Easter 2008
Didn't go anywhere this year. Well, not away for the weekend - did go birding on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Saturday was a Sabine's Gull search along Fisherman'sIsland, Wynnum foreshore and Manly wader roost. R had a commitment at 10.00 so time was a little limited, but with an early start at 5.45 we covered the area - although without success. There were MANGROVE HONEYEATERS galore at the visitor's centre at F Island along with the usual water birds and a flock of ROYAL SPOONBILLS that flew in at the last minute. The 'bird reserve' was, as usual, locked and the hides are too far away from the water anyway and facing into the sun. What a waste of time and money! Checked the Silver Gull groups along the esplanade looking for a black head - no luck! Manly wader roost had a good selection of waders - TEREK and CURLEW SANDS, , WHIMBRELS, CURLEWS, RED-NECKED STINTS, RED-CAPPED DOTTERELS, TURNSTONES, LESSER SAND PLOVERS and our first DOUBLE-BANDED PLOVERS from New Zealand for the season. We had what appeared to be an immature PELICAN which was a little unusual, considering they breed several hundred kilometres inland. Approx 230 PIED OYSTERCATCHERS roosted peaceably, while an OSPREY and 2 BRAHMINY KITES quarrelled overhead. We were early for the top of the tide and flocks of BAR-TAILED GODWITS flew in from their feeding grounds. 36 LITTLE TERNS fishing kept us occupied trying to capture that one brilliant photo that we all dream of.
Sunday and a big day at the Lockyer valley. Off at 5.00 in the pre dawn darkness, coffee on the way. Arriving at Atkinson Dam a little over an hour later to find water! And speedboats! And camping! Yes, it is Easter, but this is unexpected – we moved on, with campers on the shoreline, there weren’t many water birds. A HOBBY flew past as we drove out. Across the road to the dam and WHITE-NAPED HONEYEATERS posed for photos, a STRIPED HONEYEATER singing nearby, MISTLETOEBIRD overhead. On up the road a bit and left into Banff’s rd, an unsealed road leading to a creek bed – riparian vegetation offering cover to a variety of birds including a juvenile CHANNEL-BILLED CUCKOO waiting patiently in a dead tree, perfect for photos at, relatively, close range. We just missed it being fed by a pair of TORRESIAN CROWS. SCALY-BREASTED and RAINBOW LORIKEETS, BAR-SHOULDERED DOVES calling, LITTLE FRIARBIRDS, SPANGLED DRONGOS and a SACRED KINGFISHER hung out around the creek bed.
Down B rd - a BROWN FALCON perched on the wires doesn’t wait for the camera, NANKEEN KESTRESL on each power pole do, GOLDEN-HEADED CISTICOLAS and RED-BACKED FAIRY-WRENS buzz along the fence line, in the distance 2 raptors perched in a dead tree look exciting – but turn out to be both BROWN FALCONS – one of each phase, while in the distance a WHISTLING KITE circles. Looking for Ground Cuckoo-shrike, but only PALE-HEADED ROSELLAS to be seen flying along the tree line.
On to 7 mile lagoon with water for the first time in years. No access to the water’s edge - although I remember walking right around the flooded field several years ago – now an electric cattle fence inside the road fence dissuades us. From the road we scan – GREY TEAL, AUSTRALIAN GREBES, BLACK DUCK, BLACK-WINGED STILT, 2 SILVER GULLS, BLACK SWANS. Over the far side a WHITE-BELLIED SEA EAGLE perched on a stump, a WHISTLING KITE circles lazily low over the reed beds to be attacked by a GREY TEAL jumping up off the water surface! Just one of those things you see in a ‘scope! Robert has a SWAMP HARRIER dropping into the grass on the opposite side too.
Moving on we reach Lake Clarendon – has been a dry lake for absolutely ages, now a shimmer of water still well below the dam wall, vegetation still sticking through the surface maybe the start but still a long, long way to go before there is significant depth. However it appears to have attracted some birds, although we decide not to walk down. Not much to see here – another BROWN FALCON, a family party of squabbling GREY-CROWNED BABBLERS and 2 WEDGE-TAILED EAGLES in the distance. A poor cup of coffee and we’re moving on again, this time all the way to Gatton and the sewage farm on the hunt for White-backed Swallows – none unfortunately, however, a RESTLESS FLYCATCHER and small flock of YELLOW-RUMPED THORNBILLS is some compensation – especially as I get some good shots of the latter, at last.
We grab a chicken and gravy roll and drink each from the Gatton bakehouse and take it to Apex Park to eat while watching the CATTLE EGRETS, DARTERS and IBIS fly around the islands that form the basis for the breeding colonies. PURPLE SWAMPHENS and DUSKY MOORHENS, BLACK DUCK and 1 solitary HARDHEAD also noted.
On the way back to Brisbane and a stop off at Gatton University ’s Lake for PINK-EARED DUCK and chicks, GREY TEAL and chicks, approx 200 PLUMED WHISTLING DUCK and 4 vocal SUPERB FAIRY-WRENS, but no Magpie Geese, strangely enough.
A final stop at Lake Dyer to find a similar situation as at Atkinson – campers, boats, jet skis – we headed home without further investigation. All up 67 species for the day – about average for the Valley – nothing spectacular, but some good photos to add to the collection.
