Glossy, Red-tailed and Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos together at Amamoor

Glossy Black Cockatoo

I've not managed previously to see all species of eastern Australia's black cockatoos in one outing, so was chuffed to finally manage to do so during a 3-day campout with Glenn at Cedar Grove in Amamoor State Forest, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo

Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos were common about the camping area and in the nearby Pinus and Araucaria plantations; nothing unusual about that.

Glossy Black Cockatoo

Then I found a single male Glossy Black Cockatoo feeding in an Allocasuarina on a ridge about 1km from camp, along the (somewhat challenging and steep) 5km walking circuit. I watched it for some time, grabbing one ork after another, always using the left leg for plucking and feeding. Some orks were devoured with relish; others were discarded after a quick taste.

Red-tailed Black Cockatoo

I didn't expect the trifecta but we stumbled upon a nice flock of Red-tailed Black Cockatoos a short way up the road past the Gympie Muster camping area. They were presumably feeding on the numerous white cedars in the Amamoor Creek valley which were seeding at the time.

Azure Kingfisher

Fairy Gerygone

White-eared Monarch

Other nice birds included White-eared Monarch, Dusky Honeyeater, Azure Kingfisher and Fairy Gerygone (another genus trifecta here, with White-throated and Brown). Ebird checklist is here.

This was the first time out with our latest caravan acquisition and the new Isuzi vehicle to tow it. We had a harrowing time getting the van in and out of the big Triton shed but hopefully that can only get easier. Certainly the van was much easier to set up, roomier and more comfortable than the old camper trailer.

Amamoor - Cedar Grove

Amamoor was looking good after the decent rains of recent times.

Australian Hobby

Australian Reed-Warbler

A few other bits and pieces from about the Sunshine Coast. This hobby and reed-warbler were in the Yandina Creek Wetlands.

Little Grassbird

I went kayaking around Ewen Maddock Dam, where a few Little Grassbirds were present (ebird list).

Tawny Frogmouth

A frogmouth was out in the open up on Mt Ninderry.

Fantailed Cuckoo

Large-billed Scrubwren

A Large-billed Scrub-wren and an immature Fantailed Cuckoo, also on Mt Ninderry, while the finch was nearby at Yandina Creek.

Double-barred Finch