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.

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Australian Birds KEUNEA PHOTOGRAPHY