sunshinecoastbirds

Lady Elliot Island

We have returned from a wonderful five days on Lady Elliot Island, the southern-most island of the Great Barrier Reef, seen here from the air as we arrived. We drove to Hervey Bay for the short flight to the island, stopping at Bundaberg en route.

Black Noddy with chick

What strikes the visitor to Lady Elliot more than anything upon arrival is the abundance of birdlife. An estimated 100,000 seabirds nest on the island; we were there at the height of the nesting season. About 70 per cent of the seabirds are Black (White-capped) Noddies, which nest in trees across the island, including throughout the resort grounds.

Black Noddy & Me

Like most other seabirds on the island, the Black Noddies are oblivious to the presence of human interlopers. They seemed to be constantly busying themselves, adding material to their flimsy nests, and keeping up the activity until well after sunset.

Black Noddy

Common Noddy with chick

Common or Brown Noddies were nesting on the island in smaller numbers, mostly at both ends of the airport runway. Unlike the Black Noddy, the Common Noddy nests on the ground. Both noddies had chicks in various stages of development - Black Noddy chicks are dark while Common Noddy chicks are pale.

Common Noddy

Common Noddy (left) & Black Noddy (right)

Sometimes the two noddy species could be seen together, allowing good comparisons. Two or three (sometimes more) planes land on the island daily, and some bird collisions are inevitable; this Common Noddy below was a victim during our stay.

Plane arriving on Lady Elliot

Common Noddy plane strike victim

Bridled Tern

Bridled Tern was also numerous, nesting throughout the island and, like the Black Noddy, it was common around the resort grounds.

Many Bridled Terns were sitting on eggs on nests which were little more than slight scrapes in the ground, or small niches among the coral. Others had chicks resembling balls of fluff. Early morning was the best time to watch the youngsters being fed tiny fish or squid by their parents.

Bridled Tern

The Bridled Terns nested everywhere and anywhere. It was a challenge not to step on them at times while wandering around the resort, especially at night.

Sooty Tern

Sooty Terns were in much small numbers - about 20 birds were concentrated in one short stretch of beach, with several pairs sitting on eggs.

Sooty Tern

Bridled Tern (above) & Sooty (below) Tern

Bridled Terns and Sooty Terns were nesting side-by-side.

Roseate Tern

About 400 Roseate Terns were nesting on the island, with most pairs attending well-developed chicks.

Roseate Tern

Most Roseate Terns were in breeding plumage but the odd bird was in eclipse plumage.

Black-naped Tern

Black-naped Terns were present in small numbers - about 30 or 40 birds were concentrated in a small section of beach.

Black-naped Tern (left) and Roseate Tern (right)

Black-naped and Roseate Terns were nesting side-by-side in one spot.

Crested Tern

Several hundred Crested Terns were nesting beside the airstrip.

Crested Tern (rear) & Lesser Crested Tern (front)

Among the Crested Terns on the beach was a single Lesser Crested Tern.

Lady Elliot Island beach

The stretch of beach were the Roseate and Black-naped Terns were nesting.

Our hut on the island

The island has varying standards of accommodation depending on price. We elected to stay in the cheaper "eco-hut" but it was comfortable and adequate for our purposes, with sea views and birds constantly about the hut. We had Bridled Terns nesting by the hut wall and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters nesting behind the hut (more birds in the next post).

Red-tailed Tropicbird

Apart from the impressive populations and variety of terns on Lady Elliot Island (next post - see here) there are plenty of other avian attractions, chief among them the Red-tailed Tropicbird. Two pairs of tropicbirds were nesting during our stay - one at the end of the airstrip and one in front of a tourist cabin. Both nests contained a single well-fledged youngster. Like most other island birds, the tropicbirds were unconcerned by the presence of humans.

Red-tailed Tropicbird

Great Frigatebird - male

Frigatebirds were frequently seen flying about the island, although none were spotted landing or roosting during our stay. A good proportion of birds were young, presenting identification challenges at times, but I estimated that 70-80 per cent of the 100-120 frigatebirds I saw over five days were Great Frigatebirds. The remainder were Lesser Frigatebirds; often the two species were in the air together. Small numbers of Brown Booby were among other seabirds seen offshore.

Great Frigatebird - female

Lesser Frigatebird - female

Buff-banded Rail

Buff-banded Rails were extremely common on the island, with 200-300 birds present. They could be a nuisance at the dinner table, being quick to raid an unattended plate. The rails are secretive in their well-vegetated habitat on the mainland but on the island they are fearless and forage openly, even at night.

Buff-banded Rail

Eastern Reef-Egret

Eastern Reef-Egrets were fairly common; about 70 per cent were white phase, the remainder grey phase.

Lesser Sand-Plover

About 10 Lesser Sand-Plovers were on the island.

Pied Oystercatcher

One pair each of Pied Oystercatcher and Sooty Oystercatcher was present, sharing similar habitat. Note the large eye-ring of the northern race of Sooty Oystercatcher opthalmicus here.

Sooty Oystercatcher

Grey-tailed Tattler

Both species of tattler were in good numbers and it was interesting to see them sharing similar habitat (like the oystercatchers). A total of 22 Grey-tailed Tattlers and 9 Wandering Tattlers were counted. Sometimes they roosted loosely together at high tide on the reefs.

Wandering Tattler

I was surprised to find a Wandering Tattler in breeding plumage roosting in a tree.

Wandering Tattler

Pacific Golden Plover & Ruddy Turnstone

Good numbers of Ruddy Turnstone and Pacific Golden Plover were on the island along with a few Red-necked Stints.

