Birdwatching 2025-07-20 Oxley Creek Common, Rocklea, Brisbane
NPAQ Activity Report
Birdwatching – Oxley Creek Common
Sunday, 20 July, 2025
A cool, clear day with warm sunshine and a few clouds. Ten participants left the shelter shed just after 7.30am and followed Oxley Creek for about 1 kilometre, spotting a wide range of birds including land and water birds. Turning left, a few walked to the lagoon where several water birds were noted. In total, 33 species of birds seen and another 3 heard.
The group enjoyed morning tea upon its return to the shelter shed.
The following birds seen: Pacific Black Duck x 2; Australian Brushturkey x 2; Eastern Cattle Egret x 10; Great Egret x 1; White-faced Heron x 1; Australian Pelican x 3; Australasian Darter x 1; Black Shouldered Kite x 1; Pied Stilt x 1; Masked Lapwing x 3; Crested Pigeon x 1; Bar-shouldered Dove x 3; Fan-tailed Cuckoo x 2; Rainbow Lorikeet x 10; Superb Fairywren (male x 1 & Female x 4; Scarlet Myzomela (Honeyeater) x 4; Brown Honeyeater x 20; Blue-faced Honeyeater x 12; White-throated Honeyeater x 3; Noisy Miner x 12; Lewin’s Honeyeater x 4; Striated Pardalote x 2 heard; White-throated Gerygone x 1 heard; Eastern Whipbird x 2 heard; Grey Butcherbird x 6; Pied Butcherbird x 2; Australian Magpie x 1; Rufous Whistler x 1 female; Grey Shrikethrush x 1; Spangled Drongo x 1; Willie Wagtail x 4; Grey Fantail x 3; Magpie-lark x 3; Torresian Crow x 3; Welcome Swallow x 8; Silvereye x 4,
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The 120 hectare Common is a low-lying floodplain and wetland system. It is an ecologically significant part of the Oxley Creek catchment. The Oxley Creek Common has been opened to the public since 2003 and it is well loved by the local community, as indicated by the many groups involved in rehabilitating the Common.
214 species of birds have been recorded around the Common in the last 20 years, according to Prof Hugh Possingham. Let’s try to find 215!!!
After meeting at the Red Shed, we’ll proceed along the main flat, shaded path adjacent to the Oxley Creek. Then we’ll head towards the lagoon through the open paddock track.
Of interest to NPAQ members is an extension to the main path – a section that terminates in the Secret Forest. The Secret Forest is a plantation of hoop pine trees (Aracaria cunninghamii) planted by Romeo Lahey on Lahey family land and later donated for public use.
Directions: The Common is off Sherwood Road, between Sherwood and the Rocklea Markets (UBD 179 A20) and the entrance is well signposted.
Bring: Hat, sunglasses, sunburn cream, insect repellent, personal first aid kit, enclosed shoes, binoculars, camera, chair, morning tea and lunch.
Please do not attend if you are feeling unwell.