“You don’t need to go to the ends of the earth, you don’t need to climb Everest to have a great adventure, it’s invariably on our doorstep.” – Bear Grylls
During a time when travel is limited and people are increasingly looking to their local areas for nature and wildlife, I have discovered a great deal of satisfaction in exploring my local national parks, reserves and birdy sites for wildlife. I never used to be that aware of the wildlife nor wilderness around me but after joining ZooChat and participating in the big year threads and spending countless hours reading through the iconic travel threads, I realised I had a burgeoning interest to explore what my home area of south-east Queensland had to offer.
I am fortunate enough to live in a region that could be described as a ‘meeting place’ for many species of wildlife. Subtropical south-east Queensland has a good mix of southern, temperate species at the northern point of their range as well as tropical species that reach their southerly limit. It’s often the best of both worlds. This thread will document my experiences with birding at a range of places and habitats, some locations with be completely new and others, old favourites. I am not an experienced birdwatcher and only really have been ‘hooked’ for the past six months. There are some benefits to that I think; a different perspective perhaps, lots of birds to tick off along the way and several opportunities to learn with experience!
The way I usually organise where I visit is by setting a main target species that I aim to find. Of course, being wildlife, this isn’t always achievable or plannable but it gives me something to work towards. I have gradually been adding different locations whenever I have a morning off. Hopefully some of the different sites may be of interest to other keen wildlife watchers if they ever happen to be in the area or for members who too would like to start searching for their own local wildlife.
Location 1: Boondall Wetlands, Brisbane - 4th July 2021:
Target Species: Swamp Harrier
As the city’s largest wetlands, Boondall Wetlands is located in the northern coastal suburbs of Brisbane reaching out towards Moreton Bay. The land consists of approximately 1150 hectares that was rescued by the Brisbane City Council in 1990 following public concern that it would be destroyed due to growing expansion in the area. This is quite a common pattern and the majority of nature sites located within Brisbane are managed by the council these days. The wetlands are easy to reach via car and public transport. In particular the 325 bus stops nearby.
The wetlands have long been recognised as a safeguard for many migratory species of wader during the spring/summer period. The land contains a range of habitats including eucalypt forest, mangrove, grassland and casuarina. The two main tracks - Billai Dhagun Circuit (2 km) and Walkway/Bikeway (13 km) - that start from the main carpark and visitor centre both mainly travel through treed areas with little access to the open country except for along the bird hide. I have visited Boondall Wetlands a few times and have had some serendipitous success finding some unusual species like a Burton’s Legless Lizard and Joseph’s Coat Moth earlier in the year. It is one of those places that I feel requires several visits across an extended period of time to get a fuller understanding of the seasonal changes of its wildlife. However, for this particular visit I had one target species in mind that I knew occurred in the area.
The Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans) is a large, long-legged brown raptor with a slender frame that is found across Australasia. They are traditionally widespread birds inhabiting areas close to water bodies especially wetlands and marshes. So they are meant to common but I have long been trying to find one and hoped today would finally be the day!
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Heading towards the bush, the first track was approximately two kilometres long and traversed through casuarina forest segmented with small creeks and pools. The pathway consisted of dirt trails as well as wooden boardwalks that lead on from the main environmental centre. The first species I picked up were the omnipresent Brown Honeyeaters that are abundant in most areas of the track. Several butterfly species also made brief appearances along the pathway – many Common Brown Ringlets, Black Jezebels, Common Crows and a Monarch. The ringlets are tiny little creatures that often rest on the middle on the path. They are pale brown unassuming butterflies until they open their wings and reveal an orangey patch around an ‘eye’. I quite like them.
A large figure in the sky above the canopy caught my attention away from the butterfly spotting. After a closer look, the soaring shape materialised into their resident Brahminy Kite. Not the harrier I was looking for but a beautiful bird nonetheless. A classic bird from the Boondall Wetlands. Back to the trees, a stocky male Rufous Whistler was also noted along the path. Among my favourite bushland birds. A small group of Mistletoebirds (eight birds) were also flitting among the parasitic mistletoe in the eucalypt trees. The males possess one of the brightest shades of red among Australian birds, and as the only representatives of flowerpeckers in Australia, are very special birds. I only saw my first one a few months ago so I am glad that I am starting to pick them up more regularly.
Mistletoebird
The walk to the bird hide provided a reptile species – a sleek Elegant Snake-eyed Skink was sunning itself along the boardwalk. A few bird species flew overhead including a pair of Australian Pelicans. From the hide I picked up a Striated Heron, Pied Oystercatchers and a Little Egret. It’s the wrong time of year for the majority of waders which would have added a few more species that occur in this area.
Elegant Snake-eyed Skink
The second half of this track is traditionally more birdy that the first kilometre. The first birds I came across in the forested area were more raptors! A much-awaited harrier perhaps? No, much too large and pale. The pair of birds were White-bellied Sea Eagles that circled just above the canopy. I have never seen wild ones so close and they stayed awhile. This patch had eucalypt forest on one side and mangroves bordering the river on the other. Several birds were seen including Striated Pardalote, Sacred Kingfisher and Torresian Kingfisher. The third raptor sighting for the day was spotted just above some trees with the kingfishers. A very dark-coloured one. Maybe third time lucky with this raptor? Yes indeed – a Swamp Harrier! A juvenile with its rich dark brown colouration. It’s not very often I set a target species and get to actually see it the first time I try to find it so I was very pleased indeed.
Swamp Harrier
The second track I did at Boondall Wetlands served both as a bike path and walkway. The majority of the trail borders a noisy road and the highway sound dominates the forests unfortunately. However, this particular patch serves a particularly important role for the Mountains to Mangroves corridor allowing wildlife to travel through the mangroves (Nudgee Beach) westwards across to the Brisbane Forest Park across 15 suburbs each with their own pocket of nature. This 13-kilometre trail has a good mix of habitat with more mangrove and paperback swamp notably. The first couple of species were a Grey Fantail and a small group of Double-barred Finches.
