Australian Good Birding Guide: Southern & Central Queensland. Ted Wnorowski
the birdlist of this small site. Key species are Magpie Goose, Buff-banded Rail, Little Egret, Common Cicadabird and Scaly-breasted Lorikeet. Other notable birds include Hardhead, Australasian Grebe, Dollarbird, Scarlet Honeyeater, Tawny Grassbird, Rainbow Bee-eater and Nankeen Night-Heron. Rarities include Yellow billed Spoonbill, Wandering Whistling-Duck and Fork-tailed Swift.
This site is good for common waterbirds. Black Swans breeds there. Buff-banded Rails often walk on the pathway, boldly in the open. Nankeen Night-Herons regularly roost in the casuarinas near the lagoon. In the lagoon’s vegetation fringe, look for Australian Reed-Warbler, Tawny Grassbird, Red-browed Finch, Variegated Fairy-wren and White-browed Scrubwren.
Other birds that may be encountered in Nudgee Waterhole Reserve include Spangled Drongo, Leaden Flycatcher, Golden Whistler, Little Shrike-thrush, Pheasant Coucal, Brush Cuckoo, Long-billed Corella, Pale-headed Rosella, Pacific Baza and Southern Boobook.
Kedron Brook Wetlands Reserve
Kedron Brook Reserve is another good wetland area in north Brisbane. It is squeezed between Gateway Mwy (M1) and Southern Cross Wy opposite Brisbane Airport. It has two large lagoons surrounded by patches of casuarina and paperbark bushland and mangroves. There is also an area of long wet grass. Kedron Brook flows through the reserve; it joins with the Schulz Canal and later with Kedron Brook Floodway to discharge to Moreton Bay.
To get there, from Gateway Mwy (M1) drive east onto Southern Cross Wy, then quickly turn east into Toombul Rd. Access to the tracks in the reserve is from the roundabout under the motorway. You can walk along Kedron Brook starting from Headley Ave which borders the sports grounds on the west side of Southern Cross Wy.
Over 200 bird species have been recorded in the reserve. Key species are Eastern Grass Owl, Mangrove Gerygone, Collared Kingfisher and Mangrove Honeyeater. Other birds of interest include waders, waterbirds, Striped Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Tawny Grassbird and Pacific Baza. Rarities at this site include Long-toed Stint, King Quail, Glossy Ibis, Black-necked Stork and Yellow-billed Spoonbill.
Collared Kingfisher
The site birdlist includes 24 wader species. The most numerous are Pied Stilt, Red-necked Avocet, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Black-fronted Dotterel. They are usually found in the new lagoon where also large numbers of Chestnut Teals, Australasian Shovelers, Australian Pelicans and Magpie Geese can be observed. Rare waders include Long-toed Stint, Common Sandpiper (usually found along the muddy edges of Kedron Brook near the Nudgee Rd bridge), Pectoral Sandpiper, Terek Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper, Grey Plover and Beach Stone-curlew.
When walking along the creek, particularly at the low tide, look for Buff-bander Rail, Striated Heron, Little Egret and Collared Kingfisher. Tawny Grassbirds are numerous in grassy areas; look also for Brown Quail, Australasian Pipit, Golden-headed Cisticola, Variegated Fairy-wren and Red-backed Fairy-wren. Occasionally, King Quail has been reported.
After dusk, there is a chance of seeing Eastern Grass Owl, resident in the reserve, flying over the grassland. Bush birds include Restless Flycatcher, Rufous Fantail, Golden Whistler, Rainbow Bee-eater, Spangled Drongo and occasionally Shining Flycatcher.
Among 18 raptor species recorded at this site are Little Eagle, Osprey, Spotted Harrier, Swamp Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Pacific Baza, Square-tailed Kite and Black-shouldered Kite.
West Brisbane
9 Moggill Road Wetlands Reserve
15 Pooh Corner Bushland Reserve
16 White Rock Conservation Area
Lake Samsonvale
Also known as North Pine Dam, Lake Samsonvale is located 35km northwest of Brisbane CBD. It is an important source of drinking water for Brisbane and Moreton Shire. The lake is surrounded by a large, protected catchment area comprising grassland, woodland and eucalypt forest. There are many birding spots around the lake. The Gold Scrub Lane and Postman’s Track are probably one of the most diverse and prolific areas in southeast Queensland. They are fantastic for grassland birds such as quails, and for the raptors.
Lake Samsonvale panorama, view from the Kobble Creek Picnic Area
SEQ Water manages the lake and its catchment and a permit is required for access to many grassy areas, particularly to Gold Scrub Ln if you wish to walk the firebreaks in this area. Access to the water is not restricted anywhere.
The Postman’s Tk site was open to the public after construction of 7km of multi-purpose trails through grassland and forest, so currently a permit is not required to this area.
From the east, water access is easy through Forgan Park and Bullocky Rest Area, best reached via Samsonvale Rd. The western side is best accessed from Samford Village along Mount Samson Rd (22). Good facilities can be found at the Bullocky Rest Area, where shelters, picnic tables, barbecues and toilets are located. A long walking track along the lake connects the Bullocky site with Forgan Cove. Facilities at other stops along the lake, described below, are limited to larger or smaller carparks.
Lake Samsonvale map with a Postman’s Track insert can be downloaded here: