Gympie – Birdwatching Extended Outing

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The NPAQ Bird Group of 19 people enjoyed a wonderful week based at Gympie. Daily we drove to surrounding districts to view the birds.

Monday 3rdSept. We drove east to Rainbow Beach and Inskip Point, first stopping at Searys Creek. A graded path led through banksia and melaleuca trees to a running creek with very clear water. The resident catfish slowly swam by to the gaze of our group. An Eastern Whipbird bounced several times across the track in front of us. Next, we drove to Inskip Point and looked for sea, waders and bush birds. This was while watching several bogged vehicles being towed out of the soft sand on their way to the Fraser Island vehicle ferry. We walked along the beach hoping to find a Beach Stone Curlew. While having lunch we watched several Birds of Prey flying over the Great Sandy Straights. A stop off at Rainbow Beach for an enjoyable ice-cream before going to the Carlo Sand Blow. We viewed many birds along the paved track. Each day of the trip concluded in Gympie with a 4.30 pm Happy Hour and the days bird count.

Tues 4thSept. Another beautiful day saw us head SW to Marys Creek and walk some old forestry tracks. We found many birds just outside the State Forest along the road of a nearby farm. We then drove to Amamoor State Forest stopping at Amama picnic area where we walked a circuit track through the rain forest. Deeper into the National Park we walked around the tracks of the Cedar Creek camp ground before returning to Gympie for a combined BBQ dinner.

Wed 5thSept. Our group headed east to Mullens Creek picnic area at Cooloola Cove. Here we viewed numerous bush and wader birds. While having morning tea during a rain shower we were able to sit quietly and view birds as they flew closer to us. We stopped at Wes Mitchell Park before a stop at the Tin Can Bay. At the Snack Shack we all purchased our enjoyable pre ordered fish, chips and salad lunch. Our next stop was Norman Point at the mouth of Schnapper Creek followed by a quick visit to Crab Creek Park before returning to Gympie.

Thurs 6thSept. Today was at a slower pace. We travelled a short distance SE to the end of Madills Road at Woondum National Park. Following track walks, we enjoyed morning tea with freshly made pikelets spread with jam. After time for digesting we drove a short distance to Mothar Mountain Rock Pools to walk several tracks. Lunch and a very leisurely afternoon were welcomed before returning to the park. After a cleanup we hopped on a courtesy bus for a pleasant evening meal at the Gympie RSL Club.

Frid 7thSept. Our final day saw us heading SW to Imbil. We took a local birding couple, Amelia and Kelvin Nielsen, with us. Firstly, we visited Imbil Lookout before stopping at Stirling Crossing for morning tea on the banks of Yabba Creek. Driving further along a forestry track we stopped several times to walk some disused tracks. Giant fig trees gave views on many Woompoo Fruit Doves. Lunch was appreciated overlooking Borumba Dam.

Overall everybody enjoyed the week of beautiful fine weather. We received one or two rain showers on the Wednesday but that did not hinder us.

For the week a total of 102 birds were sighted or heard. These birds were: –

Australian Brush Turkey, Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Hardhead, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Emerald Dove, Crested Pigeon, Peaceful Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Wonga Pigeon, Woompoo Fruit Dove, Australasian Darter, Little Black Cormorant, White-necked Heron, Eastern Great Egret, Cattle Egret, Striated Heron, White-faced Heron, Little Egret, Australian White Ibis, Straw-necked Ibis, Eastern Osprey, White-bellied Sea-eagle, Whistling Kite, Black Kite, Dusky Moorhen, Australian Pied Oystercatcher, Masked Lapwing, Whimbrel, Eastern Curlew, Crested Tern, Silver Gull, Galah, Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Pheasant Coucal, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Azure Kingfisher, Laughing Kookaburra, Forest Kingfisher, Sacred Kingfisher, Torresian (Collard) Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater, White-throated Treecreeper, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Variegated Fairy-wren, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, White-browed Scrubwren, White-throated Gerygone, Brown Thornbill, Spotted Pardalote, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Mangrove Honeyeater, White-eared Honeyeater, White-faced Honeyeater, Bell Miner, Noisy Miner, Little Wattlebird, Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater, White-cheeked Honeyeater, White-napped Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Spotted Quail-thrush, Eastern Whipbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Varied Triller, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Little Shrike-thrush, Grey Shrike-thrush, Australasian Figbird, Olive-backed Oriole, White-breasted Woodswallow, Dusky Woodswallow, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Spangled Drongo, Rufus Fantail, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Leaden Flycatcher, Spectacled Monarch, Magpie-lark, Pale-yellow Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Bassian Thrush, Mistletoebird, Red-browed Finch.

A bird list for each site visited can be obtained from the Leader.