Birds and Things

Saturday 281109. Rob was still in Bamaga on the tip of Cape York, far north Queensland, presumably knee deep in Red-bellied Pittas and Yellow-billed Kingfishers – lucky bastard! So only Stu and I were birding together this hot, sultry Saturday morning. Leaving at 5.30 we got to the cemetery at Samsonvale at 6.15.

Pine Dam is very full at present and GREAT CRESTED GREBES patrolled just off shore emphasizing the depth close in. A BUFF-BANDED RAIL put in a brief tail flicking presence before charging back in to the long grass as if the hounds of hell were onto it. Beautiful WHISKERED TERNS flew up and down diving and dipping for breakfast  - these really are a stunning bird when seen at close quarters, snowy white plumage with sharp black cap and bright red bill, all offset by the shading of dark feathers on the underbelly – seen against a clear blue sky they are remarkable.

We hung around the shoreline for a while, then made our way in to the ‘crake pond’ where we tried our luck playing Lewin’s Rail and Spotless Crake with limited results. We did see two (probable) ROUGH-SCALED SNAKES swimming across the pond – they were distant enough to be of no concern, and frustratingly too far away for easy identification.

Samsonvale is always good for a few birds of prey and today was no exception - two raptors circling lazily overhead caused some discussion regarding ID initially until we realised they were two juvenile BRAHIMNY KITES. Two WHISTLING KITES took to the same air a short while later, while a WHITE-BELLIED SEA EAGLE flapped lazily over the trees - we also spotted a BROWN FALCON perched in the distance and, later, a BROWN GOSHAWK harassed by a WHITE-BREASTED WOOD SWALLOW swung overhead.

Checking out the previously known Lewin’s Rail ‘spot’ on the opposite side of the cemetery we found a HORSFIELD’S BRONZE CUCKOO which showed briefly, but had little interest in the tape.

Returning to the car park we continued our wander up the hill through the trees to the Hoop Pine plantation. The huge fig tree on the edge of the plantation is always worth a look and so it proved this morning giving us the two birds of the day – WHITE-WINGED TRILLER and BARRED CUCKOO-SHRIKE. Almost unbelievable that we would have this cuckoo-shrike sp two weekends in a row! The Triller didn’t hang around very long, but the Cuckoo-shrike responded well to tape and flew low above our heads a couple of times whilst feeding on figs in between.

We circumnavigated the plantation with little further result except for excellent views of a BRUSH CUCKOO which called from very close by, but proved difficult to actual see – as cuckoos do/are!

While hearing PHEASANT COUCAL oogling away in the bush and CHANNEL-BILLED CUCKOOS laughing hysterically somewhere within earshot it turned out to be quite a day for cuckoos.

Back to the car and  breakfast in Samford village at Buzz café before calling in on K for some more woodwork to complete my project!

Sunday 291109. Rob came back from his ‘sponsored’ trip last night and now we want to hear what he saw. I pick him up at 6.00 but he refuses to tell me anything until Stu is there so we discuss the trip in general as I drive to Minnippi. We had decided on a simple excursion this morning knowing Rob would not want a ‘big one, having birded, we assumed, hectically every spare moment since Tuesday! Reaching Minnippi finding Stu is the next objective. We sit in the car until 10 minutes after the arranged meeting time then decide to walk in to the pond and see if he is there – he is – at the other end, so we make our way around until we meet, checking the birds on the way. The WHISKERED TERNS are still here and looking as pretty as they did at Samsonvale yesterday! AUSTRALIAN GREBES are nest building in numbers I have never seen before – well three or four nests is not normal here! Little else of interest and, quite frankly, I don’t think any of us is trying too hard.

We walk up the field and down the track beside the model air plane flight zone, all is quiet on the western front.

A pair of CHANNEL-BILLED CUCKOOS hung around all morning cackling loudly and flying pterodactyl-like across the blue sky. We got very close views of one hiding inside a thick bushy tree and some photos, but as usual it is looking up at them above you - very difficult to get a CBC at head height - but they are such a cool bird!

