Birding at Inskip Point

Last weekend a few friends and I decided to go for a drive to Inskip Point to do some birding. We left early in hope to see the Ground Parrot. We arrived just after sunrise in the area off Cooloola Way which is recommended by T&T for sighting the bird. We had the call of the bird also which we played in hope that they would answer. Luck was not on our side. We didn't manage to hear or see one for the few hours we spent in the general area.

The ground was quite wet. I'm not sure if this effects the birds at all.

Habitat for the Ground Parrot

Heathland near Cooloola Way

Other side of the track where Ground Parrots are seen

 

Just as we were about to leave a quail came running down the track. Unluckily for me I had the camera put away. By the time I got it out I just managed to get this quick shot (terribly out of focus due to the grass between the quail and myself) of the Brown Quail.

 

Brown Quail

All the creeks and waterways in the whole area are this beautiful rich colour from all the tannins in the water. Just need to add a little milk!

All the waterways are this rich colour

As we were driving back out the track we spotted a couple of Striated Pardalotes digging a nest tunnel in the moist bank.

Striated Pardalote

Just before we got back onto Cooloola Way my friend spotted this Australian Hobby. I was very pleased to photograph this bird as it is the first time I have seen them.

Australian Hobby

A closer shot of the Australian Hobby

The next place to go was the camping area around Inskip Point. This area is one of the most reliable places for spotting the Black-breasted Button Quail in Australia. We took the walking track to the left at the end of the car park which leads to the ferry. This area was alive with birds. There were numerous White-browed Scrubwrens, Variegated Fairy-wrens, Little Shrike-thrushes, Restless Flycatchers, Spangled Drongos, Bar-shouldered Doves, Varied Trillers plus many lorikeets and other common scrub birds.

White-browed Scrubwren

Bar-shouldered Dove

The signs of the Black-breasted Button Quail being in the area were very obvious. We found hundreds of platelets that they create while digging for food. We found no fresh platelets though. They had all been rained on so it had been at least 4 days since any new ones had been created. Many of them looked quite old. I spoke to a ranger as he drove passed and said that dogs in the area have been causing issues and they are unsure of the impact they have had on the population there.

One of the many platelets made by the Black-breasted Button Quail

Male Varied Triller

Female Varied Triller

This Thornbill was spotted collecting something from out of an ant's nest in the tree. They aren't ants though. I'm not quite sure which Thornbill this is, as I think it is a juvenile coming into colour. I know that it is either a Yellow Thornbill or a Brown Thornbill due to the colour of its eye and some of the markings it is showing already. The Brown Thornbills vary so much in colour from region to region and to be honest I have never seen them myself, hence why I'm not certain of which Thornbill it is. I'm quite sure that it is a Brown Thornbill.

Yellow or Brown Thornbill?

A Yellow or Brown Thornbill collecting something from the nest

Restless Flycatcher

Another Restless Flycatcher

The bushland around the area is quite different from many areas around the Sunshine Coast. The different shapes and sizes and formations of the trees is really something. It is a beautiful area to come visit.

Some of the scrub around Cooloola Way

Once we had finished looking for birds at Inskip Point we drove out along the beach to make our way back to Rainbow Beach. The Silver Gull in the picture below was the only water or sea bird that I saw for the day. It was very busy in the area and any sea birds that still might be here wouldn't be seen with that amount of traffic. Hopefully I can try again in the near future a little bit earlier before too many people arrive.

View driving along the beach from Inskip Point to Rainbow Beach

 

It was a great day out even though we didn't see the 2 birds that Inskip Point is best known for. We got to see many birds and we managed to get a few good pics too.

 

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

 



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