Sunshine Coast February Birding Bits

Baillon's Crake

A couple of days birding around the Sunshine Coast. At the Cooroy sewege treatment works, three Baillon's Crakes were showing well, foraging in the open. A single Pale-vented Bush-hen was flushed from dense growth on the forest edge adjacent to the ponds, where two other bush-hens were heard. Little Grassbird was seen and heard.

Little Grassbird

At the Noosa Botanic Gardens, the Freckled Ducks that had been around for 18 months or so appear to have absconded. In long grass nearby along Hay Road, a party of Brown Quail strutted about in full view, with the differences between the sexes easy to discern.

Brown Quail

Brown Quail (male left, female right)

Fairy Gerygone

In an area of thickets along the Cooroy-Tewantin road, Fairy Gerygone showed nicely, as did Dusky Honeyeater.

Lake Macdonald

Lake Macdonald was at the lowest level I have seen it. Although there were extensive areas of exposed mud, the only waders present were a few Red-kneed Dotterel and Latham's Snipe, though other waterbirds were easier to approach. They included 3 Yellow-billed Spoonbills and a few Glossy Ibis.

Australian White Ibis, Royal Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Spoonbill

Latham's Snipe

I visited the Parklakes wetlands, where 5 Baillon's Creeks were seen on the lilies but there was no sign of the Australian Little Bitterns that have been about. Large numbers of White-throated Needletails (150+) were feeding above the oval at the wetlands.

On another wetland near Bil Bli, on Lefoes Road, Latham's Snipe and Glossy Ibis were co-operative. In mangroves along the Maroochy River, a male Shining Flycatcher was seen. In a flooded area of cut cane land near Bli Bli, 50 Sharp-tailed Sandpipers foraged in the stubble.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

Glossy Ibis

White-throated Needletail

Shining Flycatcher

Pacific Golden Plover

 A flock of 50 Pacific Golden Plovers has been hanging around the Coolum industrial estate.

Southern Boobook

A Southern Boobook is in residence in the garden of friends Gerry & Lucy Richards.

Southern Boobook

Verreaux's Skin

On the home front, Verreaux's Skins was an addition to the garden reptile list.