Back to the lake and we try our luck with tape of Lewin’s Rail and Spotless Crake in the covered boardwalk. Again limited results – a BUFF-BANDED RAIL wanders around, but shows no interest. There is response to the Rail tape but nothing eventuates after 15 minutes so we move on rather than stress out the birds for little reason.

Still nothing from Rob – he wants to wait till breakfast – that basically seals it! Without anyone saying anything we sort of head towards the car more or less without much attention to anything else but decide that before breakfast we will check out a report from the inner city suburb of Woolloongabba for a pair of male Satin Flycatchers that were reported on Friday afternoon. This is an exceptional report and there is a certain amount of doubt. - none of us know the observer and a pair of male SF’s in the one place in SEQ is extreme.

We drive in my car to the ‘Baptist Church on Vulture st, near the Mater Hospital’ park up and wander around playing the tape and looking in all the local trees and bushes – for no result. If the report is genuine it is obvious the birds would only have been moving through and we would have to be lucky for them still to be around – especially in such an unlikely locale.

We repair to Spoons in East Brisbane for breakfast and Rob’s traveller’s tales. Unexpectedly there were no Pittas or YB Kings - there were 4 new birds and some other good stuff, but, disappointingly for Rob, not the mega bounty he had hoped for. It appears there are still birds we ALL need in northern Qld!

I’m on standby this weekend so we can’t go far. Rob has home duties he needs to attend to in anticipation of going away in three weeks. Stu is happy to go local so at 6.15 we rock up at Enoggera reservoir and head in on the Aracuria walk from the park headquarters.

As we cross the carpark Stu spots some WHITE-THROATED NEEDLETAILS circling above the trees, heading generally south. I make a note for future reporting. It’s a moist clingy morning with little breeze, the expanse of water doesn’t help in cooling the atmosphere – most activity is dampened by the heat, so bird activity is relatively low.

6 AUSTRALIAN GREBES, (approx) 20 HARDHEADS, a few BLACK DUCK, DUSKY MOORHENS and PURPLE SWAMPHENS and a relatively close single GREAT CRESTED GREBE are our water birds. We take it in turns to be on point, or Button point, as we keep a sharp eye out for Button-quails and it is my turn when we flush an EMERALD DOVE off the track – he obliges by landing in a nearby tree, the first E Dove at this spot for us. The usual birds fly past or are picked up en route. Rob spots the day’s highlight – BARRED CUCKOO-SHRIKE, a pair nesting. Not a common bird and always nice to see, this, too, is our first-time-bird-here. DOLLARBIRDS and CICADABIRDS (good views of a female) are summer arrivals and really that was about it although we did add COMMON MYNA to our area list too, one calling near the car park.

We went to Paddington (Sassafras) for breakfast to indulge R & S and their passion for Savoury mince – I settled for bacon & eggs as usual and we whiled away a couple of hours over coffee and bird chat.

The boys aren’t available on Sunday so I make no decisions until I wake up and see how I feel. I decide that Oxley may be worth a look, I want to do something with my morning, so I leave late and arrive at 6.30.

If it was oppressive yesterday morning it’s even more so today. Very warm after a sticky night, activity very low level, I wonder if it’s worth the walk out to the lakes, but carry on anyway. I feel like I’m trudging thru thick air, energy is very low.

A breeze picks up further out and vitality returns as I turn off the main track and head for Pelican Lagoon and Jabiru Swamp. Up to this point my best bird for the day is DOUBLE-BARRED FINCH – that’s how dead it is.

A few BLACK DUCK, AUSTRALIAN GREBES, DUSKY MOORHENS, BLACK-WINGED STILTS and, surprise, surprise, a RED-NECKED AVOCET turn up at Jabiru Swamp. This is the first time I have seen one here and I know they are not recorded regularly here (Postscript: it turns out this is the first record for Oxley). It’s a bit boring really, but it would be great to see these breeding here – however, that’s not very likely with only one.

