Hi All
Last weekend I thought I would try my hand at finding some of the
"less common" species that had been recorded in recent weeks around
Brisbane. Off I set early on Saturday morning - firstly heading for Boondall
as I was heading north anyway and it was more or less on the way. Nothing
much at the Nudgee Beach end of the wetlands - high tide and very quiet.
Jumped on the major highway from there and headed for Redcliffe in
search of the Kelp Gull. Searched all along the shore battling the high SE
winds, checking out every rock wall where gulls were sheltering, but to no
avail. Moved onto Redcliffe aerodrome and considered entering the
'forbidden' zone to search for the Yellow Wagtail...... in the end it being
around 10.00 and with a few people hanging around I chickened out and moved
on to try my luck at Bribie!
Had morning tea at Buckley's Hole - some nice birds even though the
wind was strong enough to blow the tobacco out of your cigarette... Buff
banded Rail x2, Ruddy Turnstone x1 and Golden Plover x1 were the best, but
excellent views of other more regular species. Walked out to the beach to
check the terns and Bar-tailed Godwits for the reported Ruff - no luck.
Probably back in the Northern hemisphere if it had ventured forth in this
wind!
Decided the coast was a loser so headed inland to Mt Mee State
Forest and there, finally, things perked up... You know when you just seem
to have birds falling out of the trees suddenly? Well it was like that - I
drove in to the damp rainforest and stopped at a nondescript piece of track
near Nerrum campsite and within half an hour had heaps of common species as
well as Leaden Flycatcher, Scarlet Honeyeater, Wonga Pigeon, Spectacled
Monarch, Crested Shrike tit, BRILLIANT views of a pair of Cicadabird and
best of all 1 x New Holland Honeyeater and 1 x Dusky Honeyeater, The former
at the top end of it's range and the latter at the bottom. It started to
rain just about then and I got soaked (what a pleasure to be able to write
this!) on the walk back to the car. Well pleased, I headed home.
Sunday morning and off early again. This time to Archerfield
aerodrome - must be the weekend for airfields! - Pratincole searching -
again no luck. So - headed to Lake Manchester.
Now, I haven't been ther since 1983 and have seen no reports from
there in recent years but thought I'd give it a go anyway - always nice to
explore somewhere a little 'unknown' bird wise.
Let me tell you - in 19 years little has changed! I think the toilet
block is new and, sadly, the suspension bridge is closed, but othere than
that it's pretty much the way I remember it when our car was stranded on the
other side of the floodway when the gates were opened unexpectedly... but
that's another story.....
Plenty of bush birds below the dam wall - White-throated Gerygone,
Leaden Flycatcher (again in 2 days - must be my lucky weekend!), Rufous
Fantail, another Cicadabird (again brilliant views!). Walked along the edge
of the lake for about an hour until the track left the lakeside. Bush a
little dissapointing as a fire has been through there in the last couple of
years and it is very "blasted". Water birds a bit thin on the ground (so to
speak) Both commoner grebes and a f ew duck, coots etc Good potential, I
think. Very quiet, no-one around, peaceful.
When heading off decided to have a look at College's Crossing -
maybe the Cotton Pygmy Geese had returned? Contrast to Manchester - half of
Ipswich were there - swimming, fishing, crying, yelling, barking (dogs that
is), barbequing, and, almost predictably at this stage, no CPG! There were,
however, more Swans and Coots there than at the much bigger lake, strange
isn't it?
So, headed home to the Sunday paper and a relaxing afternoon. I
hadn't got the Kelp Gull, Yellow Wagtail, Ruff or Australian Pratincole, but
had enjoyed good birds in good places. There's always next weekend!
Colin
Brisbane
> Colin Reid
Call Centre Team Leader
Energex Limited
> Telephone 07 3407 6265
> Facimile 07 3407 6206
Email:
Web: www.energex.com.au
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