Two species of fairywrens were noted. A pair of Superb Fairywrens were observed and multiple groups of Red-backed Fairywrens were scattered across the trail. There is something about a bold black and red colouration that is particularly striking with birds. Another flash of red caught my eye in a nearby melaleuca; a male Scarlet Honeyeater. More Striated Pardalotes as well. Pardalotes are one of those birds you see in bird guides and think how it is possible for such a brightly-coloured bird to avoid predation. When you see them in wild you only then realise how well they meld into the foliage.
I also saw some interesting behaviour from a pair of Torresian Crows. They were stripping a rotting branch for grubs. Some passing cyclists were showered with bits of bark – slightly amusing to watch their reactions. Finally I also saw a Glasswing, which is a small species of butterfly with translucent wings, gorgeous little species.
Double-barred Finches
Overall not a bad for 2.5 hours at Boondall Wetlands. The site will be a continual haunt of mine as it’s accessible and I seem to always see something new. There are several other tracks that can be tried at Boondall Wetlands to add to this experience and during the wader season it will a superb place to bird I am sure.
The Kedron Brook Wetlands Reserve is a fitting option for location two as it actually links to Boondall Wetlands as part of the extended wildlife corridor. The area is situated in the northern suburbs of Brisbane encircling the land that surrounds the Kedron Brook. It is very accessible via public transport; catch any bus that goes to Toombul Shopping Centre and cross the adjoining road that leads into the parkland which subsequently links to the reserve. Encroaching suburbia and industry loop the entire reserve with a highway or road always inevitably being in sight. The two airports are approximately 10 minutes from this place so planes constantly fly over.
Yet somehow this reserve maintains a really solid range of species that inhabit a diverse range of habitats. Mangroves border the majority of the brook with well-established grassland and open country on the adjacent side. There are also pockets of eucalypt and casuarina that also offer shaded habitat for more secretive birds. A largish wetland is also located towards the fringes of the grassland.
I have three key target species for the Kedron Brook. My priority for today’s visit was the commonest – Chestnut-breasted Mannikins (Lonchura castaneothorax) are little brown waxbills. I think they are the prettiest of the munias with their different shades of brown contrasting nicely with their white bellies and black faces all topped off with a silvery crown. They are not the showiest of finches but there is a wonderful simplicity about their appearance. Red-necked Avocets are another species I am always keeping a close eye out for as one of my top 10 birds to see. Grass owls are known to live in the reserve but I was going at the wrong time for them. The latter two species will probably take some time but I will keep persevering.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………....
It was freezing today being the depths of winter currently. The temperature in Brisbane has recently dropped to a maximum of 20 degrees during the day with chilling winds that make it feel even colder. Summers here always sit up and around 30 degrees even during the morning so this has been quite the deviation from the norm. With several layers, I commenced the walk from the shopping centre noting the family of Superb Fairywrens that lived along the brook. They would be the first of many as this species is well-populated across the parkland and reserve. There were a few other suburban staples like House Sparrows, Common Mynas and Brown Honeyeaters.
After crossing the road into the first park, a large group (approximately 20) of Australian Brush-turkeys were scratching up the earth. They aren’t particularly rare but interesting to see them in such numbers. It’s very easy to navigate this area; just follow the brook as it leads directly to the reserve. The water along the way was home to several species including a lone Little Pied Cormorant, several Little Black Cormorants and notably a Royal Spoonbill. I never tire of seeing spoonbills and it’s excellent to see one with such ease among this parkland. They were also joined by Cattle and Little Egrets later along the trail. In the mangroves that edged the water were Willie Wagtails and their relatives, Grey Fantails. A few other common species like a large colony of Australasian Figbirds and a raucous Pied Currawong also flew overhead.
The first portion of parkland along the brook makes way for a shared pathway with the cyclists. As I walked into this grassier area, a flock of White-breasted Woodswallows were seen, huddling tightly for warmth along an electric line. Flocks of these birds are relatively common in Brisbane but are rarely seen so close. Groups of Straw-necked and Australian White Ibis were also feeding in the nearby pasture. There were several grevilleas along this path home to groups of Noisy Friarbirds and Blue-faced Honeyeaters feeding in the early morning light. Friarbirds are wonderfully ugly birds with their naked heads and miniature casques.
White-breasted Woodswallows
The reserve itself began after crossing a path that passes under the noisy Southern Cross Way. The first portion comprises primarily of grassland and open country. Several parrots including Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Little Corellas, Galahs and Rainbow Lorikeets were perched high among the few trees dotted across the landscape; all the usual suspects. Among the grass were more of the fairywrens and Golden-headed Cisticolas which are common throughout this grassland habitat. Their distinct buzzing song is certainly a way to pinpoint where they are perched in the thick undergrowth.
The bank on the other side of the path was home to a pair of beautiful Australasian Darters and several small groups of Chestnut Teals. Other waterbirds included a White-faced Heron and Intermediate Egret stalking prey in the shallows among more common duck species. On past trips I have also seen a few kingfishers around however they were a no show today.
Focusing my attention back to the grassland I scanned the horizon. There was a squat little bird darting among the grass. It didn’t have the ‘look’ of a fairywren nor a cisticola. A closer look through the binoculars showed an adult Chestnut-breasted Mannikin! As I grabbed my camera it was joined by several more adults and juveniles perfectly camouflaged among the dry grass all feeding on the abundant seed. Fantastic.
Chestnut-breasted Mannikins
The mannikins continued to be very common from this patch onwards. Another lifer was spotted just above the small flock – several Fairy Martins. I have had clear views of Tree Martins several times however as martins can be difficult to identify on the wing, these were the first ones that I had managed to confidently confirm as Fairy Martins – rufous crowns and clean white rumps. Pied Stilts were common throughout the land as it got marshier. A Great Egret also flew overhead while more teals and ibis were noted.