I move on to Pelican Lagoon and walk out the left side of the lake flushing a second LATHAM’S SNIPE but little else is around. Moving on to the end of the track I note the obnoxious weed that has recently carpeted the complete water surface has been removed (?) died(?) and now only covers a small area immediately in front of me. As I stand there the second surprise of the morning greets me as a BAILLON’S CRAKE suddenly appears out in the open, on top of the weed mat, running across from right to left! This is my first Baillon’s Crake here at Oxley although I know these have been seen here before. I take some photos to prove it and get great views as it feeds at the base of the reed bed, slowly moving out of sight and completely ignoring my playing its call.

So it was worth the wade, sorry, walk, in the heat. I head back along the dusty track, seeing nothing else of note.

Only 15 days to go and we’ll be birding in Malaysia….!!

Up at 4.20 – Gawd – after a few beers last night, not the easiest thing to do… Meet at Rob’s at 5.00. Stu already there, he’s driving and we’re off. An hour later we stop at a service station in Plainlands to get coffee, then on again to our first birding stop – Watson’s Rd. The Oriental Plover is still there. Stu had found it on Tuesday last and I had driven out to see it on Wednesday afternoon – a 3 hr, 200km round trip for 20 minutes viewing at 150 meters in a heat haze…but it was a new bird for me, so..

The view this morning is actually worse – the bird is further away and right on top of the rise so it’s partially obscured at times. As we watched it, two other car loads of birders showed up – its turning into a real twitch! This is the first OP in SE Qld since (probably) 1991 so it’s a worthwhile bird and an excellent pick up by Stu.

It’s not getting much better so its off down the road to 7 Mile Lagoon. Just after turning off towards the lake Rob and I both call a bird flying away from the car as a “possible cuckoo-shrike, no, Cuckoo!”  We stop, pile out and it’s a Pallid Cuckoo – a worthy bird this side of the range. Playing the call to try to entice it within camera range attracts not one, but two more cuckoos! None come close enough to film, but we have three birds within 70 – 100 meter range for some time.

We leave them to it and move on to the lake itself. The heat haze is already destroying long distance viewing – and it’s only 7.30 – so a lot of the birds on the lake are only semi-identifiable from the road. We’re looking for Pratincoles but we find instead a family part of Black Falcons hunting along the edge of the lake. It appears the adults are teaching the younger birds some tricks of the trade as they swoop and dive over the edge of the grass and reeds.

As we go to leave, another car turns up to disgorge Tom T, Gavin G and Paul C. We chat for a while and agree to communications if we find anything worthy. Then we’re off to the Kentville area where White-backed Swallows were seen through the week. No luck with them so on to Adare Rd, a small pond in a wooded area that, again, Stu had visited recently with some luck.

Above the trees a circling flock of Wood-swallows – mainly Dusky, but also including Masked and a smaller number of White-browed. It took us some time to see all to all our satisfaction as they flew high and circled quickly, but eventually we were all satisfied, although the views could certainly have been better. Two new birds for my SE Qld list.

Another was soon added as Brown-headed Honeyeater responded to playback and a total of about 10 birds fed in the eucalypt canopy. Rob also had Black-chinned Honeyeater, but I failed to get onto it.

Hunger and thirst were starting to make themselves felt so we decided to head to Gatton and take it from there, having a couple of options open to us. Stopping off at the sewage works on the way we spied two Black Kites circling over the road and, eventually, had excellent views of one close to the car.

Disappointing pies and average pastries accompanied by bottles of soft drink stabilised us somewhat and we headed out to the University grounds. Lake Galletly hosts major roost populations of Magpie Geese, Pink-eared Duck and Plumed Whistling Duck among a number of other common species in smaller numbers. We had all those plus several Red-kneed Dotterels, 3 Blue-billed Duck and, most importantly from my perspective, a single Black-tailed Native Hen, my first in SE Qld.

By now it was approaching 11.30 and the heat was oppressive. We decided to head home and reached there at 13.00. Good mornings birding as always in the Lockyer Valley, 4 new birds for my SE Qld list and lots of quality birding too.

New Mission: see Rufous Scrub-bird – arguably the hardest bird to see in Australia.

Location: Binna Burra.

Plan: Arrive Saturday, stay overnight, walk in Sunday, go home Sunday afternoon!

