Back in June I joined my local birding-watching group for their monthly outing, this time to Ewen Maddock dam at Landsborough. It was a crisp start but warmed up by mid morning, a lovely day.
At bird call after the walk we had totted up over 60 species, in a couple of hours.
Having lived nearby for quite a few years this is one of my favourite places and with a bird list of over 160 species it's great place to visit and one that comes up with the occasional rarity, such as Oriental Cuckoo, Baillon's Crake, Musk Duck and Australasian Shoveler.
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| Sunshine Coast Bird Observers Group |
I only managed to get a few average shots of some of the more co-operative birds such as this pair loafing on one of the ponds near the causeway.
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| Pacific Black Ducks |
The moorhen was one of a small group pottering around on the Salvinia weed that infests some parts of the lake.
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| Dusky Moorhen |
A pair of Forest Kingfishers were busy hunting around the edges of the water and one sat still long enough for a picture, albeit at the furthest reach of my cameras focal range.
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| Forest Kingfisher |
This bigger hunter was also watching for prey over the water, acting like a real kingfisher!
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| Laughing Kookaburra |
I was also able recently to visit Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary and did the shorter wheelchair access walk. There were at least three male Golden Whistlers trying to outdo each other with their vocal prowess.
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| Golden Whistler |
And Scarlet Honeyeaters abounded, chasing each other through the tangled undergrowth.
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| Scarlet Honeyeater |
Meanwhile back at home I have been hearing the call of a Noisy Pitta frequently over the last few weeks.
This is the first time in my three years here in Kureelpa I have heard this bird and getting to see it has proved impossible so far. It only calls a couple of times on dawn or dusk and it only responded once to my use of playback. I am assuming it may be roosting overnight in our backyard and heading to more suitable habitat to feed during the day. Seeing as I'll probably never get a photo of this elusive dweller of the rainforest I have posted a picture from Ian Montgomery's fantastic site http://www.birdway.com.au
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| Noisy Pitta |