The reserve gradually leads towards Nudgee Beach meaning increasingly more mangroves and less grassland. There were several groups of Mangrove Honeyeaters that live among the trees. They are a pain to photograph as they are incredibly shy birds and dart deep into the mangroves when humans approach. However they are aerial acrobats and fiercely territorial, seeing off any bird that approaches. This species has a set of broad black and yellow facial stripes that quickly confirms what they are. Their call is very melodious as well; short flute-like passages. Mangrove Gerygones were also calling but were not seen. They can be found with greater ease at Nudgee Beach Boardwalk I find.
Mangrove Honeyeater (June 2021)
I didn’t go past these mangroves into the next part which was where I saw the Red-bellied Black Snake on my last visit. That area is predominately very open leading into more mangroves and passes under road bridges that head towards the airport. Turning around, I heard the classic trill of the Rainbow Bee-eater. They are among my favourite birds with their brilliant colouration. Flashes of green with a yellow and blue tinge paired with bold rufous-brown flight feathers. While watching the bee-eaters above the mangroves, I inadvertently spooked a White-bellied Sea-Eagle. It would have only been a few metres in front of me under the bank beyond the mangroves. An imposing bird.
White-bellied Sea Eagle
Another raptor species that is common along the waterway was a pair of Brahminy Kites that circled above the brook as I headed back towards the park. The final species I saw today was a Tawny Grassbird well-hidden among grass clumps.
41 species in two hours is not a bad start to the day. On my past trip I also saw species like Red-backed Fairywrens, kingfishers, orioles, night-herons and pipits which would bolster this list even further. Due to its proximity to the airport I think the Kedron Brook would be a good option for any visitors to Brisbane who want a quick ‘snapshot’ of the birdlife in the area. Suburban species can be quickly ticked off along the parkland coupled with grassland and a few bushland species. This is also augmented with a good range of waterbirds and mangrove species thanks to the diversity of habitats. Highly recommended.
Birds
Australian Brush-turkey, Alectura lathami
Chestnut Teal, Anas castanea
Pacific Black Duck, Anas superciliosa
Australian Wood Duck, Chenonetta jubata
Australasian Darter, Anhinga novaehollandiae
Little Pied Cormorant, Microcarbo melanoleucos
Little Black Cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
Pied Stilt, Himantopus leucocephalus
Masked Lapwing, Vanellus novaehollandiae
White-faced Heron, Egretta novaehollandiae
Little Egret, Egretta garzetta
Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
Intermediate Egret, Ardea intermedia
Great Egret, Ardea modesta
Royal Spoonbill, Platalea regia
Straw-necked Ibis, Threskiornis spinicollis
Australian White Ibis, Threskiornis moluccus
White-bellied Sea Eagle, Haliaeetus leucogaster
Brahminy Kite, Haliastur indus
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Cacatua galerita
Little Corella, Cacatua sanguinea
Galah, Eolophus roseicapilla
Rainbow Lorikeet, Trichoglossus moluccanus Fairy Martin, Petrochelidon ariel
Superb Fairywren, Malurus cyaneus
Grey Fantail, Rhipidura albiscapa
Willie Wagtail, Rhipidura leucophrys
Pied Currawong, Strepera graculina
White-breasted Woodswallow, Artamus leucorynchus
Australasian Figbird, Sphecotheres vieilloti
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Coracina novaehollandiae
Blue-faced Honeyeater, Entomyzon cyanotis
Mangrove Honeyeater, Lichenostomus fasciogularis
Brown Honeyeater, Lichmera indistincta
Noisy Friarbird, Philemon corniculatus
Striated Pardalote, Pardalotus striatus
Golden-headed Cisticola, Cisticola exilis
Tawny Grassbird, Megalurus timoriensis
House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, Lonchura castaneothorax
Notable Invertebrates
Black Jezebel, Delias nigrina
Humped Golden Orb-Weaving Spider, Nephila plumipes
@WhistlingKite24 perhaps not so close for you but Lamington National Park is really worth a look and the drive with many rain forest species to be seen.
Location 3: Raven Street Reserve, Brisbane – 6th July 2021:
Target Species: Swamp Wallaby
The Raven Street Reserve is located in the Brisbane suburb of McDowall and is home to the Downfall Creek Bushland Centre run by the council. The reserve is of a smaller size in comparison to the first two locations and is positioned in heavily-built suburbia. It is a couple minutes away from a major hospital and one of Australia’s largest shopping centres. Some parts of the trail literally lead into people’s backyards and dogs can be heard barking from their houses. Suburbia doesn’t get much closer than that. It can be accessed by catching the 598 bus from Westfield Chermside. The stop is across the road from the centre.
The reserve is a particularly solid place for mammals with three species of flying fox occurring in the one camp at the right time of year as well as being a reliable site for Swamp Wallabies. I have been visiting for a while and have to say it’s one of those nature sites that have lots of wildlife in the first and last ten minutes of the track. Not a lot in between. However I still find a visit very worthwhile due to its accessibility, opportunity to pick up a few mammals and the few birds around are unusually bold at times.
My target species is the Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor). I have seen a few of them around the reserve especially in the late afternoon but always make an effort to find them. Being one of the closest populations of wallabies to the city centre, they face several perils especially with the nearby roads. Just recently a wallaby was run over in Carseldine (a neighbouring suburb to the reserve).
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Quickly noting the common suburban birds that live around the centre including Australian Brush-turkey, Noisy Miner and Australian Magpie, the trail commenced with open forest and well-established eucalyptus trees. The birdsong wasn’t as prominent as in other places but with some patience, I found Scarlet Honeyeaters making quick fleeting movements in the canopy like pops of red bouncing in the trees.
Before I had a chance to continue searching for birds, a loud rustle in the leaf litter caught my full attention. Two Swamp Wallabies made a quick exit towards a gully that ran through a set of trees providing thicker coverage. Their bounds hit the ground with great force. They were a mother and joey that are residents in this particular patch of forest. I have seen them several times throughout the past year and have watched the joey slowly emerge from the pouch. Below is a photo of them from January.
