Birdwatching 2026-07-19 Oxley Creek Common, Rocklea, Brisbane

Report from Birdwatching

10 participants met at Oxley Creek Common on a windy winter’s morning.  Due to the shelter provided by the trees and bushes along the main path, there were plenty of birds to be seen and heard including:

Australian Brush-turkey x 2, Pacific Black Duck x 4, Darter – female x 1, Australian Pelican x 1, Eastern Great Egret x 1, Intermediate Egret x 2, Australian White Ibis x 4, Purple Swamphen x 6, Dusky Moorhen x 5, Bar-shouldered Dove x 4, Galah x 2, Rainbow Lorikeet x 1, Sulpha -crested Cockatoo – heard, Rainbow Bee-eater x 2, Fan tailed Cuckoo x 3, Shining Cuckoo x 4, Superb Fairy-wren x 4, Red-backed Fairy-wren x 1, Striated Pardalote -heard, White-browed Scrubwren x 1, Noisy Friarbird – heard, Blue-faced Honeyeater x 4, Lewin’s Honeyeater  x 9, Brown Honeyeater x 6, Scarlet Honeyeater x 6, Golden Whistler x 4, Rufous Whistler x 4, Grey Shrike-thrush x 1, Magpie-lark x 2, Grey Fantail x 3, Rufous Fantail x 1, Willie Wagtail x 2, Spangled Drongo x 2, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike x 1, Olive-backed Oriole x 1, Grey Butcherbird x 2, Pied butcherbird – heard, Torresian crow x 6, Mistletoebird x 4, Welcome Swallow x 3, Silvereye x 3, Jacana x 1, Yellow faced Honeyeater x 2, Red -browed Finch x 4,

Some of the group turned back around the Second Dip while others continued on to Pelican Island past Jabiru Swamp.  It is pleasing to see the plants along the track to Pelican Island, which were planted over the past few years, are thriving.

Thanks to all the group who shared their knowledge and made this outing such a pleasant experience.

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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 is well loved by the local community as indicated by the many groups involved in rehabilitating the Common.

Around 200 bird species have been recorded in the past 20 years around the Common.

After meeting at the Red Shed by the carpark,  we’ll proceed along the main flat and  shaded path adjacent to  Oxley Creek.  Then,  we’ll head off 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.  This Forest is a plantation of hoop pine trees (Aracaria cunninghamii) planted by Romeo Lahey on Lahey family land which was later donated for public use.

Meeting Time:  7.30am

Venue:  Opposite 401 Sherwood Road, Rocklea.  The Common is  between Sherwood and the Rocklea Markets.  UBD 179 A20. The entrance is well signposted.

Bring:  Hat, binoculars, insect repellent, sunburn cream, personal first aid kit, enclosed shoes, chair and morning tea/lunch