A Quick Trip to Kenilworth and Some Birds Around Home

I haven't had the opportunity to do much birding again lately but holidays are on the way so I will get out and about in the coming weeks.... and I can't wait! I have a heap of places around the Sunshine Coast area that I have been wanting to go and visit and a number of species that I am keen to locate.

A few months back I went out to Kenilworth and got a few great shots and located a species at Charlie Moreland that I had not encountered before.  On the way out I noticed a Purple Swamphen, which I normally wouldn't stop for on the side of the road, but this one had some company. Two babies were with the adult. It was very difficult to get a photo of them all together with any detail as the two babies kept a distance from each other. Within a few minutes they had moved under the fence of a private property so no more shots could be taken.

Purple Swamphen feeding her chick some grass



This Laughing Kookaburra was watching closely from the other side of the road

Close up of one of the Purple Swamphen chicks



The Purple Swamphen with the other chick

I had to get a little bit of petrol at the BP servo at Kenilworth before I made my way to Charlie Moreland and in the bottlebrush tree towards the back of the block numerous Brown Honeyeaters were spotted along with nearly as many Scarlet Honeyeaters and several Noisy Friarbirds. I focused my attention on the Scarlet Honeyeaters as I haven't achieved a decent photograph of them on any occasion that I have sighted them. My determination paid off!




Scarlet Honeyeater

One of the many Scarlet Honeyeaters



A Scarlet Honeyeater performing its advertising call

Side on view of a Scarlet Honeyeater

A Scarlet Honeyeater in a Weeping Red Bottlebrush

A Scarlet Honeyeater taking off to another flower

Another specimen of the Scarlet Honeyeaters

An adult Noisy Friarbird



Another Noisy Friarbird

A few Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos were spotted in the Hoop Pine forest on the dirt road into Charlie Moreland. I stopped for a quick photo but it was quite dark and hard to get close to them.

A Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo

Close up of a Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo


Not many birds were seen in Charlie Moreland compared to many other trips that I have taken there. It was the morning after the area received some storms so I thought the birds might be active but it was quite late by the time I started photographing. It was a different time of year as well which may have influenced the bird species that were present. I was very surprised not to see any Logrunners for the whole walk. Very few doves or pigeons were seen or heard either. A few Noisy Pittas were heard. One bird that was in larger numbers were the curious and noisy Large-billed Scrubwrens. Many of these were sighted in a very small area. Due to their rapid movement and the dark lighting in the forest it was difficult to capture a good photo.... even though they were so close!

One of the many Large-billed Scrubwrens

Not long before finishing the walk a new species was sighted. It is always exciting locating a species that you haven't encountered before. It was quite a distance from the track in a darker part of the forest. I was able to obtain a few half decent photos but hopefully I can find them again when I am able to get closer, or where there is more light. They were Pale-yellow Robins.

They look similar to the Eastern Yellow Robins, which were sighted in the general area as well. The most obvious differences are the white patches between the bill and eye on both sides and the lack of yellow on the rump, just above the tail. They are also slightly smaller in size. When they are flying around with the Eastern Yellow Robins it is difficult to tell from a distance. I wasn't even sure until I took a photo so I could see a bit more clearly.

A Pale-yellow Robin

The same Pale-yellow Robin

This female Golden Whistler was spotted just nearby and she was collecting spider webs from the branches. This would have been collected for use in her nest.

Female Golden Whistler collecting spider webs

The female Golden Whistler with her collection of spider webs

 

I have been keeping my eye on this nest of Eastern Pale-headed Rosellas for the last few months. I had a suspicion that a bird was sitting on some eggs. I finally had a look as I have heard the chicks calling out for several weeks so I knew they were a decent size. I wanted to get a photo before they left the nest. It was great to see them so healthy!! The parents hardly spend any time at the nest now. They fly in and fed them a few times a day and other than that the parents are not seen at all.