Swamp Wallaby with joey
Continuing on, the next few species I observed in the trees were a Spangled Drongo, Willie Wagtail and several Grey Fantails. Notably, a Fan-tailed Cuckoo was also spotted; first time I had seen one in this area. These cuckoos seem to be particularly common at the moment and is a trend I have noticed at several different sites as they pop up. My bird guide tells me they are partly migratory so it makes sense that they are more common in certain times of the year.
The flying fox camp dominated the next portion of bush with hundreds of Grey-headed Flying Foxes making their presence known. The smell and sound were quite something with this large bat colony. There were also a few Black Flying Foxes which will also be joined by Little Red Flying Foxes in the warmer months of the year. The bats roosted at varying levels; some relatively close and others high up in the canopy. Approximately half of the bats later took off unexpectedly in a huge mass of wings and screeching later during my walk. Quite the sight.
Grey-headed Flying Foxes
Past the bats, was a period of limited sightings which only included a Grey Butcherbird. This patch of bush did have some spectacular grass trees and banksias however. Fortunately, the birds quickly increased with a lovely female Rufous Whistler quietly hiding among the vegetation. Raven Street Reserve is particularly a great location for both local whistler species. A neighbouring tree also had a male Australian Golden Whistler and later more individuals of both species joined a brief wave.
Australian Golden Whistler
There was a small wooden bridge that looked out over a few smaller eucalypts and thick fern coverage. At eye level, two Spotted Pardalotes made a very unexpected but delightful appearance under a metre from the bridge. I had only ever seen this species at Enoggera Reservoir a month earlier so it was fantastic to see them in full view. Spotted Pardalotes are jaw-droppingly beautiful birds up close. The spotted detail in the plumage is intricate yet incredibly subtle in some parts. The touch of yellow and red are equally stunning. The birds didn’t leave for the duration I was there.
Spotted Pardalote
The final wave of birds added a Rufous Fantail, the cuckoo from before and a White-throated Honeyeater as an added bonus. Rainbow Bee-eaters were also zipping around well above the canopy while a family of Laughing Kookaburras were perched in a tree below them, concluding the quick 45-minute walk around the reserve.
The Raven Street Reserve is really wedged well into suburbia but serves as a good example that wildlife can be supported near human settlement relatively successfully. This of course doesn’t come without its problems but it’s nice to have a nearby location where the general public can connect to nature. It’s also an ideal place for people who would like to guarantee an opportunity to see flying foxes up close, a good chance for Swamp Wallabies and an assortment of some of the quintessential bushland birds.
Location 4: Tabbil-ban Dhagun Boardwalk, Brisbane – 8th July 2021:
Target Species: several migratory waders later in the year
The Tabbil-ban Dhagun Boardwalk is situated along the shores of Nudgee Beach and is technically part of Boondall Wetlands as one of its several trails. The habitat is predominately a large mangrove forest with expansive tidal flats all accessed via a main wooden boardwalk that transverses through the different sections. It’s traditionally much quieter than the other tracks within Boondall Wetlands. The raised boardwalk also provides good views of the wider landscape.
The track can be accessed via car of course, or if one was particularly keen, by walking the Boondall Wetlands Bikeway (discussed in location 1 above) that links to this boardwalk through Nudgee Road. The boardwalk is a particularly fantastic spot for migratory waders at the right time of year in the warmer months. This place also has a bird hide near the mudflats that provides closer views of the shorelines. I have visited a few times and think it’s an ideal location for some of the characteristic mangrove birds especially Mangrove Gerygone and Torresian Kingfisher. I also saw my first Mangrove Honeyeater from the boardwalk at the beginning of the year but have seen the species more reliably at both the Kedron Brook and Tinchi Tamba Wetlands with better viewing opportunities.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Before reaching the actual mangroves, several common species were noted including Australian Brush-turkey, several pairs of Masked Lapwing, Rainbow Lorikeet, Welcome Swallow and Torresian Crow. They were all located in the adjoining park that runs parallel to the mangroves. The patch of mangroves at this place was particularly well-established with a developed, shady canopy. There were some impressive specimens that towered well above any other mangrove trees I had seen before. There are several small species of mangrove crab and fiddler crabs (none seen today) to keep an eye out for. I have always seen the fiddlers out around 4 pm.
Austruca perplexa
When I reached the boardwalk, the mangroves came alive with a sweet song that ascended and descended in a scalic movement. A very fluid melody that travelled in waves across the dense foliage. The song belonged to several Mangrove Gerygones which are common throughout the area. I managed to find a few of them flitting in the smaller mangroves. A rather plain bird but I like their red iris and white tail spots. There were only a few other birds in the mangrove trees; a male Scarlet Honeyeater vocalising from the top of a branch, a female Rufous Whistler, Brown Honeyeaters and a Grey Fantail. There was also a Striated Heron and several Australian White Ibis below the boardwalk. A White-bellied Sea Eagle also swiftly flew above the mangroves patrolling the area.
Mangrove Gerygone
After the long stretch of mangroves, the space opened up to a large tidal flat that reached out towards the shoreline. The first species seen was the resident Eastern Osprey. It usually hangs around the top of a particular tree across from the boardwalk. It regularly patrols the shore and I have seen it fish for a mullet or two during past visits.
Eastern Osprey (December 2020)
The flats were home to several shorebirds; a large flock of Pied Stilts, a lone Australian Pied Oystercatcher, two Little Egrets and a White-faced Heron. The stilts were later joined by a second group of them later as well. This is also the location for many migratory waders during the warmer months; whimbrels and sandpipers predominantly. A Little Pied Cormorant also flew over briefly. I caught sight of two black blobs that I could see right at the edge of the horizon along the beach. A quick glimpse through the binoculars revealed that these blobs had long necks. They were a pair of Black Swans. First ones I had seen this year surprisingly.
The final species along the boardwalk were several Torresian Kingfishers perched just above the pockets of sandy beach. It’s usually a reliable spot for this species and they were feeding on the small critters below them with swift dives into the shallows. They are not the most colourful kingfishers but are a species I never tire of seeing. They have a wonderful blue rump paired with the browny-green plumage and a bill that could do some damage.
