A Trip to Bundaberg

During the last week I went to Bundaberg to see my folks. I always love going up there to visit them on their property at South Kolan. Usually there are lots of varieties of birds on the property. Some of which are similar to the species here but there are many different species as well.

Before I left I had a quick walk to the dam as I could hear the wrens calling out. I noticed several male Red-backed Fairy-wrens with a few females. Walking back to the car I saw about six Peaceful Doves in the tree beside me. They are a regular on the property but it's not common for them to stay perched when you approach them.

Male Red-backed Fairy-wren

Peaceful Dove

Just after I left home I got some diesel from the Matilda service station at Kybong. After I finished pumping I saw a Restless Flycatcher sitting on the shrub beside the pump. It was about two meters off the ground in the open and about 3 meters from me. I quickly got the camera out but by then it was gone! An opportunity missed to get a perfect photograph. I decided to have a look at the ponds behind the service station where I could hear it calling out. Much to my surprise there were lots of birds in the camping area there.

There were Purple Swamphens, Dusky Moorhens, Pacific Black Ducks, Restless Flycatchers, Willie Wagtails, Grey Fantails, Australasian Figbirds, Grey Shrike-thrushes, White-breasted Woodswallows, Grey-crowned Babblers, Cattle Egrets, Intermediate Egrets plus many other really common birds for the area.

Grey Shrike-thrush

A Grey-crowned Babbler having some breakfast

A White-breasted Woodswallow cleaning itself after eating

An Australasian Figbird catching some morning sun

Male Restless Flycatcher

Pacific Black Duck

After spending most of the day at my parents property I decided to go visit a friend at Bargara. Before I went to his house I dropped in at the creek and tidal area towards Windermere Road. This area can be hit and miss for birding. Only a few birds were seen this time. Often there are several species of waders in the tidal zone.

Female Rainbow Bee-eater

Australian White Ibis

Whimbrel

The next day I went out birding back on my parents farm and very few birds were seen. Both Mum and Dad said that recently the birds seemed to have declined in numbers. Possibly due to the dry weather. All that was seen were a few hundred Brown Honeyeaters. I was shocked by the amount of these that were around. I have never seen them in such large numbers anywhere. Usually on the farm you may only see a dozen or so on a trip around the property.

The following morning I went out early to see if I could have some better luck. I was pleased to see a few other species but still only in low numbers, except for the Brown Honeyeaters again. There were Bar-shouldered Doves, Peaceful Doves, Common Koels, Pheasant Coucals, Rufous Whistlers, White-browed Scrubwrens, White-throated Honeyeaters, Channel-billed Cuckoos, Red-backed Fairy-wrens, Silvereyes, Chestnut-breasted Mannikins, Double-barred Finches plus a few others.

Rufous Whistler

One of the many Brown Honeyeaters

White-throated Honeyeater

White-browed Scrubwren

After birding at my parents I went for a drive towards Moore Park. Not long after getting out the car I heard and saw two birds flying just above the tree tops. I got my camera to take a photo but it was too late. I am certain that they were Double-eyed Fig Parrots! I saw a few Little Lorikeets earlier but they sounded slightly different. I have seen the other two races of Double-eyed Fig Parrots in north Queensland so I am aware of their call. Maybe they were Little Lorikeets also but I know in my mind what they were. As a result of this sighting I drove to one of the Cluster Figs that I knew of in the area. The tree had no sign of the Double-eyed Fig Parrots, surprise, surprise and there was no sign that any birds have been eating the figs. I continued to Moore Park where I knew there was quite a large number of fig trees. These are all Sandpaper Figs and Moreten Bay Figs though. Again no sign of any Double-eyed Fig Parrots and no sign of any of the figs being chewed. Maybe I was mistaken but I know next time I'm in the area I will be more aware.

Pair of Black-shouldered Kites on a Cluster Fig Tree

Some of the figs on one of the Cluster Figs

On the way home I stopped in briefly at the rest area on the north side of Gympie. A few species were present.

Royal Spoonbill

Magpie Geese

Dusky Moorhen

After arriving back home I spotted these two sitting in the trees near the house. The camera was in my hand so I couldn't resist taking a few shots and it was a good chance to practice my low light photography as well.

Lewin's Honeyeater

Grey Fantail

This last photo is a very special photo. This is Borris. I have to admit that this photo isn't actually mine. It was taken last week by one of my students I taught last year. The photographer's name is Kruze McDonald and he is only 5 years old. Last year I use to show a photo to the class and talk about the picture. Most of the photos were of animals, in particular birds but also of landmarks around Australia, different environments and trees. The idea of this was to settle the students but also to make them more aware of Australian wildlife and Australia in general. This definitely influenced the students as I noticed their appreciation and knowledge of animals and the Australian environment grow throughout the year.

Keep up the great work Kruze!

Borris the Torresian Crow

More updates and pics each fortnight.

If you're interested in my blog check out my site below by clicking on the link.

Australian Birds KEUNEA PHOTOGRAPHY

From Coles Creek to the Lockyer Valley

Yesterday I had to go down to Ipswich to pick up a few things so I decided to make a day of it and drop in at a few spots and get some photos along the way. Due to such a distance in one day I didn't arrive at optimal times at many of the places but I was still pleased with the species I photographed.

