En route to Bowra, a quick late afternoon visit to Durikai State Forest
between Warwick and Inglewood in Southeast Queensland last Thursday
produced spectacular feeding events as vast numbers of birds took advantage
of hatching termites. Several hundred White-browed Woodswallows were
accompanied by good numbers of Masked Woodswallow. Dusky Woodswallows were
also present nearby. A large mixed flock was encountered feeding on and
above the ground which included Yellow-tufted, Fuscous, Yellow-faced and
White-naped Honeyeaters, White-winged Triller, Rufous Songlark, Superb
Fairy-wren, Jacky Winter, White-browed Woodswallow and Willie Wagtail.
Earlier a single Diamond Firetail allowed a close encounter and a Little
Eagle was seen low over the canopy. Little Lorikeet were ever present.
Three button-quail were flushed, providing only glimpses and could not be
relocated. On all accounts of location and habitat these were likely Painteds.
A very short drive into the forest on Monday morning yielded a pair of
White-browed Babbler and 3 Speckled Warbler, with the Woodswallows still
present.
Lake Coolmunda, just east of Inglewood had 67 Freckled Duck present, along
with a lone female Musk Duck. Amongst the large numbers of waterbirds
present, Pink-eared Ducks were in good numbers, while a group of some 50
Great-crested Grebe occupied the centre of the lake. Four Marsh Sandpipers,
a large group of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and a few Red-capped Plovers were
also observed.
Towards Warwick was a flock of a couple of hundred White-throated
Needletails, many low over the fields before getting some elevation and
heading elsewhere.
Oh, and Bowra and surrounds in Southwest Queensland were going off, but
that is a story for another day!
Cheers, Pete
Peter M. Kyne
PhD Candidate
Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology
University of Queensland
St Lucia 4072 QLD
Ph: (07) 3365 2720 or 3365 2944
Fax: (07) 3365 1299
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