Red-necked Stint

Sanderling

An unexpected find was a Sanderling which fed on the airstrip or along an adjacent beach, sometimes keeping company with the stints.

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Wedge-tailed Shearwaters were nesting commonly about the resort, including a pair behind our cabin. They flew in after dusk and were quite vocal throughout the evening, which is why the resort supplies free earplugs to guests. I also found several beachwashed Short-tailed Shearwaters on the island - they would not normally be expected here but it was not surprising given the extent of the huge wreck of this species being experienced this spring throughout south-eastern Australia.

Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Silvereye

A few Silvereyes of the distinctive Great Barrier Reef race chlorocephala were about, though not as commonly as I expected. Other land birds included a couple of Tawny Grassbirds, several Sacred Kingfishers and Channel-billed Cuckoo heard. The only raptor seen was a single White-bellied Sea-Eagle.

Lady Elliot Island Resort

A general shot of the resort (above) and the island's historic lighthouse. The service and food at the resort was excellent and this ecotourism destination can be highly recommended. A separate post will follow on turtles and fish seen.

Greg Turtle

The birdlife on Lady Elliot Island was superb (see here for a post on terns and here for a post on birds other than terns) but other wildlife did not disappoint.

Turtle leaves beach trail

The island is a major breeding ground for Green Turtles and Loggerhead Turtles and our stay coincided with the nesting season. The first turtles emerge as darkness falls, leaving a distinctive trail in the sand as they haul themselves up the beach to find a place to lay their eggs.

Green Turtle digging nesting chamber

During a couple of excursions in the vicinity of the resort and airfield I found four Green Turtles in various places laboriously digging large holes in the sand in which to lay their eggs. Each Green Turtle comes ashore to nest only every 5-7 years and they are not sexually mature until they are 30-40 years old.

Green Turtle

Often a turtle expends considerable energy digging a hole before deciding it is not suitable for some reason - it then calls it quits and returns to the sea, presumably to try again another time.

Green Turtle laying eggs

One of these turtles was found laying eggs right in front of the resort. About 70 eggs were laid over a period of about 30 minutes. The turtle then covered them with sand and returned to the water. This turtle can expect to lay several clutches during the nesting season.

Snorkelling on Lady Elliot Island

Snorkelling the coral reefs around Lady Elliot Island is exhilarating. It is possible to walk a few metres from your accommodation around high tide to snorkel in the island's shallow lagoon. The best snorkelling, however, is a 5-10 minute walk from the resort to the island's southern shore at the Coral Gardens, or at the Lighthouse. The reef edge is a short distance offshore with a spectacular variety of fish, turtles and corals on offer, but be wary of venturing too far out due to strong currents.

Green Turtle feeding on jellyfish

I saw numerous turtles during my twice daily snorkelling excursions. The Green Turtle in the images above is feeding on a jellyfish. The turtles are fearless of people and it is possible to follow and watch them at close quarters.

Green Turtle

Manta Ray

One of the specialties of Lady Elliot Island - and the island resort's logo - is the Manta Ray. As many as 300 of these magnificent rays frequent island waters at certain times - a substantial proportion of the entire Great Barrier Reef population of the species.

Manta Ray

I saw several Manta Rays while snorkelling off the reef edge; the one in these images had been tagged by research scientists. These are big fish and the initial contact can be a tad scary as this huge black creature appears seemingly out of nowhere.

Manta Ray

The rays are extremely graceful in their movements.

Bird Wrasse

It was a challenge to identify some of the many fish frequenting the reef. I'm grateful to Chris Gurraway, a resort staffer and diver, for the lend of his underwater camera to capture a few images. The fish above is a male Bird Wrasse. The male is much more colourful than the female: I was unaware that some fish were sexually dimorphic.

Blackspot Damselfish

This damselfish is large and secretive, preferring to hide under reef outcrops.

Brown Sweetlip

Brown Sweetlip are large, formidable-looking fish.

Clam

Clams of various shapes and sizes are frequently encountered while snorkelling.

Coral outcrop

Hard, colourful corals in excellent condition fringe Lady Elliot Island in a broad band.

Leopard Shark

I was pleased to encounter this large Leopard Shark patrolling the reef seabed.

Lined Surgeonfish

Many reef fish are brightly coloured.

Picasso Triggerfish

Some, such as this triggerfish, have the slightly unnerving habit of nibbling snorkellers.

Rainford's Butterflyfish

Three-spot Cardinalfish

Lined Butterflyfish

Saddled Parrotfish

Scissor-tailed Sergeant

These small black-and-white sergeant fish were inquisitive and endearing.

Scissor-tailed Sergeant

Blue Linkia Starfish

Starfish of various colours and shapes are common on the reef bed.

Coral spawn

From the air as we approached and departed the island, extensive brown plumes of Trichodesmium, also called sea sawdust, could be seen in the sea.

Grey Goshawk nestling

A pair of Grey Goshawks are successfully raising a single fledgling on their nest in a tall creekside eucalypt near Cooroy. During my visits to the nest I have seen only the large female goshawk in attendance.

Female Grey Goshawk with nestling

Barred Cuckoo-shrike

A few Barred Cuckoo-shrikes are out and about, with this one seen in wet sclerophyll forest behind Wappa Dam, near Yandina. Others have been seen at Little Yabba Creek recently. Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves have returned in good numbers, with plenty of birds calling throughout the Sunshine Coast hinterland at sites where there was no indication of their presence a couple of weeks ago. White-eared Monarchs are also highly vocal at several sites; this morning I had a couple of pairs along the Maroochy River.

