More Owling in the Hinterland and a Trip to the Brisbane Valley

This week I have been owling on a couple of occasions to find and photograph the Masked Owl. Each time I have gone with my friend or friends. On one trip we went around Elanda Point, Cootharaba, Wolvi and Kin Kin and the other trip we stayed more local, around Elanda Point to Cootharaba.
On the first trip we saw heaps of Tawny Frogmouths and a single Barn Owl and on the second trip we spotted the Masked Owl but failed to get a photo. They are not as approachable as the Barn Owls that's for sure! We also saw a few Barn Owls and a few Tawny Frogmouths on the second trip as well.

The Tawny Frogmouth with the damaged wing was spotted again

This Barn Owl with the damaged eye did have some difficulty landing on the branches on two occasions after being flushed off but it seemed to be coping.

A Barn Owl with a damaged left eye

Another Tawny Frogmouth located this week

On Wednesday two mates and I went down for a drive into the Brisbane Valley. We had to go to Ipswich to pick up some gear so I thought we may as well make a birding trip out of it too. As we came into Kilcoy I noticed a small dam on the right hand side of the road with lots of birds on it. We decided to pull up and have a look. I'm very glad we did. I finally found some of the Australasian Shovelers that I have been wanting to locate since they were sighted in SEQ, six months ago.
There was one pair of Australasian Shovelers on the dam with some Hardheads, Grey Teal, Pacific Black Ducks, Eurasian Coots, Darters, Australasian Grebes, Black Swans, Pink-eared Ducks, Australian Wood Ducks and some Australian Pelicans. Around the dam we saw a few Australian King Parrots, Pale-headed Rosellas, Rainbow Lorikeets and Little Lorikeets. Most of the lorikeets were too high in the tree to get decent photos. All of these birds except for the Australasian Shovelers and Australian Pelicans were in quite large numbers, especially the Darters. I was amazed with the amount of birds in such a small area! Just as we were about to leave a Spotted Harrier came gliding in just above the grass surrounding the dam and he gently glided alongside the dam and over the hill.

Australasian Shovelers

The pair of Australasian Shovelers

My first photos and sighting of Australasian Shovelers

Spotted Harrier

After leaving this location we headed down Esk-Kilcoy Road. We dropped in at the day use area at Lake Somerset or Somerset Dam. Not much to be seen here except for a few Hardheads out on the water and a mixed flock of Silver Gulls and Caspian Terns. This flock would have numbered 100 or more birds. They were all resting on the edge of the water on the grass.

Caspian Tern (Non-breeding plumage)

Silver Gull

Caspian Tern

Just after we left the day use area a Whistling Kite was spotted circling just near the road. I couldn't resist pulling over to get a photo. Luckily for me he came back for another few laps which enabled me to get a shot before he flew over the hills.

Whistling Kite

Whistling Kite from beneath

Not long later, my mate spotted this Spotted Harrier on a post on the side of the road. As soon as I pulled over it flew off but I got a few photos of it in flight which I was happy with. Then it landed on another post in the distance and I managed to obtain a few more shots of it roosting before it flew off again.

Spotted Harrier in flight

Spotted Harrier in flight again

The pattern beneath the wing of a Spotted Harrier

Shot of the Spotted Harrier flying off

Spotted Harrier roosting

The Spotted Harrier looking directly at the camera

The Spotted Harrier flying off into the distance

Only a few minutes drive down the road several Australian Pipits were seen on the side of the road. I drove past them and then turned around to see if I could get a shot of them. I spotted one, quickly stopped the car and I got a few shots before they flew off into the longer grass. They were only seen for about a one kilometre stretch and not again for the entire trip, even though the habitat was similar for much of this area.

Australian Pipit

Further down the road we were driving past and noticed some white ducks on the side of a dam wall. None of us could think of any ducks in this area that were white so we quickly turned the car around to see what they were. One of my mates was hoping they might be white Australian Wood Ducks, which have been spotted on the odd occasion. Much to his disappointment and our amusement this is what we found!

These ducks weren't going anywhere

This Black Swan was seen with its mate on the edge of a small dam in the Lockyer Valley.

Black Swan

We went to have a look around near Pechey's Lagoon. This area had a huge amount of birds again. Some of the more common birds that were seen and heard included about 15 Brown Quails, Double-barred Finches, many Red-backed Fairy-wrens, Eurasian Coots, Ducky Moorhens, Pacific Black Ducks, Masked Lapwings, Black Swans, Darters, Jacky Winters, Rufous Whistlers, Cockatiels, Galahs plus many others. All of these species were in really large numbers.

Double-barred Finches feeding on grass seeds

Rufous Whistler

Darter

Welcome Swallows

This bird below was seen but to be honest I'm not certain as to what it is. I am pretty sure that it is a female Golden Whistler or a Female Robin of some sort. I have seen many female Eastern Yellow Robins and Golden Whistlers on my property and they both look different, but similar to this bird. It was very dark on its belly which makes me unsure. I didn't see a male of either of these species here either.

If someone can help me identify this bird for certain please post a comment.





Unknown species front on

Unknown species from behind

Red-backed Fairy-wren

Male Red-backed Fairy-wren

Male Red-backed Fairy-wren calling



Female Red-backed Fairy-wren

Galah

Another predator arrived at my house this week. I thought it was the Collared Sparrowhawk back, that was here several weeks ago but when I got a better look at it I realised that it was in fact a Brown Goshawk. Hopefully soon enough it realises that it can't get into the cages and moves on like the Collared Sparrowhawk.

