Trip Report Mildura – SE Queensland Sept/Oct 2008
Spent just under three weeks driving to and from north east NSW/south east
Queensland from Mildura. The main reason for the trip was my sister’s wedding
in Brisbane and a chance for our children to spend some quality time with their
grand parents. I also dedicated a few days to travelling with my father looking
for a few species that he had yet to see. As many people say, wasn’t really a
birding trip, but did get to see a few species (I was happy with over 225) –
though also drove a lot of kilometres (thankfully the two kids – both under 3
travelled really well).
Listed are some highlights with the full list at the bottom (abbreviations for
locations in the main text) – names and order follow Christidis & Boles (2008).
At the end are a few other species that were either not fully feral (at
Samsonvale cemetery) or confirmed ID.
17th of September – Mildura to Forbes
6 Regent Parrots about 8km east of Euston on Sturt Highway
Painted Honeyeater heard in Boree about 20km east of Wyalong on Newell Highway
18th of September – Forbes to Armidale
Gum Swamp (GS) had the usual assortment of ducks (including one Blue-billed
Duck) and some of the spring migrants had returned.
Lunch at Garrawilla NP (GNP) (east of Coonabarabran) revealed nothing
spectacular (though there are currently only 3 species listed on the Atlas of
NSW Wildlife)
The resident Indian Mynas were seen in Mullaley (also on the return trip)
19th September – Armidale to Crystal Creek (near Murwillumbah)
Lunch at Jabiru-Geenebeeinghi Wetlands (JG) revealed the usual north coast
wetland species with 2 well-hidden Magpie Goose being the best birds present
Crystal Creek (CC) (19th September – 1st October)
Stayed various days over this period at my parent’s place at Crystal Creek.
Nothing exciting though Plumed Whistling-ducks were feeding in there back yard
(the first time I have seen them there but they have been there on and off for
a couple of years), A White-bellied Sea-eagle getting mobbed by Drongos and
Figbirds along the creek was pretty exciting and picked up the usual 9 species
of pigeons in the backyard (Brown Cuckoo-Dove, White-headed Pigeon, Peaceful
Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Crested Pigeon, Wonga Pigeon, Spotted Turtle-dove,
Topknot Pigeon, Emerald Dove)
21st September – Tweed Valley
First stop the Fig tree walk at Mebbin NP (MNP). The usual rainforest species
(Logrunner, Pale Yellow Robin, Spectacled and Black-faced Monarch, Rufous
Fantail) present, with nice views also of a Male Regent Bowerbird and a female
Paradise Riflebird carrying nesting material.
Cram’s Farm, Clarrie Hall Dam (CF) had the usual waterbirds including more
Comb-crested Jacana and Latham’s Snipe than I have ever seen there, plus the
only Brush Cuckoo for the trip.
A quick stop at the carpark of Mt Warning NP (MW) added Wompoo Fruit-dove to
the trip list.
23rd to 25th September – trip to SEQ with Dad to add species to his list
(species marked with # were seen on this trip).
Drove first to Rainbow Beach where we stayed over night and visited Inskip
Point (IP) twice. Mangrove Honeyeater on the 23rd was Dad’s first new species,
while Black-breasted Button-quail and somewhat surprisingly White-eared Monarch
were seen the following morning. Despite the large numbers of people (Qld
school holidays) birds were in good numbers here.
Drove to Cooloola Way in the evening of the 23rd to try for Grass Owl with no
luck, though I did hear Ground Parrots (and Dad got silhouetted views in
flight). The wind was quite strong here and there were very few birds
generally. A quick stop at Bymien Picnic Area failed to find Sooty Owl (or any
night birds).
The next day travelled our way to Samsonvale stopping at Maroochy Wetlands at
Bri Bri (BB) where we added Mangrove Gerygone and Collared Kingfisher to the
trip. Lunch was had at Caloundra but the wind was very strong and the terns and
waders were well away from binocular range.
Met up with Tom Tarrant at Samsonvale Cemetery where Dad added Tawny Grassbird,
and we unsuccessfully looked for Little Bronze-cuckoo (though the Horsfield’s
Bronze-cuckoo heard here was one of only two for the whole trip). Along with
Roy Sonnenburg and his paying client (Barbara?) we tried a few other spots
around Samsonvale/Dayboro (SV) adding (at that stage) Emerald Dove and Azure
Kingfisher to the trip list.
Spent that evening in Kilcoy, hoping to find Corcoran’s Lane near Lake Wivenhoe
to look for Red-backed Button-quail. Unfortunately the SatNav technology let us
down (I will have to take mine next time) so we missed the turnoff – oh well
one to try again in the future (this was the one new species I was hoping to
track down).
