Bird Update: 5th February, 2010
Following Bird Week in November, there have been some interesting sightings and a heap of nesting activity. Scrubwrens, Gerygones, Robins, Thrushes, Monarchs, Logrunners, Finches, Fairywrens, Bowerbirds and Fantails all had many nests - most were found easily but some in the most hard to find places!
The Albert’s Lyrebirds have been seen and heard in close proximity to the Retreat. Recent sightings along the Border Track have been rewarding and lucky birdwatchers have seen them literally within the first few hundred metres of the track. Further out towards Elabana Falls turnoff and the Box Forest Circuit there are more seen if your timing is just right, well within 5 or 10 minutes if they are close to the track. Lyrebirds have been seen along the Python Rock Track and start of the Moran's Falls Track and the start or top of the Wishing Tree Track.
Several Noisy Pittas have been seen in January in the same areas mentioned above for the Lyrebird. Some of these sightings, like around the top of the Wishing Tree track, involved younger birds just starting to get some of their stunning colours. Paradise Riflebirds are still being seen depending on your timing though not really calling much.
Spectacled Monarchs have been heard and seen as far up as the bottom carpark and more so down the Python Rock Track. Black-Faced Monarchs and Rufous Fantails are certainly around still adding a lot more to the activity of the forest. January saw the odd Wompoo Fruit Dove in the Python Rock Track area. Regular sightings of Topknots, Wongas and White Headed Pigeons have been occurring.
The elusive Australian Owlet Nightjar has been a difficult chap to find for a lot of last year in the usual hollows along the Border Track. Recently in Jan / Feb they seem to be showing themselves a bit more and seem to be using all the old favourite hollows and no doubt some ones we don’t know yet. They are best searched for on warm sunny mornings in tree hollows often sunlit.
Down on the farm at Luke's Farm area we have been seeing the Brown Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Nankeen Kestrel, Wedgetail Eagle and Grey Goshawk regularly. Some Pipits are regular at the top of the farm as well as Treemartins. The resident Tawny Frogmouths at Luke's Farm, Duck Creek Road and the main road all raised one chick this year and all nested starting in exactly the same week.
We've also had some not-so-usual sightings with a White Eared Monarch seen at Marie's Gate, Luke's Farm and a Little Shrike Thrush 50m along the Tree Top Walk, which was a first for both places and not a usual spot for these lower country birds. Pale Yellow Robins seen early Feb near Moran's Falls and along Python Rock Track. Some good Crested Shrike Tit sightings near the road at the top of Moran's Falls and at the Flying Fox site.
Eucalypt forest has been okay with Red Browed Tree Creepers at the top of the Duck Creek Road where the rainforest edge is. This couple raised 2 young last year. Glossy Black Cockatoos were seen congregating at the bottom of the Duck Creek Road at water holes towards the end of the day in Bird Week and in the following weeks. Fruit is still on the Casuarinas they eat in the area.
Pardalotes, White Naped Honeyeaters, Yellow Faced Honeyeaters, Variegated Wrens, Striated and Buff Rumped Thornbills are all still active and the odd Cicadabird and Leaden Flycatchers have been around in January. Our Collared Sparrowhaks near Belsons Road raised and saw off 2 young again this year. Spotted Quail Thrush have been difficult to find. Many Brown Quail were seen late last year across the entire area.
Valleys had a good year last year with special birds seen on tours to the farms and waterholes with Buffbanded Rails, Freckled Duck (at Beaudesert Racecourse), Plum Headed Finches around Beaudesert, Speckled Warblers at drier forest sites, Great Crested Grebes, 4 types of Egret, Glossy Ibis, Jabirus, Lathams Snipes, Dotterels, Whiskered Terns, Tawny Grassbirds, Spoonbills, White Throated Gerygones, Dollarbirds, the occasional Grey Crown Bablers, Magpie Geese and the list goes on.
Finally in the air we still have the White-Throated Needletails Swifts cruising around ahead of unstable weather and often right over the Guesthouse just after sunset for those watching out for birds right till dark. The odd Boobook Owl has also been seen around the edges of the forest.
Happy hunting and keep your eyes open!
Duncan Fowler
