That’s an ecotone

The Ekka holiday in Brisbane dawned clear, so of course I joined my mate Bill on a longitudinal traverse of Spicers Peak.

The rangers had successfully completed a cool burn in the vicinity of Governor’s Chair a few weeks earlier, so there were few birds to be seen, other than the Grey Shrike Thrush (no sign of Painted Button-Quail this time).

We noticed a plume of smoke rising (in the still air) from the far end of Spicers when we were making our way through the rock buttresses. We then noticed a Wedgie cruise over, then another, then another, then another and yet another, so that there were five circling above us. One did a rapid glide past while we were on top – we could hear the wind in its wings – something I normally associate with faster birds.

The highlight as we were following the crest of the peak west was a large Brush-tailed Rock-Wallaby bounding across the ridge – it was the first time I had seen one in the rainforest. Further along there were lovely lookouts to the south with great views of the peaks of the Main Range. It was nice listening to the Albert’s Lyrebirds in the distance.

Entering the schlerophyll at the far end of the mountain, we hit the edge of the fresh burn – the rangers had run a drip line along the crest so one side was burnt and the other unburnt. I noticed a Grey-crowned Babbler on the unburnt side and then a Spotted Quail-Thrush on the burnt side.

Coming back on the convict road, we could hear Noisy Miners calling. A few hundred metres further up the track, there was a bit of change in the vegetation and the soundscape was filled with Bellbird calls. Now that’s what you call an ecotone.

Regards, Laurie.