Birding Brisbane

How can one not be amazed with your first encounter of a Blue-faced Honeyeater? Peering into that penetrating yellow eye, augmented by this vibrant-blue, facial patch – “Pow, in your face!”  I am excited to be in one of the many outlying suburbs of Brisbane for my reintroduction to the area’s avifauna; my last visit here was in 1989!  Located opposite Iona College in Queensland, Australia is the Sandy Camp Road Wetlands.  This location has been protected offering a variety of micro-habitats.  The ponds are surrounded by Paperbark (Melaleuca sp.), Casaurina (Casuarina equisetifolia), and gum (Eucalyptus sp.) trees, where the fluctuating water table creates miniature islands.  Here, Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollindiae) and...

...and Ibis (Threskiornis molucca) compete with...

...two species of cormorants: Little Pied (Microcarbo melanoleucos, and Little Black ((Phalocrocorax sulcirostris) for prime nesting sites.

Other water-loving birds include Pacific Black and Maned Duck, plus Gray Teal. 

Pacific Black Duck

(Anas superciliosa

Maned Duck (Chenonetta jubata)

Dusky Moorhen can be heard grunting in the reeds alongside Purple Swamphen.  We had a Spotless Rail dash across the trail and I was told Baillon’s Crake is a regular here, too.  Plumed and Great Egrets are also to be found; a quick turn from a Royal Spoonbill

(Platalea regia) makes for an easy I.D.

The forested lined berm opens up to a wider grassy section that has enormous transmission towers; its cables accommodate several Bee-eaters and a lone Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis).

We decide to divert off to the right and follow the periphery of the pond.  A blanket of lily pads is the prime feeding grounds for a family of Comb-crested Jacanas (Irediparra gallinacea).  

The sky is busy with the many waterbirds returning to their nesting sites, plus Honeyeaters, swallows and lorikeets joining several juvenile White-breasted Woodswallows (Artamus leucorhynchus) scattered about in a blooming Melaleuca. 

I barely catch a glimpse of a Sacred Kingfisher before it is swallowed up in the shadows.

Where the water terminates, high grass fills the gap right up to the forest edge.  A family of Red-backed Fairywrens (Malurus melanocephalus) energetically swing this way and that. Like many bird species, there is quite a physical difference between genders; this is called sexual dimorphism.

Male

Female

I feel like a trombone player as I sway side-to-side attempting to capture an image.  Onward leads to a playing field that might have a pair of grazing Australian Magpie or Crested Pigeons.  Weaving through the grassy forest border, trying to stay one step ahead of us, is a Brown Quail (Synoicus ypsilophorus).  It seems to give up the race and conveniently hops up on a log and proceeds to preen itself.

An overcast sky darkens the tree-framed pond off to the left.  A Great Egret (Ardea alba) highlights the shadows...

...as the ubiquitous Noisy Miners (Manorina melanocephala) never fail to reveal their presence. 

I hear a distant song; it is a continued set of whistles that gradually lowers in pitch and tempo. I am told it is a Sahul Brush Cuckoo.  "Onward!" We find a pair of Magpie Geese (Anseranas semipalata).

The distinctive dueting calls of Magpie-larks (Grallina cyanoleuca) echo across the scene. 

Just in front there is movement in the brush, Chestnut-bellied Munias (Lonchura castaneothorax) hop around in search of seeds.

We loop back, entering a more heavily wooded trail.  White-throated and a pair of Striped Honey-eaters busily forage in the canopy. 

White-throated Honeyeater (Melithreptus albogularis)

Striped Honeyeater (Plectorhyncha lanceolata)

An Olive-backed Oriole partakes in the action.  The cuckoo seems to have flown nearby.  I turn back and manage to find it perched high up in a eucalyptus.  I always try to match bird song to its creator; it helps me to make a quick recall once it is heard again. 

Sahul Brush Cuckoo (Cacomantis variolosus)

Three species of Fairywrens make an appearance: Red-backed, Variegated and Superb.

Variegated Fairywren (Malurus lamberti)

They begin to chatter and chase one another among the spider webs wrapped haphazardly among a leafless tangle of branches. Soon other birds join in: Gray Fantail, a female Varied Triller (Lalega leuomela) and a female Leaden Flycatcher (Myiagra rubrcula)

It suddenly dawns on us; we are smack in the middle of a mixed flock feeding frenzy!  The other side of the trail reveals a Rufous Fantail, a handful of Silvereyes, Rufous Shrike-thrush

(Colluricincla rufogaster) and...

the ever-present Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys).

Two Laughing Kookaburras (Dacelo novaeguineae) make a late appearance as the other birds eventually thin out.  That’s our cue to move on.

Next stop is to the north side of Wynnum along the Moreton Bay to have a go along the Wynnum Mangrove Boardwalk.  Strolling along the raised platform did not reveal too much activity, although we heard singing Mangrove Gerygone and Torresian Kingfishers.  It was low tide when we arrived at the viewing platform, so there were not as many shorebirds to be seen as they dispersed to outlying areas.  Still, there were a number of Bar-tailed Godwits and some Far Eastern Curlews (Numenius madagascariensis) mixed among...