We arrived in BB after the 1.5 hour drive from Brisbane in S’s car at about 14.00, having had a very acceptable lunch of pie/sandwich/sausage roll & coffees at Canungra. Checking in with reception we were admitted to tent no 91 – a “4 bed permanently established tent with your own verandah” (Cost $75 a night – no fridge, cooking facilities well supplied in the campsite, but not in the tent- fireplaces available at each tent, but need to buy or bring your own firewood, washing and laundry facilities also available in the campsite) The 4 bed part boiled down to a double and a pair of bunks. I took the top bunk and let the others fight it out between them. Stuff dumped we headed off for a short walk in the forest, planning to get back before 16.00 – ‘cause the coffee shop closed then and prior experimentation had convinced us that it was worthwhile!

We had some of the usual rainforest birds, although we noted the car park area is not as ‘active’ as at Green Mtn (O’Reilly’s). We did spy a single frogmouth sitting high in a tree in the campsite – a Tawny Frogmouth we finally agreed although we tried hard to turn it into a Marbled! I personally think there are more birds in this part of the forest than at O’Reilly’s, but definitely not as much activity on the fringes. We had Regent and Satin Bowerbirds, Brown Gerygones and Thornbills, Brush Turkeys, Crimson Rosellas, White-throated Treecreepers, Grey Shrike Thrush, Eastern Spinebill, Grey Fantails, Pied Currawongs and a Wonga Pigeon called in the distance.

We were back at the coffee shop by 15.45 and sat to enjoy the brew looking over the view to the coast.

Headed up to the lodge and had a look at the views from there. Then into the main reception area and, while browsing through the small gift shop and generally poking around, S was accosted by a visitor who asked if we were bird watchers as he had seen a white-throated Lyrebird jumping up and down? R and I bid a discreet retreat leaving S as the sacrificial lamb. It was his turn this time – we all take turns or try to avoid them - discussing ‘unusual’ bird sightings with members of the public – as you do. I always seem to get the ones who want to know if I have seen the Black Swans? Next time I am asked I plan to scream hysterically, look around and call the others, shouting quick, quick, let’s go – the Swans are here and then dash madly off in the opposite direction. This time, however, it was S’s turn and he spent some time trying to convince this non-believer that what he had seen was an Albert’s Lyrebird, not a Superb, if it was, indeed, a Lyrebird at all. I think he probably saw a Whipbird as they are particularly feisty at this time of year, have a white throat and do jump up and down on the tracks as they spar over mates and territory. Rarely seen otherwise, to a non-birder they could be a novelty. Anyway, we headed back to ‘camp’ and had dinner – precooked meals Beef Stew with rice, followed by canned fruit, chocolate and coffee, accompanied by a light, 10 year old white kindly produced by R - might have been vinegar, but was in fact quite pleasant. We had brought 4 bottles of wine between us, but never got beyond the first – as drinkers we stink!

Darkness fell and we headed back into the forest, torches on head and in hand. We played tapes for response – trying for Owlet Nightjar – close response no sighting, as usual - Sooty, Masked and Boobook Owls – no response, Marbled Frogmouth – ditto. Disappointing outcome given the environment. Wandering back down the road towards the lodge, people everywhere, the campsite was extremely busy, we came across a Long-nosed Bandicoot foraging at the side of the bitumen – very close view before he ran off across the road and under a parked car.

Returned to the tent and prepared to crash – when suddenly outside very, very close a Marbled Frogmouth called – up and out again to find – a pair of Boobooks in the trees of the campsite – but no Frogmouth. R & I got some acceptable photos of the owls, but after a fruitless search we again retired for the night.

Up at 6.00, just before the dawn, and packed everything up while having a cup of coffee and various bits and pieces for breakfast. Chucked all the unnecessary gear into the car and off down the border track. We walked in for an hour and a half at a fairly quick pace to a location we knew Rufous Scrub-bird inhabited. On the way we had all the (above) birds from yesterday plus a single Spectacled Monarch, several Noisy Pittas (views of two), Green Catbirds, Yellow-throated, White-browed and Large-billed Scrub-wrens, Eastern Yellow and one single Pale Yellow Robin, Golden Whistlers, several Logrunners, Paradise Riflebirds,  3 or 4 (calling only) Albert’s Lyrebirds, 1 Fan-tailed and a pair of Shining Bronze Cuckoos.

