AUSTRALIA - HOLIDAY/RECCE TOUR - DAY 32 - OCT 28TH - BRISBANE

Early morning - Meteoplex Wetlands then all day at Noosa Heads

Another early morning jaunt found me back at the Metroplex Wetlands at 6am. It was another warm morning 24C at 6am with a light breeze. I was hoping for views of a Rail or a Crake but none were showing. I walked to the river where the huge Gateway Bridge towers above you and I got my first lifer for the day when two White-throated Needletails flew over and started feeding below the bridge.


Fairy Martins at their nesting colony

Other good sightings were of Channel-billed Cuckoo, four of them flew over calling like gulls, Brown Quail, Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike on its nest, Latham's Snipe, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Collared Kingfisher.

Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike on its nest

After breakfast we set off north and headed for Noosa Heads, it took nearly two hours to get there. What a superb place, an upmarket beach resort with some fantastic properties lining the exclusive bays and lush beaches. White sand, palm trees and a national park are all found in this lovely region. We spent time on the beach, walking the lovely esplanades and then the national park.

Crested Pigeon

We ate lunch at a popular viewing point called 'Lagoon Lookout' beautiful panoramic views were had of the numerous bays and inlets. Eating lunch there was a bit of a battle, I literally had to push a Kookaburra off my sandwich and one nearly had Dawns eye out as it swooped in to snatch her sandwich just as she was about to take a bite. Black Butcherbirds, Pied Currawongs, Brush Turkeys and Noisy Miners all gathered around us, it was like a scene from the birds. Eventually we gave up and retreated to the car to finish our lunch.

Spotted (Turtle) Dove

The walk included  a track through the national park which led us to the Noosa Head Point and it was at the beginning of this walk that we found a Koala Bear sitting high up in the fork of a Eucaluptus tree. A fantastic mammal tick and one high up on the 'most wanted' list.'

Koala - looks as good as all pictures in the brochures

Further along the trail a view point overlooked some rocky outcrops and that is where we found the first Wandering Tattler for the list, a great 'lifer' for me which was quickly followed by another as we finally caught up with Grey Butcherbird which is locally common but had thus far eluded me.

Reef Heron

Wandering Tattler

Unfortunately a huge thunderstorm threatened as huge banks of very dark clouds gathered and thunder could be heard in the distance. So we abandoned our walk and headed back just as large spots of rain began to fall. One more bird was added to the list as we found a Reef Heron on the rocks near where the Tattler was seen.

Pied Currawong

By the time we got back into town and had our afternoon tea and cake the storm had passed, so we spent another hour on the beach before driving back to Brisbane. Whilst drinking our tea a beautiful Blue-faced Honyeater dropped in to pick up crumbs, extraordinary behaviour for a honeyeater!

Blue-faced Honeyeater

As it got dark we were driving south along the motorway, we made two more sightings. The first was of a Black Shouldered Kite and then later we saw hundreds of Fruit Bats leaving the forest, their dark shapes silhouetted against the setting sun.

 

256. WHITE-THROATED NEEDLETAIL
257. WANDERING TATTLER
258. GREY BUTCHERBIRD