Barred Cuckoo-shrike

Pale-vented Bush-hen

A pair of Pale-vented Bush-hens are showing well at the North Arm site where I have recorded them annually. I had excellent, prolonged views of both birds this morning. Interestingly, the bush-hens had not apparently been present at this site in recent weeks, and their reappearance (or vocalising) coincides with the first decent rainfall for a long while. Lewin's Rail has also been calling at this site.

Emerald Dove

In the garden at Ninderry, Emerald Dove is usually a scarce visitor but a pair have been frequent visitors lately. Also in the garden, a Northern Short-nosed (Brindled) Bandicoot has taken up residence.

Northern Short-nosed Bandicoot

Squirrel Glider

A less welcome find in the garden was this dead Squirrel Glider. It was killed by a neighbourhood cat which I had noticed on several occasions, late at night, lurking in the area where the glider was found. The cat, needless to say, is presently the focus of my undivided attention.

Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin_

A lovely encounter with Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins, Pale-vented Bush-hen, Black Bittern, Ground Parrot and Shining Flycatcher were the highlights of a three-day visit to Tin Can Bay.

Pale-vented Bush-hen

We stayed at the Top Tourist Caravan Park in Tin Can Bay. A pair of Pale-vented Bush-hens were very vocal in the maleleuca swamp at the back of the park and the birds would sometimes feed in the open, with no coaxing required. A second pair of bush-hens could be heard calling in the swamp.

Pale-vented Bush-hen

Noosa Plain, Cooloola

Following an early morning drive to the Noosa Plain nearby at Cooloola, five Ground Parrots were flushed at different spots from the main telegraph line road along a 400-metre stretch over about 20 minutes. This is an unusually high density of this species and it was apparent that the birds were feeding on grasses in relatively open areas along the road.

Ground Parrot

I even managed a distant if poor shot of a Ground Parrot in flight.

Teewah Creek

No visit to the Noosa Plain is complete without dropping in to the beautiful Teewah Creek.

Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo

A group of 8 Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos were feeding in bushes on the Noosa Plain.

Grey-tailed Tattler

I spent a morning kayaking along Snapper Creek, Tin Can Bay. Quite a few tattlers were roosting in the mangroves at high tide.

Snapper Creek, Tin Can Bay

I tried a bit of Black Bittern playback and a bird responded. A fine male soon flew in, and although I could see it well just a few metres away, a profusion of mangrove leaves prevented a picture. I've rarely encountered Black Bittern in mangroves and when I have the birds have been secretive.

Shining Flycatcher - female

I had more success with Shining Flycatcher, seeing a total of seven - two pairs and three single males - in the mangroves.

Shining Flycatcher - female

Shining Flycatcher - male

Dolphin feeding station

Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin

This morning we visited the dolphin feeding station at Norman Point, Tin Can Bay, where Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins have for many years been coming in to feed on fish handed to them under supervision by visitors. The animals are remarkably tame, placidly allowing a steady procession of visitors who are allowed to hand-feed them small fish. It is a magical experience to spend a good 40 minutes or so standing knee-deep in water watching these animals at such close quarters.

Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin

A pair of dolphins were present during our visit but up to six members of the pod come in each morning to be fed.

Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin

One animal surfaced with an empty wine bottle finely balanced on its snout; the dolphin spent some time swimming about with the bottle.

Dolphin feeding at Tin Can Bay

Visitors pay $5 to enter the feeding site which is on the property of a local cafe, and another $5 to feed a fish to the dolphins. The funds supposedly are spent on managing the site and feeding the animals, though it is fair to say it is a lucrative money spinner for the cafe owners. Visitors from around the world are attracted to Tin Can Bay by the dolphins. The animals have apparently been coming in to be fed here since the 1950s, when an injured dolphin that beached itself was hand-fed by locals until it recovered.

Dowitcher site - North Pine River

An Asian Dowitcher was reported last Sunday by Andy Jensen on the North Pine River near the Osprey House Environmental Centre, in the same place where an Asian Dowitcher was seen in June.

Lousy image of Asian Dowitcher

When I visited the spot yesterday I found not one but two Asian Dowitchers. Andy's directions are spot on. The birds are best viewed from the mudlfats on the southern shore of the river after walking a short distance through mangroves from the lay-by on a sharp bend of Dohles Rocks Road. This spot is where the road first meets the mangroves - a few hundred metres back towards the Bruce Highway from Osprey House. Beware: the mud can be very deep and sticky here.

The dowitchers were quite distant but seen easily through a scope. Unlike other waders there, they kept well back from the water edge, feeding along the line of exposed mangrove roots. The tide at the time was low but turning. A combination of distance and foreground interference meant I managed only lousy images, such as the one above.

Here is a better one, taken by Ian Montgomery at Cairns. For some time after my arrival at the North Pine River, I saw just a single dowitcher, but later a second bird emerged. At times they foraged together but mostly they were apart, and not associating particularly with other waders. I noticed that the dowitchers fed backwards and forwards along the mangrove root line, keeping within a fairly restricted area perhaps 150 metres long.

Whimbrel

The only other waders present were a few Eastern Curlews, Bar-tailed Godwits and Whimbrels, along with a couple of Grey-tailed Tattlers and a single Marsh Sandpiper.

White-faced Heron

In other forays, I kayaked the Tewantin section of the Noosa River and saw Black Bittern on three occasions over a period of a couple of hours. After I left the kayak to walk around Sheepstation Island, I was surprised when a bittern I flushed from the bank at very close quarters dived into the water. Its head and neck appeared above the water, darter-like, before the bird disappeared. I would be interested in hearing if others have heard of similar behaviour. I am not sure if I saw one or more bitterns overall. The bitterns would not allow themselves to be photographed, so a heron had to do.
A male Shining Flycatcher was seen in the mangroves and two other single flycatchers were heard.