We reached the ‘spot’ and for two hours listened as the Scrub-bird sang deep in the undergrowth, but would not come out in the open – not an unusual result. A pair of Rose Robins entertained while we waited – the male well coloured up and pretty in pink.

Heading back along the trail we stopped regularly to see various waves of birds, including a couple of pairs of Rufous Fantails and, at one point, another singing Scrub-bird.

Back at BB we took over one of the camp kitchen areas and, while R & S went to get takeaway coffees, I, as kitchen bitch, cooked eggs, bacon, mushrooms and tomatoes on Turkish bread.

After cleaning up we headed back down the mountain, arriving home around 14.00.

4.45 Up and out – pick up R & S at Rob’s place. Unfortunately I woke early and arrived at Rob’s at 4.15 instead of 5.15… no lights on?? Oh Shit – back home & to bed again - not a very intelligent start to a day that just got worse…
Once again up and out and off we went at 5.15. Stopped at Mackers at Southport for breakfast - at the dock at 6.20. Onto the boat, wait for a few late arrivals and out through the seaway at 7.00. The forecast is for ‘increasing winds 25-30 knots early afternoon’. Not too bad heading out – much more cloud cover than expected, which kept the heat down. A few Wedge-tailed Shearwaters as we travelled and, unusually, several kms out to sea, a pair of Whistling Kites flying landwards. Further on a black and white shearwater was spotted sitting on the surface, motoring slowly over we managed to get within camera range and it was eventually diagnosed as a Hutton’s Shearwater after some extended debate relating to the amount of white v black on the armpit and underwing. the final decider was the amount of white on the flanks in front of the tail and how high up it came. It always seems to be more difficult to identify shearwaters at close quarters than when they are at a distance!
We headed on a slightly north-easterly direction and stayed just within sight of Q1 – not as far out as we normally go. Drifting and burleying with chunks of the biggest shark liver we had ever seen, we had a fly past Wilson’s Storm-petrel, a few (4) Black-bellied Storm-petrels and finally about 6 Providence Petrels. In the distance a couple of Hump-backed Whales breached and tail slapped and a probable Minke Whale also jumped heading in the opposite direction.
The birds were a bit thin on the water so we headed south for some unknown reason for over an hour, stopping again to burley more liver and other offal for very little result.
Finally at 13.00 it was announced we would head in and that it would take ‘3 hours at 7 knots’ and that it would be wet and rough. At this stage most of us were comparatively dry, but it was already clearly rough with the boat standing on one side on several occasions. It only became worse and within 30 minutes 4 people were vomiting and most of us – unable or unwilling to crowd into the stuffy cabin - were soaked.
I was among them. I haven’t been so sick since the early eighties – well sea sick anyway…
I just wanted to die. I curled up in a corner of the deck, soaking wet, my stomach clenching and unclenching until there was nothing left and then clenching again. Whenever I lifted my head above the gunwale, land was still distantly vague with the wave tops alternating with the sky. I threw up, threw up and, again, threw up. I contemplated a helicopter - I would have paid the $900 to get off the bleeding boat. Waves irregularly broke over the bow and across the roof, to spill down onto my recumbent shivering form. My head, braced against the side of the boat, lifted and banged down again as the hull twisted and turned. Why we had stayed out so far for so long was beyond me.
A Brown Booby and a couple of Gannets raised some interest, but after a bleary-eyed look I succumbed once again.
We finally passed through the entrance to the seaway at 16.15 and I swore I would never go on another Southport pelagic. Others elsewhere – maybe, but land based seawatching it is for me if I can avoid the boat trips.
We staggered off the dock, light headed and queasy. R & S had not been sick, but R had been very close and he joined me in swearing off any future trips.
We filled our empty stomachs – mine especially – with thickshakes, cheese burgers and fries – thank God for Mackers, its quick, its easy and you know what you’re getting – and headed home.
Seabirds are my favourites but, I won’t be going on anymore Southport pelagics.

