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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