will lead you onto Staghorn Pde, from which you’ll turn left to Whitebeech Ct.
To Wallaroo Circuit Waterhole, drive Discovery Dr to the end, then turn left into Bounty Blvd, followed by right into Echidna Pde which leads oto Wallaroo Circuit.
Over 150 species are on the North Lakes’ birdlist. Key species are Australian Little Bittern, Baillon’s Crake, Spotless Crake and Azure Kingfisher. Other birds of interest include Tawny Grassbird, Comb-crested Jacana, Latham’s Snipe, Wandering Whistling-Duck, Magpie Goose and Striped Honeyeater. Rarities include Yellow Bittern, Oriental Cuckoo, Cotton Pygmy-goose, Pink-eared Duck, White-browed Crake, Black-necked Stork and Little Eagle.
This is a very reliable site in Brisbane to find Australian Little Bittern. It is also known for many rarities. In particular, Yellow Bittern was a temporary resident for six months in 2014, mostly on Wallaroo Circuit Waterhole but also spotted on other swamps in the area and on the golf course. Countless birders, us included, visited Wallaroo Circuit and watched this surprisingly tame and calm bird sunbathing at the edge of the sedges.
Wallaroo Circuit Waterhole
This is the best wetland for a chance sighting of Australian Little Bittern. Other waterbirds here include Spotless Crake, Baillon’s Crake, Azure Kingfisher, Magpie Goose and Wandering Whistling-Duck.
Wandering Whistling-Ducks
Bush birds in the area include Leaden Flycatcher, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, White-winged Triller, Scarlet Honeyeater and Striped Honeyeater.
Lacebark Street Lake
Australian Little Bittern is frequently reported from this location. In the surrounding bush, look for Shining Bronze-cuckoo, Dollarbird, Olive-backed Oriole, Forest Kingfisher and Australian Owlet-nightjar. Striped Honeyeaters regularly breed here.
This small waterhole has a long list of rarities such as Freckled Duck, Black-necked Stork, White-browed Crake and Oriental Cuckoo.
Whitebeech Crescent Hole
Latham’s Snipes like this spot. You may also encounter Comb-crested Jacana, Azure Kingfisher, Little Egret and Great Egret here.
Lake Eden
This is the largest and most suburban wetland. Lake Eden is a good place for the crakes; Spotless Crake and Baillon’s Crake are often observed from the footbridges or from the viewing platform at Lochside Dr. Expect a wide variety of common waterbirds, many breed happily on the lake. Australian Reed-Warblers and Tawny Grassbirds are common in the fringe vegetation. Look also for Superb Fairy-wren, White-breasted Woodswallow, Little Wattlebird, Little Friarbird and large flocks of Little Corellas.
Deception Bay
The extensive sands and mudflats of Deception Bay are important feeding grounds for many waders. The area adjacent to the southern section of the Esplanade is very productive. On the turning tide, the best vantage point is a small park located at Esplanade South.
The site is located 35km north of Brisbane CBD. From Bruce Hwy (M1) exit at Boundary Rd and travel in the easterly direction. The road name changes to Lipscombe Rd. Next, turn right into Deception Bay Rd (26), then left into Webster Rd which will lead you to the waters of Deception Bay. Turn right into Esplanade South and park about 10m past the turnoff. This is the place you are looking for. Site coordinates are 27o11’51’’S and 153o02’07’’E. Facilities include picnic tables, barbecues and toilets.
Over 100 bird species have been recorded here. Key species are the waders such as Red-necked Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Marsh Sandpiper and Terek Sandpiper. Other notable birds include Little Tern, Common Tern, Australian Gull-billed Tern, Little Egret, Striated Heron, Collared Kingfisher and Mangrove Honeyeater. Rarities include Asian Dowitcher, Common Sandpiper, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone and Peregrine Falcon.
This site is very good for Red-necked Avocet which is otherwise rare on the South-East QLD coast. Flocks of up to 500 birds are regularly recorded between June and October. Both Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits occur here in good numbers, giving birdwatchers a chance to compare their identification features. Other wader species include Red-necked Stint, Whimbrel, Pied Stilt, Grey-tailed Tattler, Common Greenshank, Great Knot, Australian Pied Oystercatcher, Curlew Sandpiper, Terek Sandpiper and Marsh Sandpiper.
Great Knots (front) and Bar-tailed Godwits
Other birds at this site include Chestnut Teal, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, White-breasted Woodswallow, Rainbow Bee-eater and occasionally Peregrine Falcon.
Nathan Road Wetlands Reserve
Nathan Road Wetlands Reserve is a very good wader site in the Brisbane region. The site is located on the west side of Nathan Rd in the suburb of Rothwell, 25km north of Brisbane CBD. The area is bordered by Morris Rd from the south and Redcliffe Aerodrome from the north. This small, 45ha parcel of land was purchased by the local City Council for conservation and tourism. The reserve is linked to a large, nearly 100ha State-owned wetland in the north with extensive mangroves, that border with the Ramsar site of Moreton Bay.
Nathan Road Reserve features freshwater wetlands near Nathan Rd, a large pond near Wattle Rd, a paperbark swamp, casuarina forest and mangroves.
To get there, exit Bruce Hwy (M1) at Anzac Ave (71) and travel in the easterly direction for 7km. Turn right into Deception Bay Rd (26), then left into Nathan Rd. The reserve is on the left, about 500m from the turnoff. Site coordinates are 27o12’44’’S and 153o04’13’’E. A walking track that runs along Morris Rd has several entrances. There are no other facilities.
Over 200 bird species have been recorded in the Nathan Road Reserve. Key species are the waders, Lewin’s Rail, Glossy Ibis and Little Grassbird. Other species of interest include Australian Spotted Crake, Spotless Crake, Baillon’s Crake, Mangrove Gerygone, Mangrove Honeyeater, Black-faced Monarch, Rufous Fantail and Little Wattlebird. A long list of rarities includes Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Australian Painted-snipe, Long-toed Stint, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Ruff, Brolga, Black-necked Stork, Freckled Duck, Pale-vented Bush-hen, Black-tailed Native-hen, Red-backed Button-quail, Oriental Cuckoo and Black Falcon.
Altogether, thirty wader species have been recorded in this suburban location. Among the common species are Latham’s Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Marsh Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and Pied Stilt. Ducks occurring here include rarer species such as Australasian Shoveler, Radjah Shelduck, Pink-eared Duck, Freckled Duck, Wandering Whistling-Duck and Plumed Whistling-Duck.
The reserve is an excellent spot for crakes and rails. The best area for them is a large pond along Wattle Rd. Lewin’s Rails are found regularly in the vegetation in this location. Also, check a concrete drain at the end of Wattle Rd. You may come across Buff-banded Rail there. In some years, crake numbers in the reserve increase dramatically. Then you can just walk into the wetland, stop and observe three crake species in numbers of 10-20 each, particularly Baillon’s Crake. Such situation is an effect of a ‘big dry’ in the interior, forcing birds to move to the coastal area.
Glossy Ibis occurs in flocks of up to 50
