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

Owlet-nightjar.

      The list of raptors recorded at Shelley Road Park has twenty species. Square-tailed Kites are found regularly at this site. Occasionally, you may see Swamp Harrier, Spotted Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Wedge-tailed Eagle and more.

Pooh Corner Bushland Reserve

      This 138ha reserve is located 17km southwest of Brisbane CBD in the suburb of Wacol. The reserve is sandwiched between the Ipswich railway and Wacol Station Rd. There are plenty of derelict structures here from the bygone era when this site was used as a military camp. Everywhere around the native bushland was destroyed, but thanks to the Army this patch was protected as a military restricted area. Then in 2005, the public campaign saved the site when the Defence land was put up for sale.

      Habitat here is mostly eucalypt open woodland with good areas of endangered gum-topped box and grassland. There are also patches of dense casuarina thicket. Sandy Creek flows through the reserve.

      To get there, from Centenary Hwy M5 take the turnoff west onto Sumners Rd and shortly after turn left into Spine St. At the T-junction, turn right into Wolston Rd. Access to the site is from Wolston Rd, the gate is located opposite 99 Wolston Rd and close to the Star Steel Processing.

      The circular 5km walk runs from the gate along the creek and railway. Site facilities include Environmental Centre, carpark, barbecues, picnic tables, shelters and toilets.

      Over 140 species are on the reserve’s birdlist. Key species are Black-chinned Honeyeater, Azure Kingfisher, Forest Kingfisher, Little Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo and Pacific Baza. Other birds of interest include Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Striped Honeyeater, Black-faced Monarch, Sacred Kingfisher, Varied Sittella, Leaden Flycatcher, Brown Quail, Pheasant Coucal, Southern Boobook and Brown Goshawk. Among the rarities are Painted Button-quail, White-browed Woodswallow, Barn Owl, Powerful Owl and Square-tailed Kite.

      Lorikeets are the main feature of this reserve. All four species occur here in huge numbers, particularly in autumn and winter when the ironbarks and gum-topped boxes are flowering. Little Lorikeets and Scaly-breasted Lorikeets are most common. Musk Lorikeets are often observed feeding near the Environmental Centre.

      Thirteen honeyeater species have been recorded. The uncommon Black-chinned Honeyeater breeds here in small numbers. You may also get Fuscous Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Lewin’s Honeyeater and Little Friarbird.

      Azure Kingfishers are present along Sandy Creek. The reserve attracts many summer-breeding migrants such as Sacred Kingfisher, Forest Kingfisher, Dollarbird, Leaden Flycatcher, White-winged Triller, Rainbow Bee-eater, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Spangled Drongo and Channel-billed Cuckoo. In the swampy area near the creek, Latham’s Snipes were recorded several times.

      Grassland species found here include Brown Quail, Tawny Grassbird, Golden-headed Cisticola, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Variegated Fairy-wren, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin and Red-browed Finch.

      Nocturnal birds at this site include Australian Owlet-nightjar and Tawny Frogmouth. Barn Owl and Powerful Owl were occasionally reported.

      Twelve raptors species have been recorded in the area including Pacific Baza, Brown Goshawk, Brown Falcon and Square-tailed Kite. A Grey Goshawk’s nest is located in the vicinity of Environmental Centre.

      Pacific Baza

White Rock Conservation Area

      The pale-coloured rock face of the White Rock is the major feature of this park. The site is located 30km southwest of Brisbane and 20km east of Ipswich. This site was used as a military training base which saved the 2,500ha of forest from logging. The park also features forested ridges, escarpment and valley. This is a good place to find Speckled Warbler.

      To get there, from Centenary Hwy (M5) take Exit 33 in Springfield and travel on Augusta Pkwy until it joins Redbank Plain Rd (61). Next turn left into School Rd. The entry to the Park is the Paperbark Flats Picnic Area at the end of School Rd in the suburb of Redbank Plains. Site facilities include picnic tables, shelters, toilets and a network of walking tracks, from 200m to 19km-long. A 600m boardwalk is provided off White Rock Tk near the picnic area. A map of the Paperbark Flat area can be downloaded from here: http://www.vk4yeh.com/birding%20downloads/paperbark_flats.pdf.

      Over 140 bird species have been recorded at White Rock. Key species are Speckled Warbler, Little Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Striped Honeyeater, Common Cicadabird, Black-faced Monarch and Peregrine Falcon. Other birds of interest include Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Spectacled Monarch, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Olive-backed Oriole, Rose Robin, Eastern Spinebill and Scarlet Honeyeater. Rarities include Painted Button-quail, Spotted Quail-thrush, Scarlet Robin and Pallid Cuckoo.

      Peregrine Falcons make regular appearance around the White Rock. In summer, the call of Olive-backed Orioles mixed with the calls of Shining Bronze-cuckoos and Fan-tailed Cuckoos is the main sound at the Paperbark Flats picnic area.

      Common bush birds here include Spangled Drongo, Striped Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Common Cicadabird, Rufous Whistler, White-throated Honeyeater, Black-faced Monarch and Spectacled Monarch.

      In the waterhole, look for White-necked Heron, Australasian Grebe, Great Egret and other common waterbirds.

      Other bird species recorded in the area include Brush Cuckoo, Common Bronzewing, Varied Sittella, Golden Whistler, Fuscous Honeyeater, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Dusky Woodswallow, Buff-rumped Thornbill and White-browed Scrubwren.

Hardings Paddock

      Hardings Paddock is a scenic, tranquil picnic and camping area that is surrounded by 2,200ha of Flinders-Goolman Conservation Estate. The site is located at Purga, 20min south of Ipswich CBD. Hardings Paddock is a large, grassy area with several small dams. A 3km Gamlen Circuit runs from the campsite through the Estate, leading through open grassy woodland, largely wattle regrowth, and through a forested ridge with spotted gums and ironbarks. The walk is very productive, particularly in autumn and winter when the ironbarks are in bloom.

      To get there, from Cunningham Hwy (15) turn south into Ipswich-Boonah Rd (93). Next turn left into Carmichaels Rd. The entrance gate is at the end of this road. GPS coordinates are 27^o44’07’’S and 152^o46’01’’E. Site facilities include picnic tables, barbecues, camp kitchen and a shower block.

      Over 150 species are on the site’s birdlist. Key species are Speckled Warbler, Spotted Quail-thrush, Painted Button-quail, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Little Lorikeet and Rose Robin. Other birds of interest include Jacky Winter, Fuscous Honeyeater, Dusky Woodswallow, White-winged Triller, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Rufous Fantail and Australian King-Parrot. Among the rarities are Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, Red-capped Robin, Azure Kingfisher and Black Falcon.

      In the camp area dams, you may encounter White-necked Heron, Great Egret, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Hardhead, Plumed Whistling-Duck, Pied Stilt and Buff-banded Rail. Australasian Grebes regularly breed on the dams.

      On the paddocks in front of the camping area, look for Brown Quail, Golden-headed Cisticola, Australasian Pipit and Double-barred Finch. Pheasant Coucals are usually found on Carmichaels Rd near the Aboriginal Cemetery.

      From the camp, you can hear haunting calls of Indian Peacocks; a feral population lives in the hills.

      The site is a good spot for Painted Button-quails – look for them about 200m from the start of Gamlen Circuit when walking anti-clockwise. For Speckled Warblers and other small birds such as Yellow Thornbill, Weebill, Silvereye and White-throated Gerygone, go into the wallum regrowth along the Gamlen Circuit. A good place for Spotted