Rosellas are seen regularly around the property but have never nested in this tree. The property over the road has recently cleared hundreds of large 30 - 40 metre eucalypt trees from the property to leave it a barren 45 acre property. I'm assuming that there old nesting hollow has been destroyed from the removal of these trees and this is why they have nested in this tree.

The baby Eastern Pale-headed Rosellas in the nest hollow 

A close up of the Eastern Pale-headed Rosella chicks

A few months ago a melody returned that was common for several months, before they moved on. I couldn't remember the call by sound, until I sighted the birds again. A very obvious call but as I haven't seen many of these birds calling I didn't make the link by hearing them. They were Brush Cuckoos. Usually they are more inconspicuous and not sitting in the open, which is unlike some other cuckoo species.

Brush Cuckoo



A Brush Cuckoo sitting in the open

More updates and pics coming soon.

 

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Australian Birds Photography: KEUNEA PHOTOGRAPHY 

Birding at Cooroora Creek Park at Pomona

Last weekend as I was making my way to the dam I could hear the ducks calling out using the warning call but they didn't seem to be trying to hide. This is usually how they sound when a goshawk is around but they were reacting very differently. As I got a little closer I could see a massive eagle hovering above the dam looking at the ducks. It was attempting to get them but they were much too quick for this juvenile White-bellied Sea-Eagle. It wasn't approachable at all. When I got about 80metres from it, it flew off and landed in a tree. I managed to get a few quick pics before it flew off again. As it flew off another White-bellied Sea-Eagle flew from out of a dead tree in the paddock and they flew off together.





Juvenile White-bellied Sea-Eagle

On Saturday I met a friend at the park at Pomona. I was hoping to see the Eastern Shrike-tit that she spotted here during the week. I knew that even if I didn't see it I would find many other birds as birds are always very active in here. I arrived at about 8 o'clock and it was a fresh morning but warming up nicely with not a cloud in the sky. As soon as we arrived we saw and heard Restless Flycatchers, Spectacled Monarchs, Noisy Friarbirds, Eastern Yellow Robins and several others. We made our way to a couple of baby Eastern Yellow Robins that my friend spotted earlier in the week. We managed to find them but were unable to get a photo due to them being in such dense foliage. It was nice to watch the parents feeding them nonetheless.

Noisy Friarbird

As usual the Brown Gerygones and Brown Thornbills were in large numbers. Unfortunately for me, the Brown Thornbills chased the Brown Gerygones away before we were able to get any decent shots of them.

Brown Thornbill

There were heaps of Golden Whistlers around the park too. A couple showed very well lower in the trees so we were able to obtain a few decent shots. These are one of my favourite birds due to their colour and their lovely song.

Golden Whistler

Another Golden Whistler

Golden Whistler taking off

The same Golden Whistler again

This Golden Whistler found a caterpillar for breakfast

Another species which is always in large numbers and easy to spot in the park are the White-browed Scrubwrens. This one was quite annoyed with me for some reason and landed very close to me, which allowed me to get a few great photos.

White-browed Scrubwren

This White-browed Scrubwren was making its alarm call

The White-browed Scrubwren after he settled down again

Other birds that were seen in large numbers were Laughing Kookaburras and Grey Fantails. Several Rufous Fantails were also spotted but I was running short on time so I had to leave before I was able to obtain a photo. I didn't get to see the Eastern Shrike-tit but I was happy with the quality of many of the shots that I obtained from today.

Early Sunday morning I did a very quick walk around the yard before I left to go out for the day and I was happy with the birds that I saw and heard within the 20 minutes in such a small area. Apart from the birds photographed I also spotted several Laughing Kookaburras, Magpie-larks, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes, Pied Currawongs, White-throated  Honeyeaters, Grey Fantails, Willie Wagtails, Brown Honeyeaters plus many others. I focussed on a couple of birds though to obtain photos of.