Torresian Kingfisher
Overall, the short boardwalk (only 30-45 minutes) along Nudgee Beach is a reliable spot for several shore and mangrove species that can be found with relative ease. It’s accessible and can be paired with the other tracks at Boondall Wetlands for a full day of birding. Several other species of wader, dollarbirds, Mangrove Honeyeaters and Brahminy Kites have also been seen by myself in the past at this site across the past six months. It’s a nice little slice of the coast well within reach.
Thanks @DavidBrown. No, platypus aren’t known reliably from any of the sites I have been to so far (eg. the last time time one was recorded in say the Kedron Brook was 2005). I will certainly be aiming to find both monotremes at a few future locations once the sites start reaching further out from the city.
Location 5: Maiala [D’Aguilar National Park], Mount Glorious – 10th July 2021
Target Species: Any of the ‘top six’ rainforest species – Australian Logrunner, Paradise Riflebird, Noisy Pitta, Rose-crowned Fruit Dove, Topknot Pigeon, Regent Bowerbird
It’s time for a change of scenery to begin my quest to tick off several alluring rainforest species. Once the site of a lucrative sawmill industry in the 1860s, Maiala is now incorporated within the southern portion of D’Aguilar National Park. It was one of the first areas of the D’Aguilar Range to be protected as a national park in 1930. Maiala is primarily dense subtropical rainforest with a main carpark and open picnic area with several fig trees and bunya pines. The park consists of five different walking tracks ranging in length that travel deeper and deeper into the forest. Unfortunately Maiala isn’t accessible via public transport but is an approximately 50-minute drive from Brisbane’s CBD.
I like to think of Maiala as a mini Lamington National Park of sorts (bar lyrebirds) that is much closer to Brisbane. The majority of the classic rainforest species like riflebirds, pittas, russet-tailed thrushes, bowerbirds, fruit doves and topknot pigeons are all commonly recorded. Sooty Owl and Marbled Frogmouth have also been documented at Maiala. It is, however, a whole other story to actually find any of these species being a dark dense rainforest with a towering canopy.
The aim of this trip was to find any of the rainforest target species also known as the ‘top six’; Australian Logrunner, Paradise Riflebird, Noisy Pitta, Rose-crowned Fruit Dove, Topknot Pigeon and Regent Bowerbird. Some of them are easier to find than others but they have all been documented at Maiala. Of these six, five of them are also in my top 10 species to see in south-east Queensland so are highly desirable.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
At 6:30am, it was a chilly five degrees which felt like zero. I immediately headed towards the large fig tree that is located in the picnic area. It was a reliable spot for some really neat species on my last visit in January so I was trying out this location again today. On my walk up the grassy hill a Grey Shrike-thrush was noted on a picnic table along with a large group of Eastern Yellow Robins that were feeding in the leaf litter below.
The fig tree was alive with activity and song. The first species I saw was a Large-billed Scrubwren that are cartoon-like birds that have an exaggerated bill that is out of proportion with the rest of their small bodies. Brown Gerygones were also out and about with the scrubwrens. These two species dominated the adjoining track through the actual rainforest. Several Lewin’s Honeyeaters, Brown Honeyeaters and a GreyFantail was also among the foliage.
Large-billed Scrubwren
A medium-sized bird was also right at the top of the tree. It gradually made its way down the branches and it became clear it was a Green Catbird. I had only ever seen this bird once in the wild and that was on the grounds of Australia Zoo. I was really happy to see one with greater visibility. If you have never heard the call of a catbird you need to stop reading this and go search it up! The catbird wasn’t the only largish bird in the fig tree. Numerous Satin Bowerbirds were also hanging around up in the canopy with the catbird along with a family group of Laughing Kookaburras. Oh and a male Australian Golden Whistler was also pinpointed. All these species thus far have been seen in and around one tree!
Green Catbird
Unexpectedly, a flash of bright yellowy gold caught the corner of my eye flying straight past me as I walked around the back of the tree towards the fringes of forest. It wasn’t the colour of a robin nor a golden whistler. It was vivid; an intense colour. Something you cannot easily forget. My head spun with options for different species that it could have been. It quickly clicked. With excited haste I made my way over to the tree to have a closer look. I found it sitting in the branch and it was unmistakable; a male Regent Bowerbird! My first in the wild. I was thrilled. I didn’t get any wonderful shots of it but it was the experience of finding the bird that mattered the most for me.
Regent Bowerbird peeking from behind a branch
Leaving the picnic grounds after a real thrill to the morning, the first species in the rainforest I came across was a Red-legged Pademelon bounding through the leaf litter. These macropods were common across the forest floor. I was also keeping a close eye out for Red-necked Pademelons but I didn’t come across any. The rainforest was heaving with birdsong mainly being produced by the gerygones and scrubwrens. A pair of Pale-yellow Robins also made a quick appearance. Another almost animated-looking bird in my opinion with the big head and eyes.
Pale-yellow Robin
Continuing through the rainforest, several big swooshes were heard in the trees. Flocks of Wompoo Fruit Doves and Brown Cuckoo Doves were feeding high in the canopy. Wompoos are big beautiful birds with their shades of emerald green, purple and yellow. One of the fruit pigeons flew off and I was surprised at how yellow their underwings were. A noisy female Australian King Parrot later joined the feeding frenzy.
A rustle in the leaf litter was heard a few metres down the trail. It stopped. The sound moved closer and stopped again suddenly. I scanned the leaf litter and spotted two birds. My first impression was immediately quail for some reason followed by whipbird. Neither was correct. Both birds moved closer and revealed greyish heads. One bird has a rufous throat and the other a white one. My heart skipped a beat. A pair of Australian Logrunners! Logrunners are very cool birds that inhabit the forest floors and are one of my species in the ‘top six’ as I mentioned earlier. It was very dark so photographs were difficult but that didn’t matter as the pair quickly retreated into the depths of the deep dark rainforest.
