Birdline Central & Southern Queensland Weekly Update

Birdline Central & Southern Queensland

Published sightings for the week ending 13 Jul 2014.

Sun 13 Jul	Asian Dowitcher, Asian Gull-billed Tern Toorbul Artificial Roost Both these scarce species are still present at the high tide roost. The Dowitcher was there 30 mins before high tide; the tern arrived about an hour later. Rob Morris, Stuart Pickering,Brian Russel, Paul Walbridge et al
	Yellow Bittern Wallaroo Circuit, North Lakes The Yellow Bittern (female) was visible for most the morning and again this evening. It was not being disturbed by visiting birders. Rob Morris, Stuart Pickering, Andy Jensen, Paul Walbridge et al
	Australian Little Bittern Wallaroo Circuit North Lakes The male ALB was very showy this morning and this evening. Rob Morris, Stuart Pickering, Andy Jensen, Paul Walbridge et al
	Powerful Owls Sheepstation Creek Conservation Park, Caboolture 2 birds roosting by one of the tracks. Rob Morris
	Shining Flycatcher Burpengary Creek, Nth Brisbane Single male gave good close views from a kayak this morning. Ged Tranter
Sat 12 Jul	Brown Booby Moreton Island 5 birds together in the bay en route to Tangalooma. Rob Morris
	Eastern Grass Owl Kedron Brook Wetlands Along with several other birders, we saw a pair of grass owls, one pale and one darker flying across the grassland under full moon light. Later, we saw three owls overhead and when shone with torch light, all with pale underparts. Good views were gained when two owls landed on the burnt patch in front of us. Rick Franks & Felicia Chan
	Yellow Bittern Wallaroo Circuit Wetlands, North Lakes Bird displayed well this afternoon to 10 Birders. Unlike Australian Little Bittern which was absent, this bird has been foraging along the reeds and in the reeds both sides of the swamp collecting mostly insects and minnows. Several residents and children were shown good views of the bird. Photographers obtained excellent shots from the car park side with the bird approaching to within 5m of spectators. All spectators behaved well. Dezmond Wells
	Brolga Dohles Rocks Rd & Henry Rd Griffin QLD 4503 Kind Lady at Osprey House put me on to them. The birds are located on Private Property, so no trespassing. The Brolga's are also wary, so please ensure you don't scare them off, so other people can get a chance to take photos. The property is the one on the left if you turn from Dohles Rock Rd into Henry Rd. Paul Turner
Fri 11 Jul	Yellow Bittern North Lakes Golf Course Arriving approx. 12.45pm I was directed from the previous reported (Wallaroo Court Circuit ponds) across the Bounty Boulevard to a pond centred in the Golf Course. After a few minutes the Yellow Bittern came onto the lily pads and continued to feed and frolic in the sun for all the surrounding birders. I have been informed that the owners and management team of the golf course are extremely displeased by birders trespassing to view this bird - please keep this in mind. EREMAEA EDS: PLEASE DO NOT TRESPASS ON THE GOLF COURSE SHOULD THE BIRD MOVE TO THIS LOCATION James Mustafa
Wed 9 Jul	Buff-rumped (Varied) Thornbill Lake Maraboon (Fairbairn Dam), Emerald Single Buff-rumped Thornbill showing quite bright yellow underparts, a feature of Varied Thornbill, a subspecies that is reported further to the north from Eungella. Maybe it is a winter visitor here or overlooked/clinal event. Poor photo attached, the yellowness lost a bit in the dying afternoon light. Dion Hobcroft
	Yellow Bittern, Australian Little Bittern Wallaroo Circuit,wetlands, North Lakes Yellow Bittern showing well this morning, rarely hiding in reeds, more often walking on low vegetation and stalking prey items . Interesting to watch interactions with male Australian Little Bittern which appeared not to tolerate close proximity and would chase Yellow Bittern around wetland. A total of 11 birders enjoyed views between 10.30 & 11.30am. M.Dam,K.Cross & R.Lamb
	White-gaped Honeyeater Campgrounds - Capricorn Caves via Rockhampton 4 or 5 birds present in vine scrub here - at least 2 adults and the rest being imm.s. Totally unexpected - they seem to be well south of normal range. Calling freely and chasing others - esp. Lewin's H/E. Brian & Meg Johnson
Tue 8 Jul	Yellow Bittern North Lakes SE Queensland Still present this morning. Paul Walbridge & Brian Russell found a female Ixobrychus Bittern on Sunday which was far more prone to fly around and its call was different to another Australian Little Bittern present. Photos were sent down south for analysis and the immediate response was that it was probably a Yellow Bittern; this has since been confirmed by J.Davies, D.Rogers & M.Carter and an expert based in Asia. Paul will now write up and submit the record as the first live mainland sighting. Paul will give out further details. Contact him on: The particular lake is in a rather peaceful section of the complex and we expect visiting birders to show respect for the local residents e.g. with Parking. The streets are rather narrow and won't stand up to large numbers of extra vehicles. Also one would expect observers to keep to the footpaths and observe the birds from a respectful distance. Can the local 'Photographers' please respect all the birds present, stay on the path and not disturb the area, and refrain from cutting vegetation down to get good shots. Rob Morris & Andrew Jensen
	Noisy Pitta John Oxley Reserve, Murrumba Downs I was on my morning walk when I stumbled across a Noisy Pitta, it was on the edge of the mangrove's, close to the track on the south east corner of the reserve John Dennison
Mon 7 Jul	Grey Falcon Winton-Hughenden Road Single female Grey Falcon caught a Willie Wagtail and plucked it mid-air flying in ever higher spirals. Managed a couple of poor photos. Dion Hobcroft
	Grey Goshawk Wittonga Park, The Gap Grey Morph bird,being mobbed by Cockatoos in flight David Redhead
Sun 6 Jul	Striated (Rusty) Grasswren (2) Rufous-crowned Emu-wren (2) Opalton, Qld Hard work to see in the dry conditions prevailing currently, grasswrens especially low profile taking thirty minutes from when heard to getting a good view. Dion Hobcroft
Thu 3 Jul	Yellow Chat Cheetham Salt Works, Port Alma Road Single male seen well. Dion Hobcroft
Sat 28 Jun	Little (Rufous) Shrike-thrush Venman Bushland National Park a shrike-thrush with a large pinkish bill and rufous plumage on tummy, very active hunting on tree trunk and branches, in damp gully on the Venman Circuit walking track not sure if this is still relevant, am just catching up with list entries onto eBird from recent holis in Qld when this bird was flagged as rare Samantha Greiner

Birdline Central & Southern Queensland is sponsored by BirdLife Southern Queensland and hosted by Eremaea Birdlines.

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