Stopped briefly at College’s Crossing looking (with no luck) for Cotton
Pygmy-goose. However we soon had this species at Greenwood Lake, Forestdale
(GL) which was surprisingly quiet though I did get one of both Musk Lorikeet
and Pacific Baza here which were the only ones sighted for the whole trip.
Then stopped at Eagleby Wetlands (EW) where we obtained much better views of
Tawny Grassbird and the only Wandering Whistling-ducks for the trip.
Last stop on this trip was on the foreshore at Terranora (TH), where despite
the wind we saw a good number of birds, though Striated Heron was the only new
one for the trip.
A pair of Ospreys are easily seen on a nesting pole on the eastern side of the
Banora Point Bridge.
30th September
Had another brief visit to Mebbin NP looking for Sooty owl which we got on the
entrance track. At the first site tried heard and spotlighted a Yellow-bellied
Glider not long after dusk. The only other night birds heard were an Australian
Owlet-nightjar and one Southern Boobook.
1st October – Crystal Creek to Woolgoolga
Stopped at both Chikiba Lake and Flat Rock (FR) near Ballina yielded the usual
bevy of wader’s (though the people watching the dolphin rescue at nearby
Prospect Lake was enough for us to keep going).
Another Osprey nest at the Richmond River bridge had a single bird present. We
then spent a couple of quiet days at Woolgoolga Lakeside Caravan Park (W) where
the highlight was our son’s interest in the nearby Grey-headed Flying-fox camp.
3rd October – Woolgoolga to Coonabarabran
Stopped briefly at Ebor Falls (EF) where I added Forest Raven, Varied Sittella
and Eastern Spinebill before continuing on to Coonabarabran (best bird a pair
of White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes in the Caravan Park, though a Lorikeet flew
over but was not identified – probably Little).
4th October – Coonabarabran to Hay
Plumed Whistling-ducks were present at a dam just on the outskirts of
Tomingley, Grey-crowned Babblers were seen east of Marsden and a brief stop at
Gap Dam SF (GD)(west of Rankins Springs) added a few species including Speckled
Warbler, White-browed Babbler and Jacky Winter.
5th October Hay to Mildura
Nothing special with Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo and White-winged Triller added
near “Sunnyside” homestead and Tree Martin the last new species recorded for
the trip at Euston.
Overall, a good trip and if any one would like more details on anything let me
know.
Cheers,
Peter
1 Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae
2 Australian Brush-turkey Alectura lathami #
MW,IP,SV,TH
3 Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata JG
4 Plumed Whistling-duck Dendrocygna eytoni CC
5 Wandering Whistling-duck Dendrocygna arcuata # EW
6 Black Swan Cygnus atratus # GS,JG,CF
7 Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus GS
8 Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata # CC,CF,EW
9 Cotton Pygmy-goose Nettapus coromandelianus # GL
10 Australasian Shoveller Anas rhynchotis GS
11 Grey Teal Anas gracilis # GS,JG,CF,EW
12 Chestnut Teal Anas castanea
13 Northern Mallard Anas platyrhynchos* #
14 Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa #
GS,JG,CC,CF,EW,W
15 Hardhead Aythya australis # GS,JG,CF,EW
16 Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis GS
17 Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae #
GS,CF,EW
18 Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus GS
19 Rock Dove Columba livia* # GS,TH
20 White-headed Pigeon Columba leucomela # CC,SV
21 Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis* # CC
22 Brown Cuckoo-dove Macropygia amboinensis #
CC,MW,TH
23 Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica # CC,SV
24 Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera
25 Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes # GS,JG,CC
26 Peaceful Dove Geopelia striata CC,GD
27 Bar-shouldered Dove Geopelia humeralis #
JG,CC,MNP,IP,BB,EW,TH,W
28 Wonga Pigeon Leucosarcia picata # CC,MW,IP,SV,TH
29 Wompoo Fruit-dove Ptilinopus magnificus MW
30 Topknot Pigeon Lopholaimus antarcticus #
CC,TH
31 Australian Owlet-nightjar Aegotheles cristatus
32 Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacificus W
33 Australasian Gannet Morus serrator FR
34 Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae #
GS,CF,BB,TH
35 Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos #
CF,EW,TH,W
36 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo # GS,CF,TH
37 Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris #
CF,IP,W
38 Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius # IP,TH,W
39 Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus #
GS,CF,IP,TH
40 White-necked Heron Ardea pacifica # EW
41 Eastern Great Egret Ardea modesta # TH
42 Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia CF
43 Cattle Egret Ardea ibis # CC,CF,SV
44 Striated Heron Butorides striata # TH
45 White-faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae #
JG,EW,TH,W
46 Little Egret Egretta garzetta # IP,TH
47 Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca # TH
48 Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis # CC,CF
49 Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia # CF,TH
50 Osprey Pandion cristatus #
51 Black-shouldered Kite Elanus axillaris #
52 Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata # GL
