Australian Good Birding Guide: Southern & Central Queensland. Ted Wnorowski
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Forest Park
This small, 20ha reserve, is located in the suburb of Pullenvale, 20km west of Brisbane CBD. The reserve stretches mostly along the Pullen Pullen Creek where patches of natural vegetation such as rainforest, vine scrub and eucalypt forest, still exist, a small remnant of an extensive area of natural bushland that has lost to development on both sides of the creek. The local Bushcare Group had done a very good job replanting a large area with native plants that after some years have developed into a fairly dense scrub. The improved habitat allowed many birds to return.
We remember times before 2006, when Speckled Warblers were singing from the bush tops here, now this species has disappeared.
To get there, from Moggill Rd (33) take Grandview Rd, then turn right into Pullenvale Rd. The entrance to the Park is about 400m past the turnoff, just past the bridge over the creek. Site facilities include a picnic table, a shelter and a 1km-long pathway along the creek with some boardwalk.
One 110 species are on the Pullenvale Park’s birdlist. Key species are Powerful Owl, Grey-crowned Babbler, Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, Azure Kingfisher and White-eared Monarch. Other birds of interest include Apostlebird, Black-faced Monarch, Brown Quail, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Common Bronzewing and Large-billed Scrubwren. Rarities include Speckled Warbler, Painted Button-quail, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Red-capped Robin, Square-tailed Kite and Grey Goshawk.
Powerful Owls visit sporadically to gorge on ringtail possums. Azure Kingfisher is resident, often found on the first 500m of the path along the creek. In recent years, many of the planted trees started to fruit, attracting pigeons such as Emerald Dove, White-headed Pigeon, Wonga Pigeon and Brown Cuckoo-Dove. Other fruit-eaters including Regent Bowerbird also found their way to the Park.
Bush birds regularly reported from the Pullenvale Forest Park include White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Varied Sittella, Leaden Flycatcher, Varied Triller, Little Shrike-thrush, Rufous Fantail, Australian King-Parrot, White-throated Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Southern Boobook and Tawny Frogmouth.
Anstead Bushland Reserve
This 80ha reserve is located along Brisbane River in the suburb of Anstead, 20km southwest of Brisbane CBD. The reserve is covered mostly by eucalypt forest, with some rainforest, riparian scrub and an area of grassland. A local Bushcare Group continue planting and weeding in the reserve, particularly near the old quarry.
To get there, travel west through Kenmore on Moggill Rd (33), then turn into Mount Crosby Rd (37). Next, turn south into Hawkesbury Rd. The reserve is well signposted. A carpark is provided nearby with picnic tables, shelters and toilets. You’ll find 3km of walking tracks in the reserve, running to the river and the quarry. Viewing platforms over the river are provided.
Over 200 bird species have been recorded in the reserve. Key species are Oriental Cuckoo, Spectacled Monarch, Black-faced Monarch, Speckled Warbler, Painted Button-quail, Little Lorikeet and Apostlebird. Other birds of interest include Brown Quail, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Eastern Spinebill, Striped Honeyeater, Rufous Songlark, Rose Robin, Rufous Fantail and Powerful Owl. Among the rarities are Regent Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Scarlet Robin, Red-rumped Parrot and Peregrine Falcon.
Juvenile Spectacled Monarch
This site is very popular with Brisbane birdwatchers thanks to Oriental Cuckoos that visit here regularly, sometimes in good numbers (3-4 birds). It is one of the best sites for Oriental Cuckoo in Australia. Look for them in the bush around the carpark and also at the top of the track.
The site is known for rare bird sightings. In particular, in May 2016 two Regent Honeyeaters spent a couple of weeks there. Glossy Black-Cockatoos make regular appearances.
We visited the reserve one early spring (September) and walked across the picnic area towards the fence line. The bush was teaming with birds, particularly with the honeyeaters such as Scarlet Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater and Eastern Spinebill. We also sighted Common Cicadabird, Fan-tailed Cuckoo and White-breasted Woodswallow. A family of Apostlebirds was foraging close to the carpark. A large flock of woodswallows, migrating south, were circling overhead, mostly Masked and White-browed Woodswallows.
We found plenty of Red-backed Fairy-wrens, Chestnut-breasted Mannikins and Double-barred Finches along the fence line. The track then turned away from the fence, running along the ridge. That gave us Shining Bronze-cuckoo, Brush Cuckoo, Rose Robin, Rufous Songlark, Dusky Woodswallow and Scaly-breasted Lorikeet.
We then got to the river lookout and came across Buff-banded Rail on the mudflats near the river. We also ticked off Azure Kingfisher, Striated Heron, Intermediate Egret, Caspian Tern and Brahminy Kite there.
On our way back, on the top of the track we came across a large fruiting fig tree with plenty of birds including Australasian Figbird, White-headed Pigeon, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Olive-backed Oriole and Lewin’s Honeyeater. While walking through the grassland we flushed a flock of Brown Quails. A pair of Southern Boobooks were roosting in a tree near the carpark.
Pale-vented Bush-hens and Lewin’s Rails were recorded several times in the vegetation near the river. Night birds here include Bush Stone-curlew, White-throated Nightjar and Australian Owlet-nightjar.
Moggill Conservation Park
This large, 490ha Park, also known as Moggill Regional Park, is located on the outskirts of Pullenvale and Anstead, about 22km west of Brisbane CBD. This pocket of fantastic bushland is part of D’Aguilar Range that provides the green corridor extending up to Woodford. The northern section of the Park, near Mill Rd, is most significant for the birders. Particularly valuable is the walk through the riparian vegetation with some remnants of rainforest along the Pullen Pullen Creek. The southern part of the Park is much drier, covered by open forest.
To get to the northern section, turn from Moggill Rd (33) past Pinjarra Hills into Grandview Rd. Veer left into Mill Rd and park on the roadside near the entrance to the track (signposted to Moggill Conservation Park). To get to the southern section, from Moggill Rd (33) turn into Mount Crosby Rd (37), then turn right into Chalcot Rd past Anstead Bushland. A small carpark is provided near the entrance to the Park. There are no other facilities apart from a network of tracks including 4.2km Towers Break Loop and 7.2km Ugly Gully Break Loop, see Moggill Conservation Park map, downloadable here: https://www.npsr.qld.gov.au/parks/moggill/pdf/moggill-rp-map.pdf.
Over 150 bird species have been found in the Park. Key species are Oriental Cuckoo, White-eared Monarch, Spotted Quail-thrush, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Wonga Pigeon, Noisy Pitta and Common Cicadabird. Other notable birds include Black-faced Monarch, Spectacled Monarch, Little Shrike-thrush, Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, Emerald Dove, Forest Kingfisher, Striped Honeyeater and Large-billed Scrubwren. Rarities include Black-breasted Button-quail, Powerful Owl, Regent Bowerbird, Pale-yellow Robin, Barred Cuckoo-shrike, Eastern Rosella and Turquoise Parrot.
Noisy Pitta
The most productive area is a walking track from Mill Rd along the creek. Birds in good numbers here include Black-faced Monarch, Spectacled Monarch, Rufous Fantail, Little Shrike-thrush, Varied Sittella, Golden Whistler, Large-billed Scrubwren, Brown Thornbill and Varied Triller. After dark, you may hear Australian Owlet-nightjar and Southern Boobook.
A good selection of fruit-eating pigeons can be found in the northern section. Look for Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, Emerald Dove, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, White-headed Pigeon and Topknot Pigeon. In winter, several rainforest species descend from the hills to this area. In particular, Noisy Pitta can be found in good numbers in wintertime. Occasionally, you may encounter Australian Logrunner, Russet-tailed