Western Queensland Winter 2023 Part 2 -Boulia to Cuttaburra Crossing

 

Letter-winged Kite

Following our travels through Longreach, Winton and Mt Isa (following post) we headed south from Mt Isa to Boulia, with rain dashing hopes for further stops for Kalkadoon Grasswren. It had eased by the time we got to Boulia. Continuing south to Bedourie, the Mitchell grass and gibber plains were a sight to behold: a glorious mosaic of wildflowers, vivid greenery, extensive pools of water and lush vegetation in every direction. The bothersome rains that were reshaping our travel plans had a silver lining.

Not far south of Boulia we located a Letter-winged Kite colony that had been reported earlier. These rare birds, under threat from feral cats, are pure pleasure. We had about 12 adults and immatures soaring high and sometimes low above us, mixing with Black Kites and other raptors. In a line of trees along a small watercourse, a pair of Letter-winged Kites held vigil over a nest containing two well-fledged youngsters. Several nests were present in other trees.

A little further south we had a good-sized grouping of Flock Bronzewings (below) feeding by the roadside. We had encountered this species in singles, pairs and smaller flocks on several occasions earlier - a much higher score rate than is usual in these parts. We were to see quite a few more further south and on our return home.

As we drove south, Australian Pratincoles were everywhere, often sitting on the road. Again, we had seen fair numbers earlier and sightings overall were well above the norm for this species. A few Banded Lapwings were about.

Banded Lapwing

Australian Pratincole

Australian Pratincole

Brolga and Australian Bustard were also in good numbers.

We headed south from Bedourie after an overnight stay to Cuttaburra Crossing. We searched the extensive areas of lignum here for Grey Grasswren, locating at least 6 birds. Although everyone managed a glimpse, no images were captured. The going was tough, with water and mud in abundance through the lignum.

Australian Spotted Crake and Black-tailed Native-hen were common in the lignum, and several Long-haired Rats were scurrying about in broad daylight.

Black-tailed Native-hen

Australian Spotted Crake

The number of waterbirds overall was staggering. At a river crossing not far south of Bedourie, about 300 Nankeen Night-Herons (below) were feeding and roosting. An estimated 90 per cent were immatures. None of us had seen the species in anywhere near those numbers previously.

At Cuttaburra Crossing, waterbirds were in large numbers all over the place. A very rough estimate of 2500 Whiskered Terns in various plumage stages was a sight to behold. 

Whiskered Tern

Australian (Gull-billed) Terns, Glossy Ibis and Grey Teal were among the species that were present in their hundreds or thousands. Strangely absent were Pink-eared and Freckled Ducks.

Glossy Ibis

Yellow-billed Spoonbill

One odd-looking bird had us wondering if we were watching a White-faced Heron-Little Egret hybrid (bird on the right below) but most likely it was a leucistic juvenile White-faced Heron.

Western Queensland - Winter 2023 Part 1: Longreach to Mt Isa

Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush

We set out with much anticipation for a string of bird, mammal and other wildlife targets in far western Queensland. Unseasonal rain prevented access to some planned sites and restricted time at others. Still, it was a productive trip. We opted to travel via Mitchell and Longreach, then south-west to the Winton-Jundah Road before proceeding north. We had planned to head from there to Diamantina National Park and the Coorabulka area but rain put paid to that, so instead it was north to Cloncurry and then Mt Isa in search of grasswrens and other goodies. From there it was south to Boulia and beyond (second post to follow for the final leg). 

Black-breasted Buzzard

Red-browed Pardalote

The Winton-Jundah road and the road connecting it to Longreach were as productive as always. Black-breasted Buzzard and Red-browed Pardalote were scored in Lochern National Park. 

Black Falcon showed nicely at it flew overhead. Camp at a waterhole near the road turned up several Mud Adder snakes. A Curl Snake was found during another stop. 

Black Falcon

Curl Snake

Mud Adder

Sunset on the Jundah-Winton Road

Three Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush were seen in broken limestone ridge country, as were plenty of Grey-headed Honeyeaters. 

Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush

Grey-headed Honeyeater

Parrots in good numbers following three successive La Nina wet years included Budgerigar and Cockatiel. 

Budgerigar

Cockatiel

Crimson Chats were common. Hooded Robin pairs were spotted in several places. 

Crimson Chat

Hooded Robin

A nocturnal foray turned up a much-wanted Stripe-faced Dunnart. Long-haired Rat was encountered frequently at various sites, including during the day towards the end of the trip.

Long-haired Rat

Stripe-faced Dunnart

 A stop at Lark Quarry was brief due to looming rain but Rufous-crowned Emu-wren obliged (though not offering a clear image) along with Purple-backed Fairy-wren. 

