Birdline Central & Southern Queensland Weekly Update

Birdline Central & Southern Queensland

Published sightings for the week ending 19 Jan 2014.

Sun 19 Jan	Franklin's Gull Lake Barambah (Bjelke-Petersen Dam) Further to Doug Armstrong's sighting, a non-breeding plumaged adult Franklin's Gull at Lake Barambah late this afternoon. Bird originally on far shore viewed from boat ramp after crossing dam wall, in a group of gulls but after a while it flew closer to the bay just to left of boat ramp between the boat ramp and dam wall. Aged as an adult by extensive dark half hood, plain concolorous coverts with mantle, no black in tail and wingtips showing mirrors. A small compact gull, noticeably smaller than surrounding Silver Gulls. Andy Jensen and Gavin Goodyear
	Black-tailed Native Hen Osprey House Environmental Centre early morning feeding on the grassed area of the house land behind Osprey House. This bird is still here after a few months and now has quite strong colouring Jack Whiting
	Black Necked Stork Osprey House Environmental Centre early morning in the house lake behind Osprey House Jack Whiting
Sat 18 Jan	Australian Little Bittern, Baillon's Crake Metroplex Wetlands, Brisbane Fine and sunny late afternoon. Low tide. Birding with Esther Townsend. Australian Little Bittern (1) Seen in southern lake on western edge of water preening in weeds. In open for about 5 mins before turning and moving back into cover of reeds. Baillon's Crake (1) Seen on large patch of hyacinth on north eastern side of north lake Rae Clark and Esther Townsend
Sat 18 Jan	Buller's Shearwater Southport Pelagic excellent views of this rare bird (off Southport). Also a few Tahiti Petrels and a Black Noddy. Rob Morris on the Southport Pelagic organised by Paul Walbridge
Fri 17 Jan	Aust. little bittern, bailions crake, spotless crake. North Lakes, The Grove Bittern sighted briefly at about 6.30 am. Crakes were visible for several hours. Ben Weston
Thu 16 Jan	White-browed Crake, Baillon's Crake, Spotless Crake North Lakes, Qld Seen mid morning all within a 10 metre stretch of each other, feeding beside reeds and walking on lilly pads. Good views of all the birds sited. Was very surprised to see the White-browed Crake. Pauline Brennan, Kim & Rachel Cumes
	Reported Franklin's Gull Lake Barambah (Bjelke-Petersen Dam) Hot, dry, windy, overcast. Water level is well below the dam wall. Franklin's Gull (1) Immature - Adult non breeding. Observed for 15 minutes from within vehicle at very close range, with Simpson and Day open. All diagnostics narrowed to this species. Location. Across the dam wall, first park left, approximately 200 metres along dirt track. The bird was lying quietly, in the vicinity of 2 caspian terns, and other water birds. It did not flush, but returning 30 minutes later, it had disappeared. 1 hour more failed to relocate it, but foraging across the water were silver gulls, caspian terns and gull billed terns. [Eds. Rob Morris - whilst the 'immature / adult non-breeding' description throws up a question - I've put this on Birdline immediately so that others can check it out this coming weekend. No photos have been seen. I have added the 'reported' as it is a national rarity which needs a BARC submission]. Doug Armstrong
Tue 14 Jan	Plum-headed Finch Bromelton-House Road Dam, Beaudesert Plum-headed Finch (1) Photographed sitting on fence near dam. Sandra Gallienne
Mon 13 Jan	Freckled Duck (10) North Lakes Small flock of six Freckled Duck flying circles in the vicinity of the main lake at North Lakes (Cnr of Discovery Drive & Memorial Drive). Another four roosting at the small waterhole off Lacebark St. Probably the birds reported by Rob Morris on 29th Dec. The previously reported Little Bittern is still present and made a brief appearance today. Steve Murray
Sun 12 Jan	Spotted Harrier Warrego Hwy, just past Haigslea One bird hawking over the highway at 7:15am, just past Haigslea cemetery Russell Yong & Jesse Rowland

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