few Aust Shoveler. Welcome Swallows and Tree Martins hawked for insects overhead. Nothing too startling, but interesting all the same – wish I’d had a scope 

with me. 

 

Headed on south thru Walcha, then over the range and eventually down to Gloucester. Really nice drive actually, nice forest, good road (after Walcha) few trucks, good scenery, really challenging corners at end of range! Did see 2 or 3 (probable) Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos at the turn off to Newendoc, but they flew before I could turn around. We arrived in Gloucester early afternoon and went to the information office to locate a place to stay. After some consideration we decided on Hooke’s Creek an O’Reilly’s type of rainforest lodge/eco-resort kind of place – it wasn’t cheap - $140 B & B per night. They only had one night’s accommodation free (tonight being Thursday – they were booked for the weekend) We decided to treat ourselves and drove the 40 minutes out to the resort. This is the closest public accommodation to Barrington Tops National Park – strange drive thru patches of rainforest, then open cleared grazing land. Hills and dales, then flats, then gorges. We checked at reception and were shown to our cabin. Nice furniture, very up to date bathroom, including spa bath (water restrictions!!??) open fire, TV, video and Austel cable. We discovered that the TV, video and Austel did not work and despite the good attempts of a kitchen hand (?) could not be revived. The door lock was a bit shaky – it would have stopped a child of 3, but other than that not much, a determined Bush Turkey could have broken in. The ‘view’ from the verandah was limited to a few square meters of very dry bush and a bush rat ran up the wall and into the ceiling as we sipped a chardonnay wrapped in our coats and beanies.

Dinner was quite nice – I had stuffed Mushrooms – but took ages to arrive, considering there were only about 10 other guests. The main room was very nice with snooker table, small library, videos and CDs to borrow and a huge log fire. 

Next morning we were up at about 6.30 and went for a walk through the rainforest. After about 20 minutes we hadn’t seen a lot (bird or scenery-wise) and it was very like Mt Glorious or Lamington so I suggested we go back and try another of the walks. We did and ended up climbing/walking up a virtual vertical track that seemed to go on forever. We again didn’t see much so headed back down and went for breakfast. Following the continental style smorgasbord we packed up, paid and headed off to Barrington Tops Nat Park. First stop at the top was the Alpine Beech walk. About 20 minutes round trip – didn’t see anything, but nice trees. On then to Thunderbolt’s Lookout – nice view, but again didn’t see any birds. Headed on along the track to Polblue, then on, without stopping to Polblue Falls. Had a scramble here down to the creek – flowing strongly it provided some opportunities for Sue to take photos, Yellow-faced Honeyeaters in evidence here, not much else. No sign or sight of Superb Lyrebird, but I guess I’m expecting a bit too much in a couple of hours visit. We drove back to Polblue Swamp and stopped for coffee. Red Wattlebird in trees overhead – another new bird. Two Magpies backed by Pied Currawongs threatened to steal Sue’s cheese & biscuit and were roundly abused for their courage!       

Headed back down the track to Gloucester, we had no-where to stay tonight and were a little anxious that we wouldn’t find anything. As it happened we discovered the gem of the holiday!! 

We returned to the Info centre and discussed possibilities with the woman at the desk, finally, at my prodding, she agreed to call the owner of a Farm cottage – “but it’s 20 minutes drive out of town you know!”  Tonight was available but people were arriving tomorrow – so we’d have to be out by 10 and we can’t go there for at least an hour as she has to tidy up. Like this was a hassle! It wasn’t cheap either - $110 per night, self-catering, breakfast supplies provided. 

We accepted and then spent an hour and a half wandering around Gloucester, having coffee, picking up a bottle of wine (don’t take credit cards, mate, only cash) a couple of nice steaks, some mushrooms & other vegies and some chocolate biscuits. Finally we headed out to the described address, 20 kms north.  Turning off the main road we drove down a bitumen access road of about 2 kms, and across a cement & steel bridge to a farmhouse where we were welcomed by Leonie and Max . Obviously a wealthy land owner – not many people have bitumen driveways! Leonie immediately hustled Sue off to fill a plastic bag full of grapefruit from her trees, while Max told me of owning a wood mill and selling up 25 years ago. He described how the Parks and Wildlife do not back burn properly now and the forests are ready to go up. Leonie directed us to the cottage – Aysgarth Cottage (named after an area in England their family was originally from). It was unreal – back across the river and up a hard dirt road to the cottage set on the slope side looking up the valley. Polished rug-strewn timber floors, beautiful fittings in the kitchen, 2 bedrooms, toilet and bathroom. A combustion wood heater already alight warming the rooms and eggs and bacon in the fridge for breakfast tomorrow morning. Absolutely, romantically beautiful! 

