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TOUR REPORT – SICKLEBILL SAFARIS

South-East Queensland 4 Day Tour

9-12 July 2016

The forecasted fine and mild weather encouraged us as we set out from Brisbane for Moreton Bay on our first morning. With persistence, at Sandy Camp Wetlands we enjoyed brief but clear views of Spotless Crake in its regular reedy haunt, despite lack of muddy edges. A Restless Flycatcher, in Melaleuca trees overhanging water, was an unexpected encounter for the coastal plain. Regulars seen well included Wandering Whistling-Duck, Comb-crested Jacana and Forest Kingfisher and a Pacific Baza overflew briefly. Ospreys were at their tower nest. A few minutes away at Wynnum North, several Collared Kingfishers and numerous Mangrove Gerygones were busy in the old-growth Avicennia mangroves. There was just enough exposed intertidal mudflat to give long-distance views of Far Eastern Curlew and Bar-tailed Godwit: both now listed as Threatened under national legislation. Continuing on to Fisherman’s Island (Port of Brisbane), Mangrove Honeyeater completed the trio of mangrove specialists. As well as numerous Chestnut Teal, a group of Pink-eared Ducks provided a nice surprise on the artificial ponds.

Pink-eared Duck (Photo: Roger Jaensch)

After transit south to Canungra, we stopped occasionally on the road up to the Lamington Plateau; a coloured Rose Robin close to ground level and a flock of Dusky Woodswallows above the dry eucalypt forest were recorded. Before passing through a Bell Miner colony we noted Yellow Thornbills in tall, mossy hoop pines on the plateau edge, these thornbills being an isolated occurrence in this very specific habitat. As daylight faded, White-headed Pigeons perched in exposed canopy and a female Albert’s Lyrebird crossed in front of us on a walking path, both near O’Reilly’s Guest House.

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On Day 2, despite a large number of visitors to the area, we were able to enjoy resident birds much as usual around O’Reilly’s and the national park. Secretive male lyrebirds were vocal—as is typical in winter—at several locations. Our pre-breakfast walk yielded Bassian Thrushes on the path, a stunning Wompoo Fruit-Dove in the canopy (revealing its golden underwing in flight), and a Noisy Pitta hopping quickly across the littered rainforest floor. In rainforest on a side road we found Green Catbird (not meowing at this time of year). Adjacent eucalypt forest held White-naped Honeyeaters, Striated Thornbills and a Variegated Fairy-wren, the latter in drab winter plumage. In the camping ground at sunset, a female Paradise Riflebird was busy working the branches of a hoop pine oblivious to campers setting up tent underneath! Though male Regent Bowerbirds were scarce at this time of year, one investigated the accommodations (and several more appeared briefly the next morning). During dinner we were visited by a short-eared possum. Finally, after dining we revisited a rainforest trail and heard three Sooty Owls and a Southern Boobook, while a long-nosed bandicoot was seen at close quarters, probing the soft soil.

Paradise Riflebird (female) (Photo: Roger Jaensch)

Regent Bowerbird (male) at O’Reilly’s. (Photo: Roger Jaensch)

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The partly misty start to Day 3 progressed to three close encounters with lyrebirds on the near trails. One female lyrebird flew downhill after it was rediscovered near a large staghorn fern, 5 m up a small tree, where it had been fossicking at dusk the previous evening. After brief views of whiptail (pretty-face) wallabies on our way down the mountain, we traversed to Beaudesert and Boonah through open farmland with scattered remnant forest. A covey of Brown Quail caused us to stop and scanning around revealed a large carpet python sunning on dense creeper draped over small trees. Mixed Chestnut-breasted Mannikins and Double-barred Finches clustered on a nearby fence. A lone White-necked Heron was spied in a pond next the main road and an Azure Kingfisher provided a splash of colour perched above dry grass along a small river. Black-shouldered Kites were plentiful.