I started off at the my house at Coles Creek. I didn't go birding here but as I was getting ready to leave I noticed a few birds close to the house, so I couldn't resist as my camera was on my back.

The Dollarbirds arrive mid spring each year and leave late summer to early autumn. Nearly everyday they can be seen in the big dead trees around the property. This is the first time I have seen the Varied Trillers on the property since I have lived here. There were about 5 in the tree.



One of the Dollarbirds that roost near the house daily



Australian White Ibis

Male Rainbow Bee-eater

A regular species on the property lately, even though I had never seen them here until early spring this year.

Female Varied Triller

After finally leaving the house we made a quick dash towards Kenilworth. On the side of the road I saw a Buff-banded Rail and a Pheasant Coucal. Unfortunately I missed the photo of the Pheasant Coucal due to me following the Rail. The next few photos were all taken on the side of the road heading towards Kenilworth.

Buff-banded Rail



Female Australian Wood Duck with her ducklings (Dad was close by)

Female Galah

Next was a quick look around the banks of Little Yabba Creek near the rest area. I was very surprised today by the lack of birds calling out, compared to other trips to the area. Very few birds were heard and this is normally a good time of day. Not sure if the weather had anything to do with it or the small amount of rain from the night before. I only saw a few Logrunners which are normally prolific and none of the pigeons or doves were heard either! Admittedly I was only there for about 20 -30 minutes due to the travel planned but normally you would hear many in that time. At least a few birds were seen before I headed off again.



Yellow-throated Scrubwren

Spectacled Monarch

One of my favourite birds, due to there call: Green Catbird

Crimson Rosella eating the berries off the lantana

After leaving Kenilworth we headed towards Yandina and arrived at Wappa Dam for a quick look. The weather became even worse with very light rain and dark clouds which made long distance photography even more difficult. Several species were seen here. Many Australian Wood Ducks,  Pacific Black Ducks, Dusky Moorhens plus multiple Hardheads were visible. A few Dotterels were flushed off near the banks but I am unsure of the type as I didn't see them properly. A few Common Koels and Azure Kingfishers were seen too along with the other species below.

Great Crested Grebe (One individual in the distance)

Pair of Pacific Black Ducks, Pair of Australian Wood Ducks and a Little Pied Cormorant on the dam wall

Male Painted Snipe

After leaving Ipswich the next place to visit was UQ Gatton Campus. I went to the lake and was amazed by the number of species present in such a small area and the quantity of the birds also. Around the lakes the Cattle Egrets had a massive breeding colony. Not the biggest I have seen, but definitely one of the more successful. There would have been a few thousand birds nesting or roosting in the trees. There very many hundreds, if not a thousand or more egg shells scattered over the ground beneath the trees. Babies could be heard everywhere. Often in big breeding colonies like this I have seen in the past many babies are found dead beneath the trees. In the area I walked only 3 baby birds were found dead beneath nests.

The lake itself had many Hardheads, Grey Teals, Magpie Geese, Pacific Black Ducks and Black-winged Stilts. Other species that were in good numbers included Black-fronted Dotterels, Red-kneed Dotterels, Australasian Grebes, Royal Spoonbills and Pink-eared Ducks. Several other common species of birds were also seen in and around the lake.

One of the many Cattle Egrets

Just a few of the eggshells that were scattered throughout the whole area

Magpie Geese (One of the many trios on the lake)



Grey Teals, Red-kneed Dotterel and a Black-winged Stilt

Red-kneed Dotterel



Hardheads, Grey teal and Black-winged Stilts



Australasian Grebe with baby on board near the nest (Look carefully on her back)

Grey teals and Black-winged Stilts

Pair of Hardheads

Pink-eared Ducks

Just a few of the many Black-winged Stilts present

The last spot to drop in at before heading home was Atkinson Dam. Unfortunately the dam was extremely busy with people jet skiing and boating so the birds were not in good numbers but some that remained went into the small area near the bridge on Atkinson Dam Road. The noise from the boats was incredible. There were many hundreds of people in the parks near the dam and over a hundred boats and jet skis on the water. I don't blame the birds for wanting to get away from there to be honest.

A few Pacific Black Ducks, a trio of Magpie Geese, a few Cotton Pygmy-geese were seen along with multiple Dusky Moorhens. A few Black Swans and Australian Pelicans were also sighted.

Pacific Black Duck with her ducklings and a Dusky Moorhen looking on



A pair of Cotton Pygmy-geese

A pair of Cotton Pygmy-geese

A long and tiring day. As I arrived home as usual the Variegated Fairy-wrens and Red-backed Fairy-wrens were calling out in the lantana on the edge of the property next door. Each afternoon they feed in that area before finally roosting just after sunset. A productive day overall. Definitely a good way to make a boring trip to pick up things more exciting, by dropping in at places to take some photos.

Male Variegated Fairy-wren (Another one of my favourites)

Female Variegated Fairy-wren

Female Red-backed Fairy-wren

More updates and pics each fortnight.

If you're interested in my blog check out my site below by clicking on the link.

Australian Birds KEUNEA PHOTOGRAPHY