An email alerted us to the fact that Swift parrots had been seen at a bush reserve on the northside so, after dropping R’s partner off for the Brisbane Marathon we headed out on the search for Sheep Station Creek Reserve in Caboolture? We met S on the highway eventually and, after much head scratching and reference checking, we found the entrance to the reserve and began walking in. The trees seemed to be full of birds, relatively speaking – Fuscous Honeyeaters were large numbers – not all that common around Brisbane, here they seemed to be everywhere. Little Lorikeets screamed overhead, White-throated Treecreepers, Whipbirds and Olive-backed Orioles called. About 200 meters in and R called a stop for a bird high in the canopy – Crested Shrike-tit! Not a common bird at all this was a good find. White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes put in an appearance and were, in fact, present nearly permanently above u – we especially enjoyed the single rarer dark, northern form. Moving on we came to the junction described in the email and began counting the ‘humps’ in the track. At the second one and both R & S are querying a bird again high in the canopy – it turns out to be Black-chinned Honeyeater - a new bird for S and a SE Qld tick for R. We spent some time watching a pair flick around the tree tops.

Reaching the designated 7^th hump we scanned the trees for blossom and listened and looked for any sign of the Swifties. Another birder joined us after an hour or so, then Paul W and a friend turned up around the corner and, as we left 3 more birders appeared on the track – quite a twitch! But no swifties, unfortunately.

Heading back towards the car a bird on the track ahead and a pair of Painted Button-quail appeared in the bins running backwards and forwards across and up and down the track. Responding to playback the male shuffled his wings and uttered deep ooommming noises before scuttling off into cover again – a fascinating display we had not witnessed before.

We had had to leave earlier than we would have preferred as we needed to pick up R’s partner after her race – we were 45 minutes late, but Di is very forgiving….

14.30 and R & S picked me up and again we headed off to the northside. Once again we had the Black-chinned Honeyeaters, with some amazing views as they flew close to investigate the playback. However, despite searching until dusk – no Swift Parrots; a good new location

The target – Eastern Bristlebird.

The plan – head for the hills and hope for the best!

The journey – drive 2 hours SW of Brisbane to the border crossing on the Lion’s road, south of Rathdowney, up and over the range and down to Sheep Station Creek Rd campsite ($7 per vehicle to day visit, $5 per adult to camp per night – a bit of a rip if you ask me, maybe we shd have parked outside and walked into the camp ground)

The campsite – good, except we had no firewood, made me think we shd have paid only $3 each. Yeah, I’m tight, but fair is fair!

The birds: we stopped first just after the border crossing at a likely looking spot on the road – lots of grass cover under the trees on a very steep slope – but no sign of the Bristlebirds. Not totally unexpected, of course, if they were that easy everyone would have seen them, but as we said, you never know! We did have a Grey Goshawk pass through the valley, which is always worthwhile.

On to the camp ground and stopping here and there for any birds we saw – and one snake we nearly ran over but managed to avoid – it disappeared quickly into the cover, but as it was a large green and yellow snake, I’m pretty sure it was a tree snake.

At the campsite we erected tents and I, having been voted Kitchen Bitch, brewed up coffee, while the other two birded the site. Eastern Yellow Robins, White-throated Treecreepers, Golden Whistler, Yellow-faced and Lewin’s Honeyeaters, Brown Cuckoo-dove, King Parrots, Brown Gerygone, Grey Shrike Thrush, Eastern Whipbird, Grey Fantails, Pied Currawong – in short all the birds you’d expect to see in a wet-sclerophyll-verging-on-rainforest setting.  S also reported a Russet-tailed Thrush and we all managed to see it later. After coffee we decided to drive on up the road to higher ground for a look see. We found a second campsite further up – and decided next time we would stay there. Then on up to a lookout beside an patch of Antarctic Beech. Eastern Spinebill showed here and we tried for Olive Whistler without luck. Very quiet in fact, though a lovely location and, although camping is not encouraged here it would be a lovely site.

