This month saw the weather finally start to cool down and bush birds become more active, which gave me the motivation to get away from the waders for a while. I decided to return to Gengers Rd earlier in the month to look for the button-quails again. Not far past the causeway where the habitat turns to coastal rainforest scrub, fresh platelets and a slight rustle gave away the presence of feeding button-quail! This is probably the easiest way to find them. Sure enough, a couple of Black-breasted Button-Quails took to cover allowing me a quick look. Other birds seen this morning were Rufous Fantail, Spectacled and Black-faced Monarch and a fruit-dove (presumably Rose-crowned) as well as the Australian Owlet-nightjar calling again.
Around the house Square-tailed Kites have been occurring regularly and have also been recorded in Bargara. At the port the waders have depleted as they prepare to migrate north again, although a Glossy Ibis and a pair of Black-necked Storks briefly stopped by. Chris was very lucky with Black Bitterns this month, flushing a juvenile at the Barolin Nature Reserve and an adult at Stockyard Creek. I went to try my luck at the Barolin Reserve but only managed to flush a Buff-banded Rail and a possible Bush-hen but also seen was Pacific Baza, White-throated Gerygone and Grey-crowned Babbler. Chris also had a more thorough morning at Gengers Rd as well... reporting Rose Robin, Noisy Pitta, Topknot Pigeon, Shining Flycatcher and White-eared Monarch.
I also decided to do a day outing to Meadowvale and Sharon Gorge this month, which was quite a productive morning with 89 species recorded. Grey Fantails had returned with force for the winter ahead. Birds that were seen at Meadowvale include Little Lorikeet, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, White-throated Treecreeper, Forest Kingfisher, Little Wattlebird and Cicadabird. Sharon Gorge produced the usual, such as Golden Whistler and Rufous Fantail, but also surprisingly a Dusky Myzomela. I also stopped at a roadside dam, and later the Botanic Gardens which saw a Swamp Harrier, Collared Sparrowhawk and Azure Kingfisher as well as Brown Goshawk and Great Cormorant at the gardens.
There was only one Birdlife Bundaberg outing this month as it was their annual week-long camp, this year to Currawinya NP. I could not come on this trip, although I wanted to, however those that did had a blast. Not much has been said about the trip since then, but apparently a trip report was being written and I will post that when it's finished...
No comments:
Post a Comment