SUNSHINE COAST RAMBLES

The break in our travels during mid year found us back on the Sunshine Coast for a while, where I visited a few of my local haunts. There were some big seas and on shore winds prevailing, so I headed up the coast to try a spot of sea-bird watching. Apart from a few Australasian Gannets and a tern or two  there wasn't much about. 

Point Arkwright

Point Perry rockscape

The sewage treatment plant at Maroochydore had a few waterbirds present, some loafing on the grass banks and others busy feeding in the nutrient rich waters.   

Chestnut Teal & Pacific Black Ducks

Black-winged Stilt

Out at the Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary some of the local passerines were making the most of the winter sun.

Maroochy River & Mt.Coolum

Welcome Swallow

Willie Wagtail

Scarlet Honeyeaters

A visit to Parklands Forest Reserve yielded some close up views of some inquisitive members of the Malurus family and a shrike-thrush posing as a treecreeper.

Variegated Fairy-wren - male

Variegated Fairy-wren - female 

Little Shrike-Thrush

Along the north shore of the Maroochy River at Mudjimba, a far off shape on the sand banks turned into a Beach Stone-Curlew through the field scope. I had read a report of a sighting by Greg Roberts in a post he published on his excellent blogsite http://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com.au/, which gave me the incentive to look for this enigmatic wader.

Maroochy River - north shore

Beach Stone-Curlew

A much better image below by Ian Montgomery at: http://www.birdway.com.au/

Cheers and Happy Birding

PETRIE PARK WALK

A couple of weekends ago I did an early morning walk through one of Nambours parks, Petrie Park, right in the heart of town. On this occasion I didn't spot any platypuses but was able to get close to a couple of other local residents.

Petrie Creek

Pacific Black Duck

There is a volunteer group doing re-vegetation and cleanups, and the park is a real credit to them and the local council. A green oasis in the heart of a busy regional town.

Petrie Creek

This pair were having a dabble and didn't seem concerned by the discarded tyre nearby, probably deposited by the recent flooding. It was disappointing to see the shopping trolleys that had been dumped in the creek.

This character was sun bathing on the warm concrete of the footpath and wasn't moving for anyone. They are quite common along the creek and this was a male, close to the 80cm length these lizards can grow to.

Eastern Water Dragon

While visiting the park I was hoping to see some Barred Cuckoo-Shrikes, which are regularly seen in the area, but I have always missed. While taking the dragon pics I heard an unfamiliar call and was able to observe and identify two of my target birds in the trees beside the creek. I was pretty chuffed, after having dipped on this species on numerous occasions.

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The photo below was sent by a friend who had seen this bird not far from his place last year.

Barred Cuckoo-Shrike