We barbequed the steak on the gas barbecue on the verandah and enjoyed the evening settling over the valley. In the distance the neighbours were burning off and the smoke drifted across the skyline. After dark we could see the flames leaping towards the summit of the hill until they burnt out. A beautiful place and evening.

Next morning up but not out. Breakfast first – grapefruit, bacon & eggs, then out to drive up the property to the seat at the top of the hill. A short walk to a small copse, then back down to the river bank trying to spot the platypus Leonie had promised were there. Not a lot of birds around – possibly still too wintery, but did see an Azure Kingfisher, Superb Fairy Wren, With-throated Scrubwren, Wood Duck and Red-browed Finch. No sign of any platypus, but it wasn’t very early. We finally left the property by 11.00 and headed back North towards Armidale. We turned off that highway 20 kms past Newendoc and headed for Tamworth via Dungowan. Saw 2 dead Wombats on the dirt road. 

Arrived Tamworth at about 13.30 and after coffee and a sandwich in the Blue Cherry, headed on towards Gunnedah, then on through worsening rain and wind to Coonabarabran, arriving at 16.30. Checked with the information office, but not really much help, it’s Motor Inn, Motor Inn or Motor Inn!! Getting late so we chose what sounded like the best one and booked into the Ambercourt Motel - $90 a night for a tiny bedroom and shower (step over the toilet to get wet). We started to unpack, but Sue was not happy, so we repacked the car, got our money back and headed off down the road to the Acacia Motor Inn - $92 or $99 for a suite! Sue got the key for Suite no 13 and we started to unpack, then she thought she’d check out the standard room – the $92 job – so went to get that key. Got the key for no 8 – we went to have a look and found it already occupied! Hurriedly backing out we retrieved the correct key – for no 9 – and checked it out. Four times the size of the original Ambercourt effort, we decided for the extra $2 it was well worth it…….  

The receptionist recommended the Chinese restaurant at the end of the road, obviously little experience with Chinese restaurants, although that is surprising seeing as how the choice in Coonabarabran is pretty well limited to Chinese or Chinese!! We ran through the pelting rain to the Golden Lion and found a table for two. Judging by the number of local inhabitants present the Coonabarabran opinion pretty much coincides with the receptionist’s. We ordered drinks and a couple of dishes that were pretty average (dumplings, spring rolls and Lemon Chicken) then the sizzling steak, which was inedible. The food filled a hole (a $40 hole) but that was about it – and this place had won local awards?… as I said the choice is limited… 

Next morning the rain had more or less stopped, but a strong, gale force wind, which had persisted through the night, still blew and pools of rain water were scattered around in dips in the road. We had some toast and grapefruit for breakfast then headed out towards the Warrumbungles National Park filling up with petrol on the way - ???

 Trees down along, and half way across, some parts of the road, small creeks up and flowing across the road – but no real danger. Dusky Woodswallows here and there. First stop Whitegum Outlook and a very cold, windy walk to the outlook. Not a bad view of the park and despite the low cloud on the higher points most of the main hill tops could be identified. We were walking back to the car, when Sue pointed out a ‘bird like a pigeon’ walking along near some thick brush.  I had a very quick, almost untickable view of a Spotted Quail Thrush – frustrating!! Dusky Woodswallows, White Eared and White-plumed Honeyeaters also seen here.

Next stop the information centre where I purchased a copy of the bird list for the park ($1) and a small book describing the walks within the park ($4.50). We inquired and received direction for 2 easy walks  that may be good for birds – the Woolshed and B???? Gorge.  We headed for the Woolshed first and wandered down river across a paddock then back through the bush to the car. Nothing spectacular. On to the Gorge and another half an hour up the path – Buff-rumped Thornbill and Weebill the highlights, both basically, new birds for me, but not of the extreme variety! Met two birders from Noosa who had also seen Spotted Q-T, but on the road nearby. They had camped out in the wild night before. 

