Last weekend I attended the BQ campout at Goomburra
State Forest, 40 or so km north of Warwick.My first visit, has a good mix of
rainforest, riverine, and woodland habitats.My best birds were Bassian
Thrush, Red-browed Treecreeper and Speckled Warbler.We
heard lyrebird calling on one of the higher altitude rainforest tracks but never
got to see, and on the way in on the Fri I had a brief view of a lark over a
paddock.
I came home via the Lockyer Valley on roads which
link Allora, Gatton, and Esk. At Mt Whitestone about 15km SW of Gatton I saw a
very dark falcon perched on a roadside tree.I got very good perched views
of a Black Falcon, confirmed when it flew of showing its
two-tone black underwing and pointy wings.Although I seen Black Falcon before in
SA and the NT, this was my first Qld sighting. I also checked-out Lake Apex at
Gatton, Lake Dyer at Laidley, and Jahnke's Lagoon near Lake Clarendon (which is
stone dry).Plumed Whistling-Duck were in large numbers at both
lakes and were present on almost all farm dams I passed in the
valley.Glossy Ibis were also at Jahnke's and Lake Dyer, as well
as a single Australian Shoveller at Jahnke's.On the edge of
a farm dam beside Lake Dyer was a single Latham's Snipe
and a pair of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. All-up I saw a total of
106 species over 2 days at the campout and on the day-long drive home
.
Russ Lamb, Maleny, SEQ
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