Carpet Python near Beaudesert (Photo: Roger Jaensch)

Having passed over the Great Dividing Range at Cunningham’s Gap, we entered the croplands of the Goomburra Valley. Eastern Rosellas, Musk Lorikeets and Red-rumped Parrots made colourful appearances (40 of the latter perched on wires later in the day) and both and Little Corellas were among the cockatoos investigating freshly-turned soil. Entering tall eucalypts along the creek, Red Wattlebirds called noisily and Red-browed Treecreepers joined Varied Sittellas searching the ribbons of peeled bark. On a ridge with

Glossy Black-Cockatoo (male) at Goomburra. (Photo: Roger Jaensch)

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Glossy Black-Cockatoo (male) at Goomburra

(Photo: Roger Jaensch) mixed eucalypt and Casuarina woodland, a pair of Crested Shriketits and several Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters provided moments of bright yellow-and-black. Another Paradise Riflebird worked the high branches, having ranged out from nearby rainforest. Frustratingly, remnants of chewed Casuarina cones failed to lead us to their creators but later we tracked down three Glossy Black-Cockatoos feeding peacefully in a clump of Casuarinas heavily laden with cones. We marvelled at how they extracted the tiny seeds with their massive bills. From our accommodation in the garden city of Toowoomba, on Day 4 we entered the Lockyer Valley, a patchwork of vegetable/cereal farms and remnant dry eucalypt forest with numerous small reservoirs and ponds. Under drizzly sky at Lake Clarendon, the water was still, helping us obtain distant but good views of seven Blue-billed Ducks and a female Musk Duck and the three species of grebe included several Hoary-headed Grebes. A lone Swamp Harrier, a pair of Pale-headed Rosellas, an overflying Cockatiel and a troupe of Grey-crowned Babblers were easily seen in the surrounds. Later, in large shallow pools that were all that remained of Lake Atkinson’s storage, six Australasian Shovelers, a Black-necked Stork and a pair of Red-capped Plovers were seen from afar. Artificial water treatment ponds near Gatton were the base camp for hundreds of Plumed Whistling-Ducks, some Magpie Geese and more Pink-eared Ducks. Another very shallow dam was frequented by two Glossy Ibises and a solo Yellow-billed Spoonbill was detected in a small stock dam. A warmly-plumaged Golden-headed Cisticola briefly emerged from thick grass near a pond. In the farms between the dams we heard then located ten Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, occasional visitors to this part of South-East Queensland, as they fed in bloodwood trees. After frustration at hearing distant Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, eventually a pair was seen lumbering past in flight. Some of the Banded Lapwings at a well-known locality with short-grazed grass, obliged with close views. Forest remnants proved fruitful for birding with colourful Scarlet Honeyeater, White-throated Gerygone and Rose Robin as well as the more sombre Jacky Winter and Brown-headed Honeyeater. A drowsy koala only a few

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Red-tailed Black-Cockatoos, Lockyer Valley

(Photo: Roger Jaensch) metres up in a small gum tree was discovered while we watched a pair of White-bellied Cuckoo-shrikes. The last stop in our tour was in tall eucalypt open-forest with shrub understorey, near Pine Mountain. Here we enjoyed the abundant honeyeaters around flowering forest red gums, including Fuscous Honeyeater and less conspicuous Black-chinned Honeyeater. Little Lorikeets flashed past but did not oblige by stopping to be viewed properly. A beautiful Speckled Warbler showed off on low shrub branches: a great finale! This landscape-rich tour realised over 175 bird species including 19 honeyeaters, 17 ducks/geese/swans, 16 parrots and cockatoos—including three species of black-cockatoo—11 thornbills and allies, and 10 raptors.

Koala, Lockyer Valley. (Photo: Roger Jaensch)

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LIST OF SPECIES RECORDED ON THIS TOUR

South-East Queensland 4 Day Tour, 9-12 July 2016

Family name Family scientific name Taxon scientific name Taxon name WYN LAM GOO VAL

Megapodes Megapodiidae Alectura lathami Australian Brush-turkey XPheasants and Quail Phasianidae Coturnix ypsilophora Brown Quail X