53 White-bellied Sea-eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster #
CC,IP
54 Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus # TH
55 Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus # IP,TH
56 Black Kite Milvus migrans
57 Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus
58 Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrocephalus #
59 Grey Goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiae
60 Wedge-tailed Eagle Aquila audax #
61 Little Eagle Hieraaetus morphnoides #
62 Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides #
63 Brown Falcon Falco berigora
64 Australian Hobby Falco longipennis
65 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
66 Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio #
GS,JG,CC,CF,EW
67 Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa #
GS,JG,CF,EW
68 Eurasian Coot Fulica atra # GS,CF,EW
69 Australian Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris #
IP,TH
70 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus #
CF
71 Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
72 Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus FR
73 Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii FR
74 Banded Lapwing Vanellus tricolor
75 Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles # JG,CC,CF,TH,W
76 Comb-crested Jacana Irediparra gallinacea CF
77 Latham's Snipe Gallinago hardwickii CF
78 Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica # IP
79 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus # IP
80 Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis # IP,TH
81 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres FR
82 Sanderling Calidris alba FR
83 Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis FR
84 Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata FR
85 Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea FR
86 Black-breasted Button-quail Turnix melanogaster # IP
87 Little Tern Sternula albifrons FR
88 Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia #
89 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybridus
90 Common Tern Sterna hirundo FR
91 Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii # IP,TH,FR
92 Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae #
IP,TH,W
93 Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus funereus #
CC,BB,W
94 Major Mitchell's Cockatoo Lophochroa leadbeateri
95 Galah Eulophus roseicapillus # GS,CC,CF
96 Long-billed Corella Cacatua tenuirostris #
97 Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea # SV
98 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita #
GS
99 Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus GS
100 Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus #
JG,CC,W
101 Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus #
CC,EW,W
102 Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna # GL
103 Australian King-parrot Alisterus scapularis # CC,MNP
104 Regent Parrot Polytelis anthopeplus
105 Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans
106 Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius CC,CF,EF
107 Pale-headed Rosella Platycercus adscitus # EW
108 Australian Ringneck Barnardius zonarius
109 Blue Bonnet Northiella haematogaster
110 Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotus GS
111 Ground Parrot Pezoporus wallicus #
112 Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus # CC
113 Eastern Koel Eudynamys orientalis # CC,W
114 Channel-billed Cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae # CC
115 Horsfield's Bronze-cuckoo Chalcites basalis #
SV
116 Shining Bronze-cuckoo Chalcites lucidus CC
117 Pallid Cuckoo Cacomantis pallidus
118 Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis CC
119 Brush Cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus CF
120 Southern Boobook Ninox novaeseelandiae #
121 Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricosa
122 Azure Kingfisher Ceyx azureus # CC,SV
123 Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae #
GS,JG,CC,MNP,CF,MW,W
124 Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus #
GS,CC,MNP,IP,TH,W
125 Collared Kingfisher Todiramphus chloris # BB
126 Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus # IP,W,GD
127 Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis #
128 White-throated Treecreeper Cormobates leucophaea #
GNP,CC,MW,EF
129 Brown Treecreeper Climacteris picumnus
130 Satin Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus violaceus
131 Regent Bowerbird Sericulus chrysocephalus MNP
132 Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus #
GNP,JG,CC,W
133 Red-backed Fairy-wren Malurus melanocephalus #
CC,SV
134 Variegated Fairy-wren Malurus lamberti # CC,MNP,IP
135 White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis #
JG,CC,MNP,IP,BB,TH,W
136 Large-billed Scrubwren Sericornis magnirostris CC,MNP,MW
137 Speckled Warbler Chthonicola sagittata GD
138 Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris GNP
139 Brown Gerygone Gerygone mouki # MNP,W
140 Mangrove Gerygone Gerygone levigaster # BB
141 White-throated Gerygone Gerygone albogularis #
JG,CC,CF
142 Striated Thornbill Acanthiza lineata CC,EF
143 Yellow Thornbill Acanthiza nana GNP
144 Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa
145 Inland Thornbill Acanthiza apicalis GNP
146 Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla #
