Australian Good Birding Guide: Southern & Central Queensland. Ted Wnorowski
Break
The site is located 2.5km north of Lawton Rd on the right. Site coordinates are 27o17’42’’S and 152o45’16’’E. This is yet another good place for Marbled Frogmouth; look for them just at the start of the track.
You can usually find here large numbers of small bush birds such as Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Large-billed Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, Striated Thornbill, Weebill and Red-browed Finch.
Brown Gerygone
Red Cedar Park
Continuing on State Route 31 towards Lake Wivenhoe, the road name changes to Northbrook Pkwy. Before the entrance to the western section of the National Park, you’ll find two picnic/camping areas called Red Cedar Park and White Cedar Park, situated on the banks of the picturesque Northbrook Creek. Site coordinates are 27o18’16’’S and 152o40’57’’E.
Look for Azure Kingfisher (breeding here) and Nankeen Night-Heron along the creek. Bell Miners are calling constantly; noise is so intense that it may interrupt a conversation.
This is a good spot for cuckoos. Even Oriental Cuckoo is a regular summer visitor here. You may encounter three species of Monarchs: White-eared, Black-faced and Spectacled Monarch. We observed the latter on the nest with two chicks.
In the vegetation near the creek, look for Tawny Grassbird and Brown Quail. White-throated Nightjars and Australian Owlet-nightjars can be heard calling at night.
Other birds in this area include Rose Robin, Varied Triller, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Topknot Pigeon and Pacific Baza.
Mount Mee Section
Mill Rainforest Walk
This is a beautiful 2km loop walk with a section of boardwalk along the creek. To get there, from Mount Mee Rd (58) turn into Sellin Rd, then take Pickering Rd which will lead you to the site. Site coordinates are 27o04’50’’S and 152o42’34’’E.
This place is good for the nocturnal birds. Powerful Owls often roost at the first creek crossing at the footbridge. Marbled Frogmouths are quite common. There is also a possibility to hear Greater Sooty Owl and Southern Boobook.
Azure Kingfisher can be found perching along the creek.
Three species of monarchs: White-eared, Black-faced and Spectacled Monarch may be found here with relative ease. Many fruit-eating species have been reported, the most reliable are Wonga Pigeon and Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove. Other rainforest species in the area include Barred Cuckoo-shrike, Regent Bowerbird, Paradise Riflebird, Noisy Pitta and Australian Logrunner. In summer, there are plenty of Shining Bronze-cuckoos that fill the forest with sound.
The Gantry Day-use Area
This site is located at the end of Sellin Rd near an intersection with Lovedays Rd. Site coordinates are 27o05’38’’S and 152o42’11’’E.
A lot of unafraid birds will interact with you in the area including Satin Bowerbird, Regent Bowerbird, Pied Currawong, Crimson Rosella, Australian King-Parrot and Lewin’s Honeyeater. They all may come to inspect your lunch. Wonga Pigeons strut unconcerned on the ground. Small birds such as Brown Gerygone, Brown Thornbill, White-browed Scrubwren and Large-billed Scrubwren are everywhere.
A male Paradise Riflebird displayed for us on top of a tree. A flock of Pale-headed Rosellas landed on the grass. On the flowering gums, we observed hundreds of Rainbow and Scaly-breasted Lorikeets, with White-naped Honeyeaters, Scarlet Honeyeaters and Eastern Spinebills working the tree edges. We also came across Green Catbird, Tawny Frogmouth and Crested Shrike-tit.
Just 1km from The Gantry you’ll reach Falls Walking Tk leading to the Falls Lookout. Site coordinates are 27o04’59’’S and 152o41’46’’E. This is a good spot for Regent Bowerbird, Noisy Pitta and Pale-yellow Robin. There are plenty of monarchs, all three species can be found here. New Holland Honeyeaters are often reported, they follow the flowering plants in the heathy forest.
Look also for Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, Common Cicadabird, Eastern Spinebill and Grey Goshawk.
Archer Campground
This site is located on Rasmussen Rd near Neurum Creek. Site coordinates are 27o00’58’’S and 152o41’52’’E.
Black-breasted Button-quails are occasionally recorded in this area. We had a great time one September when we camped there. Crested Shrike-tit and White-eared Monarch were the most common birds in the camp. We also ticked off Wonga Pigeon, Black-faced Monarch, Rose Robin, Varied Triller, Little Shrike-thrush and Azure Kingfisher. There were plenty of parrots, particularly Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, Crimson Rosellas and Pale-headed Rosellas.
In the evening, we were amazed with a grand firefly display. Plenty of wallabies, pademelons and other small marsupials rambled among the tents. Later at night, we were awakened at an ungodly hour by a horny male koala calling lustily in the most revolting way. After it finished, we could hear Bush Stone-curlew, Southern Boobook and White-throated Nightjar. Masked Owl is recorded occasionally at this location.
The morning walk produced a lot of interesting birds including Speckled Warbler but also had us covered in leeches.
Lovedays Road
The site is located just south of Archer Camping Area at 27o02’22’’S and 152o40’52’’E. This is a good place for Red-browed Treecreepers. You may also encounter Leaden Flycatcher, Bell Miner, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Wonga Pigeon, Rufous Fantail, Shining Bronze-cuckoo and Grey Goshawk.
Gold Creek Reservoir
Gold Creek Reservoir is located in the suburb of Upper Brookfield, 14km west of Brisbane CBD. This is one of the oldest former drinking water reservoirs for Brisbane, and one of the smallest (23ha). It is connected with Enoggera Creek Dam, situated nearby. Gold Creek flows from the hills of the southern section of D’Aguilar National Park.
To get there, from a roundabout in Moggill Rd in Kenmore take Brookfield Rd. After 4km, turn right past the showgrounds into Gold Creek Rd. Follow this road for 5km to reach the carpark at the reservoir. A walking track runs around the lake, passing through a range of habitats such as rainforest, open eucalypt forest, creek and lake. The walk takes about 2-3 hours and is excellent for bush birds. See map in the Gold Creek Reservoir brochure, downloadable here: https://www.seqwater.com.au/sites/default/files/PDF%20Documents/Recreation/201403%20Recreation%20Guide%20GOLD%20CREEK.pdf.
Over 200 bird species have been recorded around this small reservoir. Key species are Pale-vented Bush-hen, Black-breasted Button-quail, Lewin’s Rail, Regent Bowerbird, White-eared Monarch and Russet-tailed Thrush. Other birds of interest include Azure Kingfisher, Forest Kingfisher, Painted Button-quail, Large-billed Scrubwren, Crested Shrike-tit, Spectacled Monarch, Paradise Riflebird, Noisy Pitta, Topknot Pigeon and Pale-yellow Robin. Rarities include Great Crested Grebe, Black Bittern, Cotton Pygmy-goose, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Turquoise Parrot, Spotted Quail-thrush, Oriental Cuckoo, Pallid Cuckoo and Powerful Owl.
Pale-vented Bush-hens are here in good numbers and whole families are regularly observed. Look for them in the creek vegetation near Gold Creek Rd. Check also the creek lines outside the Reservoir borders. Another good spot is the reservoir overflow.
Black-breasted Button-quails were observed skulking in the undergrowth at the southwest edge of the Reservoir.
Look for Black Bittern in the area about 10-20m upstream of the foot bridge.