Magpie Goose Anseranatidae Anseranas semipalmata Magpie Goose X X

Dendrocygna eytoni Plumed Whistling-Duck X

Dendrocygna arcuata Wandering Whistling-Duck X

Biziura lobata Musk Duck X

Cygnus atratus Black Swan X X

Chenonetta jubata Australian Wood Duck X X X

Malacorhynchus membranaceus Pink-eared Duck X X

Anas rhynchotis Australasian Shoveler X

Anas gracilis Grey Teal X

Anas castanea Chestnut Teal X

Anas superciliosa Pacific Black Duck X X

Aythya australis Hardhead X X

Oxyura australis Blue-billed Duck X

Tachybaptus novaehollandiae Australasian Grebe X X

Poliocephalus poliocephalus Hoary-headed Grebe X

Podiceps cristatus Great Crested Grebe X

Columba livia Rock Dove X

Columba leucomela White-headed Pigeon X

Streptopelia chinensis Spotted Dove X X

Macropygia amboinensis Brown Cuckoo-Dove X

Phaps chalcoptera Common Bronzewing X

Ocyphaps lophotes Crested Pigeon X X X

Geopelia striata Peaceful Dove X

Geopelia humeralis Bar-shouldered Dove X X

Leucosarcia melanoleuca Wonga Pigeon X

Ptilinopus magnificus Wompoo Fruit-Dove X

Darter Anhingidae Anhinga novaehollandiae Australasian Darter X X

Microcarbo melanoleucos Little Pied Cormorant X X

Phalacrocorax carbo Great Cormorant X

Phalacrocorax sulcirostris Little Black Cormorant X X

Phalacrocorax varius Pied Cormorant X X

Pelican Pelicanidae Pelecanus conspicillatus Australian Pelican X X

Storks Ciconiidae Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus Black-necked Stork X

Ardea pacifica White-necked Heron X

Ardea alba Great Egret X X

Ardea intermedia Intermediate Egret X X

Ardea ibis Cattle Egret X X

Egretta novaehollandiae White-faced Heron X X

Egretta garzetta Little Egret X

Plegadis falcinellus Glossy Ibis X

Threskiornis moluccus Australian White Ibis X X

Threskiornis spinicollis Straw-necked Ibis X X

Platalea regia Royal Spoonbill X X

Platalea flavipes Yellow-billed Spoonbill X

Pandion haliaetus Osprey X

Elanus axillaris Black-shouldered Kite X X

Aviceda subcristata Pacific Baza X

Haliaeetus leucogaster White-bellied Sea-Eagle X

Haliastur sphenurus Whistling Kite X

Haliastur indus Brahminy Kite X

Milvus migrans Black Kite X

Accipiter cirrocephalus Collared Sparrowhawk X

Circus approximans Swamp Harrier X

Aquila audax Wedge-tailed Eagle X

Falco cenchroides Nankeen Kestrel X

Falco berigora Brown Falcon X

Pigeons and Doves Columbidae

Ducks, Geese and

Swans

Anatidae

Grebes Podicepidae

Cormorants and Shags Phalacrocoracidae

Herons, Egrets and

Bitterns

Ardeidae

Ibis and Spoonbills Threskiornithidae

Falcons

Eagles, Kites,

Goshawks and Osprey

Accipitridae

Falconidae

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Family name Family scientific name Taxon scientific name Taxon name WYN LAM GOO VAL

Porphyrio porphyrio Purple Swamphen X X

Porzana tabuensis Spotless Crake X

Gallinula tenebrosa Dusky Moorhen X X

Fulica atra Eurasian Coot X XStilts and Avocets Recurvirostridae Himantopus leucocephalus Black-winged Stilt X X

Charadrius ruficapillus Red-capped Plover X

Elseyornis melanops Black-fronted Dotterel X

Vanellus tricolor Banded Lapwing X

Vanellus miles Masked Lapwing X X X

Jacanas Jacanidae Irediparra gallinacea Comb-crested Jacana X

Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed Godwit X

Numenius phaeopus Whimbrel X

Numenius madagascariensis Eastern Curlew X

Gelochelidon nilotica Gull-billed Tern X

Hydroprogne caspia Caspian Tern X

Chlidonias hybrida Whiskered Tern X

Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae Silver Gull X

Calyptorhynchus banksii Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo X

Calyptorhynchus lathami Glossy Black-Cockatoo X

Calyptorhynchus funereus Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo X

Eolophus roseicapillus Galah X X

Cacatua sanguinea Little Corella X X

Cacatua galerita Sulphur-crested Cockatoo X X X

Nymphicus hollandicus Cockatiel X

Trichoglossus haematodus Rainbow Lorikeet X X X X

Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus Scaly-breasted Lorikeet X

