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South-east Queensland Trip 16-24 Nov 2002 Part One

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Subject: South-east Queensland Trip 16-24 Nov 2002 Part One
From: "Edwin Vella" <>
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 18:36:54 +1100

Just came back from a wonderful and my first ever trip in South-east QLD scouring over 230 species and 7 new birds (including several rare/uncommon species) in just a little over a week. I was very fortunate to experience good weather (not as humid as Sydney at the moment); spectacular scenery and great company (met a number of Brisbane birdos who regular contribute to Birding Aus). Saw also during this time about 15 species of native mammals (including 4 new ones) and observed/heard a few of both frogs and reptiles as well. I think I covered a good selection of most habitats that this great part of Australia has to offer but did see quite a number of signs of the drought (esp. in the Lockyer Valley) despite raining quite heavy in Brisbane on my arrival (but it cleared the following day).

 

Some of the interesting areas and birds for the trip were:

 

INSKIP PT

 

Here I found after much searching in the scrub, 3 Black-breasted Button-quails (including a pair and another brilliant looking female) but it was probably easier for me to sit and wait for the Button-quail after finding their platelets. Other interesting birds in this areas included a pair of Beach Stone-curlews on the beach, a pair of Large-tailed Nightjars (seen during the day), lots of Brown Quail, great views of a Rose-crowned Fruit-dove and a Barred (Yellow-eyed) Cuckoo-shrike, 2-3 Varied Trillers, atleast 2 Little Shrike-thrushes, lots of Mistletoebirds, a pair of Collared Kingfishers, White-cheeked Honeyeaters and lots of Mangrove Honeyeaters.

 

Other animals seen included lots of Robust Skinks (Ctenotus robustus) and heard a number of frogs including the fairly abundant Crinia tinnula (Wallum Froglet), Litoria caerulea (Green Tree Frogs) but too many Bufo marinus (Cane Toads) (a few in amplexus on a dam).  

 

On my night in the area, I also had a Bush Stone-curlew calling very loudly and waking me up in the middle of the night, right next to my caravan (close to Rainbow Beach). How rude!

 

LAMINGTON NP

 

Met a good bunch of Americans who were touring the east coast of Australia and I spent most of the time with them looking at the diurnal birds and a couple of spotlighting walks. We saw just about all the interesting diurnal birds in the rainforest at Lamington including a white-phase Grey Goshawk (which turned and did a left turn towards us after hearing my imitation of its call. I have called them in before), a Noisy Pitta flying across the road (one seen amongst several others heard), a number of Wompoo Fruit-doves, 3 Albert?s Lyrebirds (clear and cooperative views of all 3 of them), 2 Bassian Thrush (also heard Russet-tailed Thrush at dawn near the campsite), Black-faced Monarchs, 4 Logrunners, 2 Paradise Riflebirds (brilliant views of a male and 2 female plus many others heard calling), loads of Green Catbirds and of course the Regent Bowerbirds (not just the tame birds in the camp grounds). Got within a couple of metres or so of a feeding Topknot Pigeon beside my tent (semi-tame!)

 

In the drier forest we saw a number of Varied Sitellas (white-headed form), Leaden Flycatchers and unusually (?), a female Paradise Riflebird (though I have heard of them being seen outside the rainforest during the winter in mid-north NSW).

 

While spotlighting, we managed amazing views of the Marbled Frogmouth at eye level from Mick?s Tower (beside the Wishing Tree Walk) and had good views of a Sooty Owl along the Picnic Rock track (off the Main Border Track). Amongst the abundance of Red-necked Pademelons we also saw a few Mountain Brushtail Possums, Sugar Gliders, Common Ringtail Possums (more richer coloured than the ones close to home) and we also spotted both Red-eyed and Dwarf Tree Frogs (Litoria chloris and fallax).

 

Leaving O?Relly?s and heading down the mountain towards Canungra, I saw several Whiptail Wallabies, a pair of Forest Kingfishers on a power line, Pale-headed Rosellas, 2 Channel-billed Cuckoos and saw Striated Pardalotes (black-headed form) as well.

 

On a small dam near Canungra, there was a pair of Black-necked Storks and on a large dam opposite 2 Comb-crested Jacanas.

 

Part 2 to follow

 

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