Osprey House birdlist. Bird composition is very similar to that of the Tinchi Tamba Wetlands (see below). Key species are Osprey and the waders (28 species have been recorded). Other notable birds include Little Tern, Azure Kingfisher, Glossy Ibis, Buff-banded Rail, Striped Honeyeater, Mangrove Honeyeater, Collared Kingfisher, Mangrove Gerygone and Black-faced Monarch. Rarities at this site include Asian Dowitcher, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Red Knot, Black-necked Stork, Brolga, Roseate Tern, Black-tailed Native-hen and Square-tailed Kite.
The boardwalk along the river allows observation of waders feeding on the mudflats at a rising tide. In the bush around the Centre, look for Striped Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, White-breasted Woodswallow, Rufous Fantail, Rainbow Bee-eater, Spectacled Monarch, Varied Triller, Variegated Fairy-wren and Spangled Drongo.
After heavy rains, many paddocks along Henry Rd and Dohles Rocks Rd will be flooded and birds such as Magpie Goose, Glossy Ibis, Pied Stilt and a variety of ducks and herons appear. Brolga and Black-necked Stork have been recorded occasionally in such conditions.
Tinchi Tamba Wetlands Reserve
This 380ha reserve is located 19km north of Brisbane CBD, adjacent to Gateway Mwy (M1). It forms a peninsula between the Pine Rive and Bald Hills Creek and is a part of a network of coastal wetlands at the edge of Moreton Bay. The reserve offers a variety of habitats such as tidal mudflats, mangroves, paperbark swamp, freshwater lagoons with the fringe of reeds and sedges, saltmarshes, grassland and dry eucalypt forest. The wetland is listed as habitat of international importance, particularly for the migratory waders.
To get there, from Gympie Arterial Rd (M3) take the Strathpine-Bracken Ridge offramp, turn east into Hoyland St, then left at the first set of traffic lights into Kluver St which later changes name to Wyampa Rd and runs over the Gateway Mwy to the reserve. You can also get there from Gateway Mwy (M1) – turn into an offramp leading to Bracken Ridge Rd, then right into Kluver St and drive to the end of the road. After heavy rains the site gets flooded and is not accessible.
The reserve offers very good facilities including shelters, barbecues, toilets, picnic sites, boat ramp, fishing platforms and several carparks. There is also a bird hide at the Deep Water Bend. You’ll find here useful walking tracks such as 1km Bird Hide Track or 3km-long Island Circuit, with several sections of boardwalk. Further details can be found on the Tinchi Tamba Wetlands Track map, downloadable here: https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/20150220-tinchi-tamba-track-map.pdf.
This site is very popular with birdwatchers so it’s no wonder that 240 bird species have been recorded here. Key species are the waders, in particular Marsh Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit, as well as Oriental Cuckoo, Lewin’s Rail, Spotless Crake, Baillon’s Crake and Glossy Ibis. Other birds of interest include Mangrove Gerygone, Mangrove Honeyeater, Striped Honeyeater, Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, Common Tern, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Osprey and Swamp Harrier. Rarities include Black-necked Stork, Brolga, Pink-eared Duck, Australian Little Bittern, Red-backed Button-quail, Shining Flycatcher, Grey Goshawk and Square-tailed Kite.
Marsh Sandpipers
An astounding number of 33 wader species has been recorded in this reserve. In the northern part of the peninsula, just opposite the Osprey House on the other side of the river, you’ll find a large claypan. It can be reached via Island Circuit. To get there, follow the boardwalk north, then leave the circuit and head across a small stretch of grass, then mangroves. Take care, at the high tide the small drain flowing through the mangroves will be knee-deep. The claypan is used by the waders as their regular high tide roost; often thousands of them can be seen there. Among these species are Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Red-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Great Knot, Red-capped Plover, Whimbrel and Eastern Curlew. Many wader rarities have been recorded in the reserve including Asian Dowitcher, Long-toed Stint, Ruff, Wood Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Double-banded Plover and Red Knot. In October 2018, Buff-breasted Sandpiper was recorded. Other birds in this roost include Little Tern, Australian Gull-billed Tern, Chestnut Teal and occasionally Brolga.
Island Circuit offers good birding also in other areas, particularly in the boardwalk section, where Mangrove Gerygones are plentiful. Other bush birds here include Little Bronze-cuckoo, Rufous Whistler, Olive-backed Oriole, Collared Kingfisher, Mangrove Honeyeater and Spangled Drongo. In the section with casuarinas, we found a nest of Striped Honeyeater.
Bird hide at the Deep Water Bend allows views of the waders feeding on the mudflats. Azure Kingfisher is found regularly near the hide. Look also for Striated Heron, Little Egret, Royal Spoonbill and, occasionally, Nankeen Night-Heron and Australian Little Bittern roosting in this area.
Just at the entry to the reserve, after the overpass over M1, a large area of freshwater swamp is located. It is overgrown with cumbungi and reeds, with obscure paths leading to the open water. You’ll definitely need gumboots to investigate this area (or scope it from the overpass). Australian Little Bittern and Glossy Ibis are regularly found here. When we checked out this place, Baillon’s Crakes were very active at the verge of the swamp and Spotless Crakes were calling from the cumbungi. We flushed four Latham’s Snipes when walking about. In the reeds were plenty of Tawny Grassbirds and Australian Reed-Warblers. In the water we found Magpie Goose, Glossy Ibis, White-necked Heron, Australasian Grebe and Pied Stilt. Red-kneed Dotterels and Sharp-tailed Sandpipers were investigating islets of drying mud.
It is worth checking the Pine River. Many terns are regularly seen there. At lower tide, they roost on the sandbar opposite the Osprey House. We saw a small flock (20 birds) of Little Terns roosting there together with Australian Gull-billed Terns, Caspian Terns, Whiskered Terns and Common Terns. Osprey and White-bellied Sea-Eagle were patrolling the river.
Whiskered Tern – breeding and non-breeding plumage
Nine cuckoo species have been found in this reserve including Oriental Cuckoo which regularly visits the site in summer.
Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves are common in the reserve and sometimes you may also encounter Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Topknot Pigeon or even Superb Fruit-Dove.
Raptors are represented by an amazing number of 19 species in total. Many of them such as Brown Goshawk, Osprey, Collared Sparrowhawk, Brahminy Kite and Whistling Kite, breed here. You also have a chance to see Pacific Baza, Grey Goshawk, Square-tailed Kite, Australian Hobby, Little Eagle or Peregrine Falcon.
Occasionally, mountain rainforest species descend here from the hills in winter including Noisy Pitta, Russet-tailed Thrush, Rufous Fantail, Rose Robin and Black-faced Monarch.
Redcliffe Peninsula
Redcliffe Peninsula is located at the northern end of Moreton Bay, 25km north of Brisbane CBD. It is bound by the Hays Inlet to the south and Deception Bay to the north. The coastline of the peninsula, in particular its rocky platforms, provide suitable habitat for many wader species. Several birding spots located in the area are good for the observation of both feeding and roosting birds. Unfortunately for the birds, the same areas are very popular with the picnickers, boaters and dog walkers.
To get there, turn of Gateway Mwy (M1) into Deagon Deviation (26) and follow this road for 5km to Clontarf where birdwatching begins. Explore esplanades and parades along the coast. Good picnic facilities are scattered along the foreshore.