Boebuck

Some images closer to home, in the garden at Ninderry. The Boebuck and her now well-grown young continue to play havoc with the bird feeders.

Eastern Grey Kangaroo

A sub-adult male Eastern Grey Kangaroo has moved in, drinking the bird bath dry here.

Green Catbird

This catbird showed well, along with a few other nice birds.

Eastern Yellow Robin

Pale-headed Rosella & White-headed Pigeon

Spotless Crake

Today I visited the new artificial wetland at the Parklakes real estate development near Bli Bli. The birding was very good, with excellent, close views of Baillon's Crake and Spotless Crake, among other things. Most of us are concerned about urban sprawl but if it's going to happen, this is the way to go. Congratulations on the developers for creating a first-rate wetlands here.

Spotless Crake

I found the first Spotless Crake within minutes of arriving and saw a total of four, with others heard. The wetlands are a series of connected large ponds with just the right mixture of open water and vegetation such as lilies, sedges and rushes. Hundreds of flowering native shrubs and trees have been planted around the pond edges. All up, an impressive effort.

Baillon's Crake

It wasn't long before I saw a Baillon's Crake, also close up. I saw a second Baillon's a short while later.

Baillon's Crake

Parklakes Wetlands

The wetlands have lots of potential

Wandering Whistling-Duck

Other nice birds here included Wandering Whistling-Duck, Latham's Snipe, Little Grassbird and Buff-banded Rail.

White-breasted Woodswallow

This woodswallow was nearby in the Maroochy River canefields.

Grey Shrike-Thrush

In the garden at Ninderry, the hot weather is attracting plenty of interest in the bird bath.

Eastern Yellow Robin

Brush Cuckoo

A Brush Cuckoo shows nicely.

Peaceful Dove

Peaceful Dove is a scarce visitor in the garden.

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

A Dusky Honeyeater is presently visiting flowering shrubs.

Dusky Honeyeater

Eastern Grey Kangaroo

Plenty of Eastern Grey Kangaroos were in evidence during a visit to Toorbul, with quite a few seemingly at home on the tidal flats.

Azure Kingfisher

Nice birds around the Sunshine Coast in recent days include Eastern Grass Owl, Marbled Frogmouth, King Quail, Pale-vented Bush-hen, Spotted Harrier, Black-breasted Buttonquail, Black-necked Stork, Noisy Pitta, Barred Cuckoo-shrike and Baillon's Crake.

Azure Kingfishers were unusually common during three hours of kayaking on the Upper Maroochy River; I saw 12. A male Eastern Koel showed itself, as did a white phase Grey Goshawk. In south-east Queensland, white phase Grey Goshawks are scarce.

Azure Kingfisher

Eastern Koel

Grey Goshawk white phase

Golden Whistler

An early morning visit to Charlie Moreland Park on Little Yabba Creek was productive, as usual. Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves were calling commonly. A couple of Barred Cuckoo-shrikes showed briefly. The three monarchs - White-eared, Spectacled and Black-faced - were present. Later we moved on to Moy Pocket where a pair of Pale-vented Bush-hens showed after a little coaxing at a site where they turn up from time to time. Then on to Imbil, where a male Black-breasted Buttonquail was seen soon after arriving. It was another hour or so before fine views of a female were obtained. I've not had the birds at this spot during recent visits. A Noisy Pitta was unusually co-operative here.

Marbled Frogmouth male

An evening excursion began at Pacific Paradise where several King Quail were vocalising along with a larger number of Brown Quail in tall grassland. Then, just after sunset. an Eastern Grass Owl was seen quartering over the grassland. We moved on to Mapleton National Park in the Blackall Range where we enjoyed a prolonged, close encounter with Marbled Frogmouths. A male and female were seen well and three pairs all up were heard.

Marbled Frogmouth female

Bandy Bandy

A nice surprise was a Bandy Bandy on the road. As we tried to move it off the road, it contorted itself into its signature but weird defensive posture.

Osprey

Close views of Baillon's Crake were enjoyed during two visits to Parklakes Wetlands. A female Black-norked Stork was seen at Lake Macdonald along with Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Glossy Ibis and 5 Latham's Snipe. This fine Osprey was seen eating a fish at Alexandra Headland. A Spotted Harrier was seen at North Arm. At Cooroy, the fledgling Grey Goshawk reported earlier (see here) is now a fine-looking juvenile out of the nest.

Rufous Fantail

A Rufous Fantail was sitting on a nest at the same spot the birds nested last year at the Maroochy Wetlands Reserve, Bli Bli. Other birds here included Mangrove Gerygone, Shining Bronze Cuckoo and White-throated Treecreeper.

Shining Bronze-Cuckoo

White-throated Treecreeper

Brisbane River Turtle Emydura signata

I called in to the Noosa Botanic Gardens at Cooroy. The Freckled Ducks that have been there for months are gone, so a nice turtle had to do.

Australian Little Bittern

The recently created Parklakes wetlands at Bli Bli on the Sunshine Coast has turned up a very smart male Australian Little Bittern.

Australian Little Bittern

Last week, I reported (see here) seeing Baillon's Crake, Spotless Crake and Little Grassbird in these excellent man-made wetlands, which are located in a new housing estate. Since then, local birders have reported seeing Lewin's Rail and Pale-vented Bush-hen at Parklakes. Then, on Christmas Day, an Australian Little Bittern was reported here.

