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| Lewin's Rail |
Following an enjoyable
and productive
visit to Bellthorpe Stays in the Sunshine Coast hinterland last
April, we opted for a week-long late-Spring visit (October 29 to
November 5). Again the local wildlife did not disappoint, with a fine
line-up of birds including Lewin's Rail, Marbled
Frogmouth, Square-tailed Kite and White-eared Monarch. Topknot
Pigeon, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Regent Bowerbird and other frugivores were
in good numbers. Sunset brought a cacophony of calls from 11 species
of frog.
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| View from Whipbird Cabin |
As I
reported following the April visit, Dave and Wendy Clark acquired
this former dairy property in 2002 and have turned it into a
first-class ecotourism destination. The 200-hectare property abuts
Bellthorpe National Park and embraces a mosaic of rainforest, wet
sclerophyll forest and lush green pastures intersected by permanent
streams, dams and ridge-lines. All images in this post are from this week's visit.
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| Farm dam |
Many
kilometres of walking track provide access to all corners of
Bellthorpe Stays. Located at the southern end of the Conondale Range
near its convergence with the Blackall Range, the farmstay is
accessed by good bitumen roads from the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.
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| Cascades |
Last time
we stayed in Bowerbird Cabin. This time it was Whipbird Cabin, a
short way up the drive. From here can be enjoyed stunning views of
forests and valleys in three directions. The cabin is back-ended by a
wall of rainforest including a huge Moreton Bay Fig that can be
watched from the verandah along with a constant stream of birds
coming to feed on ripening figs.
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| Piccabeen palm forest |
They
included Satin Bowerbirds. The species is one of several in
south-east Queensland that has declined markedly in population in
lowland areas in recent decades, presumably as a
consequence of climate change. Happily the bird remains common at
higher altitudes – Bellthorpe Stays is 570 metres asl. Birds
attended a newly built bower at the entrance to Whipbird Cabin.
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| Satin Bowerbird bower |
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| Satin Bowerbird female |
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| Satin Bowerbird male |
Satin
Bowerbird and the glorious Regent Bowerbird were in much higher numbers than in
April due to the plethora of figs and quandongs on offer.
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| Regent Bowerbird |
Green
Catbird was encountered frequently.
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| Green Catbird |
As were
pigeons. Topknot Pigeon was one of the commonest birds, with flocks
frequently passing overhead; individuals feeding allowed unusually
close approach.
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| Topknot Pigeon |
The forests resounded with the booming of the always impressive Wompoo Fruit-Dove.
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| Wompoo Fruit-Dove |
Brown Cuckoo-Dove and White-headed
Pigeon were in the mix.
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| White-headed Pigeon |
A pair of
Marbled Frogmouths were tracked down in a grove of piccabeen palms
not far from the cabins.
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| Marbled Frogmouth |
Along the
stream below the cabins, two pairs of Lewin's Rail were located,
with birds eventually showing well at both sites. The creekside
vegetation includes extensive areas of densely vegetated marsh.
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| Lewin's Rail |
Paradise
Riflebird was quite common, with males and females showing well
around the cabin.
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| Paradise Riflebird |
White-eared
Monarch generally prefers the lowlands but the behaviour of a pair
near the fig tree suggested nesting activity. Black-faced Monarch and
Spectacled Monarch were about in numbers.
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| White-eared Monarch |
New
Holland Honeyeater was a pleasant surprise and Eastern Spinebill
showed nicely several times.
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| Eastern Spinebill |
Striated
Thornbills foraged in eucalypts along the entrance road. Rufous
Fantail was plentiful. Other birds included Australian Logrunner and
Russet-tailed Thrush.
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| Striated Thornbill |
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| Rufous Fantail |
A
Yellow-throated Scrubwren was located by my thermal imager at night.
Large-billed Scrubwren and White-browed Scrubwren were common.
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| Yellow-throated Scrubwren |
Crimson
Rosella was often about the cabin while Pale-headed Rosella was in
smaller numbers.
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| Crimson Rosella |
The feeders on the verandah were attended by a procession of King Parrots (below), Rainbow Lorikeets and Sulphur-crested Cockatoos.
A pair of
Wedge-tailed Eagles soared overhead.
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| Wedge-tailed Eagle |
Cicadabird
and Sacred Kingfisher were among the summer migrants that had
returned for the season.
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| Sacred Kingfisher |
Mammals
included small numbers of Red-necked Pademelons and a likely
Red-legged Pademelon seen briefly.
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| Red-necked Pademelon |
Attending
the fruiting trees were good numbers of flying-fox. All bats I
located were Grey-headed Flying-Fox. This species was once abundant
in south-east Queensland but is now quite uncommon. By contrast, the
tropical Black Flying-Fox was once scarce in the region and is now
the commonest flying-fox species. Again, climate change is likely in
play here.
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| Grey-headed Flying-Fox |
A
Short-eared Brushtail Possum (Boebuck) was located in the
above-mentioned Moreton Bay Fig.
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| Short-eared Brushtail |
The
evocative call of the Great Barred River Frog (Mixophyes fasciolatus)
resounded around the valley after sunset. Many were spotted along the
road after an evening thunderstorm shower. Dave and other guests
found a couple of Giant Barred River Frog (Mixophys iteratus) one
evening. Dave conducts wildlife tours for guests by arrangement.
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| Great Barred River Frog |
The most
common of 11 frog species recorded was Brown-striped Marsh Frog
(Limnodynastes pearsonii). Probably the next commonest was Tusked
Frog (Adelotus brevis), which has staged a remarkable comeback since
being decimated by the chytrid fungus outbreak in the late-1970s. The
outbreak caused the extinction of the Southern Day Frog (Taudactylus
diurnis) and the remarkable Platypus Frog (Rheobatrachus silus),
which were once numerous in the Conondale and Blackall ranges.
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| Brown-striped Marsh Frog |
Also
calling from creekside vegetation was Scarlet-sided Pobblebok
(Limnodynastes terraereginae). Around the pasture edges were small
numbers of Dusky Toadlet (Uperoleia fusca). In the Old Dairy Shed
were small numbers of a rainforest specialty – Orange-eyed
Tree-Frog (Litoria chloris).
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| Orange-eyed Tree-Frog |
The
endearing Cascade Tree-Frog (Litoria pearsoniana) was common along
rainforest streams. Other amphibians recorded were Graceful Tree-Frog
(Litoria gracilenta), Broad-palmed Rocket-Frog (Litoria latopalmata),
Dwarf Tree-Frog (Litoria fallax) and Common Froglet (Crinia
signifera). The names of some frog genera have been altered recently
by taxonomic revisions; some Litoria species are now in the genus
Drymomantis.
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| Whipbird Cabin from the creekline below |
Critters
and wonderful scenery aside, this farmstay is seriously restful. Dave
and Wendy have gone the extra mile to make it so. I've long regarded
a comfortable bed as the essential hallmark of decent accommodation:
a bed that's a joy to lie in signals a thumbs-up all round. So it is
with Bellview Stays.
Ebird
list at this link.
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| Whipbird Cabin interior |
