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.

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.

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 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.

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!

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’.

We walked to the edge of the water on the main track and scanned the extended lake. I have never seen the water this high. For years the lake suffered from the drought and became a muddy pool at the far end of the valley. Lately, however, rain had increased the level to such an extent the grassland had started to disappear. And the track just went under water at the three ends of the ‘crossroads’. Great-crested and Australian Grebes, Hardheads and Black Duck, Grey Teal and Black Swans fed under a large mixed flock of Martins and Swallows hawking over the water. A few Dusky Moorhens and Purple Swamphens poked around the edges and a pair of Eurasian Coots bobbed further out. We had heard reports of Musk Duck, but were unable to locate it.

The last track we went down was the left hand turn off the main and as we approached the water two small brown birds flitting low down at the water level attracted our attention. We quickly identified them as Little Grassbirds, a quite localised, discreet reed/grass dweller we didn’t come across very often. We spent some time attempting photographs and were about to head back to the forest when a single call from the grass stopped us in our tracks. We all focused on a flooded patch of ground within the grass, but nothing showed. Again about to head back and S spotted a small dark shape along the edge of the flooded track – Spotless Crake. So for the following half an hour or so we watched the Crakes (there were two, at least) and at times, the Grassbirds, in the same binocular view as they went about their business.

While we waited and watched a Whistling Kite flew over and a pair of Black-shouldered Kites passed in the distance and, as we eventually headed back to the forest, a White-bellied Sea Eagle soared in the distance. We turned off the main track to the right and heard, and soon saw, a Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Eastern Yellow Robin and a pair of Brown Cuckoo-Doves.  White-throated Treecreeper and Spotted Pardalotes (nest prospecting in the muddy bank) were added to our day list before we decided to cross country back to the car through the bush in the hope of flushing something interesting.

That exercise was unsuccessful and we reached the car and headed off for breakfast in Samford village – mission not quite accomplished, but a good mornings birding!

6.6.09 One time we are glad to still belong to the Queen of England – its her birthday and a long weekend as a result - so Saturday morning 4.30am and we’re having coffee in the dark. 15 minutes later and we are heading west – into the fog. The drive out past
Ipswich and across the Lockyer valley was daunting – a heavy fog reduced visibility to about 50 meters and with trucks on the highway the Barn Owl that slid over the top of the car had to remain a fleeting glimpse – I wasn’t stopping to risk being run over!

Once we cleared the range the sky cleared, although patches of mist lingered in the lower parts of the surrounding fields as we reached Warwick to fill up with fuel – petrol and MacD’s – before heading further west to Duraki.

Very quiet - nothing of real note. The resident (?) Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters were in evidence along with Spotted Pardalote, Weebills, White-throated and Brown Treecreeper (1 each), 1 Yellow-faced Honeyeater and, at one stage, a wave of 6 Eastern Yellow Robins chased each other around the pond. We gave it 2 hours then took off again towards Inglewood.

Mosquito Creek rd was our first stop in the Coolmunda Dam area (unsealed road, turn right just after the Coobah Da Manna camping area turnoff). We drove slowly up the road until we spotted some parrots flying ahead from the trees and then walked for a while.

Ultimately 3 X 2 BLUE BONNETS (S) gave themselves up and we had good views through the ‘scope. Eastern Rosellas, Noisy Miners, Striated Pardalote, Grey-crowned Babblers and Crested Pigeons also showed and, approx 300 meters from the main road, we identified S’s first YELLOW –THROATED MINERS (S). In the field 7 Emu ran in the opposite direction like animated feather dusters and as we approached a dam on the right 6 Squatter Pigeons walked quietly under the trees. White-necked Heron, Black Duck and Grey Teal were in and around the water. We returned to the car, scoping a Nankeen Kestrel on a nearby tree, and 2 COCKATIELS (S) flew overhead for a brief sighting.

Lunch time and over to the Coobah Da Manna peninsula for a view of the water while we ate. The lake was very low and most of the birds very far away. The usual assortment of ducks, egrets, cormorants and waders present, the highlights were probably the 30 or so Yellow-billed Spoonbills and 60+ Pink-eared Ducks out on an ‘island’. 2 Whistling Kites flew over as we finished then it was into the search for our target bird at this spot.

Walking through the rough knee high brush on the peninsula we found them – we estimated 30 WHITE-WINGED FAIRY WRENS (S) all either female or males in eclipse plumage, unfortunately, but good views were had of them as they flitted from bush to bush.

Moving on we drove back to Gore and turned right onto Cement Mills Rd. Opposite the actual turn off for the cement mill (!) we turned left onto an unsealed road and parked beside the dry river bed of the McIntyre Brook. Wandering around the immediate area we had 10 Yellow-rumped Thornbills, 2 Jacky Winters, 2 Eastern Rosellas and 4 more White-winged Fairy-wrens.