Australian Little Bittern

I located the bittern early this morning, a little distantly but showing well in the north-west corner of the second lagoon. It perched on reeds at the edge of the extensive reed-bed in this lagoon in the sun as it fished. The bird caught at least one fish during the 20 minutes or so that I was watching before it disappeared into the reeds, but it was seen soon after by another observer, perched in the reed-bed.

Baillon's Crake

No fewer than six Baillon's Crakes were feeding on the lilies this morning, some being quite approachable. A single Spotless Crake was also present along with six Latham's Snipe and a smattering of other waterbirds.

Australian Little Bittern

A male Australian Little Bittern has been at the Parklakes Wetlands near Bli Bli for several days (see here). This morning, I saw a female Australian Little Bittern at the wetlands, so a pair of the birds appear to be in residence.

Australian Little Bittern

Unfortunately, light conditions this morning were not ideal. Four Baillon's Crakes and seven Latham's Snipe were among other birds seen, but there was no sign of an Australian Painted Snipe seen there a couple of days ago. In tall grassland nearby on the Yandina-Bli Bli road, I heard two King Quail calling along with several Brown Quail. A Lewin's Rail was also calling in dense grassland adjacent to a gully.

Black Kite

Plenty of Black Kites were about this morning. When they turned up on the Sunshine Coast about 15 months ago, it was thought this was a temporary invasion from the inland. However, a healthy local population of 100-150 birds appears to have settled in. The Nambour tip and turf farms are favourite hang-outs, but the kites are dispersed widely in farmland and grassland in the region.

Channel-billed Cuckoo juvenile

In the home garden at Ninderry, the resident Pied Currawong has been suckered into raising a juvenile Channel-billed Cuckoo. The cuckoos arrived at the end of September so they wasted no time finding a suitable host. The currawongs usually nest here but only one adult has been about lately.

Australian Painted Snipe

Australian Painted Snipe is the latest rarity to turn up at the Parklakes Wetland near Bli Bli. This male bird was seen this morning and late yesterday afternoon at the western end of the second pond. Other local observers have seen up to four Australian Painted Snipe over the past few days, along with as many as seven Latham's Snipe.

Australian Painted Snipe

Australian Little Bittern

The pair of Australian Little Bitterns that have been around for awhile (see following posts) performed well this morning. The male and female were feeding together at one point. Both birds flew frequently from one spot to another, although they are seen most frequently in reeds along the northern edge of the second pond. Also seen this morning were 5 Baillon's Crakes, 1 Spotless Crake and 1 Little Grassbird (along with Tawny Grassbird and Australian Reed-Warbler).

Plumed Whistling-Duck & Pacific Black Duck

Plumed Whistling-Duck and Pacific Black Duck were reflective, as were these three duck species at a nearby wetland at Pacific Paradise.

Hardhead, Grey Teal, Chesnut Teal

Tawny Grassbird

Australasian Pipit

Red-kneed Dotterel

About 20 Red-kneed Dotterels were gathered around a pool at Maroochy River. Good numbers of this species are still about the coast.

Spotted Harrier

An immature Spotted Harrier was also present at Maroochy River.

Channel-billed Cuckoo

The juvenile Channel-billed Cuckoo being fostered by a hapless Pied Currawong in our Sunshine Coast garden at Ninderry continues to thrive.

Pied Currawong

But there's a curious twist. The Pied Currawong feeding the cuckoo is bald. It appears to have lost the feathers from its head.

Pied Currawong & Channel-billed Cuckoo

There are two currawongs, presumably the breeding pair, but only the bald one appears to do the feeding.

Pied Currawong feeding Channel-billed Cuckoo

At feeding time, the much smaller currawong inserts it head quite a way into the mouth of the cuckoo (deeper than in the image above, but you get the picture). The extent of feather loss appears to approximate the area of currawong head that enters the cuckoo's mouth. So the question: Is the currawong bald because its feathers have been lost in the cuckoo feeding process?

Pied Currawong feeding Channel-billed Cuckoo

Glossy Ibis

Elsewhere, at the Parklakes Wetlands, the Australian Painted Snipe (1), Australian Little Bittern (2), Baillon's Crake (3) and Spotless Crake (1) were all spotted yesterday morning. At a small pool nearby, a party of 15 Glossy Ibis was present. At Dunethin Rocks on the way home, a Nankeen Night Heron was roosting in the mangroves.

Nankeen Night-Heron

Eastern Grey Kangaroo

Saturday was the hottest day on record in much of the Sunshine Coast, with the temperature reaching 42 at Yandina and 39 at Ninderry. The big adult male Eastern Grey Kangaroo made good use of the birdbaths, as did the obviously heat-stressed birds.

Little Wattlebird

Birding Cooloolabin

This morning some of us checked out the lowland rainforest patches at Cooloolabin and around Wappa Dam, where birds including numerous Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves, Wonga Pigeon, Crested Shrike-tit and White-eared Monarch.

Great Crested Grebe

Wonga Pigeon

Pectoral Sandpiper

This morning I checked out the so-called Cross Road Lagoon at Lower Tenthill, a few kilometres south-west of Gatton. The lagoon is on your left heading from Gatton towards Lower Tenthill. I walked in to the edge from the road.

Pectoral Sandpiper

I had hoped to see an Oriental Plover found there recently. No luck there but a Pectoral Sandpiper showed very well indeed.

Pectoral Sandpiper

I was first alerted to the bird by its call as it was flying. It landed not too far away. Pectoral Sandpiper is a rare visitor to south-east Queensland.

Pectoral Sandpiper

Red-necked Avocet

Quite a few Red-necked Avocets were present on the lake. The only other migratory waders present were one Pacific Golden Plover, one Red-necked Stint and three Sharp-tailed Sandpipers. Plenty of Whiskered Terns were also about. I visited all the Lockyer Valley hotspots as well - more on that soon.

