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Hi all,
After sleeping off the previous night's
festivities, a New Year's Day afternoon birdwatch seemed in order, and I made
tracks towards the Samford Valley north-west of Brisbane. I continued past
Dayboro and up Lacey's Creek Rd, following the road to the top of a high ridge.
(A permit from Queensland Parks and Wildlife is required to traverse this road
but there are no gates and otherwise it is open to the public.)
At the top of the ridge is a small area of
rainforest and in summer this is one of the most reliable sites in south-east
Queensland for White-eared Monarch. I located a pair without too much
difficulty, although they were greatly outnumbered by the far more common
Spectacled Monarchs. Other good birds seen here in the limited time available
were Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, Wonga and Topknot Pigeons, Varied Triller and
Pale-yellow Robin.
On the way home, I made a stop at Golds Scrub Lane
which leads to the Samsonvale Cemetary. Around the edge of a shallow inlet
of water (on the right, about 500m from the start of the road) has always been
good for quail and the grass has recovered after a recent fire. I was rewarded
with one Brown Quail and a nice covey of four King Quail, but not the hoped-for
Red-backed Button-quail.
Still, all up it was a reasonable start for birding
in 2001. Looking forward to other stories of the day. All the best to everyone
for the New Year.
Cheers
AS
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