A group of friends met up at Rainbow Beach, Cooloola National Park -east of
Gympie, Qld.- over the weekend and, as on a previous visit, we managed to
snaffle some really nice species.
The first afternoon and evening was spent checking the heathlands down
Cooloola Way for Ground Parrot. None were seen during our few hours of
searching, but in the few moments before darkness many began calling. We all
agreed there were at least between 12 and 15 birds calling and possibly many
more. And this was within a small section of the heath. On the last visit
back in January they were much more visible.
Next morning -Saturday, we all headed to Inskip Point to look for the
Black-breasted Button-quail and Beach Stone-curlew. The latter were absent,
but all five observers that were then present all managed to gain good views
of the button-quails. Plaxy Barratt and I managed a female just a few metres
away from us without trying, as we did a Dingo across the straight on Fraser
Island through the scope. Dan Mantle, Beth Symonds and Jen Garden managed
four birds and even females calling.
Other good records for Inskip Point were of a Collared Kingfisher, the
Gull-billed Tern, a Brahminy Kite, Osprey. Other than that, though, all was
as it is normally is, profuse and diverse.
Later that morning, after morning breakfast, we went for a walk through the
rainforest (yes, tht's right, rainforest -a surprise to me at least) from
the Bymien Picnic Area to Lake Poona. Things were very quite by this time
and probably the most interesting thing seen was a Green Catbird roosting
very high within a tree and for the most part silent.
Back to the house for a nanny nap and then that afternoon we returned to the
Ground Parrot site for another try at the bird, as well as maybe the Grass
Owl and Southern Emu-wren. We heard emu-wrens on a few occasions and a
couple of the group managed to latch onto and observe a female. The parrots
were quiet as we made our way through the heath, but just as we were
resigning ourselves to not seeing them, and heading back to the vehicle, one
flew up ahead of us and took off towards the woodland to the east. It was
flushed again and disappeared. It was the only bird we saw on this occasion.
Then again, just before dark, many Ground Parrots began to call. Clearly,
they were intent on sitting tight, though. A raptor was seen almost on dusk,
which turned out to be a huge Spotted Harrier quartering over the heath.
Then, someone called out Gallinule! And to the east in the wetter heath we
heard a Lewin's Rail, a bird that none of us had managed to snag as yet. We
heard it again and again. And then another bird off behind it. We listened
to one of its calls and everyone cacked themselves, for it sounded like
Audie Murphy on a fast moving horse. We all got out our whips!
With the last hint of light in the sky and a couple of Grass Owls starting
up, we sat tight with our spotties and waited. Shortly after the excitment
began, first one bird then another. Plaxy and I shone the light upon the
performers, a bird each, but when they crossed another in the sky things
became a little confused. We didn't know what bird to concentrate on. One
took off not to be seen again, whilst the other alighted on a nearby bush
and remained there for quite a few minutes. An excellent way to wrap up the
night.
Next morning, our last, Dan, Beth and Jen went off to chase up the Beach
Stone-curlew again, whilst Plax and I went off in the opposite direction to
look for Brush Bronzewings and fruit-doves. None of us were successful with
our target birds, although Plax and I heard a couple of the season's first
Shining Bronze-cuckoo at Camp Milo, as well as a few Eastern Spinebill
hawking insects and wing-flapping.
We all said our goodbyes back at the house and departed, Dan, the lucky
bugger, off to the Gobi Desert. Thanks guys, for a great weekend!
Best Regards,
Michael Wood
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