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

and Noisy Friarbird. Occasionally, Black-chinned Honeyeater and Striped Honeyeater can be found.

      In the campground, you may find Jacky Winter, Eastern Yellow Robin, Rufous Whistler, Pale-headed Rosella, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, White-breasted Woodswallow, Brush Cuckoo and Grey-crowned Babbler (nests are behinds the toilet block). In summer, Spangled Drongo is the most visible and audible bird.

      During the night, listen to the calls of White-throated Nightjar, Southern Boobook, Tawny Frogmouth and Australian Owlet-nightjar.

Purga Nature Reserve

      This small reserve is located along Middle Rd in Purga, 15km south of Ipswich CBD. It protects the largest remnant of swamp tea-tree in Australia. You’ll find here two short, spectacular walks (Tea Tree Boardwalk and Melaleuca Circuit) where you can walk among the ghostly-looking trees. A large waterhole is located near the picnic area, usually dry in the summertime. The reserve is worth checking out when visiting Hardings Paddock nearby (see above).

      To get there, from Cunningham Hwy (15) turn south into Ipswich-Boonah Rd (93). Next turn, right into Purga School Rd and on the T-junction take left into Middle Rd. The reserve is just few hundred metres south of the turnoff. GPS coordinates are 27^o44’05’’S and 152^o42’23’’E. Site facilities include carpark, picnic tables and toilets.

      Further details can be found on the map in the reserve’s brochure, downloadable here: https://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/26430/Purga-Nature-Reserve-Guide.pdf.

      Over 110 bird species have been recorded in Purga Nature Reserve. Key species are Speckled Warbler, Little Lorikeet, Rose Robin, Shining Bronze-cuckoo, White-winged Triller and Brown Goshawk. Other birds of interest include Scarlet Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Grey-crowned Babbler, Dollarbird, Sacred Kingfisher, Weebill, White-throated Gerygone and Southern Boobook. Rarities at this site include Little Eagle, Cockatiel, Pallid Cuckoo and Fuscous Honeyeater.

      Speckled Warblers and Grey-crowned Babblers are easy to find here, the latter are nesting around the waterhole area.

      Parrots are the dominant bird group in the reserve. Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet and Little Corella are the most abundant. You may also encounter Pale-headed Rosella, Australian King-Parrot, Long-billed Corella (a pair is breeding in the reserve) and occasionally Cockatiel.

      In autumn, this is a good spot for Rose Robin. Other birds in the reserve include Pheasant Coucal, Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo, Restless Flycatcher, Brown Quail, Golden Whistler, Tawny Grassbird, Common Bronzewing, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike, Swamp Harrier, Black-shouldered Kite and Wedge-tailed Eagle.

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      Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo

      When the waterhole has water, look for White-necked Heron, Plumed Whistling-Duck, Australian Reed-Warbler and common waterbirds.