Brown Goshawk trying to get my birds

Brown Goshawk on the aviary

Brown Goshawk

More updates and pics coming soon.

 

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

Australian Birds KEUNEA PHOTOGRAPHY

Lake Macdonald and Noosa Botanical Gardens

A few days ago my friend told me that a Freckled Duck had been seen at Lake Macdonald. I checked on Eremaea Birds and a lady did spot one and she had a photograph of it. We both thought it would be a good chance to get a good photograph of one while they were in the local area. Two days after the sighting was put up we went to have a look for ourselves.

We started off at the boat ramp and made our way along the bank of the lake. Many of the usual waterbirds were seen like the Pacific Black Ducks, Purple Swamphens, Darters, Dusky Moorhens, Eurasian Coots, Intermediate Egrets, White-faced Herons and the Australasian Grebes. The first birds sighted were the Pacific Black Ducks near the boat ramp and this Darter sunning itself.




A Darter sunning itself at the boat ramp

This lone Caspian Tern was spotted flying over the lake. They are regularly sighted here.

Caspian Tern

We spotted the Freckled Ducks right down the far end of the Botanical Gardens loafing on a PVC pipe going into the lake. There were 4 Freckled Ducks, a Hardhead and another Darter all on the pipe. I got a few snaps and thought we would wait a while until they moved off the pipe to get a more natural shot. In the meantime I noticed the Pied Butcherbirds and the Noisy Miners attacking a hawk in the distance. I couldn't make it out so we went to investigate. When we got there we found it was actually this Pacific Baza. It mustn't be a resident in the Botanical Gardens as the birds were relentlessly attacking it. I have them on my property and the other birds at home don't bother them as they are use to them and know they will not harm them as they are mainly insectivores.

Pacific Baza

The Pacific Baza again

The Pacific Baza just after being swooped

The Pacific Baza resting for a brief moment after flying away

After a short wait (45 minutes or so) the ducks finally made their way off the pipe so I could get a nicer shot. They didn't stay off for long before returning to the pipe again!!

Freckled Ducks with a Hardhead

The Freckled Ducks returning to the pipe with the Darter

I thought I would wait for a while to see if they came closer to the bank to get a better shot. While I was waiting I heard a few Little Wattlebirds in the tree not far from me. I got a few pictures but not to the standard I was hoping for. They were in amongst the branches and it was quite dark and I was looking into the sun. I managed to get these photos at least before they flew off.

 Little Wattlebird with a grub

The other Little Wattlebird sighted

After a fairly lengthy wait we realised that the Freckled Ducks were in no hurry to move far from the pipe. We decided to leave and come back later in the afternoon to see if they had moved to a better position.

The lighting was much better in the afternoon for taking photos due to the position of the sun in relation to the water. As soon as I arrived all the Pacific Black Ducks landed near me near the boat ramp. The sad thing is, that this most likely means they are getting use to being fed here, most likely with bread!!

Pacific Black Duck coming in for landing

Pacific Black Duck

While I was making my way around the lake edge I spooked this Australasian Grebe that flew a short distance before landing again. I didn't get to track it for long, hence why it is out of focus.

Australasian Grebe getting ready to take off

We found the 4 Freckled Ducks again when we got back around to where they were earlier in the day. Much to our delight they were closer to us so we could get better quality photos.

Freckled Duck

Three of the four Freckled Ducks

Freckled Duck from the left side

One of the other four Freckled Ducks

A pair of Freckled Ducks

The other two Freckled Ducks

The same pair of Freckled Ducks again

My favourite Freckled Duck shot

After taking the photos of the Freckled Ducks I noticed an Azure Kingfisher. I was hoping it would land in the sun but it stayed in amongst the thick branches where the lighting was terrible. Luckily for me it stayed in the one place for quite a long time, which gave me an opportunity to change the settings to get a reasonable shot given the conditions.

Azure Kingfisher from behind

Azure Kingfisher

A few minutes later I noticed the Freckled Ducks taking off and they landed on the opposite side of the lake.

Freckled Ducks taking off

The Freckled Ducks flying to the other side of the lake

I saw this Intermediate Egret hunting in the reeds on the way back to the car and heaps of Pacific Black Ducks.

Intermediate Egret hunting in the reeds

Intermediate Egret

Pacific Black Duck preening

The following day I heard my peahens calling out with their warning call. They usually only make this call when there is a predator around, usually a hawk or eagle. I quickly went out to have a look around the tree where they were calling out. I looked around up in the canopy but I couldn't see anything. They were still calling out so I knew there must be something there. I thought it may be a goanna on the trunk. After a few minutes I spotted what they were looking at. I don't know how they spotted it to be honest!! It was a Tawny Frogmouth roosting in the tree. After a few minutes had passed the peahens moved on as they realised it wasn't a threat to them.

Tawny Frogmouth roosting

 

Tawny Frogmouth

Tawny Frogmouth roosting close to the trunk

Camouflage of the Tawny Frogmouth

 

 

 

More updates and pics coming soon.

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

Australian Birds KEUNEA PHOTOGRAPHY