Local Creek - Mount Coot-Tha and Botanic Gardens
I was up bright and early and I took a walk from our new home in Manly, Brisbane. A small reed fringed creek lay just 50 meters from us so I went there for an hour or so. Despite not seeing any new species I enjoyed a lovely time in bright sunshine and a very warm temperature and listed about 20 species.
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| Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike |
At one point I thought I had found a new bird for my list when an odd looking Pardalote appeared, it had a black cap instead of striations or spots, however when I got back home I checked my booked and realised I had seen a 'race' of Striated Pardalote, sometimes called 'Black-headed' Pardalote.
Other species listed include, Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike, Sacred Kingfisher, Australian Reed Warbler, Chestnut-breasted Finch, Rainbow Lorikeet, Galah, Royal Spoonbill and lots of Brown Honeyeaters.
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| Sacred Kingfisher |
For the rest of the day we drove across town and visit the area around Mount Coot-Tha which was alive with tourists. There are fantastic Botanic Gardens there and we really enjoyed our visit. Lots of birdies were flying around, the best sighting was of the beautiful Blue-faced Honeyeater. Lots of ponds and streams held all the common ducks and even the restaurant terrace had White Ibis, Noisy Miner and Magpie Larks scavaging around the tables.
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| Spotted (Turtle) Dove |
On the way home in the late afternoon we rook a small detour to the Metroplex Wetlands where I met some local birders. They were doing a bird count and were waiting for an Australian (Little) Bittern to appear, so I joined them. The Bittern failed to show but we listed another 25 species including two lifers for me..........Australian Hobby and Channel-billed Cuckoo, smashing. As the light faded I walked around the pools hoping for a glimpse of a crake or rail but neither appeared. I vowed to return to look again, the local birders gave me some directions for excellent places to visit over the next few days, I will try to fit them in.
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| as yet unknown species, I also saw Monarch Butterfly |
250. AUSTRALIAN HOBBY
251. CHANNEL-BILLED CUCKOO
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