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November Blitz Around the Sunshine Coast

November 9, 2014, 1:00 pm
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Eastern Grass Owl at Yandina Creek Wetlands - Picture by Hendrik Ferreira 
A highly productive one-and-a-half days and an evening of birding around the Sunshine Coast with Hendrik Ferreira and Anton Booysen yielded a veritable spray of goodies including Eastern Grass Owl, Sooty Owl, Large-tailed Nightjar, Marbled Frogmouth, Australian Little Bittern, Eastern Ground Parrot, King Quail, Beach Stone-Curlew, Wandering Tattler, Cotton Pygmy-Goose, Black-necked Stork, Barred Cuckoo-shrike, White-eared Monarch, Dusky Honeyeater, Crested Shrike-tit, Fairy Gerygone, Paradise Riflebird, Noisy Pitta, Russet-tailed Thrush, Little Bronze Cuckoo, Crested Shrike-tit, Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, Little Grassbird and Spotless Crake.

White-eared Monarch
We kicked off at dawn on Day One at Little Yabba Creek, Charlie Moreland Park, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. We soon had a pair of White-eared Monarchs flitting about us side-by-side with Spectacled Monarchs and Black-faced Monarchs.

Paradise Riflebird
A small party of Dusky Honeyeaters foraged on the rainforest edge and a male Paradise Riflebird checked us out. Russet-tailed Thrush, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, White-headed Pigeon, Topknot Pigeon and Australian Logrunner were among other birds present. A Noisy Pitta performed well along a nearby rainforest circuit track. Crested Shrike-tit and Pale-yellow Robin were also here.

Noisy Pitta
We moved on to open eucalypt forest and vine scrub at Moy Pocket, nestled in a loop in the picturesque Mary River. A pair of Barred Cuckoo-shrikes were co-operative and Fairy Gerygone – a species recorded from the hinterland only in relatively recent times - was vocal and easy to track down. Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos entertained as they tore into the flowers of a Silky Oak.

Fairy Gerygone
Another patch of vine scrub near Imbil was our next destination. Here we found plenty of evidence of Black-breasted Buttonquail including fresh platelets but no birds were seen in the time we had available. While having lunch at Imbil, we were startled when a large vehicle came rolling down a hill, crossing the road and knocking down two wooded rail barriers before smashing into a tree a few metres from us, just before it would have otherwise plunged into Yabba Creek. It had been left in neutral with no hand brake on - an unusual diversion from birding.

Runaway Vehicle at Imbil
We headed east to the coast to Alexandra Headland where we found a nice pair of Wandering Tattlers on the sea edge along with a Pacific Reef-Egret. We continued to the mouth of the Maroochy River, spotting a Beach Stone-Curlew feeding on crabs on the seaward side of Goat Island.

Wandering Tattler
Large numbers of Chesnut Teal were at the Maroochydore sewage treatment plant. At Bli Bli Wetlands, a Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove put on a fine show in the afternoon light while we took time out to photograph more common species such as Leaden Flycatcher.
Leaden Flycatcher
Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove
Our final call for the day was the Yandina Creek Wetlands. I reported last week (see here) about some nice waterbirds I'd found at this site. This newly discovered spot was again impressive. A Black-necked Stork waded in the shallows as 15 or more Spotless Crakes and quite a few Little Grassbirds called from flooded grasses.


Black-necked Stork
At dusk, a lone Australian Little Bittern was calling vigorously from across a marsh. Then a Large-tailed Nightjar started calling before we saw it briefly flitting about. The nightjar had been roosting in thick vegetation lining a canal which cuts through the wetlands. This species was known to occur as far south as the Rainbow Beach area, 80km north of here, but was found nearby at Bli Bli Wetlands on October 20 this year by Russ Lamb and Pieter de Groot; these two records constitute a southward extension of range. See ebird list here.


Eastern Grass Owl - Picture by Hendrik Ferreira
As the sky darkened and a full moon began to rise, a pair of Eastern Grass Owls appeared overhead in response to playback, putting on an excellent display. We saw and heard the nightjar as we left the wetlands. These latest records strengthen the case for the wetlands to be acquired and managed as a reserve by the local council (see here for how you help this campaign).


Marbled Frogmouth
We headed west to the Blackall Range and Mapleton National Park, where we soon had a Sooty Owl calling in wet sclerophyll forest. We saw the bird in flight twice before finally cornering a brief but good view of it perched. Not much later we had a pair of Marbled Frogmouths calling on both sides of the road, with the female eventually showing nicely. See ebird list here. So we had Sooty Owl, Eastern Grass Owl, Large-tailed Nightjar and Marbled Frogmouth (along with Southern Boobook and Tawny Frogmouth) within a couple of hours.

Birding wallum heath near Noosa
We had just the morning on the second day for birding so it was off for an early start in a patch of wallum heath near Noosa. We flushed a female King Quail, always a difficult species, before our main target – an Eastern Ground Parrot – flew up obligingly from the heath. White-winged Triller was calling and a squadron of White-throated Needletails flew overhead.


Tawny Grassbird
The water level of Lake Macdonald was very low and not much was about although Red-kneed Dotterel and Whiskered Tern were nice. A Grey Goshawk was on a tree nearby where a pair raised a single young last year. Latham's Snipe and Tawny Grassbird were about at the Cooroy sewage treatment works, and Little Lorikeet here was unusual.


Cotton Pygmy-Goose
We found another Black-necked Stork on a farm dam near Eumundi and a pair of Cotton Pygmy-Geese on a second dam nearby. All up, an eventful couple of days.  
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Search

Feathered Friends hit by Heat Wave and Drought in South-East Queensland

November 15, 2014, 11:20 pm
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Spangled Drongo
The G20 meeting of world leaders down the road in Brisbane this weekend is under way in near-record temperatures for November in south-east Queensland. Citizens have evacuated the city en masse to avoid the G20 traffic chaos to head here to the Sunshine Coast or to the Gold Coast. The temperature in the garden this afternoon hit 40 degrees Celcius while nearby at Yandina it was 42. How do our avian friends cope?

Little Wattlebird
Not brilliantly, it seems. The day has seen a steady procession of garden birds visiting our two bird baths. Some are shown here, their bills open as birds pant to reduce heat stress, in much the same way dogs do. Those visiting today included Rainbow Lorikeet, Willie Wagtail, Little Wattlebird, Noisy Miner, Noisy Friarbird, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Lewin's Honeyeater, Magpie-lark and Spangled Drongo 

Pied Currawong
The water in the bird baths is so warm that the visitors do not partake in their usual pleasure of bathing. Some of the usual rules are broken. The birds are uncommonly tolerant of each other; species that usually would be intolerant of others appear not to mind sharing a drink in these harsh conditions.


Noisy Friarbird

Red-necked Avocet
A few days ago I visited the Lockyer Valley, west of the Sunshine Coast, which is experiencing a prolonged dry spell. It was interesting to compare the birds with those seen in the valley last January  (see here). Many of the wetlands which had plenty of water 10 months ago are dry now. However, some of the species that have moved into south-east Queensland from the inland over the last 2-3 years are still present in numbers at those wetlands still with water, such as Lake Galletly. Here, Red-necked Avocet and Pink-eared Duck were common.

Whiskered Tern
Of interest was an abundance of Whiskered Tern. I saw a total of about 3000 at several sites, with good numbers of birds feeding not just on the shrinking wetlands but over dry paddocks.

Little Corella

Pink-eared Duck
Black Kites were abundant during my last visit but uncommon this time, though still about. Australasian Shoveler was present in small numbers at Lake Clarendon, where large numbers of Little Corellas were nesting in nearby eucalypts. A few Blue-billed Ducks were also on Lake Clarendon. Another denizen of the inland, Hoary-headed Grebe, was common in January but on this visit I saw just two – on the dam on Colquhoun Road near Gatton.

Noisy Friarbird
White-winged Triller
Still, some birds were breeding nicely including Purple Swamphen and Dusky Moorhen. White-winged Triller and Little Friarbird were common, and a party of 10 Zebra Finches was seen west of Helidon feeding roadside with Double-barred Finches.
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Broad-billed Sandpiper, Lewin's Rail at Yandina Creek Wetlands

November 17, 2014, 7:58 pm
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Broad-billed Ssndpiper
The Yandina Creek Wetlands continue to surprise, with Broad-billed Sandpiper and Baillon's Crake added to the growing list of interesting species found here today, and Lewin's Rail showing nicely.

Broad-billed Sandpiper
Broad-billed Sandpiper
The Sunshine Coast has little freshwater wetland habitat that is suitable for migratory shorebirds, so it was good to see decent numbers of shorebirds at Yandina Creek. About 120 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers were feeding among reed stubble on exposed mud along with 4 Curlew Sandpipers, 2 Red-necked Stints, 2 Marsh Sandpipers, 10 Japanese Snipe and best of all, a single Broad-billed Sandpiper - a scarce species in south-east Queensland. The Broad-billed was quite distant unfortunately so the images here were the best I could manage.

Marsh Sandpiper
Among other waders, about 70 Red-kneed Dotterels were present. An unusually large number (150+) of this inland species turned up early last year at the eastern extremity of Yandina Creek Wetlands (see here). I thought all but a handful were long gone, but not so.

Red-kneed Dotterel
I staked out a nice-looking piece of mud edge on the fringe of a reed bed. Here I saw 2 Lewin's Rail, with one bird showing well and repeatedly, though typically not allowing itself to be photographed; the image here is from the files.

Lewin's Rail
I also had stunning views of several Spotless Crakes, and saw a single Baillon's Crake - the first record of this species for the wetlands.


Spotless Crake

Buff-banded Rail
Several Buff-banded Rails were patrolling the same stretch of mud.

Little Grassbird
Little Grassbirds were foraging around the reed bed edges.

White-breasted Woodswallow juvenile
A pair of White-breasted Woodswallows were attending two well-developed young.

Site for Lewin's Rail, Buff-banded Rail, Spotless Crake, Baillon's Crake
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council has replied to my submission asking that the privately owned wetlands be acquired and managed as a reserve. The council advised that its reserve acquisition program is being reviewed in the wake of the recent separation from the council of Noosa Shire; the submission would be “kept on file and assessed”. I pointed out that the wetlands are much more extensive and productive than I had previously thought, and suggested that the council survey the area. (Last year, the council rejected submissions that it acquire Lot 2,River Road for a reserve, but we now know that Lot 2 constitutes just the eastern extremity of the wetlands.)


Buff-banded Rail
Full list of bird seen is here.