Monday saw Sue and I at Oxley Common – a nice easy walk to and from Pelican Lake as Sue recovers from recent surgery. Her favourites – GOLDEN-HEADED CISTICOLAS and DOUBLE-BARRED FINCHES performed on cue. A light phase BROWN FALCON provided stunning photos by sitting happily in a dead tree to be stalked by yours truly and then remaining calm while we both stood below it and I took about 50 photos… I also scored some nice shots of a male MISTLETOEBIRD and SILVEREYES – both feeding below eye level. In fact a number of smaller birds seemed to be very active this morning, possibly thanks to the rain during the early morning. I took some photos of rain drops on trees for Sue to print and frame. Again – nothing off the wall, but a nice morning’s birding, with about 40 species, in pleasant company.
Sunday and a big day at the Lockyer valley. Off at 5.00 in the pre dawn darkness, coffee on the way. Arriving at Atkinson Dam a little over an hour later to find water! And speedboats! And camping! Yes, it is Easter, but this is unexpected – we moved on, with campers on the shoreline, there weren’t many water birds. A HOBBY flew past as we drove out. Across the road to the dam and WHITE-NAPED HONEYEATERS posed for photos, a STRIPED HONEYEATER singing nearby, MISTLETOEBIRD overhead. On up the road a bit and left into Banff’s rd, an unsealed road leading to a creek bed – riparian vegetation offering cover to a variety of birds including a juvenile CHANNEL-BILLED CUCKOO waiting patiently in a dead tree, perfect for photos at, relatively, close range. We just missed it being fed by a pair of TORRESIAN CROWS. SCALY-BREASTED and RAINBOW LORIKEETS, BAR-SHOULDERED DOVES calling, LITTLE FRIARBIRDS, SPANGLED DRONGOS and a SACRED KINGFISHER hung out around the creek bed.
Down B rd - a BROWN FALCON perched on the wires doesn’t wait for the camera, NANKEEN KESTRESL on each power pole do, GOLDEN-HEADED CISTICOLAS and RED-BACKED FAIRY-WRENS buzz along the fence line, in the distance 2 raptors perched in a dead tree look exciting – but turn out to be both BROWN FALCONS – one of each phase, while in the distance a WHISTLING KITE circles. Looking for Ground Cuckoo-shrike, but only PALE-HEADED ROSELLAS to be seen flying along the tree line.
On to 7 mile lagoon with water for the first time in years. No access to the water’s edge - although I remember walking right around the flooded field several years ago – now an electric cattle fence inside the road fence dissuades us. From the road we scan – GREY TEAL, AUSTRALIAN GREBES, BLACK DUCK, BLACK-WINGED STILT, 2 SILVER GULLS, BLACK SWANS. Over the far side a WHITE-BELLIED SEA EAGLE perched on a stump, a WHISTLING KITE circles lazily low over the reed beds to be attacked by a GREY TEAL jumping up off the water surface! Just one of those things you see in a ‘scope! Robert has a SWAMP HARRIER dropping into the grass on the opposite side too.
Moving on we reach Lake Clarendon – has been a dry lake for absolutely ages, now a shimmer of water still well below the dam wall, vegetation still sticking through the surface maybe the start but still a long, long way to go before there is significant depth. However it appears to have attracted some birds, although we decide not to walk down. Not much to see here – another BROWN FALCON, a family party of squabbling GREY-CROWNED BABBLERS and 2 WEDGE-TAILED EAGLES in the distance. A poor cup of coffee and we’re moving on again, this time all the way to Gatton and the sewage farm on the hunt for White-backed Swallows – none unfortunately, however, a RESTLESS FLYCATCHER and small flock of YELLOW-RUMPED THORNBILLS is some compensation – especially as I get some good shots of the latter, at last.
We grab a chicken and gravy roll and drink each from the Gatton bakehouse and take it to Apex Park to eat while watching the CATTLE EGRETS, DARTERS and IBIS fly around the islands that form the basis for the breeding colonies. PURPLE SWAMPHENS and DUSKY MOORHENS, BLACK DUCK and 1 solitary HARDHEAD also noted.
On the way back to Brisbane and a stop off at Gatton University ’s Lake for PINK-EARED DUCK and chicks, GREY TEAL and chicks, approx 200 PLUMED WHISTLING DUCK and 4 vocal SUPERB FAIRY-WRENS, but no Magpie Geese, strangely enough.
A final stop at Lake Dyer to find a similar situation as at Atkinson – campers, boats, jet skis – we headed home without further investigation. All up 67 species for the day – about average for the Valley – nothing spectacular, but some good photos to add to the collection.
Monday saw Sue and I at Oxley Common – a nice easy walk to and from Pelican Lake as Sue recovers from recent surgery. Her favourites – GOLDEN-HEADED CISTICOLAS and DOUBLE-BARRED FINCHES performed on cue. A light phase BROWN FALCON provided stunning photos by sitting happily in a dead tree to be stalked by yours truly and then remaining calm while we both stood below it and I took about 50 photos… I also scored some nice shots of a male MISTLETOEBIRD and SILVEREYES – both feeding below eye level. In fact a number of smaller birds seemed to be very active this morning, possibly thanks to the rain during the early morning. I took some photos of rain drops on trees for Sue to print and frame. Again – nothing off the wall, but a nice morning’s birding, with about 40 species, in pleasant company.
