Australian Good Birding Guide: Southern & Central Queensland. Ted Wnorowski

Environmental Education Centre were favourite of honeyeaters (and us). We got 13 species in a few trees there including plenty of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters (dominant), Brown Honeyeaters, Scarlet Honeyeaters, Blue-faced Honeyeaters, Bell Miners and Noisy Friarbirds. We also observed Honeyeater in smaller numbers Fuscous Honeyeater, Black-chinned Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater and White-throated.

      Bell Miner, quiet for a change

      We walked a short Powerful Owl Tk near the Centre and found Grey Goshawk, Little Shrike-thrush, Rose Robin, Eastern Whipbird, Golden Whistler, Shining Bronze-cuckoo and Australian King-Parrot there.

GT Break

      To get there, from Jinker Tt turn right into Bowers Break and immediately right again into GT Break. Site coordinates are 27^o22’14’’S and 152^o56’59’’E.

      The main feature of the track are Bell Miners, calling incessantly all around you. The best birdwatching area is near the creek. Yellow-tufted Honeyeater and Black-chinned Honeyeater are regularly found in the bushes along the creek. Look also for Large-billed Scrubwren, Buff-banded Rail, Pheasant Coucal, Rufous Fantail, Varied Sittella, Common Cicadabird and Australian Owlet-nightjar. White-throated Nightjars were found roosting on the track.

Powerline Track

      The track entry is from Jinker Tk, site coordinates are 27^o22’30’’S and 152^o58’02’’E. The track follows a power line easement and runs under the high-voltage lines. We recommend walking down to Dam Break and coming back to Jinker Tk using this track.

      This walk gives another good chance to see Black-chinned Honeyeater. In winter, large numbers of various honeyeaters, Silvereyes and Rainbow Bee-eaters appear here. Also, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters were found in this area.

Dam Break

      Site coordinates are 27^o22’32’’S and 152^o57’54’’E. From Jinker Tk walk down the Dam Break to the dam. Square-tailed Kites are regularly found here.

      Common waterbirds and occasionally White-necked Heron can be found around the dam. Striated Pardalotes breed in the banks of the dam.

      Other birds in the area include White-naped Honeyeater, Rose Robin, Pale-headed Rosella, Golden Whistler and Shining Bronze-cuckoo.

Dowse Lagoon

      Dowse Lagoon, also known as Second Lagoon, is part of a three-lagoon system in Sandgate. It is a permanent freshwater lake surrounded by reeds, rushes and long grasses. It has a central island which is utilised extensively by the local birds.

      The Lagoon was revitalised in 2010 with three new viewing shelters and a pathway around the water edge. The site was weeded and replanted with native vegetation. This site is very popular with birders and very good for bird photography.

      To get there, from Gateway Mwy(M1) take Board St (27) to Sandgate. Turn left into Southerden St on the roundabout and take a drive around the lagoon, turning consecutively into Deagon St, Brighton Rd and Keog St. Find a parking on the roadside to walk through the reserve. There are good facilities around the lagoon including picnic tables, toilets and viewing shelters. GPS coordinates are 27^o18’57’’S and 153^o03’44’’E.

      The site is good for waterbirds and shorebirds. Large numbers of vagrant species have been recorded here. In total, over 200 species are on the Dowse Lagoon’s birdlist. Key species are Cotton Pygmy-goose, Wandering Whistling-Duck, Pink-eared Duck, Glossy Ibis, Pale-vented Bush-hen, Comb-crested Jacana and Latham’s Snipe. Other notable birds here include Lewin’s Rail, Buff-banded Rail, Spotless Crake, Nankeen Night-Heron, Magpie Goose, Musk Duck, Mangrove Gerygone, Shining Bronze-cuckoo, Dollarbird and the waders. Among the rarities are Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Australian Painted-snipe, Australian Little Bittern, Freckled Duck, Black-necked Stork, Wood Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, White-winged Black Tern, Sooty Tern, Great Crested Grebe and Painted Button-quail.

      Australian Little Bittern can be found in the reeds in northeastern corner of the lagoon. Lewin’s Rails can often be heard from the vegetation. A large fig tree on the eastern bank is visited by Pale-vented Bush-hens and Buff-banded Rails when fruits get scattered on the ground. Nankeen Night-Herons often roost in small groups in trees near the Bowling Club.

      This is a very good area for Cotton Pygmy-goose and Wandering Whistling-Duck; these are nearly always here. The counts of Magpie Geese may sometimes reach 40-50 birds. Other regulars include Royal Spoonbill, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Little Egret, Latham’s Snipe, Glossy Ibis and Hardhead. Musk Duck is resident here.

      Female Musk Duck

      When the lagoon is drying out during draught periods, waders appear. These will include Red-kneed Dotterel, Black-fronted Dotterel, Red-necked Avocet, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and Marsh Sandpiper. At these times, very rare waders have been found as per list above. In November 2012, Australian Painted-snipe spent some time here. In November 2014, Wood Sandpiper and Pectoral Sandpiper were recorded.

      Seabirds land on the island for a rest during storms and cyclones. Species such as Sooty Tern, Common Tern, Eastern Reef Egret and Pied Cormorant have been reported.

      In the long grass, look for Tawny Grassbird, Little Grassbird, Brown Quail, Nutmeg Mannikin, Red-backed Fairy-wren and Australian Reed-Warbler.

      A long list of bush birds includes Striped Honeyeater, Little Wattlebird, Pale-headed Rosella, Brush cuckoo, Shining Bronze-cuckoo, Black-faced Monarch, Sacred Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater, Tree Martin and Tawny Frogmouth.

      The list of raptors is impressive, totalling 19 species. In March 2016, we had a good run of raptors here, ticking off Spotted Harrier, Swamp Harrier, Pacific Baza and Square-tailed Kite. Also, we found Brown Goshawk on the nest. Over the years, sightings records accumulated for Black Falcon, Peregrine Falcon and Little Eagle.

      The lagoon is a magnet for the aviary escapees, so you can expect the unexpected. These include Common (Ring-necked) Pheasant which stayed nearly a year in 2016, a wide variety of races of Rose-ringed Parakeets, as well as Cockatiels, Budgerigars and King Quails.

Third Lagoon Reserve

      Third Lagoon Reserve is a 54ha green space located between Baskerville St and Bracken Ridge Rd in the suburb of Sandgate, 15km north of Brisbane CBD. From the south, the site is bordered by Deagon Wetlands, which are treated as part of the same site in this book. Dowse Lagoon is located nearby in the southeast.

      Third Lagoon is a large lake surrounded by extensive reed beds. You will also find here areas of parkland and replanted bushland. A circular track called Third Lagoon Bikeway, mostly sealed and with sections of boardwalk, runs around the lake.

      To get there, from Gateway Mwy (M1) take Bracken Ridge Rd in the easterly direction. Turn left into Baskerville St and enter the site from this street. Also, you can access Deagon Wetlands from Bracken Ridge Rd and leave the car there. The track from Deagon Wetland crosses Bracken Ridge Rd and leads to a bird hide by the lagoon. The bird hide is easiest to locate when walking on that track.

      Over 130 bird species have been recorded in the reserve. Key species are Magpie Goose, Glossy Ibis, Australasian Shoveler, Comb-crested Jacana and Pacific Baza. Other birds of interest include Forest Kingfisher, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Tawny Grassbird, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, Buff-banded Rail, White-throated Needletail and Swamp Harrier. Among the rarities are Freckled Duck, Hoary-headed Grebe, Latham’s Snipe, Little Wattlebird, Restless Flycatcher and Square-tailed Kite.

      Check the reed beds and surrounding grassland for the presence