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Little Bittern Back at Parklakes; Asian Dowitcher Still at Toorbull

November 21, 2014, 6:59 pm
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Australian Little Bittern
A male Australian Little Bittern has returned to the Parklakes wetlands at Bli Bli on the Sunshine Coast. A pair were in residence here last summer (see here) when they successfully raised a single chick.

Australian Little Bittern
There is some debate about whether the species is generally a summer migrant in south-east Queensland as winter records are few; none have been seen at Parklakes since April. I've had one also recently at the nearby Yandina Creek Wetlands (see here).

Buff-banded Rail
Baillon's Crake
With dry conditions continuing in the region, extensive areas of mud are exposed are Parklakes. I saw 1 Spotless Crake, 1 Baillon's Crake and 1 Buff-banded Rail, while Latham's Snipe showed nicely with about 10 seen.

Latham's Snipe
Little Egret and Intermediate Egret were looking good in breeding plumage.

Little Egret

Intermediate Egret
At Bli Bli, a Rufous Fantail was difficult to resist.

Rufous Fantail
I visited the wader roost at Toorbul at high tide late last week and found a single Asian Dowitcher among the hundreds of Bar-tailed Godwits and smaller numbers of Black-tailed Godwits and Great Knots. I saw a dowitcher here last January and it has been seen by quite a few observers since at various times of the year; presumably it has overwintered here.

Asian Dowitcher

Bar-tailed Godwits
After Toorbul I moved on to Dowse Lagoon at Sandgate where I saw a Wood Sandpiper and a Pectoral Sandpiper which have been present there for several days.

Wood Sandpiper


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Grey Goshawk Nesting Again; More From Yandina Creek Wetlands

December 2, 2014, 12:56 pm
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Grey Goshawk Nestling
A pair of Grey Goshawks nested successfully this time last year in a tall creekside eucalypt in vine scrub near Cooroy (see here). I checked the nest out earlier this season but there was no sign of the birds nesting again. However, I have located a new nest about 100 metres north of the old one, and again, a single chick has been raised.

Grey Goshawk on Nest
The old nest looks to be in perfectly good condition so I'm unsure why the birds elected to build afresh in what looks to be a much more flimsy situation. The chick found this week was slightly more advanced in plumage than the one found at the same time last year.

Black-necked Stork
An adult female Black-necked Stork was flying overhead near Eumundi.

White-winged Triller
A male White-winged Triller was present at the Yandina Creek Wetlands, where the rollcall of interesting birds continues to expand - see here for further information about this excellent spot, which we are trying to get protected. The triller is rarely recorded on the Sunshine Coast.

Black-tailed Godwit & Sharp-tailed Sandpipers
Also at the wetlands was a group of 8 Black-tailed Godwits, another species rarely recorded in the region. A single Swamp Harrier was also unusual at this time of year.

Tree Martins

Tree Martin

Tree Martin
A flock of about 1,000 Tree Martins was concentrated in a few dead acacias at the wetlands. It is unusual to see such a large concentration of this species in south-east Queensland. One or two Fairy Martins were among them.   The full list from this visit is here.

Green Tree-Frog
Dry conditions in the region continue but 25mm of storm rain brought out a Green Tree-Frog in the Ninderry garden.

Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove
Also in the garden, a pair of Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves in the  big fruiting fig were unusual visitors.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Pheasant-Cuckoo
While other garden visitors include Pheasant-Coucal and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.
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Sunshine Coast Pelagic Trip December 2014

December 6, 2014, 11:44 am
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Black Petrel
A Black Petrel and good numbers of Tahiti Petrel were the highlights of a pelagic trip off Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday December 6, 2014. Conditions were calm as we departed the Mooloolaba Marina at 6.30am but we soon encountered the swell associated with several days of stiff northerlies off the coast as we headed east.

Black Petrel

Black Petrel
A few Wedge-tailed Shearwaters were all that we encountered before arriving at the edge of the shelf at 9am in 300 metres, 32 nautical miles offshore (26.36.76'S: 153.43.70'E). It remained overcast and warm (maximum 30 degrees) for the day with frequent showers, a swell of 1.3-1.6 metres, and a steady northerly blowing at 14-16 knots, gusting to 20 knots at times.

Black Petrel

Black Petrel
We saw our first Tahiti Petrel as soon as began laying a trail of shark liver berley. Others appeared soon after and good numbers of Tahiti Petrels were about the boat for the rest of the time we were on the shelf. We drifted in a south-easterly direction with the current.

Tahiti Petrel
At about 11am a Black Petrel appeared over the boat. The first of its species to be seen on a Sunshine Coast pelagic, the bird was to come and go over the next hour. Interestingly, the petrel - possibly a first year bird - had an aluminium band on its right leg. The only other birds seen off the shelf were Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and an occasional Crested Tern.

Tahiti Petrel

Tahiti Petrel
A nice pod of 4 Short-finned Pilot Whales circuited the boat a couple of times and a Manta Ray appeared on the surface. We drifted 6 nautical miles and were 34nm offshore when we started heading back at 12.30pm, a little earlier than planned due to the unsettled conditions.

Short-finned Pilot Whale
Large numbers of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and a pod of Offshore Bottle-nosed Dolphins were seen on our way back. We returned to the marina at 3pm.

PARTICIPANTS: Lachlan Tuckwell (skipper), Greg Roberts (organiser), Louise Ashton, Sarah Beavis, Karen Blake, Chris Burwell, Jo Culican, Kim Cumes, Rachel Cumes, Pieter de Groot Boersma, Janine de La Begassiere, Nikolas Haass, Christine Heisler, Elliot Leach.

SPECIES: Total (Maximum at One Time)

Black Petrel 1 (1)
Tahiti Petrel 60 (12)
Wedge-tailed Shearwater 200 (30)
Crested Tern 6 (2)
Pied Cormorant 2 (1)

Short-finned Pilot Whale 4 (3)
Offshore Bottle-nosed Dolphin 6 (4)


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Yandina Creek Wetlands: The Case for Conservation

December 13, 2014, 8:54 pm
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YANDINA CREEK WETLANDS - A CONSERVATION CASE

Australian Painted-Snipe: Endangered Species
INTRODUCTION

The Yandina Creek Wetlands, a short distance inland from Coolum Beach on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, has emerged as an environmental site of statewide and potentially national importance. The presence of an unusually diverse array of rare, threatened and difficult-to-find birds in the wetlands and associated grasslands provides a compelling case for their protection as a reserve.

A proposal is before the Sunshine Coast Regional Council (Nomination Number R100) to acquire three properties (Lots 3 and 4 RP148079 and 2RP107173) that cover the wetlands - totalling about 200 hectares - under the council's Environmental Levy Plan. The owners of the two biggest properties (Lots 3 and 4RP148079) have indicated their intention to drain the wetlands to recover the land for farming, probably cattle. The purpose of this report is to indicate the potential implications of any such move under federal and state environmental legislation, and under local government planning regulations, and to advance the case for conserving the area.

Yandina Creek Wetlands: Looking West to Mt Ninderry
The Yandina Creek Wetlands are on former sugar cane land that has not been farmed for 10 years. The wetlands have been created in part because they are replenished by tidal flooding from the Maroochy River through a maze of canals that criss-cross the properties; this appears to have happened because flood gates and sluices have not been maintained since sugar farming ceased. Although in part created artificially, the wetlands and grasslands have effectively replaced habitat which occurred naturally in the area before the development of cane farms. The canals and flood gates provide an excellent opportunity to now manage the wetlands as a viable habitat in the future.

BIRDLIFE

The bird list for the wetlands is impressive (see a full list of species at the end of this report). Species that are considered to be rare or uncommon in Australia that occur there include Australian Painted-Snipe, Australian Little Bittern, Eastern Grass Owl and King Quail. The area contains one of the highest densities of Eastern Grass Owl in southern Queensland, with several pairs resident.

Grey Goshawk: Near Threatened
Birds that are rare, uncommon or localised in south-east Queensland that frequent or visit the wetlands include Brolga, Black-necked Stork, Spotless Crake, Baillon's Crake, Red-necked Avocet, Red-kneed Dotterel, Bush Stone-Curlew, Large-tailed Nightjar, Red-backed Buttonquail and Black-tailed Native-hen. Several of these species have been seen in the Sunshine Coast region only at this site. The record of Large-tailed Nightjar constitutesa southern extension of range for this species.

Birds considered to be more generally scarce in Queensland seen at the Yandina Creek Wetlands include Australian Spotted Crake, Grey Goshawk, Peregrine Falcon and Spotted Harrier. The wetlands and grasslands in the area at times host a large number of birds of prey when populations of native rodents (Rattus lutreolus and Rattus tunneyi)are present.

Variety of Waterbirds at Yandina Creek Wetlands
Eleven species of migratory shore birds frequent the wetlands, with a population at times totalling several hundred: Pacific Golden Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Latham's Snipe, Curlew Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper, Ruddy TurnstoneandBlack-tailed Godwit. Unusually large numbers of Marsh Sandpiper and Latham's Snipe occur there. Broad-billed Sandpiper is regarded as one of the rarer migratory shorebirds that visit Australian shores. Flocks of 100 or more Pacific Golden Plover are recorded.

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT

Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, the Australian Government is required to prevent actions that have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance. Two such matters pertain to the Yandina Creek Wetlands: the occurrence of Australian Painted-Snipe; and the occurrence of 11 species of migratory shorebird.

The Australian Painted-Snipe has been recorded several times at the Yandina Creek Wetlands, with as many as seven birds present at one time. Areas of flooded stubble and exposed mud interspersed with extensive reed-beds provide excellent habitat for this cryptic bird. The species is listed as Endangered under the federal legislation, rendering it a matter of national environmental significance.

To ensure the conservation of migratory shorebirds, the Australian Government has fostered international co-operation through three Migratory Bird Agreements - with Japan, China and South Korea. Australia is also a signatory to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention); the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands; and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership. These international agreements commit Australia to take appropriate measures to preserve, restore and enhance the environment of migratory birds. The Commonwealth has international obligations to seek means to prevent damage to populations of migratory shorebirds.

Pacific Golden Plover: Migrtory Shorebird
The Yandina Creek Wetlands provide refuge to 11 of the 33 migratory shorebird species covered by these agreements that are regarded as a matter of national environmental significance. The wetlands are the most significant brackish water and freshwater site for migratory shorebirds (and other waterbirds) in the Sunshine Coast region and one of the most important in south-east Queensland.

Under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, an action that will or is likely to have a significant impact on a matter of national environmental significance requires the approval of the federal Environment Minister. Any such action must undergo an environmental assessment and approval process. Penalties for taking such action without approval are substantial: a fine of up to $5.5 million and up to 7 years jail. Significant impact criteria under the act for endangered species includes any action that would modify, destroy or decrease the availability of habitat to the extent that the species is likely to decline.