Another racket in the undergrowth revealed an Eastern Whipbird that was scratching away. The only other new species I saw on the rainforest circuit was a really large bird. It didn’t have the look of a pigeon nor a king parrot; it was a Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo. A lone bird not too high off the ground. It stayed awhile and took off in a noisy exit.
After I finished the patch of rainforest, I stopped for lunch at the picnic table under the main fig tree. Satin bowerbirds, robins, gerygones, fantails, large-billed scrubwrens and whistlers remained in high numbers well up to midday. The birdsong doesn’t stop at Maiala. The final species of the day was a Yellow-throated Scrubwren spotted near the picnic table. Fantastic little birds with a black mask fringed with yellow.
Maiala is well worth the visit. There are great opportunities to see several charismatic species especially in the picnic area right near the edge of the rainforest. I managed to tick off two lifers (logrunner and regent bowerbird) of the ‘top six’ rainforest species so it was a successful visit. I have fond memories of flicking through my tattered old bird guide when I was younger, shocked at how striking male Regent Bowerbirds were. The yellow and black plumage leapt off the page as my imagination ran wild. Finally seeing one in the wild is a particular tick for me personally.
I thought "I'm sure it is" because I remember looking at access for the general area when I was going to Brisbane in 2019. But I had a search and it looks like it's about a 15km walk to Maiala from the nearest bus stop (the #399 bus from Ferny Grove Station). A person still could do that - it would just take a while and I don't know what the roads there are like to walk along, which would probably be why I didn't go there in the end. I'm sure there must be closer areas to get to from Ferny Grove which would be worthwhile, but I don't know the area at all?
a male Regent Bowerbird! My first in the wild. I was thrilled. I didn’t get any wonderful shots of it but it was the experience of finding the bird that mattered the most for me.
You haven't got to Lamington yet, have you? When I was there a decade ago - and I'm assuming this is still the case - the birds around O'Reilly's are so tame that they will land on your hand, so you can have Regent's Bowerbirds so close that you can't even take a photo.
I thought "I'm sure it is" because I remember looking at access for the general area when I was going to Brisbane in 2019. But I had a search and it looks like it's about a 15km walk to Maiala from the nearest bus stop (the #399 bus from Ferny Grove Station). A person still could do that - it would just take a while and I don't know what the roads there are like to walk along, which would probably be why I didn't go there in the end. I'm sure there must be closer areas to get to from Ferny Grove which would be worthwhile, but I don't know the area at all?
The Samford Conservation Park seems excellent and is closer than Maiala; walkable from Ferny Grove or its nearby suburbs in fact I'd say. I have tried the Bunyaville Conservation Park but didn't find much; that might be just me though. A few owl species including Powerful have been recorded at the latter place.
The roads are quite steep up towards Maiala, not sure how many people have attempted it. There are a few rockfaces and mountainous cliffs that reach right up to the road barrier that would probably prevent individuals from getting past. There might be a backway though. If there was some way to get to the township of Mount Glorious then Maiala would be a two minute walk from there.
This will be out of date now, but when I went to Lamington the rooms at O'Reilly's were hundreds of dollars per night to stay at while the park campsite a few minutes walk away was only AU$4.50 per night.
There was (presumably still is) a bird-feeding area outside O'Reilly's where the tour-bus turn is and if you stood there with a handful of raisins honeyeaters and bowerbirds would fly down to land on your hand.
I found Albert's Lyrebirds to be common there (I saw eight of them, including a displaying male) but it was winter and apparently at other times of the year they are not so easy. I also saw Dingos there which was cool.
@WhistlingKite24
Just about most rain forest birds can be seen in Lamington National Park.
At O'Reilly's there are green lawns where many species come out to including Red-Legged Pademelons, bush Turkeys, King Parrots, Bower Birds and more. There are a number of bush walking trails both short and very long trails which could take a few days to complete. they have a rainforest tree walk at tree top level including one tree on the walk where one can climb a ladder up its trunk to quite a high level. On the high point at O'Réilly's one can see into northern NSW. Worth the trip!
Location 6: Enoggera Reservoir [D’Aguilar National Park], Brisbane – 13th July 2021
Target Species: Several species found in the reservoir including pigeons [Wonga Pigeon, Pacific Emerald Dove], cuckoos, sittellas and cuckoo-shrikes [White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Cicadabird]
The Enoggera Reservoir is located near a suburb called the Gap. It’s probably one of the easiest sites to get to with the 385 bus providing an easy way to get access to the Araucaria Circuit. The Walkabout Creek Nature Centre is also located here so there is a zoo as an added bonus. This place was really where it all began for me. I still remember vividly walking down this track in the early days of last year just out of curiosity after a zoo visit. I left with eight bird lifers in the span of two hours. I was hooked. Over the past year, I have picked up everything from koalas to lace monitors, jacanas to silvereyes. It’s one of those places filled with surprises.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
As school holidays have now ended, the whole area was unusually quiet and I virtually had the place to myself during the morning. Heading towards the dam, I spotted an Intermediate Egret along with the waterbird staples; Australasian Swamphen, Eurasian Coot and Dusky Moorhen. There were several Little Black Cormorants along with a lone Macquarie Turtle located along the bank in the full sun. The waterlilies were home to several groups of Comb-crested Jacanas and their young. Such graceful birds as they ‘danced’ across the waterlilies. Several of them were vocalising as well as they took flight to other patches of floating vegetation. The juvenile jacanas are growing up fast which was good to see.