Red-necked Stint

Whiskered Tern

Pink-eared Duck

Good birds encountered during another foray to the Lockyer Valley (other than the Pectoral Sandpiper reported earlier) included Black Falcon, Plum-headed Finch, Freckled Duck, Hoary-headed Grebe, Australasian Shoveler, Brown Songlark, Horsfield's Bushlark, Spotted Harrier and Stubble Quail. I kicked off the visit by stopping at the farm dam at Cove Road, Stanmore, but nothing much of interest here, or at the dams in Winya Road, Kilcoy. Heading through Esk, I stopped at a couple of dams straddling both sides of Green Swamp Road, a few kilometres north of Lake Clarendon, which have been quite good in the past. Pink-eared Duck (100+) and Austsralasian Shoveler (30+) were on these dams along with Hoary-headed Grebe (10, outnumbering Australasian) and Red-necked Avocet (80+).

Australasian Shoveler

Black Falcon

A Black Falcon was at Lake Clarendon, close to the spot where I found them nesting in August (see here); this bird appears to be an old adult. On the lake itself, quite a few Australasian Shovelers were seen but the large numbers of Great Crested Grebe that had been here on past visits were gone, with just a handful of birds remaining. A few Glossy Ibis were by the lake; this species was again encountered commonly throughout the valley.

Black Falcon

Glossy Ibis

At Jahnke's Lagoon, 6 or 7 Hoary-headed Grebes and 4 Freckled Ducks were present, as well as big numbers of Pink-eared Ducks. About 20 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and 5 Marsh Sandpipers were also here.

Hoary-headed Grebe

Freckled Duck

Moving on to Lake Galletly, 10 more Freckled Ducks were encountered along with large numbers of Pink-eared Ducks, but there was no sign of Blue-billed Duck. The huge Cattle Egret colony here was in full swing with well-developed chicks all over the place.

Cattle Egret

Mistletoebird

I visited the woodland at Adare near Gatton. Birds here included White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike, Jacky Winter and Fuscous Honeyeater. A Mistletoebird took a liking to its image in my car window.
I spent the night in Lockyer National Park just north of Gatton but there was little of interest here.

Plum-headed Finch

Early in the morning I found a group of 8 Plum-headed Finches just outside Helidon on Back Flagstone Creek Road. Two more Plum-headed Finches were seen 6km west of Helidon along the road. Another 20 were seen later on Cross Road, where I found them last April (see here).

Plum-headed Finch

Swamp Wallaby

A Swamp Wallaby with joey appeared along Back Flagstone Creek Road. A Spotted Harrier was also seen along here. I visited Peach's Lagoon on Ropeley Road, where 7 Freckled Ducks and a few Australasian Shovelers were seen. Then on to the Cross Road Lagoon, where the Pectoral Sandpiper referred to in yesterday's post was found. I visited Karrasch's Dam at Placid Hills where the water is fast drying out; a goodly number of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers (60+) were here.

Brown Songlark male

Seven-Mile Lagoon was dry but good birds were here nonetheless. I saw 20+ Brown Songlarks and others were calling; I've not seen so many of this species in south-east Queensland previously. Quite a few Horsfield's Bushlarks and Stubble Quail were also present in the dried out lake bed. Several more Hoary-headed Grebes were on the farm dam along Haslingden Road. It is interesting that the predominantly inland species that turned up in late-2012 - among them Pink-eared Duck, Australasian Shoveler, Freckled Duck, Glossy Ibis, Red-kneed Dotterel, Red-necked Avocet, Hoary-headed Grebe, Black Kite - are still about in good numbers.

Brown Songlark female

Rufous Songlark

Near Toogoolawah on the way home, I had Rufous Songlark and Brown Songlark calling from fence posts within 50 metres of each other.

Common Bronzewing

Common Bronzewing was again in the garden of our old holiday home near Coominya.

Southern Gastric-brooding Frog

Every now and then, I can't resist. I did it again this week. I searched rainforest streams in the Conondale Range, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, for one of Australia's truly extraordinary critters - the Southern Gastric-brooding Frog, Rheobatrachus silus. I failed to find any. However, a nagging question lingers in the minds of many. While the frog is generally believed to be extinct, may it still be out there somewhere? A succession of wet summers in recent years - following a prolonged dry period since the disappearance of Rheobatrachus in the late-1970s - fuels hopes that the Tasmanian Tiger of the herpetological world may yet live.

After all, what are the odds of this frog, with its unique breeding biology - the female raises its young within the stomach - being known to humankind in the wild for a miserly seven years?

Southern Gastric-brooding Frog

The frog was discovered by David Liem in Kondalilla National Park in the Blackall Range in 1972. Its breeding behaviour was first recorded in 1974, not by Adelaide herpetologist Michael Tyler, as is widely reported, but by a group of young people - Chris Corben, Debbie Raven, Anita Smyth and myself - who shared a house in the Brisbane suburb of Red Hill. Chris first spotted a strange bulging in the stomach wall of a female we had captive in an aquarium. I recall the moment vividly when Debbie shouted that the frog was spewing baby frogs from its mouth. Chris Corben and Glen Ingram quickly sorted out what was going on; Tyler was invited to join the party later. This breeding behaviour was so bizarre - normally gastric stomach juices would destroy eggs, tadpoles or baby frogs - that the journal Nature thought the finding was a hoax. See here for a more detailed account.