Time was moving on so we had to leave the Warrumbungles and head north for Narrabri. Interesting drive through the Pilliga – didn’t stop, wind too strong for any hope of successful birding, but will be worth another visit at another time. 

We reached Narrabri and stopped at the lagoon for coffee and sandwiches. Good spot – lots of water in the lagoon – not sure if it’s always like this, but with Coot, Moorhen, Australian and Great Crested Grebes on the water it'’ quite likely to always exist to some extent. A Brown Falcon threatened the lake inhabitants and then perched beautifully at the top of a windy gum. Following coffee etc we headed for accommodation. Bed & Breakfast was our target but having looked at two from outside and contacted both to find one full and one over $90 and no breakfast – we decided to check out the newest motel in town. I sat in the car while Sue went in to ‘check availability’ as I thought.. While she was gone I flicked through a Narrabri brochure and found a very schmick looking place near Sawn Rocks on the road to Bingara & Inverell. I rang them and left a message. Flicking further I found a cottage on the road to Mt Kaputar. I was about to ring when Sue returned – with a key, she had booked a room, but not paid. 

We sat and discussed the options for a while then I rang the Mt Kaputar cottage. It turned out to be $60 no breakfast and a small one bedroom, self-contained cottage in the back yard of the farm. “Pat” was the ‘landlady’ and showed us around accompanied by her 2 dogs and cat, while ‘Bill’ nodded and disappeared back into the farmhouse. We then drove back into Narrabri to pick up some food for tea – pork chops and vegies – and I went into the motel and cancelled our reservation. 

On the way through Narrabri a Black Kite circled the car. On the road to Dulcemia Cottage we had Red-rumped Parrot, Jackie Winter, Common Bronzewing, Noisy Miner, Grey Teal and Aust Grebe, Eastern Rosella, Willy wagtails, Little Lorikeet, Striped and White-plumed Honeyeaters, and 2 Yellow-billed Spoonbills ‘spooned’ in a rainpool at the side of the road.

While Sue cooked tea I went for a walk/stumble up the field behind the cottage. Lovely clear night but no moon. I swung the torch beam around and caught a fleeting glimpse of an owl flying away. Damn, if I’d only seen it perched. Barn or Masked??  Went on further then turned to head back and halfway along the fence line an owl (same one) took off the fence within 6 feet of my arm, flew past me and disappeared very quickly. Again no definite ID but suspect Barn or Masked. 

Next morning and off to Mt Kaputar as soon as we could after breakfast and packing. Interesting morning, Mt K is very steep and quite high and the temperature at the top is approximately 12 – 15 degrees cooler than at the bottom! The vegetation is quite remarkably different too – quite artic like with snow gums and other plants resembling a location much further south. We saw Crimson rosella, Pied Currawong, Silvereye, White-eared Honeyeater, Superb Fairy Wren, Brown Thornbill, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Grey Kangaroos and a Wallaroo. We took one of the very easy walks – bitumen around the top of the mountain/camping area. No-one else in sight apart from a  camper who drove off as we drove up. Checked out the empty cabins available for hire from the NSW NPWS. Then headed back down the mountain again, stopping for photos at a couple of locations. When we reached the bottom and drove out towards Narrabri Sue requested a stop at a local winery – we drove in across the river bed and spent 15 or 20 mins sampling some reds and a port. Sue eventually bought 3 bottles of port – it was nice! Strangely enough the guy grows the grapes but the wine is made in the Hunter valley and returned bottled for him to sell – I thought that was a bit weird and I wasn’t overly impressed with the reds I tried, no white available. Heading on I saw a Black-shouldered Kite and Double-barred Finches along the road.  

25 - 27.09.03

Woodgate

Took the drive north to Woodgate National Park and the Burrum Pt campsite on Thursday night last. (Just south of Bundaberg, south end of Central Qld coast, 370 kms north of Brisbane, turn off at Childers, you’ll need a 4WD to access the campsite)

Last time I was here in January the shallow swamp/mangrove area in the centre of the park was almost dry. This time it was partly (about half) flooded, with water up to the hide. This didn’t increase hugely the number of birds or species, however. 

A pair of Chestnut Teal, 1 Red-kneed Dotterel and a Royal Spoonbill were probably as a result of the increased water level, but Black-winged Stilts, Marsh Sandpiper (1) and Red-capped Dotterels (2 pairs) were in similar numbers as previous. 