We returned to our camp and I began preparing dinner, while, again, the others birded. We had easy prepared meals and boiled potatoes so it wasn’t hard, however, we ran out of gas just as the meal was ready so I was not the most popular of people even with myself….

After dinner and a couple of glasses of wine, we headed down the track to the creek itself, headlamps and torches to hand. Along the river bank glow worms showed in their homes in the bank – pretty cool actually! We couldn’t hear much over the noise of the river so headed back up. Near the top the distinct call of a Sooty Owl and we had views of two birds high in the canopy peering down at us. Out on the road for an hour or so and we heard Masked Owl and a distant Marbled Frogmouth. In roadside trees we had at least 1 Greater Glider, a probable Koala and a very dark Brush-tailed Possum, we believe was a Short-eared Possum, a recent split from the Mountain Bobuck.

Back to camp again and we are all knackered for some reason so we crashed fairly quickly and relatively early.

Up at daybreak to a warm, sunny morning. I had forgotten the frying pan and with that and running out of gas – a fire was required. Bacon (slightly burnt) and poached eggs on over toasted turkish bread made a satisfactory breakfast and then it was down the creek track again. We walked a fair way along the track seeing the usual semi-rainforest species as yesterday but adding Fan-tailed and Shining Bronze cuckoos – heard only, Pale Yellow Robin, Albert’s Lyrebird (heard only), Yellow-throated Scrub-wren and several pairs of Logrunners. We returned to camp around 11 and headed back north stopping at a couple of spots to try again for our original target bird, without success.

Arrived home about 2.

Cold, breath visible in the still clear air; a New moon providing extra light. We walked the track for minimal result – but enjoyable never the less. 4 Owlet-Nightjars calling and 1 distant Powerful Owl, a Koala and baby and another (or two) grunting out of sight were the sum total for our trouble.

Off to Oxley on Saturday morning – or at least that was what we had planned. I learned late on Friday that the couch I had been waiting for 12 weeks to be delivered would arrive between 6 and 8am the next morning…and it was – at 7.20 – delivered within 5 minutes giving me the freedom to dash off after the boyos.

Lovely Queensland winter morning – clear, blue skies, cool without being brassy, windless, the birds active and confiding. We were looking to re-new acquaintance with the Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater seen again recently, but it failed to materialise.

The usual species in good numbers – Spangled Drongos, Brown , Striped, Scarlet and Lewin’s Honeyeaters, Grey Fantails and Silvereyes by the dozens – a flock of the latter numbered close to 100. Grey Teal, Wood and Black Ducks, Black-winged Stilts, 2 Black-fronted Dotterels and, unusually, a Black Swan on the ponds. (This is only the second time I have recorded a Swan at Oxley.) Best bird – a  White-bellied Sea Eagle flew over carrying what appeared to be a Fruit bat, closely pursued by a bunch of Toressian Crows. Probably filched from the colony on the Brisbane River a couple of kilometres away. Few fairy-wrens and no finches was a bit different, but 4 Yellow-rumped Thornbills just before the car park was a nice finale before breakfast at Tarragindi.

Sunday and Robert and I are free – I agreed to ‘do’ Trotter, one of Robert’s favourites, I find it frustrating – amazing potential habitat, with disappointing birding, usually. I was even more annoyed (with myself) when I clipped the garage door with the Jeep in the dark at 5.50 and it seemed I had scratched the rear wheel arch really badly. However on closer inspection in the light it was just a coat of paint from the garage pillar and I was able to remove it without any further hassle.

This morning started out differently birdwise as well! We parked in Cherborn St in the usual place and almost immediately Rob called Red  Wattlebird. Its cackling call echoed across from the opposite side of the road, although we could not see it in the trees.

Heading into the reserve itself we were pleased to record this species as they rarely venture far from the mountains 100 kms west of Brisbane.

We soon came across a ‘wave’ of small birds – Scarlet , Brown and Yellow-faced HEs, Eastern Spinebills, Silvereyes and a couple of Striated Pardalotes feeding high in the canopy. During the morning we came across several waves like this with the same species – more birds than we had seen in Trotter before! The forest was carrying a number of trees in full blossom, but it was all going to waste! Although we saw many more birds in numbers, the variety of species didn’t alter much and there was still room for any number of other SE Qld birds – but they just aren’t there!

