Birdwatching 2025-10-26 Nathan Road Wetlands, Rothwell near Redcliffe Airport

Report of NPAQ Bird Outing

Participants included:

6 NPAQ members

8 Non members

41 birds observed at our Rothwell site. 

25 species observed at Deception Bay Foreshore

Despite a forecast of rain later in the day, a group of 14 initially met at Wirraway Drive, Rothwell, opposite the Redcliffe Airport.  We proceeded towards Coolum Parade via a pond and were rewarded by multiple bird sightings as documented below.  Sadly, the wetland area along Coolum Parade had dried up so we all proceeded  to Deception Bay foreshore at Wallim Family Place to continue our birdwalk.  Following morning tea, the birdlist for both sites was completed and we returned home before the magnificent thunder and torrential rain hit Brisbane.  Thank you to all participants who made the morning so productive and enjoyable.  The bird lists have been submitted to eBird.

Wirraway Drive/Nathan Road, Coolum Parade, Rothwell

Pacific Black Duck x 10,  Chestnut Teal x 9,  Australian Grebe x 3 (1 on a nest), Australian White Ibis x 6, Royal spoonbill x 8, Little Egret x 1, Australian Pelican x 3, Brahminy Kite x 1, Buff-banded Rail x 4, Australasian Swamphen x 8, Dusky Moorhen x 15, Spotless Crake x 1, Masked Lapwing x 2, Black-fronted Dotterel x 3, Crested Pigeon x 2, Bar-shouldered Dove -heard x 2, Pacific Koel – heard, Channel-billed Cuckoo – heard, Sacred Kingfisher x 3, Galah x 3, Rainbow Lorikeet x 6, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet x 8, Superb Fairywren x 7 (4 males & 3 females), Red-backed Fairywren x 5 (4 males & 1 female) Brown Honeyeater x 1, Noisy Miner x 3, Mangrove Honeyeater x 2, White-breasted Woodswallow x 1, Grey Butcherbird x 1, Pied Butcherbird x 1, Australian Magpie x 2, Pied Currawong x 1, Balck-faced Cuckooshrike x 1, Golden Whistler – heard, Australasian Figbird x 2 (1 male & 1 female), Olive-backed Oriole x 2, Willie Wagtail x 1, Magpie-lark x 2, Torresian Crow x 1, Welcome Swallow x 30, Common Myna x 2,

Deception Bay Foreshore (Wallim Family Place) 

Black Swan x 30, Australian White Ibis x 2, Great Egret x 1, White-faced Heron x 1, Australian Pelican x 8, Little Pied Cormorant x 18, Australian Pied Cormorant x 4, Whistling Kite x 1, White-Bellied Sea Eagle x 1, Silver Gull x 23, Rock Dove x 13, Pacific Koel x 1, Striated Heron x 1, Rainbow Lorikeet x 2, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet -heard, Pied Butcherbird x 1, Australian Magpie x 1, Pied Currawong x 1, Black-faced Cuckooshrike x 1, Australasian Figbird – heard, Willie Wagtail x 1, Magpie-Lark x 2, Torresian Crow x 1, Common Myna x 1, Masked Lapwing x 1

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This 110,000 hectare Moreton Bay Marine Park wetland is Ramsar declared and protects ephemeral freshwater wetlands, paperbark woodland and casuarina forest, intertidal mudflats, and salt marshland mangrove communities.  Bird spotters have identified 197 bird species.  The area is also home to locals, greater gliders, grey-headed flying foxes and native orchids.  Since 2018 a community of residences is being constructed adjacent to the wetland.   We will explore ponds along Coolum Parade for waterbirds, forest birds and possibly seasonal shorebirds.

Directions: From the south, follow the Houghton Highway onto Elizabeth Avenue, on the Redcliffe Peninsula.  Elizabeth Avenue  becomes Snook Street then reverts back to  Elizabeth Avenue.  (If this sounds confusing it is).   Proceed along Elizabeth Avenue which becomes Anzac Avenue. Follow this along, turning right at  Nathan Road.  Follow Nathan Road  to a T Junction at Wirraway Drive, opposite the Redcliffe Aerodrome.  Turn right at Wirraway Drive and park along this dead end street.

Meet at:  1 Wirraway Drive, Rothwell UBD 81 A15