Sunshine Coast Birds

Birding and other wildlife experiences from the Sunshine Coast and elsewhere in Australia - and from overseas - with scribblings about travel, environmental issues, kayaking, hiking and camping.

Sunday 15 December 2013

Birding Bli Bli: Baillon's Crake, Spotless Crake Close Up

Spotless Crake
Today I visited the new artificial wetland at the Parklakes real estate development near Bli Bli. The birding was very good, with excellent, close views of Baillon's Crake and Spotless Crake, among other things. Most of us are concerned about urban sprawl but if it's going to happen, this is the way to go. Congratulations on the developers for creating a first-rate wetlands here.

Spotless Crake
I found the first Spotless Crake within minutes of arriving and saw a total of four, with others heard. The wetlands are a series of connected large ponds with just the right mixture of open water and vegetation such as lilies, sedges and rushes. Hundreds of flowering native shrubs and trees have been planted around the pond edges. All up, an impressive effort.

Baillon's Crake
 It wasn't long before I saw a Baillon's Crake, also close up.  I saw a second Baillon's a short while later.

Baillon's Crake

Parklakes Wetlands
The wetlands have lots of potential

Wandering Whistling-Duck
Other nice birds here included  Wandering Whistling-Duck, Latham's Snipe, Little Grassbird and Buff-banded Rail.
White-breasted Woodswallow

This woodswallow was nearby in the Maroochy River canefields.

Grey Shrike-Thrush
 In the garden at Ninderry, the hot weather is attracting plenty of interest in the bird bath.
Eastern Yellow Robin

Brush Cuckoo
A Brush Cuckoo shows nicely.
Peaceful Dove
 Peaceful Dove is a scarce visitor in the garden.

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
 A Dusky Honeyeater is presently visiting flowering shrubs.

Dusky Honeyeater
Eastern Grey Kangaroo
Plenty of Eastern Grey Kangaroos were in evidence during a visit to Toorbul, with quite a few seemingly at home on the tidal flats.

2 comments:

  1. so many lovely photos Greg and definitely a winner in my eyes to have a housing development include a wetlands like this. Great waders, and I loved seeing the E.Y.R. at a birdbath; that seems very unique for these birds

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's great to hear a really positive comment about a development, and some good brids and photos too.

    ReplyDelete