LAKE BROADWATER CONSERVATION PARK
Lake Broadwater Conservation Park lies on the western Darling Downs,
250kms west of Brisbane, 30 kms south of Dalby, in south-east
Queensland. It has been on my list to visit for some time and last
weekend I took the opportunity of a day off and headed out that way
early Friday morning.
On the way, having conquered the range and passed Toowoomba, while
rolling across the bare expanses of cotton fields I noticed a good
number of Black-winged Kites and Kestrels hunting the long dry grass at
the road?s edge. After passing the turn off to Oakey a larger bird of
prey alighted briefly in the middle of the road ahead and I pulled over
to watch my first Qld Black Kite in 20 years circle lazily overhead.
I arrived at the Lake at about 11.00 and set up camp in the Wilga bush
camp site. One has a choice at Lake Broadwater ? the bush camp site is
1km from the lake and surrounded by?.. bush! The only facility is a
composting toilet. The second campsite is at the lake itself and is a
bare open piece of land, which, with a breeze blowing off the lake, did
not attract me too much! There is, however, a shower block as well as
toilets at that site.
Having set up camp I decided to take the 1km track to the lake. Not a
lot of birds in evidence, however, numbers increased as I approached the
lake. I came across one of those ?waves? of birds that move through the
bush ? one minute there?s nothing, the next, one is surrounded by small
birds flitting in and out and gradually different species turn up and
they all move on like a insect seeking vacuum. This one started with
Variegated Fairy-wrens in the Wilga bushes beside the track, Yellow
Thornbills appeared in the trees overhead, then a few Weebills, followed
by Double-banded Finches and Silvereyes. In the middle of this
?confusion? I was fairly sure I spotted 2 Brown-headed Honeyeaters high
in a eucalypt, but had only a very short view before losing them again
in the melee! Approaching the lake there were a number of Noisy and
Little Friarbirds and 2 Grey-crowned Babblers in what I called Friarbird
Alley- all calling and chasing at the same time. A grand ruckus!
At the lake ? which was three-quarters full ? there were Grey Teal,
Black-winged Stilts, Masked Lapwing, Little Pied Cormorants, Australian
Grebes, a Great Egret and a White-faced Heron. A pair of Restless
Flycatchers sang and hunted very close while a Striated Pardalote
collected nesting material. Approx 30 Welcome Swallows hawked over the
water and a pair of White-breasted Wood-swallows hung out overhead. I
walked along the lake side to the open camping ground watching the water
and the birds overhead? There was a flock of about 150 Little Corellas
that screamed noisily and circled at every opportunity along with a few
Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. The numbers of Friarbirds (both sp) increased
along the lake shore and I spotted a Blue-faced Honeyeater and a pair of
Striped Honeyeaters among them. Far out across the lake I could see
Hardheads scattered across the water in small groups. I returned to camp
the same way.
Just as dusk arrived the Corellas flew over the campsite calling loudly,
their white bellies reflecting the setting sun as they headed off to
roost somewhere, I assume ? a very typical Australian sight.
Going to bed that night I had heard nothing while sitting at the camp
fire. It had been a lovely warm evening, even with clear skies and
millions of stars ? quite a spectacle.
However I awoke at 1.30am to hear a BooBook and a Tawny Frogmouth
calling loudly. I contemplated getting up?but decided against it as the
night had turned quite cold and a warm sleeping bag was a much more
attractive option. Dozing off I awoke again around 2.30am having heard
what I believed was a Barking Owl very close ? or at least what sounded
to me like a Barking Owl. Well, cold or no cold this was worth
investigation. Scrambling out of the bag, getting the warmest clothes on
quickly, stumbling out of the tent flaps, boots unlaced, into the
absolute stillness of the night, leaving behind the warmth of sleep and
feeling the cold begin to bite?.yes, I?m sure we?ve all been there. Not
the most pleasant of experiences ? especially when the call does not re
occur! I stood for a while in the stillness waiting but it was not to
be, however, crawling back into bed, I knew I would do it again if it
gave me the chance.