The federal Environment Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment have been asked to require the undertaking of an environmental assessment and approval process before any proposal for the Yandina Creek Wetlands to be drained and developed proceeds. This assessment would attempt to determine the potential impacts on the two matters of national environmental significance pertaining to the area. Those in agreement with this course of action are invited to write to:

Hon Greg Hunt,
Minister for the Environment,
PO Box 274,
Hastings, VIC, 3915.
Greg.Hunt.MP@aph.gov.au

Senator Simon Birmingham,
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment,
107 Sir Donald Bradman Drive,
Hilton SA 5033.
senator.birmingham@aph.gov.au

QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT

The Queensland Government appears to have a responsibility to examine plans to drain and develop the Yandina Creek Wetlands under the Nature Conservation Act. The wetlands provide habitat for the above-mentioned Australian Painted Snipe, a species listed as Vulnerable under the state act, and for three species listed as Near Threatened: Lewin's Rail, Grey Goshawk and Black-necked Stork. The population of Lewin's Rail in the wetlands is relatively large, with an estimated 12-15 breeding pairs.

Broken Canal Flood Gate: Yandina Creek Wetlands
Under state legislation, the proposed management intent for Vulnerable wildlife includes action to ensure viable populations are preserved or re-established, and for effective measures to mitigate any adverse impact of activities on the wildlife. The management intent for Near Threatened wildlife includes putting into effect strategies to address any threats to the conservation of the wildlife. The management intent for both Vulnerable and Near Threatened wildlife includes action to protect the critical habitat, or the areas of major interest, for the wildlife.

The Queensland Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection has been asked to examine plans to drain and develop the Yandina Creek Wetlands to ensure that they would have no impacts on the Vulnerable and Near Threatened wildlife species that occur there. Those in agreement with this course of action are invited to write to:

Hon Andrew Powell,
Queensland Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection,
GPO Box 2454,
BRISBANE QLD 4001.

PLANNING AND SUNSHINE COAST REGIONAL COUNCIL

The properties covering the wetlands are zoned Regional Landscape and Rural Production under the South-East Queensland Regional Plan, so they can not be subdivided. They are zoned Rural by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.

The council plans for the properties include a series of overlays which potentially restrict development plans. These include three Land Subject to Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands overlays. Designated overlays of Native Vegetation and Wetland cover about 30 per cent of Lot 3RP148079 - the largest of the three properties. As well, about 40 per cent of 3RP is covered by a Riparian Protection Area overlay, as is approximately 10 per cent of Lot 4RP148079, and 50 per cent of Lot 2RP107173. Much of this land is also subject to an Acid Sulfate Soils overlay. The overlay maps can be accessed here..

Yandina Creek: Northern Boundary of Wetlands

The designated area covered by the overlays, especially on 3RP, includes some of the richest habitat of wetland and grassland - along with some of the densest concentrations of waterbirds - on the properties.

Council guidelines say the purpose of the Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands overlays is to ensure that any development protects and enhances ecologically important areas. Any development should protect known populations and supporting habitat of rare and threatened species listed under the above-mentioned state and Commonwealth laws. Any development should be located and managed to avoid or minimise adverse impacts on ecological systems.

The council's Criteria for Assessable Development says that rural use on property should not be located on land identified as being a wetland or waterway on a Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands overlay. The proposed draining and development of the Yandina Creek Wetlands may have impacts for the land identified by the council as wetland.

According to the council's Development Services Department, the council is not concerned about whether the wetlands are natural or human-modified. Any development that threatened designated wetlands or native vegetation areas would be in the breach of the Town Plan. A complaint can be lodged against any such development and that complaint would trigger a council investigation. However, landholders may be able to prove an Existing Use on farmland, which could exempt them from some provisions, even if the land has been fallow for several years.

The Sunshine Coast Mayor has been asked to approve the proposal to acquire the three properties at issue under the council's Environment Levy Plan (Nomination Number R100) so they may protected as a reserve. The mayor has also been asked to examine the proposed drainage and development of the Yandina Creek Wetlands to ensure that any such activity would have no impacts on areas designated as wetlands, native vegetation and riparian protection. Those in agreement with this course of action are invited to write to:

Councillor Mark Jamieson,
Mayor,
Sunshine Coast Regional Council,
Locked Bag 72,
Sunshine Coast Mail Centre QLD 4560.

LANDHOLDERS

The largest area of land embracing the wetland – Lots 3 and 4RP148079 – is owned by a Sunshine Coast family which owns other properties in the region.

A number of individuals and environmental and birding organising have expressed support for moves to protect the wetlands. The family has been asked to consider allowing a survey of the site to be undertaken by a team of visiting experts; such a survey would attempt to paint a wider picture of the fauna and flora occurring on the properties. A family spokesman says the family is considering whether to grant permission for the survey to proceed.

The family says it is their intention to develop the properties as farmland, probably for cattle, which they are running on their other property holdings in the area. However, the family has not ruled out accepting a financial offer to acquire the wetland properties for conservation purposes. The family is in agreement with those supporting protection of the wetlands for conservation plans to proceed in a spirit of mutual co-operation and respect.

SUGAR CANE FARMS AND WETLANDS

In 2003, the Moreton sugar mill in Nambour closed, removing a market for the district’s 120 cane
growers who had been harvesting cane from almost 10,000 hectares of farmland in the Sunshine Coast area. According to Future Use of Sunshine Coast Cane Landscapes, a 2006 report commissioned by SEQ Catchments from the CSIRO, most of the land – about 7,000 hectares – is flood-prone and poorly drained, limiting farming opportunities for landholders. The report says the future of the cane lands rests in part with the conversion of former cane land to wetlands for the purpose of addressing draining and flooding issues, while at the same time achieving biodiversity outcomes.
Waterfowl Flying Over Yandina Creek Wetlands
The report says: “Maintaining or restoring wetlands is an important opportunity associated with any future land use change. Improved wetland management provides significant opportunities for increased ecosystem services from the cane landscapes. Apart from retaining or enhancing the essential regulatory services for water within the floodplains, provisioning through fish habitats, nature-based educational opportunities could be expanded. There is a promising potential for re-instating wetlands or creating artificial wetlands (compatible with local conservation and land use values) for waste water polishing.” The report can be found here.

The conversion of sugar cane land to wetlands – or the reversion of farmland to its original state as wetlands - has occurred widely in Queensland and north-east NSW. For instance, Vine and Rita Papale, cane farmers in the Burdekin region of north Queensland, successfully converted part of their farm to wetlands with financial assistance from the Commonwealth after finding they were losing areas of cane to flooding.

THE FUTURE

If the Yandina Creek Wetlands are acquired as a reserve, some management issues could be addressed. The prolific growth of exotic weeds, especially groundsel, needs to be checked. A population of feral dogs is using the wetlands as a refuge; a dead Black-necked Stork was found recently in a feral dog lair. Flows from tidal canals may need adjusting at times through sluices and flood gates to ensure water supply to the wetlands is maintained. Regrowth of Melaleuca and Allocasurina trees may need to be controlled in more elevated areas.

Black-necked Stork Remains in Feral Dog Lair: Yandina Creek Wetlands
A network of old farming roads could be upgraded to walking tracks to allow public access to an area that is aesthetically pleasing - with the dramatic backdrops to the wetlands of Mt Coolum to the east and Mt Ninderry to the west – as well as biologically significant.

If the wetlands are acquired by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, they could be added to the adjoining Coolum Creek Conservation Park, which borders Yandina Creek in the south and Coolum Creek in the north. This conservation park, although extensive, is dominated by densely vegetated Melaleuca and Allocasuarina woodland with few open wetland or grassland areas, and little habitat that is suitable for waterbirds.

Should the council decline the acquisition proposal for the wetlands, other options to purchase the properties can be explored.

Azure Kingfisher at Yandina Creek Wetlands


BIRD SPECIES LIST – YANDINA CREEK WETLANDS

Australasian Grebe
Little Pied Cormorant
Pied Cormorant
Little Black Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Australian Darter
Australian Pelican
White-faced Heron
Little Egret
White-necked Heron
Great Egret
Intermediate Egret
Cattle Egret
Striated Heron
Nankeen Night-heron
Australian Little Bittern
Black-necked Stork
Glossy Ibis
Australian White Ibis
Straw-necked Ibis
Royal Spoonbill
Yellow-billed Spoonbill
Magpie Goose
Plumed Whistling-duck
Wandering Whistling-duck
Black Swan
Australian Wood Duck
Grey Teal
Chestnut Teal
Pacific Black Duck
Hardhead
Australian Black-shouldered Kite
Black Kite
Whistling Kite
Brahminy Kite
White-bellied Sea-eagle
Swamp Harrier
Spotted Harrier
Grey Goshawk
Brown Goshawk
Collared Sparrowhawk
Osprey
Brown Falcon
Nankeen Kestrel
Australian Hobby
Peregrine Falcon
Brown Quail
King Quail
Red-backed Buttonquail
Buff-banded Rail
Lewin's Rail
Baillon's Crake
Australian Spotted Crake
Spotless Crake
Purple Swamphen
Dusky Moorhen
Eurasian Coot
Black-tailed Native-hen
Brolga
Australian Painted-snipe
Black-winged Stilt
Red-necked Avocet
Bush Stone-curlew
Pacific Golden Plover
Lesser Sand Plover
Red-kneed Dotterel
Black-fronted Dotterel
Masked Lapwing
Latham's Snipe
Black-tailed Godwit
Marsh Sandpiper
Common Greenshank
Red-necked Stint
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Broad-billed Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Caspian Tern
Whiskered Tern
Crested Pigeon
Bar-shouldered Dove
Pale-headed Rosella
Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo
Galah
Rainbow Lorikeet
Brush Cuckoo
Fan-tailed Cuckoo
Eastern Koel
Channel-billed Cuckoo
Pheasant Coucal
Eastern Grass-owl
Southern Boobook
Tawny Frogmouth
Large-tailed Nightjar
White-throated Needletail
Azure Kingfisher
Laughing Kookaburra
Forest Kingfisher
Sacred Kingfisher
Rainbow Bee-eater
Dollarbird
Red-backed Fairywren
Striated Pardalote
White-browed Scrubwren
Brown Thornbill
Mangrove Gerygone
White-throated Gerygone
Scarlet Honeyeater
Brown Honeyeater
Lewin's Honeyeater
Little Friarbird
Noisy Friarbird
Noisy Miner
Eastern Yellow Robin
Golden Whistler
Rufous Whistler
Grey Shrike-thrush
Eastern Whipbird
Welcome Swallow
Tree Martin
Fairy Martin
Australasian Pipit
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
White-winged Triller
Cicadabird
Golden-headed Cisticola
Tawny Grassbird
Little Grassbird
Australian Reed-warbler
Willie-wagtail
Grey Fantail
Rufous Fantail
Leaden Flycatcher
Mistletoebird
Silver-eye
Olive-backed Oriole
Australalsian Figbird
Spangled Drongo
Torresian Crow
White-breasted Woodswallow
Grey Butcherbird
Pied Butcherbird
Australasian Magpie
Magpie-lark
Red-browed Finch
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin


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Coxen's Fig-Parrot: Does It Live?