Beginning the actual trail, the birds came out in their droves right from the start. I visited just at the right time as the majority of the shrubs and smaller trees were in full flower attracting large numbers of honeyeaters in particular. Bell Miners were everywhere as they always are at the Enoggera Reservoir. I spotted several of them chasing each other through the trees. Australian Golden Whistlers, males and females, were also common throughout the first patch of forest. Yellow-faced Honeyeaters, Lewin’s Honeyeaters and Scarlet Honeyeaters were all gorging themselves on the nectar. There was also a Melithreptus honeyeater but I didn’t manage to get a close enough look to confirm which species. A small little figure was also quietly following the honeyeaters, moving from tree to tree with them. It was a bronze cuckoo; a Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo to be exact. A long-awaited lifer for me! I had seen a Shining Bronze-Cuckoo on my last visit and eBird lists both species occurring here recently. I must also note that I have never seen such a high density of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters. They were the dominant honeyeater species at Enoggera today and their numbers have seemingly increased.
Yellow-faced Honeyeater
A big wave of birds also passed through the flowering trees comprising of mainly Silvereyes (20+ birds) and a Grey Fantail. I saw my first silvereyes during my last visit and they popped up everywhere today. They are striking little birds with their wonderful white eye rings. The second lifer of the day flew towards one of the large hoop pines that sit along the water; a Pacific Emerald Dove! It starting cooing from its vantage point so I managed to spot it from a distance. While being very common in zoos and wildlife parks, it’s excellent to see one in the wild.
Continuing on around the first corner was a Fan-tailed Cuckoo perched at eye level. The nearby eucalypts were home to more yellow-faced honeyeaters, silvereyes, Rose Robins and a single White-throated Treecreeper. A male Rufous Whistler was also feeding high in the canopy. Notably, I saw my first male Rose Robin in full colour today (no photo as it was hiding well). Australasian robins on a whole are much nicer than any of those dull boring European ones.
The adjoining waterway also had lots of life with the aforementioned coots, moorhens and swamphens now joined by Hardheads and an Australasian Grebe. A flash of vivid blue also hit the water’s surface from above meaning that there was also a Forest Kingfisher out and about as well. A pair of White-browed Scrubwrens were also hanging close to the water’s edge near the tall grass. Eastern Yellow Robins and Eastern Whipbirds were nearby and they were later joined by one of my favourite species that can be found here; a family of Variegated Fairywrens.
Variegated Fairywren
Past the fairywrens were more whistlers, yellow robins, scarlet honeyeaters, a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike and several Brown Thornbills catching insects. Up a set of stairs through the track leads to a patch of bush that is particularly good for both local pardalote species; Spotted and Striated Pardalotes can often be seen along the closer trees to the path. The third lifer of the day was seen around the trunk of an old eucalypt that towered above the rest. The tiny bird was a Varied Sittella. What a fantastic species. South-east Queensland apparently has the white-headed subspecies (D. c. leucocephala). I don’t think I would have had much chance seeing such a minute bird high in the canopy so I was glad it came down relatively close to the ground.
Varied Sittella
A Rufous Shrike-thrush was also seen nearby while an Australian Brush-turkey was scratching up the leaf litter below. One of my favourite birds made a brief appearance coming down momentarily from the canopy; a Varied Triller. I just think they are a wonderfully striking species. I tried to get at least one acceptable photograph of the bird as there aren't many photos of them in the ZooChat gallery. The final few notable species I ticked off were a small flock of Red-browed Finches, a Pied Currawong raiding a nest for eggs, more silvereyes and several cockatoos – Little Corellas, Galahs and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos.
Varied Triller
I owe a lot to the Enoggera Reservoir. It has been a superb source for wildlife over the past year and has truly fed my interest. It’s also a good stop to fine tune birding as well; just to watch the surroundings and take in the sound and sights of the birds. Today was a good day with approximately 40 species with three lifers but I have seen 50+ birds on another visit during the earlier months of 2021. Past visits have included other species like dollarbirds, bazas, cuckoo doves, red-backed fairywrens, sacred kingfishers, black-faced and spectacled monarchs, several flycatcher species and crested shrike-tits. It really depends on the season for a lot of these species. It’s well worth the visit at any time of the year though.
Great thread @WhistlingKite24 Thanks for sharing your experiences as a new birder. It’s an awesome time in your birding journey, when you can pick up lifers pretty easily, and it sounds like you’re definitely making the most of it and soaking in what you see. Soon enough you will have to travel far and wide to see new species, but the challenge of that is rewarding too. Looking forward to more posts in this series
As this thread will eventually have 100+ locations covered across south-east Queensland that I have already mapped out as a long-term project, there will inevitably be smaller sites that simply do not have the variety that the larger places possess to warrant extensive posts. They will be covered in a different more straightforward format as a species-by-species discussion would become repetitive and largely pointless. A general overview, key bolded species and notable points regarding the location will be provided followed by an attached species list of the animals seen. These smaller locations will be uploaded in pairs.
Location 7: Chermside Hills Reserve, Brisbane – 7th July 2021
The Chermside Hills Reserve is connected to the Raven Street Reserve (mentioned above) as part of the greater trio of Chermside Hills Reserves. It is 55 hectares of open forest and woodlands with some impressive understories of banksias and grass trees. Despite being quite large with well-established forest I always find the birding here to be somewhat lacking in comparison to Raven Street. Not sure why. The reserve is apparently a known site for Rakali in the waterways according to some signage near the front of the bushland.
I spotted a small range of species including a White-throated Honeyeater, both the whistlers – Australian Golden and Rufous Whistler, several Rainbow Bee-eaters, Striated Pardalote and Grey Fantail notably. A nice little collection of species. This place can easily be paired with Raven Street Reserve. Simply start at Downfall Creek and follow the signage as it connects to this reserve via the Milne Hill Reserve which links the two reserves.
Location 8: Banks Street Reserve, Brisbane – 14th July 2021
A green island in the heart of the city. Banks Street Reserve is a small 34-hectare patch of bush that is encircled by suburbia and roads. When I say encircled, I really mean encircled. Search it up on Google Maps and you will see what I mean. It’s a circle of open eucalypt and remnant dry rainforest just five kilometres from the city centre that is attached to the Enoggera Creek. The reserve is located in the suburb of Newmarket and can be accessed by catching the 390 bus from the city following an eight-minute walk.
