Large-tailed Nightjar & White-throated Nightjar at Yandina Creek Wetland

Large-tailed Nightjar

Large-tailed Nightjar and White-throated Nightjar occur together in the same habitat at the Sunshine Coast's Yandina Creek Wetland. I found a pair of each species in the same spot at the wetland last night. Note there is no public access to this site yet; access is possible to the periphery of the wetland only with the permission of neighbouring property owners.

I first found Large-tailed Nightjar at the wetland in November 2014. At the time, this sighting and another record from the nearby Maroochy Wetland Sanctuary constituted a southern extension of range for this species, which had previously been noted no further south than the Rainbow Beach area. This latest sighting suggests the species is resident on the Sunshine Coast as the behaviour of the pair of nightjars strongly suggested an established territory.

White-throated Nightjar

The birds were roosting alongside a tidal canal where they began calling at sunset before flying over adjacent grassland to feed. The grassland was inundated by tidal water flows when the wetland was full before it was drained in 2015. The area will again be under water when plans to restore the wetland are implemented.

An hour after encountering the Large-tailed Nightjars, I heard two White-throated Nightjars calling at the same spot. I managed to eventually see the pair well if somewhat distantly as they called from small trees by the canal. The image in this post is the best I could manage. I did not see the Large-tailed Nightjars perch and failed to photograph them; the image in this post is of a bird taken this time last year at Rainbow Beach.

Eastern Brown Snake

A large Eastern Brown Snake was seen earlier in the afternoon alongside the canal.

Black Kite

A few Black Kites and a Brown Falcon were about. I heard a Noisy Pitta, the first record for the site.

Brown Falcon 

As were a few sprightly Rufous Fantails.

Rufous Fantail

Sunset at Yandina Creek Wetland