(PS ? having listened to a borrowed tape I am positive it was a Barking
Owl)
The next morning off as early as possible, 7.00, along the lake track
again, this time only as far as the lake. I had expected to find lots of
small birds feeding along the track at an early hour, however, there
were very few on the way down to the lake, they appeared on the way
back! Once again I found myself in the middle of the ?wave?. Probably
the same birds as yesterday, but this time the Brown-headed Honeyeaters
were at 10 ft range at eye level and, eventually, at ground level.
Brilliant views confirmed my ID. As the wave continued to pass a
Thornbill came to my attention ? not Yellow, not Brown, suddenly it
cocked it?s tail and displayed a very red-brown rump, hopping around,
reminding me of Wrens in Europe ? almost. I remembered reading something
about this action and on checking Pizzey discovered it was an Inland
Thornbill ? a second ?tick? for the weekend!
Part of the Conservation park ? and the part usually advertised ? is a
short walk and a bird hide at ?The Neck?. The Neck is a shallower part
of the lake where boats are banned and is described as a nesting habitat
for water birds. I drove there from the campsite and walked the short
distance to the hide. No access, as the stairs are deemed unsafe.
Birding from the water?s edge below I spotted a pair of Hoary headed
Grebes among the Aust Grebes, Coots, Pelicans, Shoveler, White-winged
Choughs and a pair of Whistling Kites attended their nest close by.
Walking along the edge I flushed a pair of Black-fronted Dotterel.
I returned to the car and followed a track out into a grassland area 1.2
kms to a 4.5km ?circuit?. The circuit is an, at times sandy, dirt track
through low scrub. I?m not very good with trees and bushes ? but there
was some spruce and wattle and little grassy areas between the trees -
looks like heaps of potential but there was little in evidence among the
trees. Good location for Nightjars I would think. As I exited the trees
and drove back along the grassy area a brown bird caught my attention
flying off across the grass. Stopping I quickly tracked it to the top of
a clump of cacti and caught my breath ? the female had led me to the
male Red-capped Robin sitting in full glory in the winter sun. Wow!! My
third tick for the weekend and a bogey bird for me for some time.
Attempting to get closer was not very successful ? I gained about 30
meters (still 80 meters away) when they both moved, then moved again,
then vanished behind some low trees and I didn?t see them again.
Well pleased with my successes I spent the afternoon at camp relaxing
and, as dark fell, drove back out to the grasslands again. I was
thinking Owls ? in particular maybe Grass Owls, Nightjars? Frogmouths?
Standing out in the middle of the field I was treated to that awesome
sight of a clear winter?s sky when one can see for ever into the solar
system and we remember just how small we really are. I reckon it should
be mandatory for all politicians to stand out like that, in a field,
once a week, just to remind them!
I didn?t see any Owls, although I did hear a Boobook in the distance. I
did see a Koala peering interestedly down from his perch and, when I
drove the track again through the bush, I did see a Tawny Frogmouth
sitting out on a branch blinking in the car lights.
I returned again to camp and started a fire, but the south-west wind had
picked up by this time and it was pretty cold. I went to bed hoping I?d
be woken again by the ?Barking? Owl ? but only woke up at 5.30 next
morning without incident.
Decided with the wind I would try the grasslands and circuit again.
Spotting small birds in the trees would have been difficult and the lake
was almost deserted. I drove back yet again, but despite searching could
not find the RC Robin or anything else of particular interest. Oh, I did
see another Inland Thornbill and a couple of Yellow-rumped Thornbills.
I went back to camp, had breakfast, packed up and hit the road at 10.30,
arriving back in Brisbane at 13.30 ? a relatively easy drive. Good spot
? I recommend it. I?ll be going back.
Complete bird list (80 sp) available on request.
--
Colin Reid
So many birds, so little time......
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