...the Silver Gulls with the occasional White-faced Heron.  Torresian Kingfishers (Todiramphus sordidus) showed up along the edge, where one bird perched in a mangrove with another pair out on the mudflats. 

While focusing on these chaps, I nearly missed a White-bellied Sea-eagle (Icthyophaga leucocaster) cruising overhead. 

On the return our luck continued with a group of fantails, Mangrove Gerygone (Gerygone levigaster) and...

a lone female Leaden Flycatcher (Myiagra rubecula). 

Driving southeast to the city of Tingalpa, we enter the Minnippi Parklands.  So far, the first to greet us at every parking lot has been either a Torresian Crow or a pair of Masked Lapwings.  This time it is both.  Heading towards the forest edge, a rustling at the base of the trees reveals an Australian Brushturkey (Alectura lathami). 

The large ‘lagoon’ is one of the few left unscathed, most have been filled in for some sort of development.  This area is much more open with a large swath of impenetrable grass-thicket habitat.  This is home to the Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis) which obligingly belts out a tune on top of a nearby bush. 

Across the water an Eastern Cattle Egret (Ardea coromanda) soaks up the sun.The uncut grass eventually terminates at the bend of the lagoon. 

A smattering of trees hug the shore, under the cool shade is a gathering of Pacific Black and Maned ducks.  A Black Swan approaches looking for a handout.  The same goes for some of the ducks when we approach a viewing deck.

There is very little activity as I scan across the water.  I find one darter and a solo Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollindiae) among the lily pads.

There is little movement as we continue along the periphery of the water.  Mellow piping notes burst from one of the bordering trees; it is a pair of Gray Butcherbirds (Cracticus torquatus). 

Indifferent to the tune Straw-necked (Threskiornis spinicollis) and Australasian Ibis probe into the grass lawn below.

Our space funnels to a merging of tree and brush.  Another songster makes itself known as it flutters back down to its perch.  This is a Tawny Grassbird (Cincloramphus timoriensis).

Back at the car park, flowering trees host a mix of Lewin’s and Brown Honeyeaters, Little Friarbird and a small flock of Figbirds.

Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta)

Little Friarbird (Philemon citreogularis)

Australasian Figbird (Sphecotheres vieilloti) female

Just ahead, mouse-like warbling notes alerts us to the presence of a Pale-headed Rosella (Platycercus adscitus).  “Nice!” 

Staying south of Brisbane and going due east takes us to the last stop, Oxley Creek Common.  It is a part of the catchment basin surrounding the town of Rocklea, basically a green corridor of wetlands - a low-lying floodplain.  Attached to the Visitor Center is a covered picnic area where we wait out the rain.  Once again, shuffling about on stiff red legs we are welcomed by a pair of lapwings. 

Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles)

When it settles to a very light drizzle, off we go.  Passing a very large mound I am reminded of the architect, brush-turkey, of which we find a short ways up. 

Australian Brushturkey (Alectura lathami)

The creek is to the right and the wire enclosed pasture, complete with cows and sheep, is to the left.  The path is not quite a loop, more of a horseshoe, since it is not possible to exit from the other end.

Our bins are directed towards the begging calls of a young Gray Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus).

Other movement in the trees include more Lewin’s and Brown Honeyeaters plus ‘noisy’, Noisy Miners.

Lewin's Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii)

A break through the foliage unveils the marshy lowland where a Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tennebrosa) has nested in the center of a small reedbed. 

The fence border makes for an ideal perch for a Double-barred Finch (Stizoptera bichenovii) “Striking field marks!”

Another Red-backed Fairywren (Malurus melanocephalus) takes a break and allows for some quick pics. 

Female

Male

The same goes for a serenading Tawny Grassbird (Cincloramphus timoriensis).

Strutting across the open road is a Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus), and as we get closer, several more can be seen rubber-necking over the tall grass to give us the once over.

At the terminus it is an “About face!” hopefully with more surprises.  First off, through the vegetation, a flash of white captures my attention.  Peering through a small window, sitting out on a small spit is an impressive Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus). 

This same open road offers up a fleeting, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, more encounters with the grassbird and a colorful viewing of a Red-browed Firefinch (Neochmia temporalis). 

Back under the trees a loud, harsh chattering has me stumped, until the Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus) alights on an open perch.  Its shiny black-blue plumage and characteristic ‘fish-shaped’ tail clinches its I.D. 

The last guest appearance happens when we are discussing the nesting choice of a Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus).

A termite nest has been constructed in the crotch of a tree.  The round entrance hole was chiseled out by the kingfisher.  Here, splashes of guano grace its base. Suddenly this buzzy, electrical noise can be heard inside.  That is when the adult lands overhead with a tasty morsel for its offspring.

Even though the day was generally gray and overcast, it was a combination of pleasant company, interesting habitats and of course the entertaining behavior of Australia’s bird life that brightened the day.   

Location: Suburbs of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Date: February 05, 2025