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.

Wednesday 14 August 2013

Ground Parrot, Grass Owl, Lewin's Rail: Coast and Hinterland

Ground Parrot - Picture by Graeme Chapman

I've been endeavouring to survey Ground Parrot numbers in the remnant Sunshine Coast population of this rare species. I was delighted a few nights ago to hear 3 birds calling at dusk in wallum heath near Castaways Beach. Two birds were calling together, indicating a possible pair. At another site 1km north of here, I recently heard no parrots calling (see here).

Eastern Grass Owl - Picture by Jim Sneddon
As occurred recently, while playing a Ground Parrot call, an Eastern Grass Owl appeared from nowhere and was clearly interested in the sound. The owls appear to be resident in wallum heath in this area. Calling in an area of creekside marshland at the same site were two Lewin's Rails but they failed to show.

Yellow-billed Spoonbill

Swamp Harrier
Elsewhere about the coast, a Yellow-billed Spoonbill and several Swamp Harriers were seen on River Road, Yandina Waters.

Freckled Duck with Great Cormorant, Australasian Darter, Hardhead
The Freckled Duck is still hanging about the Noosa Botanic Gardens on Lake Macdonald, sitting on the same pipe over the water.

Emerald Dove
In the home garden, an Emerald Dove has appeared at the seed feeder for the first time. A Pale-vented Bush-hen is still vocalising noisily at the bottom of the garden.

Southern Logrunner
During a run out to Charlie Moreland Park yesterday, I managed a half-decent shot of a logrunner but the little buggers are not easy to get a grip on. The weather is warming up quickly and there was evidence of breeding underway with Logrunner and Noisy Pitta in particular being very vocal.

Crested Shrike-tit
Crested Shrike-tit is always nice to see in south-Queensland and a pair showed yesterday.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
A large group of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos was feeding roadside on the way to Charlie Moreland.

Carpet Python
A nice 2m Carpet Python is a sign of summer coming.

3 comments:

  1. Great to hear that there are still some Ground Parrots surviving on the Sunshine Coast.

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  2. Not sure if you noticed but there's a Bar-shouldered Dove playing peek-a-boo behind the Spoonbill. I'm always amazed at what I notice in my photos that I didn't spot on the day! Great post as always!

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  3. Thanks Christian I had noticed, but not until I looked at the picture

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