December 19, 2014, 9:48 pm
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Coxen's Fig-Parrot
Does the coxeni race of the Double-eyed Fig-Parrot - quite possibly a distinct species - still exist, or is it extinct? An intriguing sighting of a group of small, green parrots in the Sunshine Coast hinterland recently has again sparked hopes that the parrot may indeed survive. A local observer watched the birds for several minutes high in a Ficus tree in the Tuchekoi area of the Mary River Valley in early-December.

The observer, who does not want to be identified, watched the parrots feeding on figs through 10x binoculars and a 16x rifle scope (used for feral animal control) on a privately owned farm. He believed 3 or 4 birds were in the tree. The birds were described as tiny, green parrots with no visible head colouration, but bright blue wing flashes were noted on several occasions although the birds were quite distant. It is this feature which makes the observation particularly interesting. The patches of red and blue on the face of Coxen's Fig-Parrot are not nearly as obvious as they are in the northern races of Double-eyed Fig-Parrot (and are much duller than in the painting above); they could have been overlooked easily at some distance. However, the blue wing flashes - and the observer is adamant they were seen - are hard to ascribe to anything else. The sighting of the birds feeding on figs is also significant; this has been rarely reported in claimed records of Coxen's Fig-Parrot in recent times.

Fruit and leaves from parrot feeding tree
The observer says Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves were also feeding on figs in the tree. He collected and photographed the remains of small figs from the ground below where the birds were feeding. The identity of the farm property is not being revealed by the observer as it is presently subject to an intensive feral animal control program. The tree was in a patch of vine scrub in farm pasture in a stretch of the Mary River Valley where good numbers of Ficus trees remain. When I visited the general area (not the property) this morning, I saw plenty of Australasian Figbirds and a good sprinkling of other birds feeding on figs including Barred Cuckoo-shrike, Channel-billed Cuckoo and Eastern Koel.



Tree where Fig-Parrots were possibly seen
There have been no authenticated records of Coxen's Fig-Parrot for about 25 years or so. None of numerous claimed sightings over that time have been able to be confirmed by photographs or follow-up observations, leading to speculation that the bird may be extinct in its habitat of lowland rainforest in south-east Queensland and north-east NSW. This latest may well well prove to be yet another unconfirmed sighting, but Sunshine Coast birders and people visiting the region might want to keep an eye out. There are a number of unconfirmed sightings of Coxen's Fig-Parrot from the Mary River Valley region since the 1980s as well as historic records.

Paradise Riflebird
From Tuchekoi I moved on to an excellent area of lowland rainforest along Cedar Creek Road in the western foothills of the Blackall Range. Of interest here was a nicely performing Paradise Riflebird and a pair of Lewin's Rail in creekside vegetation. Plenty of Wompoo and Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves were about.


Paradise Riflebird
More common fare in open areas nearby around Belli Park included Red-browed Finch and Red-backed Fairy-wren.

Red-backed Fairy-wren

Red-browed Finch




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Sunshine Coast Daily: Yandina Creek Wetlands Coverege

January 1, 2015, 7:42 pm
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Yandina Creek Wetlands
.Article in sunshine coast daily regarding yandina creek wetlands
.letter from federal environment minister greg hunt
Wetlands battle heating up

Scott Sawyer

 | 1st Jan 2015 7:22 AM

ENVIRONMENTALISTS have upped the ante over a Yandina Creek wetland site, pushing
for the local, state or federal government to step in and acquire the diverse land for 
preservation so it is not used for agricultural activity, such as grazing.

Local bird expert Greg Roberts has submitted a report to Sunshine Coast Council 
calling on it to acquire the almost-200ha site under its environmental levy scheme.

He said the three properties that made up the site, and adjoined existing
council-preserved land, were home to a plethora of rare and endangered birds 
- including the painted snipe - and a huge number of migratory shore birds.

Mr Roberts described the land as an area of national environmental significance.

"Developing that area as a cattle farm would be disastrous, there's no doubt about
that," Mr Roberts said. He also has approached the state and federal environment 
ministers.

A spokesman for Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt said he was unaware of 
any proposals to develop the site, but if plans were submitted they would be subject
to full environmental assessments, including obligations under the Environmental 
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

According to a council spokesman, however, there is no obligation on the landowners
to notify of any change of use on the land in the event it is to be used for cattle farming,
given its rural zoning.

"All three lots are in the rural zone under the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme," the
council spokesman said.

"In this zone both animal husbandry (which would include the grazing of cows) and 
cropping (which would include cane growing) are self-assessable uses and no material
change of use application or environmental assessment is required."

Mr Roberts said he could not understand how the former cane land, could be turned
into cattle grazing land, given the designated wetlands there under the council's
mapping.

Last week one of the three land owners said he would need to meet the other two
owners before making comment, and be willing to discuss the matter in the new year.



COMMENT
The suggestion by the council that any future rural land use for the properties is 
"self-assessable" appears to be in conflict with the council's own planning regulations.
 Map overlays for the properties clearly identify significant areas of land as being designated
 native vegetation, wetlands or riparian protection. Council guidelines make it clear that such
 areas are supposed to be protected.

Yandina Creek Wetlands
LETTER FROM GREG HUNT, FEDERAL ENVIRONMENT MINISTER
The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Minister for the Environment
Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600 Telephone (02) 6277 7920 
December 24, 2014
Mr Greg Roberts
Dear Mr Roberts
I refer to your email of 14 December 2014 concerning a proposal by property owners to drain
the Yandina Creek Wetlands, on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, and redevelop them for
cattle grazing.
The Australian Government is committed to protecting and improving the conservation of Australia’s
threatened species and has a role in regulating actions that may impact on defined items of Australia’s
natural and cultural heritage (called matters of ‘national environmental significance). These items
are listed 

and protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the Act) and
include for example, listed species threatened at the national level, and certain migratory species,
among others.

Actions that are likely to have a significant impact on any of the matters protected by the Act require
consideration by the Australian Government. This is in addition to the normal assessment and approval
process administered by state and local governments.
I note your concerns in relation to this matter. I have asked the Compliance and Enforcement Branch
of the Department of the Environment to examine whether the proposal is likely to impact on any 
matters protected by the Act and require referral to the Australian Government for consideration and, 
if so, to ensure that any such requirement is met.
Thank you for writing on this matter.
Yours sincerely
Greg Hunt
COMMENT
When told of the council's advice that a development application would not be needed
for plans to drain the wetlands and redevelop the area for cattle grazing,

Greg Hunt advised me further:
The [Commonwealth legislation] applies on the basis of consequences.
If an action is likely to have a significant impact on a matter of national importance,
then the Act will apply.
See here for the full report submitted to the Australian and Queensland
governments, 

and the Sunshine Coast Council.
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Sooty Owl, Little Bittern, Marbled Frogmouth, Rainforest Frogs on a Warm Summer Evening

January 4, 2015, 3:21 pm
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Sooty Owl
Sooty Owl, Marbled Frogmouth and some delightful rainforest frogs were the highlights of an evening in Mapleton National Park in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Australian Little Bittern
Earlier, I headed off in the late afternoon with Susie Lycett and Fiona Anderson to Parklakes at Bli Bli, where the male Australian Little Bittern that has been around for a few weeks again showed well. It was on the first lake, closest to the Yandina-Bli Bli Road, where I've not seen it before. I managed to get close to the bird while it was in a classic bittern freeze-mode, doing a better job of looking like a stick that the image suggests.

Marbled Frogmouth
 We headed up into the Blackall Range where the first of 4 Greater Gliders for the evening was spotted just after sunset. Two Sugar Gliders were also seen during the evening. Further along the road in Mapleton National Park, it didn't take much effort for a female Marbled Frogmouth to show at a favoured haunt for this species.

Australian Owlet-Nightjar
We also managed good views of an Australian Owlet-Nightjar after some effort.

Eastern Stony Creek Frog

Orange-eyed Tree Frog
Plenty of wet weather lately so great conditions for rainforest frogs. Good numbers of Eastern Stony Creek Frog (Litoria wilcoxii) were out and about, with the males brightly yellow-green and several pairs in amplexus. Nice to see quite a few Orange-eyed Tree-Frogs (Litoria chloris). Other frogs included large numbers of Great Barred River Frogs (Mixophyes fasciatus), Brown-striped Marsh-frog (Limnodynastes peronii), Eastern Sedge-Frog (Litoria fallax), Pearson's Tree-Frog (L. pearsoniana) and Peron's Tree Frog (Litoria peronii). Cane toads were surprisingly and pleasantly few in number up in the forest.

We moved further up the road and eventually tracked down a fine Sooty Owl roadside (first image in this post). This species is difficult in the Blackall Range, being easier to see in the nearby Conondale Range.

In other local critter news, pairs of both Lewin's Rail and Pale-vented Bush-hen have returned to one of their favoured haunts, at North Arm. Spotless Crakes have moved into both the small artificially created wetlands in the Coolum industrial estate.

Brush Cuckoo
In the home garden, cuckoos have been particularly conspicuous this summer, with large numbers of noisy Eastern Koels and plenty of Brush Cuckoos about.

Eastern Koel

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Cruising the Pacific from Oz to New Zealand: Pycroft's Petrel and Other Seabirds

January 31, 2015, 4:39 pm
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Wandering Albatross
Nice seabirds seen during a two-week cruise from Brisbane to New Zealand and back included Pycroft's Petrel (the highlight); White-bellied  and White-faced Storm-Petrels; Black and White-chinned Petrels; Northern Royal and Buller's Albatross; Red-tailed and White-tailed Tropicbirds; Red-footed Booby; White, Sooty, White-fronted and Bridled Terns; Black-winged, White-necked, Kermadec, Gould's, Mottled and Cook's Petrels; Common Diving-Petrel; Broad-billed and Fairy Prions; and Little Shearwater.