As always the flycatchers were as high as possible in the tallest trees around the yard. I could see them and hear them easily but was unable to get better photos than these due to their location.

Male Leaden Flycatcher

Female Leaden Flycatcher

Spectacled Monarch

Another one of my favourite birds that are always seen around my property are the Variegated Fairy-wrens. I never get tired of seeing and hearing them around the place.

Variegated Fairy-wrens

 

 

 

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 Photography: KEUNEA PHOTOGRAPHY 

Mooloolah Valley and Coles Creek

This week I went on a trip to the Mooloolah Valley and surrounds. The first place to visit on the outing was the Cooroy Botanical Gardens. Years ago this place seemed to be thriving with many different bird species. I hadn't been in a long time (possibly a year or more) and on the last two trips, one this week and one a month or so ago I was quite disappointed by the birds sighted. I'm not sure why there has been a decline in the species of birds and their numbers over the last few years.

The species seen were the usual suspects Australian Magpies, Pied Butcherbirds, Willie Wagtails, Noisy Miners and Rainbow Lorikeets, which could all be seen in most suburban backyards. There were a few Magpie Geese, heaps of Purple Swamphens, Pacific Black Ducks and Dusky Moorhens along with a few Australasian Grebes. I was glad to see a Buff-banded Rail and a few White-headed Pigeons to add some excitement to the trip.

Noisy Miner (lucky to find one of these)



Buff-banded Rail

White-headed Pigeon

After leaving the Cooroy Botanical Gardens we headed back to Wappa Dam. I was hoping to see the Painted Snipes again. I was wanting to get a picture of the female. I only saw the one as soon as I arrived but it flew off before I even had my camera ready. The same birds were here as the last trip the other week. Unfortunately most were further out on the dam which made taking photos a pointless exercise. The picture of the Hardheads below shows what I mean. It's always nice to see new life and it's good to see the Australian Wood Ducks have had a good breeding season with lots of young sighted over the last month or so in a variety of places. I was happy to see that the Great Crested Grebe was not alone on the dam today. Three individuals were sighted but they couldn't have been much further from each other if they tried. Obviously they like being on their own. I was surprised by how long they can stay underwater for, looking for food. Some of the dives were close to 80 seconds!

Pair of Hardheads

Pair of Australian Wood Ducks

Another pair of Australian Wood Ducks with their ducklings

Great Crested Grebe

Australasian Grebe

Australasian Figbird (Finally finding peace from the onslaught from the Noisy Miners)

After leaving Wappa Dam we headed through the back roads towards Malany. Not far past Wappa Dam is Cooloolabin Dam. We were going to stop to take some photos but driving past we stopped the car in a few places and checked the dam with binoculars and not a bird could be seen on the water! Very strange. I have never been birding here before so I am not sure if this is common or not.

Soon we started heading up into the rainforest driving towards Mapleton. A beautiful drive but a 4WD is probably the best vehicle for this road. Quite a few birds were heard calling throughout the drive but it's very hard to stop and park the car as most of the road where you want to stop is narrow and windy. There was one small designated walk that we took. Several birds were heard but not many were seen. A few Rose-crowned Fruit-doves, Wompoo Fruit-doves and Brown Cuckoo-doves were heard calling. The call of a Superb Fruit-dove was heard briefly also. A few Grey Shrike-thrushes were also seen. I was surprised by the limited number of species that were seen and heard actually. It's always good to see or hear these doves but I would have expected Logrunners, Eastern Whipbirds and some form of scrubwren or monarchs in that environment.  I was beginning to think that the 15 - 20 mm of rain the night before may have influenced the birds in all the locations visited today.

Wompoo Fruit-dove (the only one that was seen and only briefly)

We continued to drive to our next destination. We stopped a few times but surprisingly little was seen or heard. Lucky the scenery was great as the birding wasn't too flash. I will have to try this area again as I'm sure that other days it would be really active with birds.