Glossopsitta concinna Musk Lorikeet X

Glossopsitta pusilla Little Lorikeet X

Alisterus scapularis Australian King-Parrot X

Platycercus elegans Crimson Rosella X

Platycercus eximius Eastern Rosella X

Platycercus adscitus Pale-headed Rosella X

Psephotus haematonotus Red-rumped Parrot XHawk-Owls Strigidae Ninox novaeseelandiae Southern Boobook HMasked Owls Tytonidae Tyto tenebricosa Sooty Owl H

Kingfishers Alcedinidae Ceyx azureus Azure Kingfisher X

Dacelo novaeguineae Laughing Kookaburra X X X

Todiramphus macleayii Forest Kingfisher X

Todiramphus chloris Collared Kingfisher X

Bee-eaters Meropidae Merops ornatus Rainbow Bee-eater X

Pittas Pittidae Pitta versicolor Noisy Pitta XLyrebirds Menuridae Menura alberti Albert's Lyrebird X

Cormobates leucophaea White-throated Treecreeper X X

Climacteris erythrops Red-browed Treecreeper X X

Ailuroedus crassirostris Green Catbird X

Sericulus chrysocephalus Regent Bowerbird X

Ptilonorhynchus violaceus Satin Bowerbird X X

Malurus cyaneus Superb Fairy-wren X X X X

Malurus lamberti Variegated Fairy-wren X

Sericornis citreogularis Yellow-throated Scrubwren X

Sericornis frontalis White-browed Scrubwren X X

Sericornis magnirostris Large-billed Scrubwren X

Chthonicola sagittata Speckled Warbler X

Smicrornis brevirostris Weebill X

Gerygone mouki Brown Gerygone X

Gerygone levigaster Mangrove Gerygone X

Gerygone olivacea White-throated Gerygone X

Acanthiza lineata Striated Thornbill X X

Acanthiza nana Yellow Thornbill X

Acanthiza chrysorrhoa Yellow-rumped Thornbill X

Acanthiza pusilla Brown Thornbill X X

Snipe, Sandpipers,

Godwits, Curlew,

Stints and Phalaropes

Scolopacidae

Plovers, Dotterel and

Lapwings

Charadriidae

Crakes, Rails and

Swamphens

Rallidae

Tree Kingfishers Halcyonidae

Parrots, Lorikeets and

Rosellas

Psittacidae

Gulls, Terns and

Noddies

Laridae

Cockatoos and

Corellas

Cacatuidae

Treecreepers Climacteridae

Bowerbirds and

Catbirds

Ptilonorhynchidae

Fairy-wrens, Emu-

wrens and Grasswrens

Maluridae

Thornbills and

Gerygones

Acanthizidae

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List based on: BirdLife Australia (2014). The BirdLife Australia Working List of Australian Birds; Version 1.2.

Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org.au/documents/BWL-BirdLife_Australia_Working_List_v1.2.xls

List of site codes is on the next page.

Family name Family scientific name Taxon scientific name Taxon name WYN LAM GOO VAL

Pardalotus punctatus Spotted Pardalote X X X

Pardalotus striatus Striated Pardalote X X

Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris Eastern Spinebill X

Meliphaga lewinii Lewin's Honeyeater X X X X

Lichenostomus chrysops Yellow-faced Honeyeater X X X X

Lichenostomus fasciogularis Mangrove Honeyeater X

Lichenostomus melanops Yellow-tufted Honeyeater X

Lichenostomus fuscus Fuscous Honeyeater X

Manorina melanophrys Bell Miner X X

Manorina melanocephala Noisy Miner X X X

Anthochaera carunculata Red Wattlebird X

Myzomela sanguinolenta Scarlet Honeyeater X X

Lichmera indistincta Brown Honeyeater X X

Melithreptus gularis Black-chinned Honeyeater X

Melithreptus brevirostris Brown-headed Honeyeater X

Melithreptus albogularis White-throated Honeyeater X

Melithreptus lunatus White-naped Honeyeater X X X

Entomyzon cyanotis Blue-faced Honeyeater X X

Philemon corniculatus Noisy Friarbird X X

Philemon citreogularis Little Friarbird X

Plectorhyncha lanceolata Striped Honeyeater X XAustralian Babblers Pomatostomidae Pomatostomus temporalis Grey-crowned Babbler X