Great-winged Petrel
We indulged in a two-week sojourn aboard the cruise ship Sea Princess, departing Brisbane on  January 13 and returning on January 27. Our route took us directly from Brisbane to the north end of New Zealand, where we veered south down the North Island's east coast. The ship called in at Auckland and Tauranga before turning into Cook Strait to visit Wellington. We then proceeded down the east coast of the South Island, visiting Akaroa and Dunedin, before heading west through the Foveaux Srait to Fiordland in the island's south-west. Our return route took us directly north-west from Milford Sound across the Tasman Sea to Brisbane. Weather conditions generally were uncharacteristically fine and mild for all but one day. Apologies in advance for the poor quality of some of these images but birds were often distant.

Great-winged Petrel
We had a stateroom with a balcony on the 11th floor deck, affording wide views of the ocean. As well, I spent a good deal of time watching from the ship at lower decks near sea level. Unfortunately, most of the cruising in New Zealand waters was at night. This post will focus on seabirds; further offerings will cover scenic attractions and other information about the cruise.

January 14. We were well outside Australian territorial waters during our first full day at sea after leaving Brisbane late the previous afternoon. A Gould's Petrel was identified close to the ship in the early morning. Many other small Pterodromas that day went unidentified - a pattern to be repeated throughout the trip as these small, fast-flying petrels are not easily identified from big ships unless they are close. The first of many Great-winged Petrels appeared; this species proved to be common on both transects of the Tasman Sea and in waters all around New Zealand. Almost all were of the New Zealand-breading race gouldi; however, a couple of the race macroptera were seen on the return leg in the Tasman Sea. A few Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and a couple of Flesh-footed Shearwaters were also seen on Day One of the cruise, and just before sunset, a single Sooty Tern flew over the ship.

Northern Royal Albatross
January 15. Several Black-winged Petrels were seen quite well as we continued our journey east. More Wedge-tailed and Flesh-footed Shearwaters were about in small numbers. The first and only Pomarine Jaeger for the trip was noted and a Northern Royal Albatross graced the horizon as the vessel approached New Zealand.

Buller's Shearwater
January 16. A memorable day. We could see the northern end of Ninety-Mile Beach on New Zealand's North Island at first light and the approach to land was accompanied by a sharp rise in bird numbers. Great-winged Petrels were numerous and the first Shy Albatross (apparently race steadi) appeared. As we rounded the top end of the North Island, the ship was accompanied by large numbers of Buller's Shearwaters and Cook's Petrels.

Australasian Gannet
Our first Little Shearwater appeared along with small numbers of Fluttering Shearwaters and Fairy Prions. As we steamed down the eastern coast of the North Island, there were numerous White-faced Storm-Petrels, Cook's Petrels, Buller's Shearwaters, Fairy Prions and Australasian Gannets.

Pycroft's Petrel off Poor Knights Islands
Cook's Petrel off Poor Knights Islands
About 10 nautical miles off the Poor Knights Islands, east of Kaeo, I saw from 6 to 8 Pycroft's Petrels. The islands are one of the few breeding sites for this rare New Zealand species. I saw the Pycroft's Petrels over a period of about 15 minutes as the ship covered a distance of a few kilometres. Plenty of Cook's Petrels were about and the two species could be seen together close to the ship. The differences were quite apparent. Pycroft's appeared notably more bull-headed (a feature described as thick-necked by other observers) and was much darker on the upperparts. The M marking on the upperparts was less marked than in Cook's. The conspicuous eye patch of Cook's was essentially absent in Pycroft's, the eye markings of which were only marginally darker than the cap; Cook's generally appeared much more pale-headed with a somewhat smaller-looking head.

Black Petrel
Seabird numbers in good numbers continued to be seen as we entered Hauraki Gulf - mostly the species referred to above but several Black Petrels were noted along with a couple more Little Shearwaters and a few Common Diving-Petrels. A small black-and-white storm petrel was seen, but not not well enough to be identified. We berthed at Auckland that evening.

Kelp Gull
January 17. We were in Auckland all day, seeing the first of many Red-billed Gulls, Kelp Gulls and White-fronted Terns noted during the rest of our trip around coastal New Zealand.

Little Penguin
January 18. We were at sea at night before arriving in Tauranga. A Little Penguin was floating on the sea surface near the ship; many others were heard in coastal waters but this was my only sighting of this species. Other seabirds in the sheltered waters included Little Pied Cormorant and Little Pied Cormorant.

White-fronted Tern
January 19. Again, our sailing at sea was at night before we arrived in the port of Napier, where Great Cormorant was the only addition to the seabird list.

January 20. Most of the journey south of Napier was again at night but in the few hours of daylight in Cook Strait before arriving in Wellington we saw our first Hutton's Shearwaters and Sooty Shearwaters. Other birds included Shy Albatross, Fairy Prion and another Northern Royal Albatross.

January 21. More nocturnal travelling before reaching Akaroa, where Spotted Shag in large numbers was added to the list.

Northern Royal Albatross at Talaroa Head colony
January 22. We sailed again at night to reach Port Chalmers, near Dunedin. As we left the harbour in the late afternoon, about 60 Northern Royal Albatross were counted at their nesting ground at Talaroa Head. Large numbers of Stewart Island Shags were present here and we saw our first Buller's Albatross and the only Arctic Jaeger of the trip.

Buller's Albatross
January 23. We had a few hours of morning daylight in the western Foveaux Strait as we travelled westward, seeing many more Buller's Albatross and the first Wandering Albatross (antipodensis) of the trip. Of interest was the sighting of several Mottled Petrels and Broad-billed Prions at close quarters.

Shy Albatross
Cook's Petrels and Sooty Shearwaters were numerous, and a single Northern Giant-Petrel was seen.

January 24. After visiting Fiordland, we left Milford Sound for the return journey across the Tasman, seeing the only White-chinned Petrel of the trip along with small numbers of Buller's Shearwaters, Cook's Petrels and Shy Albatross. A small group of Short-tailed Shearwaters was unexpected as we proceeded westward, as were a couple of Black-winged Petrels.

Cook's Petrel - Foveaux Strait
January 25. This was the only windy day of the trip, gusting up to 45 knots with a 5m swell as we made our way across the central Tasman Sea in international waters. In the vicinity of 32' 21' 27' s, 159' 17' 49' e I saw 2 Red-tailed Tropicbirds, and soon after a single White-tailed Tropicbird. A third Red-tailed Tropicbird was seen over the ship 30 minutes or so later.

Red-tailed Tropicbird
Several Bridled Terns were seen in the same general area along with 3 Fregatta-type storm-petrels. One of these was seen well as in banked in full sunlight close the ship, clearing showing all-white underparts except for its dark throat; this bird was undeniably a White-bellied Storm-Petrel.

Wandering Albatross
Small numbers of Great-winged Petrels were the only other birds seen this day apart from a single Wandering Albatross (antipodensis).

Black-winged Petrel
January 26. This was the last day at sea and the only day sailing in daylight in Australian territorial waters. Birds were few but the species were good. A pale-phase Kermadec Petrel was seen about 110 nautical miles east of Coffs Harbour (about 29' 59' 22's, 155' 41' 42'e). Then a White-necked Petrel and a White Tern were seen at about the same time some 100 nautical miles east of Brooms Head, NSW (29' 43' 39's, 155' 40' 40e); the water depth here was about 4000 metres.

White-necked Petrel
A few Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and Great-winged Petrels were the only other birds seen this day before an immature intermediate-phase Red-footed Booby flew over the ship just on sunset about 60 nautical miles east of Surfers Paradise (about 28' 4' 71's, 154' 34' 39'e). We arrived in Brisbane early the next morning.

Red-footed Booby
SEABIRD SPECIES LIST: Little Penguin, Wandering Albatross, Northern Royal Albatross, Buller's Albatross, Shy Albatross, Northern Giant-Petrel, White-chinned Petrel, Black Petrel,  Pycroft's Petrel, Cook's Petrel, Black-winged Petrel, White-necked Petrel, Mottled Petrel, Broad-billed Prion, Fairy Prion, Hutton's Shearwater, Fluttering Shearwater, Little Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Short-tailed Shearwater, Buller's Shearwater, Common Diving-Petrel, White-faced Storm-Petrel, White-bellied Storm-Petrel, Red-footed Booby, Australasian Gannet, White-tailed Tropicbird, Red-tailed Tropicbird, Pied Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Spotted Shag, Stewart Island Shag, Red-billed Gull, Kelp Gull, White-fronted Tern, Gull-billed Tern, Arctic Jaeger, Pomarine Jaeger.
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On Fiordland, Kakapos and the Fine Art of Cruising Around New Zealand

February 3, 2015, 7:05 pm
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Dusky Sound, Fiordland
You might have been pondering the merits of indulging in an ocean cruise but never quite
taken the plunge? Well, there are worse ways to spend your time and money. I had been to New Zealand several times and on cruises before but combining the two seemed like a good idea, so we opted for a 14-day sojourn aboard the Sea Princess from January 13 to January 27 - departing from and returning to Brisbane,. That saved the bother of having to fly anywhere. Seabirds seen on the trip are discussed here with pics; this post looks at scenic attractions and the fine art of cruise vacationing.

Fiordland - Doubtful Sound
The highlight of the trip was the glorious scenery of the World Heritage-listed Fiordland National Park in the south-west of the South Island. I had visited Milford Sound twice previously but it is impossible to tire of that part of the world. On this cruise, in addition to Milford, the ship negotiated four other fiords - Dusky Sound and Breaksea Sound (in a south-north one-way diversion from the coast) and Doubtful Sound and Thompson Sound (negotiated in similar fashion further north).

With kakapo in 2002 - Codfish Island 
I was fortunate to have some memorable encounters with the kakapo - one of the world's rarest and most bizarre birds - in 2002 on Codfish Island, not far south of Fiordland (article here). On our cruise through Fiordland, we had on board a NZ Government wildlife expert who explained the significance of landmarks we passed. The flightless Kakapo was once widespread throughout New Zealand but was wiped out on the main islands by an onslaught of stoats and other feral pests. We were shown a spot high in the mountains above Milford Sound where the last of the species on the South Island was seen in the early-1980s. We sailed past Resolution Island where almost a century earlier - in the 1890s - 200 kakapos were moved from the mainland in a bid to save them from foreign predators; the effort was in vain, all the birds were slaughtered within six years of stoats reaching the island in 1900.

Secretary Island in Fiordland
We hugged the eastern shore of Secretary Island where, we were told, exotic deer had been almost eliminated, with just five animals left to dispose of. Moves by the NZ authorities to rid these islands of introduced animals - and put in place management practices to ensure they are not recolonised - is the key to saving kakapo and other threatened wildlife; the New Zealanders are world leaders in the art. We admired the moss-laden beach forests of Anchor Island in Dusky Sound, where kakapos were liberated a decade ago after stoats were eradicated.