A large number of Noisy Friarbirds with a couple of Little Friarbirds thrown in haunted the trees directly over the camp grounds but Brown Honeyeaters were dominant with scattered numbers of Leaden Flycatcher, Yellow Robin and Rufous Whistler in the bush.

I did visit the mouth of Theodolite Creek (far end (north) of the esplanade at Woodgate) at low tide - a huge expanse of sandy beach. There were approx 25 Lesser Sand Plovers scattered across this area along with a few Curlews and Whimbrels. Along the road through the Nat Park to Walker’s Point (South of Woodgate) Bee eaters sat on the wires watching over their sand hole nests and a few Grey Kangaroos grazed on the short grass.  

Other than that it was very quiet – so I came back a day early! 

28.09.03

Wynnum North Wader Roost

Having returned early from Woodgate NP I thought I’d put Sunday to good use so went to Wynnum North wader roost for the high tide. (Wynnum is on the South side of the Brisbane river, on the bayside and this roost is located behind a mangrove belt and is a favourite roost for waders at high tide)

Got there at 7.30 with a  rising tide settled in to watch the waders. 69 Black-tailed Godwits slept and fed in the middle of the mud as usual, while 100+ Grey-tailed Tattlers bickered and snoozed on the mangrove stumps they usually occupy. Eastern Curlew (~10), Whimbrel (~30), Black-winged Stilts (~10), Grey Teal (~100) and 16 Chestnut Teal also present. In the background 2 Little Egrets, 2 Great Egrets, 10 White-faced Herons, 5 Royal Spoonbills, 8 Marsh Sandpipers watched as handfuls of Sharp-tailed and a few (6) Curlew Sandpipers flew in. Bar-tailed Godwits starting arriving in an irregular stream  - totally numbering about 300. A Whistling Kite put the duck up – only the duck, strangely enough – and a quick view of a Brahimny Kite over the mangroves was followed later by a Brown Goshawk that upset the roosting Herons before diving into the mangroves and vanishing as quickly as it had arrived.

Walking back to the car park a hovering Black-shouldered Kite brought raptors to 4 species for the day. 

I headed out to Fisherman’s Island as I usually do, then, on a whim turned left on the Whyte Island road (just before the roundabout and the BP garage on the left).  I note the directions clearly here as it’s possible, just possible mind you, that Brisbane birders may miss the two lakes on the left as they head out to the well known sights and sites on F Is.. I would suggest that the Whyte Island ponds, as I now personally refer to them, are well worth a visit and a check out. There are no fences obscuring the vision and using the car as a hide one can scope or binocular the birds with minimum disturbance. One of the ponds was virtually empty – on the other there were heaps of Sharpies and Curlew Sands were everywhere. Black-winged Stilts and over 70 Red-necked Avocets, 20+ Pelicans, Cormorants of various types, Grey and Chestnut Teal and, very pleasingly, 2 Pink-eared Ducks napping on a mud bank. 6 Hardheads dived – so the water is reasonably deep in spots and a couple of Red-capped Dotterels pattered around. This, I believe, will be an excellent spot to check smaller waders during the summer months. I may be preaching to the already converted – been there, seen that, if so please excuse my enthusiasm, but I’d hate anyone to miss this easy accessible, highly potential spot! Please let me know if anything special turns up!  

I went on out to F Is and checked out the lake in front of the visitor’s hide – usual species here – dozens (?) of Royal Spoonbills roosting, Coot, Moorhen, various Cormorants, Hardhead, Black Duck, Pelicans, Egrets, Ibises and 1 Sharpie. A phone call from my partner reminded me then of a prior promise to visit Fort Lytton National park – so went off to do my civic and relationship duty and got no further up the Island!

Incidentally – at the Whyte Island ponds there were 2 or 3 large nests built on the mud bank. By large I mean big enough to seat a Pelican. There were a few Black Swans on the water, but no bird sitting on the nests. (Somehow I didn’t think they were Swans nests. I have no experience of Black Swan’s nesting, but am familiar with Mute Swans’ nests from Ireland) There appeared to be eggs in at least two of the constructions – but I didn’t go any closer than the bank. I would appreciate another opinion if anyone has past or future observations to offer.