The frog was last seen in the wild in Booloumba Creek in the Conondale Range in 1979 (captive animals survived a few more years). The Southern Gastric-brooding Frog was known only from the adjoining Blackall and Conondale ranges. A close relative, the Northern Gastric-brooding Frog, was found at Eungella, in the Mackay hinterland, in the early-1980s but it has similarly disappeared. These frogs vanished along with other amphibian species in Australia and elsewhere, presumably due to atmospheric or environmental changes of some kind facilitating the spread of the deadly chytrid fungal disease.

The Southern Gastric-brooding Frog lived in higher altitude (around 450 metres) rainforest streams, but I found one in 1976 in a tributary of Booloumba Creek near the present day camping grounds at an elevation much lower than normal. The site is pictured above, and I returned there this week. The frog extinctions occurred essentially at high altitudes so I harbour hopes that lower altitude sites such as this were spared the worst of the chytrid plague. I donned reef shoes and plastic pants for my three-hour search, upturning numerous rocks in suitable-looking pools. There were plenty of aquatic spiders, crayfish and other critters, but no frogs.

Undeterred, I moved on to one of the frog's best-known high altitude sites - a sector of Booloumba Creek in Conondale National Park formerly known as Beauty Spot 100. This is the place (photographed yesterday in the image above) where Glen Ingram undertook a scientific study of Rheobatrachus before it disappeared. It is one of several sites where a certain Queensland Government scientist (he knows who he is) collected a large number of specimens - far more than was justified. This is also the spot, by the way, where I rediscovered the plumiferus race of the Marbled Frogmouth (see here). It almost beggars belief that notwithstanding the obvious environmental significance of this site, it was logged intensively by the Bjelke-Petersen Government in the early-1980s.

The frogs had been quite numerous here and could be readily found under rocks. I searched many of the pools where they occurred this week but again there was no sign of frogs. This remains a hauntingly beautiful spot, however: I never fail to be in awe of it.

The likely loss of Rheobatrachus was hopefully not totally in vain. The frog became the powerful figurehead for a vigorous campaign to save the Conondale Range from logging, mining and clear-felling for hoop pine plantations. In the image above, I was giving a media conference in 1977 about the frog and the need to save the Conondales; a Southern Gastric-brooding Frog is in the aquarium on the desk. The campaign to save the area was boosted significantly by the frog's disappearance amid concerns that it may have been related to development pressures.

Ultimately, the efforts of many dedicated people over a couple of decades prevailed. The core forest areas of the Conondale Range are now protected in the 35,500-hectare Conondale National Park. Mining, logging and clear-felling native forest was stopped. Yet a new threat has emerged with the pending review by the Campbell Newman-led Liberal National Party Government of national park declarations by former Labor governments (see here). Most of the Conondale National Park (the sign in the image above, near Charlie Moreland Park, is quite new) was added by the Labor administrations of Wayne Goss and Peter Beattie.

Meanwhile, I continue to quietly wonder. Are they still out there?

Asian Dowitcher

This afternoon I saw an Asian Dowitcher at the high tide roost at Toorbul, on Pumicestone Passage. I was searching through a large gathering of Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit and Great Knot when I picked the bird up. It was immediately obvious with its long, straight, black bill.

Asian Dowitcher

At roost, the waders largely had their heads tucked away so it was difficult to keep tabs on the dowitcher. In time, however, I was able to pick it out fairly easily even when its head was not visible. The dowitcher was almost as long-legged as the godwits, but much smaller in body size. It also appeared to be more greyish, its upperparts were more sharply defined and its eyebrow was whiter. The dowitcher largely kept on or close to the water edge.

Asian Dowitcher

Later in the afternoon, it moved about a bit and showed more readily. I ran into a couple of visiting birders from Dalby who told me the dowitcher was found yesterday by a birding group, a fact I had not been aware of.

Asian Dowitcher

Black-tailed Godwit

Here are some of the other waders that were present. Other migratory species seen were Eastern Curlew, Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-tailed Godwit, Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper (1), Grey-tailed Tattler, Lesser Sand Plover, Red-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Curlew-Sandpiper.

Eastern Curlew

Grey-tailed Tattler

Whimbrel

Brolga

On the way in to Toorbul, a Brolga was present on Bishop's Marsh, which had water in it after overnight rain.

Pale-vented Bush-hen

Before visiting Toorbul I called in to Coochin Creek. I saw two Pale-vented Bush-hens crossing the road just before the village.

Today was the first opportunity to road-test my new Vortex Razor 60x85mm and Manfrotto 190XB tripod. I was very impressed, especially finding a dowitcher with it.

New scope

Green Catbird

Green Catbirds have been quite common about the garden lately and have been visiting the birdbaths.

Australian Little Bittern

At Parklakes near Bli Bli, the Australian Little Bitterns and Baillon's Crakes continue to show well.

Baillon's Crake

Franklin's Gull

A vagrant Franklin's Gull turning up at Barambah (or Bjelke-Petersen) Dam near Murgon, south-east Queensland, a fortnight ago seemed like a good opportunity to check this area out. I saw the Franklin's Gull, one of only a handful recorded from Australia, on each of the four days we were in the area, and on four of six visits to the dam.

Franklin's Gull

The bird was reasonably close only on the first day, when it frequented the shoreline between the two retaining walls at the southern end of the dam. For about an hour, the gull was in this area although it was regularly flushed by children. Each time it flushed, it would fly high, following the shoreline for a while before crossing the water and returning to the same part of the shore. I also saw it land on the water twice in this area. Its favourite spot appeared to be the small bay to the west of the boat ramp between the retaining walls.