Fiordland Coast
A couple of small boats were the only signs of humanity during our time in these more isolated southern fiords. As we left them, we soaked up the splendour of the Fiordland coast as we steamed north towards Milford Sound past an endless panorama of sandy beaches, rocky outcrops, valleys of seemingly impenetrable forest, and snow-capped mountains.

Milford Sound
Milford Sound, the only one of the 14 fiords of Fiordland that can be reached by road, was busier than those further south, as expected, but the views were no less inspiring. This area has some of the highest rainfall in the world and often bad weather prevents cruise liners from accessing the fiords, but fortune had smiled upon us.

Milford Sound
Anyone opting to embark on a cruise needs to make sure they get a room with a balcony. You can watch the ocean and sites from the comfort of a bed, or look for seabirds whenever you feel like it from comfortable balcony chairs.) The staterooms themselves are large, air-conditioned and very comfortable.

Stateroom deck
Cruise stateroom
The cruise ship offers recreational activities ranging from bingo, card tournaments and open air movies to aerobatic classes, carpet bowls and photography lessons. For our part, we didn't bother with the three pools, spa, sauna or much else other than a couple of late night live shows performed by a Freddie Mercury impersonator with a lousy impersonation but luckily a fine voice.

Dinner Time
However, the food managed to command our interest. It's THE thing about cruises. There is an abundance of food at any time of day or night in all shapes and forms. A huge buffet for breakfast, lunch of dinner necessitate a degree of willpower. This was sadly lacking in many passengers whose main interest appeared to be shovelling as much tucker down their gob as time permitted.

Formal Wear Night
We opted for fine dining at a regular table at the same time each evening. Some truly memorable food was enjoyed - think beef wellington, lobster, partridge, fat king prawns - and the service was excellent. Two nights were designated Formal Wear; not usually my style but when in Rome....














Top deck pool, bar and restaurant area
Ship atrium
The Sea Princess is a huge beast. It took some time to work out how to negotiate its 14 levels. Essentially, the heart of the ship is the 4-level atrium; you kind of learn how to get there and back from your room and the rest is automatic pilot after a bit. Beware of the plastic card you are issued that allows you to chalk up expenses; ship salesmen are constantly hawking various wares and alcohol is not cheap. You are allowed to take on board just one bottle of wine per person, though the Web is full of advice for resourceful passengers seeking to boost stateroom liquor supplies.

Auckland
We were at sea for two days after leaving Brisbane before reaching the North Island. The first port of call was New Zealand's biggest city. Auckland cut a fine figure in a blaze of lights reflected on its splendid harbour as we berthed late in the evening. You can opt for one of the cruise's expensive onshore tours at any of the six land stops, or sign up for one much more cheaply at the local tourism bureau when you get off the boat. Or you may simply wander about and do what you want, which is what we did most of the time. Generally the ship is in port for a full day, allowing plenty of time to poke around. In Auckland we visited the Maritime Museum before wandering the city streets for a bit.

Mt Maunganui at Tauranga
The next stop was Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty. Mt Maunganui was a good look here; a walking track around its base was a pleasant diversion. Native birds in the forest along the track included Tui, Grey Gerygone and Bellbird, while Variable Oystercatchers were on the beach.

Tui


Variable Oystercatcher
 New Zealand is awash with introduced birds like this Yellowhammer.
Yellowhammer
Our next stop was the key port of Napier, also on the North Island. The ship looked impressive from a lookout above the wharf.

Sea Princess at Napier
We admired the art deco homes built after the city was wiped out by an earthquake in 1931. Our bus was held up by a fatal car accident while returning to the ship. While waiting, I looked out the window and saw this woman and her dog on her veranda; I thought they looked eerily alike.

Napier- roadside street scene
We were next in the New Zealand capital, Wellington. I had been there before for work and remember it being continuously wet and windy. We were blessed here - as for the entire trip - with perfect weather; mild, wind-free and sunny. We took the cable car from the CBD to the botanic gardens. We wandered down steep suburban back streets(so San Francisco) past stately homes with views to die for before reconnecting with the city's fine harbour esplanade.

Wellington
After leaving the North Island we moved on to the historic town of Akaroa, near Christchurch. We had been here before so didn't bother going ashore, but it was pleasant enough soaking in the tranquil environs of Banks Peninsula and its surrounding waters.

Akaroa, Banks Peninsula
Our final port was Port Chalmers, near Dunedin. We opted for a local tour to check out sights around town, visiting the small but impressive Lanarche Castle with its awesome view over the harbour. The coastline near Dunedin, as in much of New Zealand, was never boring.

Coast near Dunedin

Lanarche Castle Dunedin

View from Lanarche Castle to Port Chalmers
 After leaving Milford Sound, it is 3 days sailing across the Tasman Sea to return to Brisbane.

Heading Home Across the Tasman

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Black Bittern, Shoveler, White-winged Tern added to Yandina Creek Wetlands List

February 7, 2015, 8:56 pm
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Australian Pelican
Black Bittern, Australasian Shoveler and White-winged Tern have been added to an increasingly impressive bird list for the Yandina Creek Wetlands on the Sunshine Coast.

Black-necked Stork
During a visit to the wetlands today with Chris Corben, one of the first birds we saw was an adult Black-necked Stork; later, a male Black-necked Stork was seen flying overhead. The site appears to have this species in residence. Australian Pelican and Royal Spoonbill were in particularly large numbers. An adult Black Bittern was seen at the confluence of Yandina Creek and one of the drainage channels. A flock of 20+ White-winged Terns were feeding over the wetland. A female Australasian Shoveler was seen among the Pacific Black Ducks. A single Lewin's Rail and several Spotless Crakes were heard.

Swamp Tiger
Butterflies were in good numbers, with thousands of Swamp Tigers about.

Map of Yandina Creek Wetlands
Meanwhile, the campaign to secure the protection of the Yandina Creek Wetlands continues. Unfortunately, the landowners of two of three properties covered by the acquisition proposal - see here for details - have refused permission for a comprehensive fauna and flora survey to proceed. Birders have been banned from entering the properties. While I continue to have limited access to the edge of the wetlands through neighbouring properties that I have permission to visit, birders are asked not to attempt to trespass on these properties as there is no public access. I am continuing negotiations with landholders in the hope of progressing the conservation case for protecting this area. Thanks to Wayne Roberts for preparing the above map of the wetlands proposal, which is coloured yellow.

In a positive development, the Sunshine Coast Council has indicated that proposals to redevelop the wetlands for cattle pasture must meet council planning regulations that protect designated wetlands and native vegetation on the properties concerned. More importantly, the office of federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt has informed the landholders of their obligations to ensure that any development does not put at risk the endangered species and migratory shorebirds that occur in the wetlands (see the above-mentioned link for details).

Marbled Frogmouth
Other good birds at the wetlands during another visit recently included an Eastern Grass Owl flying overhead at dusk. Later that same evening, this male Marbled Frogmouth was spotted in the Mapleton National Park in the nearby Blackall Range.

Channel-billed Cuckoo
Elsewhere, this Channel-billed Cuckoo was seen at Little Yabba Creek.

Forest Kingfisher juvenile
On the home front, a pair of Forest Kingfishers has successfully raised two youngsters in our garden at Ninderry, while a pair of Pale-headed Rosellas have become frequent visitors to the feeders.

Pale-headed Rosella

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Hervey Bay: Wood Sandpiper, Shining Flycatcher, Brown Songlark & Bats Galore

February 14, 2015, 1:24 am
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Sooty Oystercatcher
Wood Sandpiper, Brown Songlark, Shining Flycatcher, Black Bittern and a huge colony of Little Red Flying-Foxws were the highlights of a 4-day campout at Hervey Bay. We camped at the nicely positioned Pialba Beachfront Tourist Park in windy but fine conditions.

Garnett's Lagoon and John Knight
I hooked up with John Knight to visit Garnett's Lagoon near River Head, just south of Hervey Bay. This wetland is on private property and access is available only through John, a mate of the property owner.
Wood Sandpiper
Garnett's has an impressive list of birds and I had long been keen to visit this spot. Among the 50 or so Sharp-tailed Sandpipers on the two lagoons was a single Wood Sandpiper.

Marsh Sandpiper
Several Marsh Sandpipers were also about.

Brown Songlark
On the paddocks nearby a sole male Brown Songlark was performing flight displays.

Shining Flycatcher
I was surprised to find a pair of Shining Flycatcher it what looked like suboptimal habitat - some scrappy-looking mangroves fringing a tidal rivulet that was a tributary of the nearby Susan River.

Black Flying-Fox
Near the camping ground at Pialba was a large colony of Black Flying-Foxes on the waterfront. The local council does a fine job of protecting this colony, in the midst of which I found a small knot of Little Red Flying-Foxes. The bats were not quite so endearing in the evenings as they fed on figs in trees overhanging our camper trailer.

Little Red Flying-Fox
Just a few kilometres away in the Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens, a massive colony of Little Red Flying-Foxes was in residence, with many tens of thousands of animals present. In both colonies I could spot a total of just a handful of Grey-headed Flying-Foxes.

Australasian Darter family

Dusky Moorhen family
Near the Botanic Gardens, on one of the Anembo Lakes, I flushed a Black Bittern along with a Nankeen Night-Heron and a Striated Heron. I found a family of Dusky Moorhens with tiny chicks in tow and a pair of boisterous young Australasian Darters were being fed by a parent. Other birds in the area included several Channel-billed Cuckoos.

Channel-billed Cuckoo

Krefft's River Turtle
Unusually tame Krefft's River Turtles were clearly used to being fed at the Botanic Gardens and Anembo Lakes.

Wonga Pigeon
I visited Mungomery's Vine Forest Reserve at Dundowran Beach but could find no sign of the Black-breasted Buttonquail reported from there, although Wonga Pigeon and Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove were common.
Nankeen Night-Heron
At the Arkarra Lagoons nearby I saw a Nankeen Night-Heron, Little Bronze Cuckoo and a pair of Magpie Geese on a nest.

Dundowran Beach

Osprey
A fine Osprey was standing sentry along Dundowran Beach.

Greater Sand-Plover
Along the coast around Pt Vernon and Gatakers Bay, a few waders were around including several Greater Sand-Plovers on the sandflats, and Sooty Oystercatchers on the rocky outcrops.

Caspian Tern

Little Tern
Birds along the waterfront at Urangan included many Little and Caspian Terns.
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A Birder's Tribute to Trevor Quested

February 14, 2015, 7:24 pm
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I was having a beer with Trevor Quested and friends at the Yandina Hotel, near our Sunshine Coast home, sometime in November 2011. Trevor mentioned that he had been feeling oddly unwell at times - as he had during an earlier visit - but that doctors did not seem to know what was wrong. I thought he was maybe being overly concerned, but just a month later came the cruel diagnosis - motor neuron disease.