It had started out dull and cloudy, but relatively warm, however, it began to drizzle and I was soon freezing in a t-shirt and long-sleeved bush shirt, until after about half an hour the sun came out again and slowly warmed us up.

Further down the track to the lake we had a Restless Flycatcher – only the second time I have seen one here – and Scaly-breasted, Rainbow and Little Lorikeets screamed overhead at intervals. The lake itself is very full and consequently there were few water birds in evidence, a Darter, 4 Little Black Cormorants and 1 Black Duck (!) were all we saw. I think the lake is too deep for most birds to feed and the trees grow to the water’s edge giving them nowhere ‘safe’ to land and rest.

Other birds included Bar-shouldered Dove, more Spangled Drongos, Noisy Friarbird, White-bellied Sea Eagle, 1 Gull-billed Tern, a pair of Pale-headed Rosellas and Rufous and Golden Whistlers – both males and females in full plumage.

As we walked back up under the high voltage power lines a cackling sound again attracted our attention  - this time we had excellent views of a pair of Red Wattlebirds at almost photographic range. A grunting Koala high in a gum and a couple of nervous Swamp Wallabies finished off the day on the way back to the car and breakfast –this time at Garden City!

I got a txt on Saturday night – ‘Aus Bittern at Lake Clarendon’ – we quickly decided it was worth a shot and so, at 5.00 R & S turned up at my place and we headed west away from the dawn. After takeaway coffee at our usual stop and my taking the wrong road at the Gatton bypass roundabout … we reached Lake Clarendon just after 7 and headed out below the dam wall in the cool, clear morning light.

There was plenty of water now in the ‘lake’ although it hardly reached the dam wall itself, however, it was nearly bone dry for years and very low for years before that so any water is welcome!

A Whistling Kite flew low overhead for a closer inspection and dozens of Tree and Fairy Martins zipped around us and up to their nests on the dam wall tower. Great, Pied, Little Black and Little Pied Cormorants in flocks, Australian Grebes, Hardheads, Black Swans, Grey Teal, Black Duck, Wood Duck, Black-winged Stilts, Masked Lapwing, Intermediate and Great Egrets all put in appearances as we walked towards the tower at the foot of the wall. Robert’s GPS told us we were still not ‘there’ and so we climbed the rough boulders to the top of the dam to be greeted by a vision of loveliness in birding terms!

A wetland comprising pools and small reed beds and sodden grass and marshy spots stretched as far as we could see along the base of the wall and out into the fields beyond. Immediately we had our target bird – well, Rob spotted it – in a reed bed just below where we stood – an Australian Bittern showing very well in the weak morning sun. We could clearly see its, surprisingly, short bill, heavy looking hunch shouldered body, but its colouring looked ‘old’ - grey and worn.  A new tick for Stuart and I, a new Queensland tick for Rob. Within a few minutes Stuart had found a second Bittern! Out in the open in the paddock, this one was more the true colouration – brown – of the species. We watched them both through bins and ‘scopes for some time. They didn’t do very much for quite a while, eventually the reed bed one moved around fishing and we lost it in the dense reeds, however, the other stayed out in the open providing a good view for late arriving birders.

We walked along the wall checking out other birds such as Little Egret, Black-shouldered Kite, Coots, Gull-billed Terns, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Golden-headed Cisticolas, Red-backed Fairy-wrens, a Reed Warbler and the usual Butcherbirds and Crows. Returning to the original Bittern spot we met up with Bill Jolly and friends and while talking to them S spotted a Baillon’s Crake in the swamp land below us.

We had a number of Brown Falcons but despite intensive debate and examination in the scopes decided that that was what they all were - Brown, although a number of other observers have claimed to see Black Falcon at the same spot. I guess we were just unlucky on the day.

We didn’t go anywhere else in the valley, choosing instead to head back to Brisbane, stopping off only at MacD’s for ‘brunch’.