Franklin's Gull

On the other three occasions that I saw the Franklin's Gull, it was on the far side of the lake perched with Silver Gulls and Caspian Terns. A scope was necessary to find it, and the best spot to view it from was the boat ramp below the camping ground where the fish cleaning platform is. It was very windy this week and even with a scope it could be challenging at times to find the gull, although it appears decidedly smaller and greyer that the other gulls and terns. The bird was found here by Doug Armstrong on January 16, so it has been present for more than two weeks.

Apostlebird

We camped at Barambah Bush Caravan Park, a few kilometres from the dam towards Murgon. This park was bushier, birder, quieter and cheaper than the caravan park at the lake. It had some nice trails through open woodland and some dry country birds that are normally scarce in south-east Queensland such as Apostlebird, White-winged Chough and Brown Treecreeper.

Barambah Bush Caravan Park

Common Bronzewing

Plenty of parrots and pigeons at the caravan park feeders. Red-rumped Parrot (200+ on an irrigated field between the park and the dam), Red-winged Parrot (together with Australian King-Parrot) and Red-tailed Black Cockatoo (60 at the park) were among the parrots seen in the area.

Rainbow Lorikeet & Galah

Red-rumped Parrot

Red-tailed Black Cockatoo

Sacred Kingfisher

Other birds included Sacred Kingfisher and Weebill, with raptors including Wedge-tailed Eagle and Whistling Kite.

Weebill

Wedge-tailed Eagle

Whistling Kite

Common Brushtail

Mammals included an obliging Koala and a few pesky Common Brushtails around the camp.

Koala

Pink-eared Duck

On the way home, a pair of Pink-eared Ducks were on a farm dam near Widgee, just west of Gympie. A flock of 20 Red-tailed Black Cockatoos here was unusual.

Red-tailed Black Cockatoo

And among the butterflies - a Yellow Admiral.

Baillon's Crake

A couple of days birding around the Sunshine Coast. At the Cooroy sewege treatment works, three Baillon's Crakes were showing well, foraging in the open. A single Pale-vented Bush-hen was flushed from dense growth on the forest edge adjacent to the ponds, where two other bush-hens were heard. Little Grassbird was seen and heard.

Little Grassbird

At the Noosa Botanic Gardens, the Freckled Ducks that had been around for 18 months or so appear to have absconded. In long grass nearby along Hay Road, a party of Brown Quail strutted about in full view, with the differences between the sexes easy to discern.

Brown Quail

Brown Quail (male left, female right)

Fairy Gerygone

In an area of thickets along the Cooroy-Tewantin road, Fairy Gerygone showed nicely, as did Dusky Honeyeater.

Lake Macdonald

Lake Macdonald was at the lowest level I have seen it. Although there were extensive areas of exposed mud, the only waders present were a few Red-kneed Dotterel and Latham's Snipe, though other waterbirds were easier to approach. They included 3 Yellow-billed Spoonbills and a few Glossy Ibis.

Australian White Ibis, Royal Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Spoonbill

Latham's Snipe

I visited the Parklakes wetlands, where 5 Baillon's Creeks were seen on the lilies but there was no sign of the Australian Little Bitterns that have been about. Large numbers of White-throated Needletails (150+) were feeding above the oval at the wetlands.

On another wetland near Bil Bli, on Lefoes Road, Latham's Snipe and Glossy Ibis were co-operative. In mangroves along the Maroochy River, a male Shining Flycatcher was seen. In a flooded area of cut cane land near Bli Bli, 50 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers foraged in the stubble.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Glossy Ibis

White-throated Needletail

Shining Flycatcher

Verreaux's Skin

On the home front, Verreaux's Skins was an addition to the garden reptile list.

Lewin's Rail

I have found Lewin's Rail at two new sites near Eumundi over the past couple of days. Two birds offered repeated, close views along a small creek. The rails are seen easily because they are inside lantana thickets. Lewin's Rail does not like to be out in the open. In my experience they are easiest to see in lantana because the vegetation cover allows the birds to be bolder; it is often possible to get yourself inside the thickets and sit quietly.
The other rails near Eumundi were nearby in wet grassland. Lewin's Rail has also been present recently at North Arm and Noosaville.

Lewin's Rail habitat - Eumundi

The first image in this post I took some time ago at Peregian Beach. The birds today and yesterday, although seen well, were always behind an abundance of twigs, blurring them in pictures. They were also shy, moving about quickly.

Black-necked Stork

An adult male Black-necked Stork was looking good in the sunlight this morning at Lake Macdonald.

Latham's Snipe

Also behaving itself camera-wise was a Latham's Snipe.

Latham's Snipe

Red-kneed Dotterel

Red-kneed Dotterels are still about the Sunshine Coast. These 5 birds were at the Maroochydore sewerage treatment works.

Pied Goose

Meanwhile, the Cooroy sewerage treatment works have reopened after a lengthy closure due to plant renovations. Pied Goose looked smart among the spring waterlilies.

Tawny Grassbird

Tawny Grassbird and Little Grassbird were singing side by side at Cooroy.
Some other birds out and about at Cooroy:

Australian Reed-Warbler

Brown Gerygone

Fairy Martin

Red-browed Finch

And in grassland near Eumundi, the nesting season was in evidence:

Chesnut-breasted Mannikin

Silvereye

Golden-headed Cisticola

White-headed Pigeon

It has been exceptionally dry on the Sunshine Coast, with very little rain over the summer months - usually the wettest time of the year. So well-placed birdbaths in the garden are proving to be particularly popular at the moment. Here is a selection of birds which have visited the two birdbaths in my garden at Ninderry over the past couple of days. The birds can be conveniently and nonchalantly photographed from the back porch. Some of the birds look fluffed up because they have had a bath and are shaking loose the water. White-headed Pigeon is one of my favourites.