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| Superb Blue Wren in full song |
Brisbane Birding Breaks are planned as short 5 or 6 day tours that start and finish in Brisbane.
One of the tours planned is a short tour through the Sunshine Coast and Hinterland .
With that in mind we have been researching our itineraries and obviously spending some birding times in and around some of the expected birding sites that we would love to take some folks.
The itinerary takes us as far west as the South Burnett town of Murgon. Murgon is a polite little town of some 2500 people located in the South Burnett region in Wakka Wakka [the local Aboriginal tribe] territory.
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| female Red tailed Black Cockatoo |
The last time I visited I got stunning views of the always stunning Red tailed Black Cockatoos. This species is basically unknown in the Brisbane - Sunshine Coast area so therefore wonderful to see.
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| Grey crowned Babbler |
On this latest trip my wife and I went for a little drive and got some great views of typical grassland species on a ridge facing west. At this spot, while we enjoyed the view, heaps of pipits, Tawny Grassbirds, Cisticolas, Willy Wagtails plus Double barred Finches.
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| surely one of Australia's most beautiful birds - Superb Blue Wren |
Superb Blue Wrens were agreeably common in this area. Again a species impossible to see in the Sunshine Coast area. As usual they were a delight to see.
A little further east other Avian treats showed. Most special for me were a group of four Ground Cuckoo Shrike! While watching these beauties I had two pair of Red winged Parrots fly by! Australian Kestrels were also resident.
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| Ground Cuckoo shrike |
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| four of these wonderful birds were seen! |
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| White winged Chough |
Soon after, in some lightly timbered country, we stopped for a couple of groups of White winged Choughs. These birds are fascinating. Sometimes they are overlooked because at first glance they can be misidentified as Torresian Crows, however, once they fly, revealing large white wing patches, they are unmistakable. One of Australia's only three mud nest builders [the other two - Magpie Lark and Apostlebird] they have the curious habit of slavers. Apparently they can kidnap the young birds from nearby clans and press them into service to aid the feeding of their actual offspring!
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| White winged Chough - one of a group of about 20 individuals |
AUSTRALIAN BIRDING SAFARIS
Hi Ken
ReplyDeleteHeaded up the Brisbane Valley from Moore almost to Elgin Vale. Lots of bird life: many finches; lots of pale headed rosellas; and a pair of wedgetails. Lovely drive.