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Paynter's Creek is located between Maroochydore and
Nambour on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, and probably isn't a well known
location for finding great birds. A particular section of Paynter's Creek Road
has been frequented by me of late during my morning walks, generally between 6
and 7 am before I have to return to reality and go to work.
The area has a multitude of habitats,
and along the particular 3 km stretch that I walk, you could describe it as
a mixture of remnant rainforest, woodland, wetland, and banksia
scrub.
During October, I encountered many species I have
encountered in the past but have also been very lucky to add 4 lifers to my
list, which has been growing over the last 20 year since I was a little tyke of
11.
A couple of weeks ago I encountered a mixed flock
of around 30 Chestnut-breasted Mannakins and 15
Red-browed Finches very active in some bracken on the roadside.
Superb Blue Wrens and Red-backed Fairy-wrens
twinkle away there as well. Honeyeaters abound, with an irruption of
Scarlet, along with many Brown, Lewin's, and
White-cheeked Honeyeaters. A lifer for me yesterday was a pair
of beautifully marked Varied Trillers, with very close-up views
from 2 -3 metres low in lantana (cursed stuff, but great for our feathered
friends) - the buff belly of the male was very distinct; they were very quiet,
just going about their business.
From a distance one morning, Yellow-tailed
Black Cockatoos (4) were screeching from the top of a dead gum. I never
get tired of seeing these wonderful birds, and they are regulars in this nick of
the woods.
A week or so ago I saw another lifer very briefly
from a range of 10 metres, then heard it's distinctive
"breeb-breer-breer" call - a Spectacled Monarch!
Haven't seen it since unfortunately.
Rufous and Grey Fantails
have also been flitting around in the understorey, while
White-browed Scrubwrens have also been mousing
around.
A very vocal breeding male Golden-headed
Cisticola has been advertising it's presence at the same spot every day
- very boldly, it has allowed me to come up to a couple of paces from it - great
to see it without binocs as it is such a small wonder.
A few days ago I also saw a pair of Sacred
Kingfishers perched on a dead gum, and just up the road, another lifer
(probably about time, too) - a lone male Forest Kingfisher
vocallising before flying off. The bright blue plumage is not truly
justified in any field guide - I had no idea how beautiful this bird really
is.
Finally, again a few days ago on the 31st October,
my 3rd lifer in an hour, a hastily retreating Rose-crowned
Fruit-dove. Unfortunately, I only glimpsed it very briefly but enough
to see a flash of orange on it's underside and bright green upperparts.
Brown Cuckoo-doves are also often seen racing through the
forest.
Some more regular birds seen along this stretch are
Silvereyes, Eastern Whipbirds,
Spangled Drongos, and
Dollarbirds.
I wonder what I will encounter here in
November?
Anyone wanting more information on the location
with directions, please email me direct.
Andrew Taylor
Rosemount, Qld
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