The next stop was Lake Baroon. We went to the designated area at the north side of the lake and the south side. Another underwhelming destination. A few Pacific Black Ducks were seen along with some Purple Swamphens and Eurasian Coots. There was about 15 Hardheads also at the day use area on the north side of the lake.

Driving out from the day use area I was thinking, I drove all that way and didn't even get one photo. Just then I heard some wrens in the lantana. At first glance I thought they were Superb Fairy-wrens, (which I am still to find on the Sunshine Coast even though I have photographed them elsewhere) so I jumped out, grabbed the camera ready to shoot. I realised straight away that they were Variegated Fairy-wrens, most of which were immature males. I'm always happy to photograph Fairy-wrens though, no matter what species. They are one of my favourite birds as they have lots of character, good colours and most species are generally inquisitive.

One of the more coloured immature Male Variegated Fairy-wrens

The last spot to stop before heading home was the wetland area of Ewen Maddock Dam. This is actually the first time I have taken photos here. Lots of birds were seen on the water. Just as we pulled up a flock of about 20 - 30 snipes (I'm pretty sure, but I didn't get a good look) took to the air. There were numerous Australian Pelicans, Pacific Black Ducks, Purple Swamphens, Eurasian Coots and Hardheads. A few Intermediate Egrets, Black Swans, Little Pied Cormorants and Darters were also sighted. Most of which were out way to far in the water to get a decent shot. In the reeds a crake or rail ran from one clump to another. It was just a flash but I saw the shape and some of the colour. It was definitely a Buff-banded Rail, Australian Spotted Crake or Baillon's Crake. I'm certain that it was one of the later two due to the dark colour on the chest. Unfortunately I didn't see it again and I'm yet to obtain a photo of either of these species. The trees along the walk going to the dam had lots of species of birds too that were very active for the time of day we arrived, which was around midday.

Noisy Friarbird calling after feeding on a large stick insect nearly its own size

Darter in flight

White-throated Honeyeaters were numerous along the walk

After Ewen Maddock Dam we headed back home. It was a hot day and we hadn't seen as many birds as we were hoping for. I knew that I could rely on a few spots at home to get a few photos of specific birds. By the time I went out it was a bit late but that was alright as I'm working on my photos in low light. I went to the small rainforest section (about 30 m either side of one of the creeks) to try and get a better photo of a Spectacled Monarch. They only seem to be found along this strip of bush as the rest of the property is open or thick bushland. I walked in and couldn't hear them. After making their call a few times they came in quickly. About 5 birds were seen briefly. This was the best shot I could get in the quick diminishing light. I like that this photo shows their puffy eyebrows but still not the shot I'm after!

Spectacled Monarch (You'll like this one Matt)

Several Little Shrike-thrushes were also seen just out of the rainforest section. Quite a plain looking bird but I love their call. This was the other species I was actually hoping to see along with Red-backed Fairy-wrens. They are always very active and don't stay still for long and with the low light (about 6:15 p.m. and in the shade) it would be a good challenge to gain a decent photo. I was happy with this outcome. The Red-backed Fairy-wrens will have to wait for another day as it was getting too late to do the rest of the work on the farm before dark.

Little Shrike-thrush

Grey Goshawk nest (have a close look in the nest)

This was a photo I got the following day. I have lost several chickens and ducks over the last few months from the property and I think that they were being taken by the pair of Grey Goshawks that reside here. That is part of nature I suppose. I have been losing lots of eggs too from the goannas. The last few weeks the amount of eggs have improved greatly. I found the nest of the Grey Goshawk by accident as I looked up to where I heard the birds calling. I went back to the house to grab the camera as I thought I might be able to get a shot of chicks in the nest if they were big enough to see over the edge of the nest from the ground. Much to my surprise look what is in the nest!! A goanna and it must be around 1.5 meters long. No wonder the amount of eggs has gone up lately. I'm glad they have found something else to eat other than my poultry.

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