Reading the signage that is present across the reserve, in the 1800s this bushland was called Seven Mile Scrub and was wet rainforest. By 1910 the majority of the old growth rainforest was logged and open eucalyptus forest quickly replaced it. The remaining rainforest plants were also taken; “dray loads of bird’s nest ferns, staghorn ferns and orchids were ruthlessly torn away from congenial surroundings and taken to town to decorate ballrooms or triumphal arches or to bush houses”. Rather depressing. The land was used as a market garden for many years until council acquired the land to create a reserve in 1978. The big signage board mentioned that some of its key species include Boobook Owl, Sacred Kingfisher and Pale-headed Rosella.
Australian Golden Whistler
I really wasn’t expecting that much due to it being in such a built-up area so close to the city. I was very disappointed to see several unleashed dogs running through the tall grass flushing out several birds. It seems like people like to treat this place as an off-leash dog park despite the extensive council signage.
A standard range of suburban birds were seen along with a few unexpected surprises. Several groups of Variegated Fairywrens were found across the reserve. I was genuinely surprised to see them around as they are uncommon compared to the Superb and Red-backed Fairywrens in Brisbane. There were a few other bushland birds like Rufous Whistler, Australian Golden Whistler, Grey Fantail, Lewin’s Honeyeater and an Eastern Whipbird in the thicket. There was also a healthy population of Australasian Figbirds. Besides them the only other notable species was a large camp of Black Flying Foxes that roost in the area.
Variegated Fairywren
This site has a lot of potential considering it’s one of the closest reserves to the city so very valuable land for wildlife. It was good to see several examples of the local community trying to preserve the area with tree plantings especially and council workers working on weed control today as well. Looking at both eBird and Brisbane birdwatching groups, several noteworthy species like Pale-vented Bush-hen, Lewin’s Rail and even a Superb Fruit Dove (!) have been recorded at this location. I think it’s worth another go in the warmer months.
The Tinchi Tamba Wetlands is a large, 380-hectare reserve positioned right on the edge of Moreton Bay. It possesses a range of habitats including mangroves, grasslands, saltmarshes and open forest giving it an impressive range of species. On eBird it’s listed as the number one birding location in Brisbane with a notable 234 species recorded, even surpassing Oxley Creek Common! The wetlands were meant to be destroyed in the 1980s for a canal development but the council purchased it in 1993 providing it protection. Tinchi Tamba can be accessed via a few bus routes that stop around the suburbs of Bracken Ridge and Bald Hills.
There are some fantastic species that occur in and around Tinchi Tamba. I saw my first wild Black-necked Stork and Far Eastern Curlew with relative ease earlier in the year. For today’s visit however, my target species is the Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus) as it has been regularly recorded in the area. I am always looking to tick off additional raptor species so any chance I get would be a bonus.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The first portion of Tinchi Tamba is predominately mangrove that run along the North Pine River up towards the ocean. This area is a reliable location for the first species that I encountered; a group of Mangrove Honeyeaters. This species can also be found feeding near the tall eucalypts that edge the shore later on down the track. Other species were nearby; Brown Honeyeaters, Grey Fantails and the staples – Rainbow Lorikeet, Noisy Miner and Australian Magpie.
Tinchi Tamba is known in the area for its kangaroos. A large mob of Eastern Grey Kangaroos can be found in the open patches of grassland between the mangroves and open forest. They rarely get close to humans but today the large mob was right by the boardwalk a few metres away. A huge adult male (one of the largest I have seen) and several joeys, in and out of pouch, were part of what must have been 50-70 kangaroos. They remained wary of human presence and would bolt at any sudden movement.
Eastern Grey Kangaroos – adult male, female and two joeys
Several other birds were spotted along the river; Australian White Ibis, White-faced Heron, Great Egret and a Greater Crested Tern. The banks of the river are usually a good spot for waders as well when in summer. The resident Brahminy Kite soared above while a White-bellied Sea Eagle remained perched on a dead tree branch. Chestnut Teals were found all along the waterways close to the mangroves as well.
The mangroves quickly turned to open casuarina forest. Scarlet Honeyeaters, both adults and juveniles, were everywhere high up in the canopy. They were joined by more Brown Honeyeaters and a Fan-tailed Cuckoo that took off as soon as I approached. Rufous Whistlers, a Grey Shrike-thrush and several Sacred Kingfishers were also spotted in this patch of bush.
Sacred Kingfisher (January 2021)
An old friend of mine flew above as well while I was among the casuarinas; a Whistling Kite surveyed from up above. Always delighted to see them around. Approaching another stretch of mangroves that sat alongside the open forest, a Torresian Kingfisher was found among the foliage. Several mangrove gerygones were also calling but I spotted none. A pair of Bar-shouldered Doves finished off this first trail.
The second trail at Tinchi Tamba leads to a bird hide. I don’t often do this trail however today I gave this one a go and am very glad I did. Walking through more traditional eucalypt forest the canopy was home to Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and Rainbow Bee-eaters predominately along with more kingfishers and whistlers. A family of Red-backed Fairywrens scampered among the undergrowth as they always do.
And what about that Brown Goshawk that I was aiming to find? A flock of noisy miners were mobbing a large brownish bird right near the bird hide. It looked like a large hunched pigeon at first glance. I got a closer look and saw it was a Brown Goshawk! This is my 150th wild bird for 2021. A rather fitting species being a lovely looking raptor.
Brown Goshawk
The Tinchi Tamba Wetlands Reserve is a classic birding site in the Brisbane area. It possesses a range of habitats leading to a good range of species and opportunities to find some lovely birds well within reach of Brisbane’s suburbia. The mob of kangaroos are also another nice highlight of the site. If you’re in the area it’s worth a visit.
Note: I have some upcoming commitments that will take up most of my time (i.e. five months of full-time study) so if this thread is rather sporadic or inactive with its posting for a few months, not to worry. It will be revived with several more exciting locations towards the end of the year. There is still lots more to come and thanks to those who have been following my adventures thus far.
