Must say it’s good to be back on the list after a
break of about 2 years, largely a break from birding too. A new set of
binoculars and new years resolution have returned me to the birding arena for
2006 and already in a few short trips I’ve managed to add a few new life
ticks (my first for over 18 months). Forgotten how much I enjoy getting
out in the bush and walking around, the birds are a bonus. Rather that go
on about me, I’ll just add a couple of my observations, all from the last
10 days or so;
Fred Bucholz Park, near
Tambourine – a small party of 5 Plum-headed
Finches, 3 males and two females, in the Setaria grass on the edge of the wetland. Also a few
very vocal Tawny Grassbirds in the
same grass.
Lake Atkinson, N of Gatton –
Party of Brown Songlarks in the trees
up near the road. Pair of Ground
Cuckoo-shrikes in paddock about 2km’s behind dam. I’ve
been to Atkinson a few times before and always found good birds but this trip I
also did my first trip to Lake Clarendon, of course the joke was on me as the
thing is bone dry, even after recent rain. I also popped down to Lake Dyer
and saw plenty of Great Crested Grebe
and Magpie Goose, one of which
looked to nesting on the ground, and also a few Plumed Whislting-duck.
Eagleby Wetlands – Pair of Pink-eared Duck at the end of Eagleby Rd, also Australian Reed-warbler, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin and a single
adult Black-necked Stork.
Around Jimboomba (my home base) I’ve been seeing
regular flocks of 6-10 Cockatiels
over the past month, this is probably as close to the coast as I have seen them
(except for the odd aviary escapee!).
Cheers,
Craig Doolan
