Hi All
After reading on the list about the Lockyer Valley (West of Brisbane and
not far from Toowoomba), I had the opportunity to visit there in early
July. It certainly lived up to my expectations. I spent two most
enjoyable days there staying at Abberton with Bill and Eileen Jolly, who
looked after me wonderfully. They showed me around Abberton itself and
drove me to a number of excellent birding spots in the Valley.
I saw the white black swan, an amazing sight floating on the water with
its black relatives. Nearby flying over the water with a number of
welcome swallows, was a white-backed swallow. When we went to look for
Wandering Whistling-ducks an added bonus was a Brahminy Kite overhead.
At another stop were Plumed Whistling-ducks and a vast flock of Magpie
Geese. As we drove around we stopped from time to time, and each place
revealed more species of birds, including Noisy Friarbirds living up to
their name, Scaly-breasted Lorikeets, and a ponderous Pheasant Coucal in
a tree.
Around the garden at Abberton were numerous birds, so easy to watch
while sitting on the balcony. Well, it was us on the balcony, but the
birds were not far away. These included many Brown Honeyeaters and
Double-barred Finches as well as Red-browed Finches, Lewins Honeyeaters,
Superb and Red-backed Fairy-wrens, Spotted and Striated Pardalotes,
Yellow Thornbills, Grey Fantails, a beautiful pair of Rose Robins,
Silvereyes, a Clamorous Reed-warbler, a very obliging Speckled Warbler
and more.
Fortunately for me, as we were eating breakfast on the balcony on my
second day, a platypus appeared in the river below us. It dived and
surfaced repeatedly allowing very good views and photographs as well.
Unfortunately for me, I was looking the other way when the Azure
Kingfisher flew past.
Before setting off towards home (Melbourne), Bill directed me to a
bridle path above the escarpment just south of Toowoomba where there
were Yellow-faced, Lewins and Scarlet Honeyeaters, Little Lorikeets, a
large number of Satin Bowerbirds feasting on fruits with some Figbirds,
Eastern Whipbirds, Brush Turkeys and several more...wonderful spot. It
was starting to get dark before I could drag myself away. After all, I
had the best part of 2000 km to go, so thought I'd better get started.
I saw more than 90 species in the Lockyer Valley in less than two days,
thanks to Bill and Eileen's guidance.
Here is a full list:
Australian Brush-turkey
Brown Quail
Magpie Goose
Plumed Whistling-duck
Wandering Whistling-duck
Black (and white!) Swan
Australian Wood Duck
Pacific Black Duck
Grey Teal
Hardhead
Australasian Grebe
Darter
Little Pied Cormorant
Little Black Cormorant
Australian Pelican
White-faced Heron
White-necked Heron
Great Egret
Intermediate Egret
Cattle Egret
Australian White Ibis
Straw-necked Ibis
Royal Spoonbill
Yellow-billed Spoonbill
Black-shouldered Kite
Brahminy Kite
White-bellied Sea-eagle
Little Eagle
Nankeen Kestrel
Purple Swamphen
Dusky Moorhen
Eurasian Coot
Comb-crested Jacana
Black-winged Stilt
Black-fronted Dotterel
Masked Lapwing
Rock dove
Spotted Turtle-dove
Crested Pigeon
Peaceful Dove
Bar-shouldered dove
Galah
Cockatiel
Rainbow Lorikeet
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet
Little Lorikeet
Pale-headed Rosella
Pheasant Coucal
Laughing Kookaburra
Superb Fairy-wren
Red-backed Fairy-wren
Spotted Pardalote
Striated Pardalote
White-browed Scrubwren
Speckled Warbler
Yellow-rumped Thornbill
Yellow Thornbill
Noisy Friarbird
Lewins Honeyeater
Yellow-faced Honeyeater
White-throated Honeyeater
Brown Honeyeater
Scarlet Honeyeater
Jacky Winter
Eastern Yellow Robin
Grey-crowned Babbler
Eastern Whipbird
Golden Whistler
Rufous Whistler
Grey Shrike-thrush
Magpie-lark
Grey Fantail
Willie Wagtail
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Figbird
Grey Butcherbird
Pied Butcherbird
Australian Magpie
Pied Currawong
Torresian Crow
Satin Bowerbird
Richards Pipit
House sparrow
Double-barred Finch
Red-browed Finch
White-backed Swallow
Welcome Swallow
Clamorous Reed-warbler
Golden-headed Cisticola
Silvereye
Common Starling
Common Myna
There were also the inevitable Mystery Birds, that I only heard or saw
too briefly, just to keep me wondering.
It's been 2 weeks since I arrived home. I can't imagine where the time
has gone. I meant to write this up as soon as I got back!
Many thanks again to Bill and Eileen.
Cheers,
Merrilyn.... in very cold and windy Melbourne.
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