Purple-backed Fairywren

Rufous-crowned Emu-wren

Spinifex Pigeon was quite common along the road. We negotiated plenty of Red Kangaroos as we continued on to Winton. 

Red Kangaroo

Spinifex Pigeon

Moving further north we stopped at Chinaman Creek Dam outside Cloncurry, where Paperbark Flycatcher showed well. 

Paperbark Flycatcher

 We had a late afternoon stop for Kalkadoon Grasswren outside Mt Isa at Telstra Hill, where most of us had brief views. The next day we headed north to search various sites for Carpentarian Grasswren; some of the group scored decent views, but sadly no photographs. Grey-fronted Honeyeater and Red-backed Kingfisher were among the birds present. 

Grey-fronted Honeyeater

Red-backed Kingfisher

 Three species of woodswallow – Black-faced, Masked and White-browed – were in good numbers and a Pied Honeyeater was spotted perched among them. Black-tailed Treecreeper was common. 

Black-tailed Treecreeper

White-browed Woodswallow

 Another late afternoon stop had us again looking for Kalkadoon Grasswren, this time at the Pamela Street tanks in Mt Isa, with better views but no photograph for me. A distant Purple-necked Rock-Wallaby was present along with some smart Varied Lorikeets. Plans for another look the next morning were aborted by the heaviest July rainfall for Mt Isa on record.

Purple-necked Rock-Wallaby

Varied Lorikeet

Platypus are flourishing around the Sunshine Coast, but for how long?

Platypus in Petrie Creek

The Platypus is enjoying something of a population boom around Queensland’s Sunshine Coast following three years of above-average rainfall. However, the Queensland Government is under pressure to follow the rest of the country by banning a type of yabby trap that is needlessly slaughtering Platypus and other aquatic wildlife, posing a local extinction threat in times ahead.

Patypus in Petrie Creek

During drought conditions the monotreme population drops sharply, with survivors sometimes being confined to isolated pools – for instance in Booloumba and Little Yabba creeks - or making hazardous journeys overland in search of better habitat. Right now, however, the animals are being seen locally in watercourses where they’ve long been infrequent or absent;

Rakali (Water Rat)

This is likely to be the case elsewhere within the east Australian range of the species. Those Sunshine Coast sites include Petrie Creek in Nambour, a short way down the road from my home, where upwards of eight Platypus have been recorded over a couple of kilometres close to the bustling Central Business District. The animal photographed here is frequently seen right next to a bridge over busy Arundell Avenue. The species has long been known to frequent Petrie Creek but the current frequency of sightings is pretty much unprecedented.

Petrie Creek

A Facebook page, Platypus and Echidna Watch Friends Sunshine Coast, is showcasing almost daily photographs and videos of Platypus from Petrie Creek and across many sites on the coast and in the hinterland. The species was found for the first time recently in the South Maroochy River. Also doing well are other aquatic animals including the Water Dragon, various turtles, and the Rakali (Water Rat). The regional Platypus population has stared down threats to its survival in the past. I recall that as a journalist in 2005, I covered protests against plans to construct a Woolworths supermarket adjacent to Platypus habitat in Obi Obi Creek in Maleny. Protesters sobbed and declared that all the Platypus were doomed. Luckily they weren’t. They are often seen in the creek below the supermarket these days and Maleny is one of the region’s top Platypus-watching hotspots.

Yabby Opera House Trap advertised online

Nonetheless, Platypus and other aquatic wildlife face a grave threat in the form of the so-called Yabby Opera House Trap, which traps and kills the animals. Enticed by captured yabbies, a favoured food item, they enter the trap and cannot escape, drowning in a few minutes. More environmentally friendly alternative traps are available.

Seven platypus found dead in yabby trap in Victoria's Werribee River 

Maleny wildlife enthusiast Neil Andison recently wrote to the Queensland Premier and government MPs, pointing out that the traps have been banned in other states and the ACT. However, they remain easily accessible online, where no warnings are displayed about their impact or the ban in most states. A single trap has been known to kill as many as eight Platypus.

One of five platypus drowned in a yabby trap

When dry conditions inevitably return, and Platypus numbers again plummet, the traps will pose a threat to the survival of regional populations.

A pair of platypus drowned in the Gold Coast hinterland.

In his letter, Neil refers to Queensland’s “disgraceful” refusal to ban the traps, which are responsible for the “needless death of all manner of air-breathing creatures that call our creeks and rivers home”. 

Two rikalis (water rats) drowned in a Queensland trap

The Platypus is regarded as one of the most remarkable mammals in the world. We can do better.

Platypus at Amamoor, Sunshine Coast hinterland