Logrunners Orthonychidae Orthonyx temminckii Australian Logrunner X XWhipbirds and WedgebillsPsophodidae Psophodes olivaceus Eastern Whipbird X X

Sittellas Neosittidae Daphoenositta chrysoptera Varied Sittella X X

Coracina novaehollandiae Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike X X X X

Coracina papuensis White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike X

Falcunculus frontatus Crested Shrike-tit X

Pachycephala pectoralis Golden Whistler X X X X

Pachycephala rufiventris Rufous Whistler X X

Colluricincla harmonica Grey Shrike-thrush X X X

Artamus cyanopterus Dusky Woodswallow X

Cracticus torquatus Grey Butcherbird X X

Cracticus nigrogularis Pied Butcherbird X X X

Cracticus tibicen Australian Magpie X X X

Strepera graculina Pied Currawong X X X X

Rhipidura fuliginosa Grey Fantail X X X X

Rhipidura leucophrys Willie Wagtail X X X XCrows and Ravens Corvidae Corvus orru Torresian Crow X X X X

Myiagra inquieta Restless Flycatcher X

Grallina cyanoleuca Magpie-lark X X X

Birds of Paradise Paradisaeidae Ptiloris paradiseus Paradise Riflebird X X

Microeca fascinans Jacky Winter X

Petroica rosea Rose Robin X X

Eopsaltria australis Eastern Yellow Robin X X X

Cisticolas Cisticolidae Cisticola exilis Golden-headed Cisticola X

Reed-Warblers Acrocephalidae Acrocephalus australis Australian Reed-Warbler XGrassbirds Megaluridae Megalurus timoriensis Tawny Grassbird X

True Babblers Timaliidae Zosterops lateralis Silvereye X X

Hirundo neoxena Welcome Swallow X X X

Petrochelidon ariel Fairy Martin XThrushes Turdidae Zoothera lunulata Bassian Thrush X

Sturnus vulgaris Common Starling X

Sturnus tristis Common Myna X

Sunbirds, FlowerpeckersNectariniidae Dicaeum hirundinaceum Mistletoebird X X

Taeniopygia bichenovii Double-barred Finch X X

Neochmia temporalis Red-browed Finch X X X

Lonchura castaneothorax Chestnut-breasted Mannikin X XPipits and Wagtails Motacillidae Anthus novaeseelandiae Australasian Pipit X

Pardalotes Pardalotidae

Honeyeaters and

Chats

Meliphagidae

Whistlers, Shrike-

thrushes and allies

Pachycephalidae

Woodswallows,

Currawongs,

Butcherbirds and

Magpie

Artamidae

Cuckoo-shrikes and

Trillers

Campephagidae

Australian Robins Petroicidae

Fantails Rhipiduridae

Monarchs and

Flycatchers

Monarchidae

Weaver Finches Estrildidae

Swallows and Martins Hirundinidae

Starlings Sturnidae

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LOCATIONS:

WYN = Wynnum area, Brisbane (freshwater ponds and woodland; mangroves and intertidal mudflats near Moreton Bay)

LAM = Lamington Plateau and slopes, including O’Reilly’s Guest House area (sub-tropical rainforest; eucalypt forest; clearings)

GOO = Goomburra area including Main Range National Park (cropland; grazed fields and woodland; eucalypt forest with rainforest elements)

VAL = Lockyer Valley near Gatton, and Albert-Logan Valleys near Beaudesert (cropland; grazed fields and woodland; creeks; water storage and other artificial wetlands; remnant eucalypt forest).

Report by Roger Jaensch, tour guide. Contact Sicklebill Safaris (Phil & Sue Gregory) at: info@sicklebillsafaris.com