JG,CC,MNP,MW,IP,BB,TH,W,EF
147 Southern Whiteface Aphelocephala leucopsis
148 Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus GNP,EF
149 Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus #
CC,MNP,TH,W,GD
150 Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris EF
151 Lewin's Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii #
CC,MNP,MW,IP,SV,TH,W
152 Yellow-faced Honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysops #
GNP,MNP,GL,EF
153 Singing Honeyeater Lichenostomus virescens
154 Mangrove Honeyeater Lichenostomus fasciogularis # IP
155 White-eared Honeyeater Lichenostomus leucotis EF
156 White-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus penicillatus GS,GD
157 Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala #
JG,CC,CF,IP,W
158 Yellow-throated Miner Manorina flavigula
159 Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis
160 Little Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera #
IP,W
161 Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata EF
162 Scarlet Honeyeater Myzomela sanguinolenta #
JG,CC,MNP,IP,TH,W
163 Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta #
JG,CC,IP,EW,TH,W
164 White-cheeked Honeyeater Phylidonyris niger # W
165 Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris
GNP,EF
166 Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis # CC,IP,W
167 Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus # GNP,CC,MNP,CF,IP
168 Little Friarbird Philemon citreogularis GS
169 Striped Honeyeater Plectorhyncha lanceolata GNP,GD
170 Painted Honeyeater Grantiella picta
171 Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis #
172 White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus GD
173 Australian Logrunner Orthonyx temminckii CC,MNP
174 Eastern Whipbird Psophodes olivaceus #
CC,MNP,CF,MW,IP,TH,W
175 Varied Sittella Daphoenositta chrysoptera EF
176 Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae #
JG,CC,MNP,TH,W
177 White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina papuensis
178 White-winged Triller Lalage tricolor
179 Varied Triller Lalage leucomela # CC,IP
180 Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis #
JG,MNP,BB
181 Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris #
GNP,CC,MNP,GD
182 Little Shrike-thrush Colluricincla megarhyncha #
IP,SV
183 Grey Shrike-thrush Colluricincla harmonica # GS,CC,CF,W
184 Australasian Figbird Sphecotheres vieilloti #
CC,MNP,CF,IP,TH,W
185 Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus #
CC,MNP,TH,W
186 White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus #
GS,JG,CF,IP,SV
187 Dusky Woodswallow Artamus cyanopterus GD
188 Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus #
GNP,JG,CC,TH,W
189 Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis # CC,CF,W
190 Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen #
GS,JG,CC,CF,SV,TH,W
191 Pied Currawong Strepera graculina #
GNP,CC,MNP,TH
192 Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus # CC
193 Rufous Fantail Rhipidura rufifrons # MNP
194 Grey Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa #
GS,GNP,JG,CC,SV,TH
195 Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys # CC,IP,SV,TH
196 Australian Raven Corvus coronoides
197 Forest Raven Corvus tasmanicus EF
198 Little Raven Corvus mellori
199 Torresian Crow Corvus orru #
JG,CC,MNP,CF,IP,SV,TH
200 Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula #
CC,IP,TH,W
201 Restless Flycatcher Myiagra inquieta CC,CF
202 White-eared Monarch Monarcha leucotis # IP
203 Black-faced Monarch Monarcha melanopsis MNP,MW
204 Spectacled Monarch Monarcha trivirgatus # MNP,BB
205 Magpie-lark Grallina cyanoleuca #
GS,JG,CC,CF,IP,SV,GD
206 White-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos GS
207 Apostlebird Struthidea cinerea GS
208 Paradise Riflebird Ptiloris paradiseus MNP
209 Jacky Winter Microeca fascinans GD
210 Pale-yellow Robin Tregellasia capito MNP
211 Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis #
CC,MNP,IP,W
212 Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis # JG,CF
213 Australian Reed-warbler Acrocephalus australis #
GS,JG,GL
214 Tawny Grassbird Megalurus timoriensis # JG,SV,EW
215 Rufous Songlark Cincloramphus mathewsi GS
216 Silvereye Zosterops lateralis # JG,MNP,W
217 Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena #
GS,CC,CF,IP,SV,TH,W
218 Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel # GS,SV
219 Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans
220 Common Blackbird Turdus merula*
221 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris* GS
222 Common Myna Sturnus tristis* CC
223 Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum #
CC,MNP,IP,TH,GD
224 Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata
225 Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis # CC
226 House Sparrow Passer domesticus* #
227 Australian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae #
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris* # SV
Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus* # SV
Black Falcon Falco subniger 1 possibly east of Hay
Glossy Black-cockatoo Calyptorhynchus lathami 2 possibly
near Gilgandra
Little Lorikeet Glossopsitta pusilla 1 possibly heard Coonabarabran
Cicadabird Coracina tenuirostris 1 possibly heard Crystal Creek
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