LONG NECKS & LONG LEGS

A variety of long necked, long legged birds seen and photographed recently around the Sunshine Coast.

A morning outing at the Park Lakes Wetlands in Bli Bli allowed me to observe a large flock of Magpie Geese, quite a few of which were roosting high up in some nearby trees.

Magpie Goose

Magpie Geese

At the same location a solitary Great Egret shone brightly in the morning light.

Great Egret

As too a small contingent of Cattle Egrets resting safely in the middle of a pond.

Cattle Egrets

At Ewan Maddock Dam a Black-necked Stork treated me to a spectacular fly over. With it's 2.3 metre wingspan it is up there with the Brolga and Australian Pelican as our largest birds. 

Black-necked Stork

Low tide on the Mooloolah River at Parrearra allowed for some close views of these two feeding in their own particular manner.

Royal Spoonbill & White-faced Heron

Cheers & Happy Birding

BREWARRINA BIRDS

After our stay at Gundabooka it was off to Brewarrina, where we found a camp site next to the Barwon River about six kilometres from town. It was a lovely spot with the constant sounds of a variety of birds always evident in the background.

Restless Flycatcher

This flycatcher lived up to its name, constantly flitting over the water, snapping up insects in mid-air.

Restless Flycatcher

Stalking along the banks of the river was one of our larger species of water birds, along with a couple of others of the same family, all intent on a spot of fishing.

White-necked Heron

White-necked Heron, Great Egret & White-faced Heron

A soft trilling call in the trees near our van alerted me to the movements of this White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike. It was a dark phase bird, the first time I had seen this form of a species I don't often find, probably because of its quiet and unassuming nature.   

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike 

Barwon River at sunset

In the waning light of the setting sun I was able to capture this kingfisher watching for that last bit of tucker before retiring for the evening.

Sacred Kingfisher

Large flocks of Cockatiels (or Quarrions, derived from the Aboriginal - guwarrayin) were ever present in the nearby croplands. I love seeing these elegant and smallest members of the cockatoo family wheeling through the air, with their plaintive calls of "weero" accompanying every flight.

Cockatiels

Cockatiels

The bird list for our camp site and the close surrounding area came to about fifty species including Barking Owl, which we heard but failed to locate.

Cheers & Happy Birding

BOWRA SANCTUARY - Part 1

Our next port of call was Bowra Sanctuary in western Queensland, a former cattle property just west of Cunnamulla and a place that no self respecting birder should ever miss!

We enjoyed our stay of five days there and although the pickings weren't quite as rich when we visited four years ago, it still lived up to its reputation as an outstanding birding destination.

Black-winged Stilt

There was plenty of water around from the rain events that had affected much of eastern Australia in the previous months, which was great for the wildlife, plants and the landscape as a whole.     

Black-fronted Dotterel

Black-fronted Dotterel pair mating 

With much activity around the homestead area, we didn't have to go far to see some of the action with these Native-hens strutting along within view of our campsite.

Black-tailed Native-hens

Spotted Bowerbird bower

Western Grey Kangaroos

Wild horse

The 14,000 hectare property has many kilometers of tracks to explore so packing a picnic lunch and finding a spot beside the water to watch the varied bird life was a favourite activity. 

Sawpits Creek lagoon

White-faced Heron

White-necked Heron

Brolgas

Even though we were well in to winter with night time temps in the minus, the days were sunny and warm and some of the plant life obviously found this conducive to flowering. 

Cheers & Happy Birding

OUT AND ABOUT

It was back to work for Clare and myself after our recent holiday so I haven't had much of a chance to do any birding. I had a few pictures from before our trip that I had meant to post but never got around to it

.

While picnicking at Noosaville with some rellies recently I snapped some photos of the local denizens of the park. The heron had been hanging around our table hoping for scraps.

White-faced Heron

 The  ever present lorikeets although unusually quiet, brightened up an otherwise dull and overcast day.

Rainbow Lorikeets

Meanwhile closer to home and while walking the dog, camera in hand, I got close enough for a shot of a pardalote that was doing its best to be as inconspicuious as possible.

Striated Pardalote.

The immature cuckoo-shrike a little further down the road was much more obliging!

Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike

As I walked back and reached our front yard I saw an unusual flower that I hadn't noticed before. I'm not much of  a gardener but I'm guessing it is an orchid of some description.

Relaxing on the back verandah with a cuppa afterwards I watched this lone lorikeet tucking into some fresh seed in the feeder.

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet

Followed by a visit to the birdbath by a Rufous Fantail that comes in most days for a dip. Getting a decent shot of it is another matter as it only has a quick splash then disappears. It is quite shy compared to it's less colourful counterpart, the Grey Fantail.

Rufous Fantail.

I was just about to head inside with the daylight fading when a pair of black cockatoos flew in nearby for a bit of a stickybeak. One posed nicely for me before they both took off for parts unknown.

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo. 

BEACH BIRDS

When visiting my Mum recently we went for a cuppa at one of our local beaches.

We watched this heron stalking through some still water, unperturbed by the passing beach-goers.

White-faced Heron

Then an ibis came wandering by hoping for a scrap of  food.

They have become quite fearless around people and are considered a pest in 

some areas of the Sunshine Coast.

Australian White Ibis

Meanwhile a lone mickey-bird was checking out the action from the shadows of a she-oak nearby. 

Noisy Miner

Back at home we had a visitor to our shed out back, that made itself 

at home on the fishing rods that we wanted to use. We were able to 

move him along with a bit of gentle persuasion. 

Carpet Python

Across the road from home these egrets were feeding in the morning sun.

They drop in most days when the cattle are active and their numbers seem to be 

increasing in the local area.   

Cattle Egrets

I had to take a shot of this lovely flower in the garden even though I have

no idea what it is. Any suggestions would be welcome!

And earlier from the back verandah, I snapped a photo of the sun rising over the coast,

with Mt Coolum on the left.

Sunrise on the Sunshine Coast.