Australian Good Birding Guide: Southern & Central Queensland. Ted Wnorowski
An impressive total of 250 bird species has been recorded at Lake Samsonvale. Key species are King Quail, Red-backed Button-quail, Eastern Grass Owl, Lewin’s Rail, Oriental Cuckoo and Spotted Harrier. Other birds of interest include Great Crested Grebe, Glossy Ibis, Latham’s Snipe, Azure Kingfisher, Pale-vented Bush-hen, Comb-crested Jacana, Speckled Warbler, Striped Honeyeater, Painted Button-quail, Brown Quail and Square-tailed Kite. Rarities around the lake include Australian Painted-snipe, Little Curlew, Black-necked Stork, Black Bittern, Red-chested Button-quail, Freckled Duck, Musk Duck, Swift Parrot, Superb Fruit-Dove, Black Honeyeater and Barn Owl.
Postman’s Track
To get there, from Brisbane take Samford Rd through Ferny Grove to Samford Village. At the roundabout before the village, turn right into Main St then follow Mount Sampson Rd for 19km. Turn right into Postman’s Tk. Follow this winding road to the end where you’ll find a large carpark and a network of tracks.
Habitats here include a large area of grassland, open forest, shoreline and the lake. The main attraction of this area are the quails, particularly King Quail which occurs here in good numbers and its squeaky grunt can be heard along the grassy track.
Most of the grassland species can more often be heard than seen. Similarly, Lewin’s Rail is common here but is difficult to find, so tune in to its call. Other grassland species in the area include Red-backed Button-quail, Painted Button-quail, Brown Quail, Stubble Quail, Tawny Grassbird, Brown Songlark, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, Plum-headed Finch and occasionally Red-chested Button-quail. The area is also a stronghold of Eastern Grass Owl. You may encounter it in the evening when it’s flying over the grassland. You may also hear White-throated Nightjar or Australian Owlet-nightjar.
Brown Quail
Along the shoreline, particularly when the lake is drying out, look for the skulking species such as Buff-banded Rail, Spotless Crake and Pale-vented Bush-hen. Latham’s Snipes occur here regularly in summer. There are also records of Australian Painted-snipe, Black Bittern and Australasian Bittern, spotted in the vegetation around the lake.
In the muddy areas, Glossy Ibis is observed regularly, along with Royal Spoonbill, Little Egret, Red-kneed Dotterel, Black-fronted Dotterel and Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.
Hardheads, European Coots and without fail Great Crested Grebes can be seen on the water. Occasionally, Musk Duck, Freckled Duck and Australasian Shoveler appear. Azure Kingfisher is resident here, fishing from overhanging branches.
Oriental Cuckoos visit this area every summer. They like wattles, where there is plenty of caterpillars for them. Among 10 cuckoo species recorded at this site is even Pallid Cuckoo. Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters breed here and can spotted in the bushes near the carpark. A long list of bush birds also includes Spectacled Monarch, White-eared Monarch, Striped Honeyeater, Fuscous Honeyeater, Common Cicadabird, Dollarbird, Forest Kingfisher and Crested Shrike-tit.
This is raptor heaven; 18 species have been recorded. Square-tailed Kites breed at this site. In October 2018 there were two young in the nest. Other raptors include Swamp Harrier, Spotted Harrier, Brown Goshawk, Collared Sparrowhawk, Australian Hobby, Little Eagle, Pacific Baza and occasionally Black Falcon.
Kobble Creek Day-use Area
This small picnic area has good access to the water. It is located on Mount Samson Rd (22), 6km south of Postman’s Tk. Site coordinates are 27o15’41’’S and 152o51’06’’E.
During our visit in May 2018, this corner of the lake was literally covered with waterbirds. Among the common species we noted Great Crested Grebe, Comb-crested Jacana, Musk Duck, Australasian Shoveler, Glossy Ibis, Yellow-billed Spoonbill and White-necked Heron. We spotted Buff-banded Rail and Baillon’s Crake along the shore together with Black-fronted Dotterel and Red-kneed Dotterel.
The large gums standing over the picnic tables were in bloom and bursting with activity. We got Scarlet Honeyeater, Striped Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Weebill, Mistletoebird and Golden Whistler. Two King Quails were calling from the grass. A small flock of Dusky Woodswallows was flying overhead.
Rarer species recorded over the years at this site include Oriental Cuckoo, Australian Painted-snipe, Cotton Pygmy-goose and Pale-vented Bush-hen.
Gold Scrub Lane
This is another very good Lake Samsonvale site, especially for the quails and raptors. It is located on a small peninsula across the lake from Postman’s Track to the north. Remember that you need a permit from SEQ Water to enter the tracks even on foot.
To get there, from Brisbane take Samford Rd through Ferny Grove to Samford Village. At the roundabout before the village, turn right into Main St then follow Mount Sampson Rd for 13km. Turn right into Gold Scrub Ln and drive to the end of the road. Stop at the carpark next to the cemetery. A short track runs along the cemetery fence to the lake.
Bird composition here is very similar to that of Postman’s Track. The number of quails to be found depends on local conditions. The best results are obtained when the grass is chest-high and wet. Eastern Grass Owl has also been found here. To find Oriental Cuckoo, check the wattles growing near the cemetery.
There are several large figs in the area, if they are fruiting, you may see Barred Cuckoo-shrike, Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, Wonga Pigeon, Channel-billed Cuckoo and Topknot Pigeon. Even the rare Superb Fruit-Dove was seen feeding in big figs and elm trees near the cemetery. Tawny Frogmouth has a nest in the cemetery carpark.
This is a site where rare visitors pop up regularly. These include Jacky Winter, Red-capped Robin, Satin Flycatcher, Black Honeyeater, Australian Painted-snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Masked Woodswallow and White-winged Black Tern.
Bullocky Rest Area
Bullocky Rest Area and the neighbouring Forgan Park are well-developed recreational parks on the eastern shores of the lake, not far from the dam wall.
To get there, from Samsonvale Rd turn north to Forgan Rd; it will take you to both parks. If you are approaching from the west, take Mount Samson Rd (22) from Samford Village in the northerly direction, turn east into Winn Rd and then turn north into Forgan Rd.
Enjoy the waterbirds on the lake, particularly the large numbers of Great Crested Grebes. You’ll have a chance to see three grebe species in a single field of view of your binoculars.
Flying over the lake may be Swamp Harrier, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Osprey, Whistling Kite, Wedge-tailed Eagle or even Peregrine Falcon.
Take a walk along the lake shores. This is a good place for Little Lorikeet. Honeyeaters are usually well represented, including Striped Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater and Eastern Spinebill. You may also come across Pale-headed Rosella, Azure Kingfisher, Tree Martin, Pacific Baza, Little Shrike-thrush, White-breasted Woodswallow and Brown Quail. We also had a pleasure to observe a Speckled Warbler building a nest.
D’Aguilar National Park
The 36,400ha of this beautiful wilderness is located right on the doorstep of Brisbane. The Park is divided into two distinctive sections: the D’Aguilar section in the south, formerly known as Brisbane Forest Park, and the Mount Mee section in the north, formerly known as Mount Mee Forest. The Park supports a variety of habitat types including subtropical rainforest, eucalypt woodland, dry and wet sclerophyll forest, rocky outcrops and freshwater wetlands with creeks and waterholes. On cool mountaintops and plateaus, a lush subtropical rainforest developed, complete with dense ferns and mosses. The slopes and lower parts of the mountains are covered with a much drier eucalypt woodland and scribbly gum forests.
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Captivating