In an email that Trevor and his wife Annie sent to friends at the time, he said he was "gobsmacked" by the news, and it appeared he was already going downhill fast: holding his binoculars steady and typing were becoming harder. His specialists did not expect him to be around a year later - he was told he would not see Christmas 2012. Trevor commented that he was fortunate to have such a loving and supporting wife in Annie.

Annie, Trevor & Glenn - May 2012.
Fortunately the specialists were wrong. Trevor battled on for three years and two months post-diagnosis before passing away peacefully at his Bundaberg home in the early evening of Wednesday February 11, 2015, aged 66. During a number of visits to the Questeds' home over that time, I never ceased to be impressed with the dignity and courage that Trevor and Annie demonstrated in dealing with this despicable affliction. Trevor was of course angry at first; he had ended his working life not that long before the diagnosis,and was looking forward to many years of birding, camping and other retirement indulgences.

Over time, however, he came to accept the inevitability of his lot and made the most of it in what were clearly very trying circumstances, for both him and Annie. Luckily the Questeds had their lovely shaded verandah and spacious gardens, with birds and kangaroos invariably in attendance. To the end, it was unfailingly a delight to Trevor to watch the goings-on in his special corner of the world.

I recall getting a phone call from Trevor last October, after Glenn and I had returned from a 4-month camping trip around Australia. His breathing was considerably laboured by then, but he had insisted on calling to thank me for posting a photo album from the trip on Facebook. Trevor had invited Eric Zillmann around to look at the photographs with him; he said it was like revisiting many of the places he had seen over his years of birding trips. That gesture, no small feat given his condition, was typical. During a visit a month or so later - and not so long ago now - Trevor was in surprisingly good spirits. He looked forward to visits from birding mates, especially if they brought new photographs to show him. We planned to visit again this week, as Trevor's final journey was not expected for a little while longer.

Trevor with Eric Zillmann - July 2011
Eric Zillmann is a Bundaberg birding legend and I knew him many years ago. I was delighted when Trevor reintroduced us during a visit to Bundaberg in July 2011. Eric is the only person alive to have seen the now-extinct Paradise Parrot in the wild. He captivated us with his vivid recollections of that historic time (see here for more on the parrot). Eric was one of many local birders who became close friends with Trevor. Trevor worked diligently to promote the local birding group and publish a newsletter that was as informative as it was professionally produced. That contribution was recognised by the construction in his honour of the Trevor Quested Bird Observation Platform in Bundaberg.

Commemoration of birding platform built in Trevor's honour - Pic by Chris Barnes
Trevor's enthusiasm for all things avian was infectious. I recall showing him his first Black-breasted Buttonquail at Yarraman, some time in the mid-1990s; he was so excited I thought he was going to hyperventilate. I first got to know him the early-1980s, when a few of us Brisbane birders would travel regularly from Brisbane to Sydney for monthly pelagic trips out of Rose Bay. I was struck by what an amiable companion he invariably was on those excursions, no matter how unpleasant the conditions.

In Akegara National Park, Rwanda - December 2012. Trevor is on the right, back. 
That companionship - and his boundless enthusiasm for not just birds but all wild creatures - was memorable during a 1989 trip I and other friends did with Trevor and his then wife Cilla to Rwanda, Kenya and what was then Zaire. Some of our shared experiences will not easily escape the memory: we were mock-charged by a gorilla; our boat was attacked by a hippopotamus; and our first Shoebill left us, as Trevor would say, comprehensively gobsmacked.

Even during illness, his enthusiasm did not wane. In October 2012, Trevor and Eric took us to see a Square-tailed Kite nest near Bundaberg. At the time, Trevor got about with the help of a wheelie walker. As soon as he was out of the car, he raced off through the bush with his walker, covering the distance of several hundred metres in a scarily short time. He was exhausted when he got there but keen as mustard to show me the nest.

At the Square-tailed Kite nest - October 2012
Trevor was renowned for his generosity of spirit and time. Apart from being an excellent birder, he was a gifted photographer, and technologically was way ahead of many of his peers, including this one. He positively relished sharing his knowledge and experience with friends. When I decided to take an interest in bird calls and playback, Trevor spent hours helping me to set up equipment; to become acquainted with i-tunes and much more; and to catalogue a large collection of bird songs. It was the kind of selfless thing that he just enjoyed doing.

I later helped him set up a blog (it is here) that was going to be his newest venture. Apart from an initial short post, however, he didn't get around to expand it before falling ill a few months later. Trevor continued to indulge his love of social media and technology during his illness, however. He mastered the use of an i-pad to reduce the effort of typing, and even when use of his fingers had been reduced to a reluctant single digit, he keenly recorded numerous Likes on Facebook posts.

With Trevor & Lucy - October 2014 
Trevor told friends shortly before his passing that he was ready to go. He was fortunate that he was able to avoid a prolonged stay in a nursing home, thanks to Annie's care. And however ill, he was always lucid, recalling in great and surprising detail his various and many birding exploits. For the birding community, his friends and family - and especially Annie, who was by his side at the end - the loss of Trevor Quested will be felt keenly for a very long time.







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Feral Cat Kills Night Parrot

February 16, 2015, 5:34 pm
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Night Parrot
In an alarming development, an endangered Night Parrot in a small, recently discovered population of the endangered species in western Queensland has been killed by a feral cat.  The finding of the remains of a cat-killed night parrot in an area of arid spinifex country south-west of Winton raises fresh questions about whether sufficient management practices are in place in the remote region to protect the Night Parrots.

1850s specimen of Night Parrot
According to Queensland Government sources, professional shooters have been hired by a private conservation company to patrol the area at night with spotlights, shooting feral cats on sight. The program is funded by a donation from mining company Fortescue Metals; the involvement of the company relates to the reported discovery of Night Parrots in a mineral exploration area in Western Australia in 2005.

Spinifex habitat north-east of Night Parrot site in western Queensland
However, government agencies have been kept in the dark about the whereabouts of the Night Parrots in Queensland. The sites where the birds occur are on a privately leased grazing property. No moves have been made to offer the property for sale to governments, with private enterprise being the preferred option for management of the area. The Queensland Government is of course the primary agency charged with safeguarding endangered wildlife in the state, and has legal responsibilities to do so.

John Young
The cat-killed parrot was found at a site close to where renowned bushman John Young photographed a Night Parrot for the first time in May 2013 in what has been hailed as the most significant natural history discovery of recent times, revealed by The Australian newspaper. Since then, John Young and scientist Stephen Murphy have continued research in the region, finding the parrot at several other localities in the region. It is understood that John Young will give more details about the feral cat issue, including how the parrot evidently came to be killed, at a talk in Melbourne on March 1.


John Young's Night Parrot
Feral cats are considered to be a key factor in the demise of this once widespread species, which has been recorded on just handful of occasions over the past century. In 1892, it was reported that "numerous" parrots had been killed by cats in the vicinity of the Old Telegraph Station near Alice Springs. Some observers have noted increases in feral cat populations following a succession of good seasons in parts of inland Australia. The region south-west of Winton where the parrots occur has been drought-afflicted for several years.

Feral Cat
Not only the Night Parrot but the Bilby and other endangered desert mammals have somehow survived predation from feral cats and foxes to date in parts of south-west Queensland. The reasons for this are uncertain. 
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Sunshine Coast Pelagic Trip March 2015

March 7, 2015, 5:28 pm
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Streaked Shearwater
Streaked Shearwater, White-tailed Tropicbird, Long-tailed Jaeger and Red-footed Booby were the highlights of the pelagic trip of Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday March 7. Other good birds included Lesser Frigatebird, Tahiti Petrel, an unusually large number of Pomarine Jaegers, Sooty Tern, Black Noddy and Common Noddy.

Conditions were calm and fine as we departed the Mooloolaba Marina at 6.35am. A gentle S-SE breeze struggled to reach 5 knots for the rest of the day and we feared the lack of wind did not bode well. Those fears proved to be unfounded. As we headed out to sea we saw good numbers of Common Terns inshore, a dark phase Arctic Jaeger and a Hutton's Shearwater. Things were looking up.
Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Plenty of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters were about as we made our way to the shelf, taking just 2 hours to reach its edge at 8.40am at 300m, 36 nautical miles offshore (26' 38' 950'S; 153' 42' 270'E). A swell of 0.5m barely changed during the day and the temperature under a sunny sky increased from 23 degrees in the early morning to 30 degrees by midday.

Flesh-footed Shearwater & Wedge-tailed Shearwater
When were arrived at the shelf we were greeted by an adult pale phase Red-footed Booby, which flew over the boat before flying away. A good sign indeed. Soon after, the first of 3 Lesser Frigatebirds (2 females and a male) appeared overhead as large numbers of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and a smattering of Flesh-footed Shearwaters gathered around the shark liver berley trail we were laying.
Flesh-footed Shearwater
It was apparent that the birds were very hungry. Perhaps the unsettled weather off the Queensland coast in recent times, including Cyclone Marcia, had affected seabird feeding opportunities.

Pomarine Jaeger - immature

Pomarine Jaeger - dark phase
A couple of Pomarine Jaegers joined the fun and ever growing numbers of this species were to remain about the boat the whole time we were on the shelf. Most jaegers were juveniles or subadults and all but 2 were pale phase. The jaegers and frigatebirds joined the shearwaters in eagerly feeding on liver scraps. Late in the morning, a second-year Long-tailed Jaeger flew over the boat, giving us the jaeger trifecta.
Streaked Shearwater

Streaked Shearwater
We had been on the shelf about half an hour when the first of several Streaked Shearwaters arrived. Again, the species remained in the vicinity of the boat for as long as we were laying a berley trail.

Lesser Frigatebird - male

Lesser Frigatebird - female
As the morning progressed, a single immature White-tailed Tropicbird was seen somewhat distantly. Then a single Sooty Tern flew over, to be joined soon after by a second. A single Black Noddy made an appearance, as did a couple of Wilson's Storm-Petrels. Tahiti Petrel took a while to show but several settled in to join the feeding frenzy. Hutton's Shearwater made an occasional appearance.

Pomarine Jaeger & Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Tahiti Petrel
We had drifted 2.7 nautical miles in a northerly direction when we turned around at 1.10pm and headed home. Large numbers of actively feeding birds were with us continually for the 4.5 hours we were on the shelf. On the way back we encountered a large feeding flock of terns inshore, with good numbers of White-winged Terns among the more numerous Common Terns, a couple of Little Terns and a single juvenile Common Noddy. We arrived back at the marina at 3.15pm.

