SOME GOOD BIRDS MAY / JUNE 2020

2020, it is fair to say, has been an atypical year.

Very few outings.

Limited travel.

Limited Socialising.

But people have been out and about getting or [in my case] missing some great birds.

Torresian Imperial Pigeon [Carolyn Scott]

The main highlight has been a few sightings of a Torresian Imperial Pigeon near Twin Waters. This is an exceptional find. The bird, as far as I know, was found by Paddy Colley on David Lowe Way on the 7 June. It was rediscovered a few days later by Lori Australis [the Southern Lory?] on the 11th June. And today it was re-found again by Carolyn Scott [14 June]  on the corner of Ocean Drive and Wattlebird Drive. According to locals it has been in that area for the past 12 months!

Kentish Plover [r] with Red capped Plover [Vince Lee]

Another obvious candidate for Bird of the Year - Kentish Plover  -continues to be seen in and around Noosa North Shore mouth. First found by Jane Cooksley early in 2020 this bird has excited more than a few to twitch. 

Kentish Plover [ Vince Lee] 

Yandina Creek Wetland, now fully protected with some of the area available for visitation produces some good species. Hans Erkin got a good view of Lewins Rail while many have seen the Black necked Storks, although not everybody got as good a picture as Gazndeb Quirk!

Black necked Stork [Gazndeb Quirk]

Also over the wetland and at nearby [as the raptor flies] Finland Road raptors have continued; both Harriers, Square tailed Kite [found by Greg Roberts, Kestrel, Hobby, Brown Falcons, White breasted Sea Eagles and Osprey - to name a few. Whistling and Black Kites continue to be common.

Finland Road continues to surprise; this time with Varied Sitella - surely an unexpected species at this location.

Varied Sitella [Brian Gatfield]

Toorbul has had some interesting waders over winter, most notably Terek Sandpiper plus a Ruddy Turnstone while nearby, near Donnybrook, a pair of Brolgas have been seen by several.

the Donnybrook Brolga [John Kooistra]

Yellow Thornbill has been seen near Charlie Moreland in the Conondales while a little further west at Yabba Road in the Jimna Ranges birders have been drifting west to get a good suite of species that  reside there; Yellow tufted and Fuscous Honeyeaters, Speckled Warblers, Brown Treecreepers, Dusky Woodswallows and Jacky Winters. As far as I know no-one has managed to get a Diamond Firetail there this year though.

Dusky Woodswallows at Yabba Road [Ken Cross]

  

Yellow Thornbill [this one photographed at Nanango by Greg Roberts]

Cotton Pygmy Geese have been showing well at Wappa Dam as well as at Parklakes in Bli Bli. Also at Parklakes there has been the occasional Scaly breasted Munia.