Australian Good Birding Guide: Southern & Central Queensland. Ted Wnorowski
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Bush Stone-curlew, Southern Boobook, White-throated Nightjar and Australian Owlet-nightjar.
During the day look for Wonga Pigeon, Eastern Whipbird, Olive-backed Oriole, Pale-headed Rosella, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet and Pheasant Coucal.
Eugenia Circuit
This 3km-long loop runs through eucalypt woodland across the Ithaca Creek and links with the track to the Simpson Falls viewing platform.
This is one of the best places in the Mount Coot-tha Forest for Painted Button-quail. They often hide behind tussocks of grass.
Gap Creek Reserve
This an area of beautiful bushland in Mount Coot-tha, 13km west of Brisbane CBD. It forms part of Mount Coot-tha Forest and borders with D-Aguilar National Park. The main entrance to the reserve is in Gap Creek Rd. To get there, from Moggill Rd in Kenmore turn into Brookfield Rd. After 2km turn right into Gap Creek Rd. You will see a carpark with a wooden footbridge leading to the reserve. Facilities also include picnic tables, shelters, toilets and a variety of trails. Be careful there, the tracks are dual-purpose and are very popular with mountain bikers.
Over 100 bird species have been recorded here. Key species are Spotted Quail-thrush, Painted Button-quail, White-throated Nightjar and Bell Miner. Other birds of interest include Little Lorikeet, Golden Whistler, Rose Robin, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Shining Bronze-cuckoo, Large-billed Scrubwren and Scarlet Honeyeater. Rarities include Oriental Cuckoo, White-eared Monarch, Speckled Warbler, Wompoo Fruit-Dove and Powerful Owl.
A good place for birding is bushland near the creek about 100m before the carpark (approaching from Brookfield Rd). Nankeen Night-Herons often roost there. Look also for Eastern Spinebill, White-naped Honeyeater, Rufous Fantail, Rose Robin, Forest Kingfisher, Leaden Flycatcher and Shining Bronze-cuckoo. A stretch of the track from the carpark to the creek is also good for nocturnal birds such as Southern Boobook, White-throated Nightjar, Australian Owlet-nightjar and Barn Owl. Tawny Frogmouth usually roosts near the carpark.
Barn Owl
When bloodwoods are flowering, expect to find Little Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Lewin’s Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater and Yellow-faced Honeyeater in them.
From the Gap Creek Picnic Area, the 1.6km one-way Quail Tk runs north up to Dillon Rd. Bell Miners are everywhere here. Look also for Common Cicadabird, Black-faced Monarch, Olive-backed Oriole, Sacred Kingfisher, Golden Whistler and Rose Robin.
Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens
The Gardens are not technically part of the Mount Coot-tha Forest but are situated adjacent to it at the foot of Mount Coot-tha, Brisbane’s tallest hill. The 56ha site is recognised as the premier subtropical botanic garden in Queensland. There are several theme gardens on the grounds including Japanese garden, bamboo grove, Australian native garden, rainforest, etc., connected by creeks and lagoons.
Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens are located in the suburb of Toowong along Mount Coot-tha Rd, 7km west of Brisbane CBD. Access is from Mount Coot-tha Rd. Facilities include several carparks, a café, kiosk, toilets and a network of sealed paths. Driving is allowed only on the ring road.
Further details can be found on the Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens Visitor Map, downloadable here: https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/20150522_-_brisbane_botanic_gardens_mt_coot-tha.pdf.
Over 110 species are on the Gardens birdlist. Key species are Bush Stone-curlew, Square-tailed Kite, Striated Heron and waterbirds. Other birds of interest include Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Golden Whistler, Pheasant Coucal, Sacred Kingfisher, White-breasted Woodswallow, Tawny Grassbird and White-throated Needletail. Among the rarities are Swift Parrot, Fork-tailed Swift, Peregrine Falcon and Brahminy Kite.
Bush Stone-curlews rest during the day under the trees near the café. Ponds in the Japanese garden are the favourite of Striated Heron. The breeding colony of Australian White Ibis is located in a tree near the Lagoon. When eating in the cafeteria, your table will be besieged with Australian White Ibises, Pacific Black Ducks, Pied Butcherbirds, Pied Currawongs, Blue-faced Honeyeaters and countless Australian Brush-turkeys. In front of this building is a pond with an island in the middle. Royal Spoonbills and plenty of common waterfowl like to rest there.
Other birds in the Gardens include Topknot Pigeon, Rainbow Bee-eater, Pacific Baza, Brown Goshawk, Channel-billed Cuckoo and Pheasant Coucal.
Bowman Park
This small park is located in the suburb of Bardon, north of Mount Coot-tha. Among the parkland, you’ll find a good patch of bush near the creek.
The site is bordered by Simpsons Rd, David Ave and Bowman Pde. Site coordinates are 27o27’29’’S and 152o58’41’’E. To get there, from Mount Coot-tha Rd in Toowong turn right into Sir Samuel Griffith Dr, then right again into Simpsons Rd. Access to the park is from the surrounding streets. Facilities include carpark, shelters, picnic tables, toilets and sealed pathways.
This small site is known as a regular destination for Swift Parrots. Usually 1-3 birds are recorded but records of up to 30 birds exist. They appear in autumn and winter to feed in the flowering gums near the creek.
Bush Stone-curlews reside in the park. You’ll also find here a large variety of parrots including Australian King-Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Little Lorikeet and Scaly-breasted Lorikeet.
Banks Street Reserve
The 34ha Banks Street Reserve is located in the suburb of Alderley just 5km west of Brisbane CBD. The reserve features open forest, parkland, and a large revegetated area. There are also remnants of rainforest along Enoggera Creek. A large colony of flying-foxes is located by the creek. A local Bushcare Group has installed a large number of nesting boxes which seem to be well-used by now.
The reserve is bordered by Banks St from the north and Weatherhead Ave from the west. There are several entry points from the surrounding streets. A good entry point is from Quandong St off Ashgrove Ave. Five well-marked walking tracks are provided.
Over 120 species are on the reserve’s birdlist. Key species are Azure Kingfisher, Pale-vented Bush-hen, Lewin’s Rail, Common Cicadabird and Spectacled Monarch. Other birds of interest include Buff-banded Rail, Bush Stone-curlew, Tawny Frogmouth, Nankeen Night-Heron, Rose Robin, Pheasant Coucal and Black-faced Monarch. Among the rarities are Satin Flycatcher and Forest Kingfisher.
The best birding is along Enoggera Creek and its tributaries. Nankeen Night-Herons often roost in casuarinas near Breakfast Creek. Lewin’s Rail and Buff-banded Rail are often seen along the creek edges. Pale-vented Bush-hens are not too shy in this reserve and are often observed feeding along the tall, dense vegetation.
When visiting this place one summer, we found many birds nesting. Tawny Frogmouths watched over three fledglings in the southern part of the site. We observed Brown Goshawk and Spangled Drongo on the nest, and Pheasant Coucals bringing morsels of food to a nest hidden in the dense growth. Other nests in the area included Willy Wagtail, Magpie-lark, Laughing Kookaburra and Torresian Crow.
Three fairy-wren species are common in the reserve: Superb, Variegated and Red-backed Fairy-wren. Other birds here include Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Australian King-Parrot, Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Restless Flycatcher and Brown Gerygone.
Male Rufous Whistler
Fig Tree Pocket
Fig