We headed ‘across country’ along Cement Mills Rd to Sundown NP. (Brilliant in-car views of an immature (very dark) Brown Falcon on the way). We collected firewood along the road, as there is none supplied at the campsite in Sundown anymore, and, arriving at 17.00, we filled up with water at the taps beside the warden’s house. As we did S spotted his first HOODED ROBIN (S) flitting around the famous field. We made camp, lit our fire and had dinner, crashed around 22.00.

7.6.09 An electrical storm passed over the valley during the night dumping an hour’s worth of rain, the morning was damp and dull so we had coffee around 7.00 – the birds were only starting to become active.

Much to my pleasure the river was in full flood! I have been to Sundown on several occasions over the years and never seen the river run before. It had obviously been even higher in recent times, branches and logs jumbled and jammed and trees and bushes uprooted or bent almost horizontal. The rock strewn riverbed was completely full and water could be heard running over the rapids further down from the warden’s house.

We walked down to the field and past the house into the trees beyond, then back by the upper side of the road and, eventually, onto the ‘western loop track’, which took us in a circuit up the top of the ridge overlooking the valley and back down to the campsite. Most of the ‘usual’ species were present, although we did not see any Spiny-cheeked or White-eared Honeyeaters and the number of White-plumed was minimal. We saw only 1 flock of 13 TURQUOISE PARROTS (S) on the ground in the lower paddock and a few other small groups flew overhead. We did have White-plumed and Fuscous Honeyeaters (2), Yellow Robins, White-throated and Brown Treecreepers, Speckled Warblers (heaps), Jacky Winters (8), Crimson Rosellas and King Parrots, Yellow-rumped Thornbills, Common Bronzewings (5) and 1 Collared Sparrowhawk among the more common species. S got his first WHITE-BROWED BABBLERS (5 just beyond the house) and RED-CAPPED ROBIN (the latter at the top of the ridge and my first for the park). As we came down the track towards the camp site we came across a wave of small birds – Grey Fantail and Fairy-wrens and 6 YELLOW THORNBILLS (S) put in a spectacular performance at close range. We heard a Fan-tailed Cuckoo calling nearby and a Wonga Pigeon echoed across the valley all morning.

After a lazy brunch, and with the day brightening up, we took a stroll up the river to the ‘permanent waterhole’ to see the flooding river, then back down to the field again for a late afternoon visit.

The Hooded Robins were back and we spotted a Satin Bowerbird in the warden’s garden. Persistence rewarded us with a pair of Southern Whitefaces near the ‘road’ and we had excellent views as they perched in the dead trees nearby.

Back to camp, dinner and wine beside the fire – a clear cold night.

8.6.09 Up at 6.30 and 2 Red-browed Finches at camp while having coffee. A Wedge-tailed Eagle flew over camp and Crimson Rosellas fed nearby.

Out to the ‘field’ again, White-naped and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters on the way. A few more White-plumed Honeyeaters around this morning, but still in much lower numbers than usual. No Turks in the lower paddock, but the Hooded Robin couple were still hammering the insects near the house. An Olive-backed Oriole paused briefly, the Southern Whitefaces and Yellow-rumped Thornbills put in an appearance and a couple of Australian Pipits wagged nearby. 

We met Peter the warden and chatted for a while, then returned to the campsite to pack up. A movement in a tree in front of the site and a pair of INLAND THORNBILLS (S) increased to 4, accompanied by a Yellow Thornbill stopped our progress for 10 minutes providing excellent views.

We left Sundown just before 12, stopping at the main road gate (mailbox) to check out the immediate area. A pair of Red-rumped Parrots flew in, but other than that it was quiet.

Arriving at Stanthorpe we opted for a coffee at the information bureau overlooking the park and creek – being the Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday everything else appeared closed. A pair of parrots landed in a nearby tree as we waited for our brew and S got his 11^th lifer for the weekend – RED-WINGED PARROTS (S). It just goes on and on really!

After coffee (highly recommended) we drove the 30 or so kms to Girraween, parked in the day use car park and headed down the Junction track – we had a target bird in mind, but were, to be honest, less than hopeful. An hour and a half later and we struck success! A 20 second fully exposed sunlit view of CHESTNUT-RUMPED HEATHWREN! A lifer for both of us! Brilliant!! (Location? Cross the two stone bridges and head along the Junction track, just BEFORE the first step up, about 150 meters maybe, face left off the track and it was in the thicket in front of you.) Took us a long time to see it clearly, it moved very fast around the area, but eventually it sat up in a bare tree above the undergrowth and we got very pleasing views. We also saw Brown Thornbill, Silvereye and White-eared Honeyeater to add to our weekend list.

We left the site at 15.30 and stopped off for a hot chocolate to celebrate our success at the Heavenly Chocolate shop – a highly recommended unique experience – the hot chocolate I’m talking about here, almost as good as the heathwren!

The roads were relatively clear by the time we left Warwick having re-fuelled - petrol and McD’s again - and we arrived home uneventfully at 20.00.