Birdline Central & Southern Queensland Weekly Update

Birdline Central & Southern Queensland Published sightings for the week ending 9 Nov 2014. Sun 9 Nov Eastern Ground Parrot, King Quail Noosa, Sunshine Coast Ground Parrot and King Quail seen in remnant wallum heath patch. Site not publicised because of potential threat to Ground Parrot population. Greg Roberts Sooty Owl, Marbled Frogmouth Mapleton National Park Sooty Owl and Marbled Frogmouth both heard and seen well shortly after Grass Owl and Large-tailed Nightjar sightings. Greg Roberts Large-tailed Nightjar, Eastern Grass Owl, Australian Little Bittern Yandina Creek Wetlands Large-tailed Nightjar seen and heard at dusk; southern extension of range for this species along with recent Bli Bli record. Australian Little Bittern calling at same time. Pair of Eastern Grass Owls also performing nicely. Greg Roberts Blue-billed Duck Keongs Dam, Speeds Road, near Oakey Two blue-billed ducks at eastern end near reeds, among hundreds of pink-ears, grey teal, hardheads & Pacific black ducks. Also 50+ sharp-tailed sandpipers, 2 marsh sands and lots of whiskered terns and red-necked avocets. Unfortunately access to the actual waterbody is not permitted. Terry Reis Sat 8 Nov Yellow Honeyeater White Patch/Wright’s Creek As per previously reported in small park next to Wrights Creek. Bird was feeding in Silky Oak, Melaleuca and low bushes at front of park. Please respect the privacy of the households adjoining the park.. Chris Attewell Freckled Duck & Galah/Corella hybrid Lake Gallety, Gatton campus of UQ Two Freckled Ducks seen, loafing on spit at back of waterbody. Also an apparent hybrid Galah/ Corella. Looked somewhat like a leucistic Galah, except for bill length and skin around the eye. Called like Little Corella. Terry Reis & Rod Hobson Blue-billed Duck Lake Clarendon 10 Blue-billed Ducks and 2 Musk Ducks seen at Lake Clarendon. Most of the blue-bills were very distant, requiring a telescope to view. Single Sharp-tailed and Marsh Sandpipers also present. Terry Reis & Rod Hobson Fri 7 Nov White Cheeked Honeyeaters Lamington National Park–Duck Creek Rd 2 White Cheekies came in for a wash in a very small creek which is a fair surprise here. Seen preening and in a couple trees before heading south. Calling as they went. Duncan Fowler, Carmen Ludcke, Annette O’Reilly, Birdweek Crew Thu 6 Nov Black Falcons Eagleby Wetlands, Beenleigh 2 falcons in hot windy part of the day overhead for a while and west over the suburbs. Very dry here lately, not unlike more typical inland areas. Duncan Fowler and O’Reilly’s Birdweek Crew Square-tailed Kite Mt Cootha, Brisbane, Qld The Square-tailed Kite decided to brave the outside world this morning and I found it just up and to the right of it’s nest. Later it was reported back in it’s nest. I suppose it just wasn’t brave enough yet and found it easier to eat it’s meal in the nest. Paul Turner Wood Sandpiper Sandgate–Dowse Lagoon Still present this morning from southern viewing platform Chris Attewell Wed 5 Nov Lewin’s Rail, Spotless Crake, Black-necked Stork, Red-necked Avocet, Mallard Yandina Creek Wetlands, Sunshine Coast 5 Lewin’s Rail calling (1 seen), 12 Spotless Crake calling (3 seen), 1 male Black-necked Stork, Red-necked Avocet a rare species on Sunshine Coast, 1 free-flying Mallard (Mallards in SEQ are nearly always domesticated or semi-domesticated). Also Little Grassbird, 20+ Latham’s Snipe, Red-kneed Dotterel, Glossy Ibis. This newly discovered wetland is threatened with development. Greg Roberts Black-shouldered kite Brisbane Valley Rail Trail–Pine Mt South Pair in large gum East of Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, between Walter Zimmerman Park and Bayley’s Road. GPS: -27.568478, 152.715652 Peter Horler Tue 4 Nov Wood Sandpiper, White-Winged Black Tern Sandgate–Dowse Lagoon Wood sandpiper still present and showing well in front of southern platform with the White-winged Black Tern frequently passing by close in. Also Red-necked Avocets, Marsh Sands & Curlew Sands still. Chris Attewell Mon 3 Nov White-winged Black Tern Sandgate–Dowse Lagoon Single bird fishing back and forth along the southern bank, in front of the Keogh St hide late Monday evening. Noticeably smaller than the Whiskereds present, Whiskereds gave it grief each time it passed them. Evidently still present Tuesday morning. Ged Tranter Square-tailed Kite Mt Coot-Tha Forest Greg Roberts Sun 2 Nov Yellow Honeyeater Banksia Beach, Bribie Island A single bird perhaps 800 kilometres out of range and the first record for south-east Qld. Greg Roberts Sat 1 Nov Pink-eared Duck Winya Rd Dams, Kilcoy 170 Pink-eared Duck on the main dam. Dezmond Wells