Common Terns & White-winged Terns
Species (Total Maximum at One Time)

Tahiti Petrel 8 (4)
Wilson's Storm-Petrel 4 (2)
Streaked Shearwater 4 (4)
Wedge-tailed Shearwater 300 (100)
Flesh-footed Shearwater 15 (5)
Hutton's Shearwater 4 (1)
White-tailed Tropicbird 1 (1)
Red-footed Booby 1 (1)
Lesser Frigatebird 3 (2)
Pomarine Jaeger 25 (15)
Long-tailed Jaeger 1 (1)
Arctic Jaeger 1 (1)
Silver Gull 2 (2)
Crested Tern 30 (4)
Common Tern 200 (100)
White-winged Tern 50 (30)
Little Tern 2 (2)
Sooty Tern 2 (2)
Common Noddy 1 (1)
Black Noddy 1 (1)
Pied Cormorant 2 (1)
Little Black Cormorant 2 (2)
Australian Pelican 3 (2)

Short-beaked Common Dolphin 2 (2)
Inshore Bottle-nose Dolphin 3 (2)
Oceanic Bottle-nose Dolphin 2 (2)

Participants

Lachlan Tuckwell (skipper), Greg Roberts (organiser),  Sarah Beavis, Robert Bell, Jo Cullinan, Linda Cross, Phil Cross, Hendrik Ferreira, Dawn Forrester, Nikolas Haass, Bob James, Paul Newman, Nerida Silke, Raja Stephenson, Russell Yong.

Light-manted Sooty Albatross: Pic Luke Bennett
In other Sunshine Coast seabirding news, Luke Bennett found a beach-washed Light-mantled Sooty Albatross of February 15 at Castaways Beach. This is a rare species in south-east Queensland at any time but this record is probably the first for the region in summer.




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Important News Regarding Night Parrots

March 9, 2015, 5:37 pm
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Night Parrot feathers from south-west Queensland - Pic by Steve Murphy
The immediate threat of feral cats to the recently discovered population of Night Parrots in south-west Queensland has been clarified amid moves to secure the property where the parrots occur for conservation purposes.

Moves have been implemented to protect dingoes on the property in the belief that they could play a crucial role in controlling numbers of feral cats and foxes.

The Queensland Government is involved in moves to shift the focus of land use on the property from cattle grazing to conservation, and will have the ultimate say over future management strategies.

The naturalist John Young first heard Night Parrots on the property in 2008. Young released the first photographs and film footage of the Night Parrot ever taken in July 2013. At a recent talk in Melbourne, Young confirmed reports that a feral cat had been responsible for killing a female Night Parrot on the property.

Ecologist Steve Murphy has been conducting research on the parrots on the property in collaboration with Young under a program being funded by mining company Fortescue Metals Group. Funding for the current program expires at the end of 2016.

Dr Steve Murphy
Murphy and Young found 31 feathers last October and these have been reported as definitive evidence that a bird had been killed by a feral cat. However, Murphy says there is no certainty that a cat was responsible. The feathers were examined at the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA in Adelaide by Associate Professor Jeremy Austin, an expert in the field of trace DNA analysis.

No cat DNA was detected during the analysis, although DNA sequencing confirmed that the feathers were indeed from a Night Parrot. DNA-based gender assignment revealed that the bird was a female.

Night Parrot
Murphy says that using automatic sound devices, he continued to detect Night Parrot calls at the site where the feathers were found. Murphy says: “With respect to the feathers, the conclusion is that no-one can say with any certainty what happened to result in a Night Parrot losing 31 feathers. It may have been a cat, or it may have been an owl or goanna, or some other predator, or even two Night Parrots fighting. I’m not even sure if whatever it was actually caused the death of a Night Parrot, given the calling that I’m still detecting at the site."

Murphy adds: "This is not to say that cats are not a problem. They exact a tremendous toll on wildlife and continue to be a significant threat to Night Parrots. But it is important to stick to the facts.”

Feral Cat at Night Parrot site with prey, probably a frog Cyclorana spp - pic by Steve Murphy
Murphy is aware of one male feral cat in the area, but its activity has been mostly confined to creek lines and other areas away from the spinifex clumps favoured by the Night Parrots. Since well before discovering the feathers, he had been trying to trap and shoot cats in and around the area, but so far without success. Sharp-shooters were employed to try to shoot cats on the property shortly after the feathers were found, but again they were unable to locate any. Shooters will return to the property soon for another search.

However, Murphy says that based on intensive, ongoing surveys using camera traps, he is aware of several dingoes that regularly hunt in and around the area inhabited by the parrots. He believes this is good because of controls that dingoes can exert on cat numbers and behaviour. No baiting on the property has been undertaken because of the risk of inadvertently killing dingoes.

Dingo at Night Parrot site - pic by Steve Murphy
Since January 2014, there has been an interim stewardship agreement with the landholder - that includes a requirement that he not carry out any form of dingo control in and around the site. The stewardship arrangement includes other clauses that are designed to protect the parrots and facilitate the research efforts.

As for the future of the site, Murphy initiated a deal that is currently being brokered that would see the land use focus on the property shift from cattle production to the permanent protection of the Night Parrot and its habitat.


Says Murphy: “We are at a delicate stage of this negotiation. The Queensland Government is involved in the discussions, and indeed will have the ultimate say over whether the conservation strategy can proceed as planned.”
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Around Oz Part 39 - Kings Plains National Park NSW: Heath-wrens and twin flat tyres

September 30, 2014, 6:26 pm
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Chesnut-rumped Heath-wren
We departed the western plains of NSW (see previous post), heading east to the pretty town of Bingara, where we overnighted in a caravan park and dined at the RSL Club. Then it was on to Kings Plains National Park, north-east of Inverell, which I’d not visited previously.

Kings Plains National Park

Kings Plains National Park
We had the delightful Ironbark Camping Ground to ourselves, set beside a creek in the beautiful NSW western slopes woodlands with their wonderful granite rockeries - a region so familiar to us through many visits to sites such as Girraween and Sundown national parks.

Camping at Kings Plains
We had only a few days of our round-Oz trip left, and had prided ourselves on not having had a single mechanic mishap with the vehicle, not even a flat tyre. Then we discovered that the stony road on the way in to Kings Plains National Park in north-east NSW had punctured not one but two tyres. One tyre had a pretty savage tear but the other was a slow leak. Glenn, ever the capable handyman, managed to get the vehicle back to Inverell for new treads by stopping and inflating the slow-leak tyre at 10-km intervals.



Fuscous Honeyeater and Yellow-tufted Honeyeater were common in the woodlands. Other birds  included quite a few that were new for the trip as we hadn’t been in far eastern Australian before here:  Buff-rumped Thornbill, White-naped Honeyeater, Eastern Yellow Robin, Leaden Flycatcher, White-throated Treecreeper, Pied Currawong. Also about were Brown Treecreeper, Azure Kingfisher, Eastern Rosella, Crimson Rosella and Dusky Woodswallow.

On the first afternoon I found a very nice Chesnut-rumped Heathwren, which I managed to get a few snaps of.  It was near the road in suitable looking metre-high heath.

Chesnut-rumped Heathwren

Chesnut-rumped Heath-wren
Mammals included good numbers of Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Swamp Wallaby and Red-necked Wallaby.

Swamp Wallaby
In the morning I reconnected with the hylacola and saw the first of the eastern races of Black-chinned Honeyeater and Crested Shrike-tit for the trip; I had seen the golden-backed race of the honeyeater in north-west Queensland and the NT, and the western race of the shrike-tit in WA. 
Also about were Brown Thornbill, Striated Thornbill, White-browed Babbler, Little Lorikeet and Striped Honeyeater.

Black-chinned Honeyeater

Crested Shrike-tit


           
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Rock Warblers & Lyrebirds: South West Rocks to Woy Woy

March 22, 2015, 2:26 pm
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Rock Warbler
Excellent encounters with Rock Warbler, Superb Lyrebird and Glossy Black Cockatoo were the highlights of a just completed trip to coastal NSW. We kicked the sojourn off with a three-night stay in the Seabreeze Hotel in the scenic Central Coast tourist town of South West Rocks. Pleasant scenery was the order of the day here, with a nice mix of habitat including coastal heathland, beaches and freshwater wetlands.
Glossy Black Cockatoo female

Arakoon Reserve & South West Rocks
We did a circuit walk through woodland and heath between Little Bay and the historic Árakoon Jail, encountering Glossy Black Cockatoo on three occasions in the large stand of Allocasuarina littoralis in the Arakoon Reserve. There were a total of 8 birds: three pairs, with two pairs accompanied by begging juveniles.

Hat Head National Park
The lighthouse south of Arakoon is also worth visiting, with fine views over Hat Head National Park.

Double-banded Plover
A party of 4 Double-banded Plovers was on the beach near the hotel.

Black-necked Stork

Pink-eared Duck & Chesnut Teal
A short distance inland from the town, some nice wetlands line both sides of Boyter's Lane. Both Little Grassbird and Tawny Grassbird were present. Good numbers of ducks included a sprinkling of Pink-eared Duck and Australasian Shoveler. An adult female Black-necked Stork was unexpected. Quite a few Sharp-tailed Sandpipers were about along with several Latham's Snipe and Red-kneed Dotterels.

Superb Lyrebird

Superb Lyrebird
We moved on to Gosford for a three-night stay with our friend Kathy Haydon, where entertainment from the back veranda including some very tame Eastern Water Dragons.

Eastern Water Dragon
From here we visited Woy Woy and Brisbane Water National Park. We checked out the area around the Warrah Trig Trail and Pearl Beach area, enjoying a very nice encounter with a male Superb Lyrebird along the fire track between the lookout at the end of the Trig Trail and the delightful resort village of Pearl Beach.

Warrah Trigg Lookout
Cunningham's Skink
The lookout offered stunning views over the Hawkesbury River and sandstone cliffs, along with an engaging Cunningham's Skink (Egernia cunninghami).

Rock Warbler

Rock Warbler
Several sites were searched unsuccessfully for Rock Warbler (thanks to Cameron Ward for those tips) before finally connecting with this charismatic bird at the northern extremity of the sandstone woodland along Patonga Drive. I had 4 birds hopping about the rocks in close proximity, about 150m south of the road and close to the sea cliffs. Not having seen Rock Warbler since I lived in Sydney in the mid-1980s, it was almost as good as a tick.

Yellow Thornbill

Speckled Warbler
We headed inland along the New England Highway for our journey home, stopping in  Tamworth at the Almond Inn Motel. Birds at the nearby Oxley Lookout included Yellow Thornbill and
Specked Warbler.

Rock Warbler

   
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