upper carpark. You may also encounter Southern Boobook, Greater Sooty Owl and Tawny Frogmouth.
Other birds regularly found around Maiala include Green Catbird, Noisy Pitta, Pale-yellow Robin, Wonga Pigeon, Lewin’s Honeyeater and Eastern Spinebill.
Greenes Falls Tk, which connect this site with Browns Rd, is also good for Marbled Frogmouth and Greater Sooty Owl. During the day, look for Black-faced Monarch, Spectacled Monarch, Common Cicadabird and Varied Triller. Russet-tailed Thrush and Noisy Pitta occur in good numbers in this area.
Joyners Ridge Road
This site is located just 200m south of Maiala Picnic Area. Site coordinates are 27o20’11’’S and 152o45’56’’E. This 2km-long road runs through the rainforest. This is another good spot for Marbled Frogmouth; they like roosting at the road entrance.
This is also a good place for Russet-tailed Thrush, Paradise Riflebird, Regent Bowerbird and all kinds of fruit-eating pigeons.
At about 200m from the turnoff, a very loud Bell Miner colony stretches for the next 300m. The noise is overwhelming.
Browns Road
To get there, turn into Browns Rd from the main road just 1km north of Maiala Picnic Area. This short stretch of rainforest is popular for spotlighting, particularly nearly the point where Greenes Falls Tk crosses Browns Rd. You may find here Greater Sooty Owl, Marbled Frogmouth, Masked Owl, Powerful Owl and Southern Boobook.
We found a patch in the forest with fruiting bangalow palms and bleeding hearts. Gorging on the fruit were Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Regent Bowerbird, Satin Bowerbird, Green Catbird, Crimson Rosella and Wompoo Fruit-Dove.
In the vegetation around the Mount Glorious Cottages, look for Eastern Spinebill, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater, Golden Whistler, Pale-yellow Robin and Crested Shrike-tit.
Lawton Road
This site is located 1.5km north of Maiala Picnic Area. Site coordinates are 27o19’14’’S and 152o45’00’’E. This is one of the best spots in the Park for the night birds. Masked Owls show regularly at the start of the road. Marbled Frogmouth often roosts 300m down the track. You may also have a chance to hear Greater Sooty Owl, Southern Boobook and Australian Owlet-nightjar.
Paradise Riflebird is often found near the road entrance. Along the first 500m, rainforest species dominate including Green Catbird, Russet-tailed Thrush and fruit-eating pigeons.
At about 600m point, vegetation changes to a drier forest. This area is good for Crested Shrike-tit, White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike and Red-browed Treecreeper. The second kilometre of the road is taken over by a colony of Bell Miners. Grey Goshawks are regularly found there, feeding on the miners.
Lepidozamia Break
The site is located 2.5km north of Lawton Rd on the right. Site coordinates are 27o17’42’’S and 152o45’16’’E. This is yet another good place for Marbled Frogmouth; look for them just at the start of the track.
You can usually find here large numbers of small bush birds such as Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Large-billed Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, Striated Thornbill, Weebill and Red-browed Finch.
Brown Gerygone
Red Cedar Park
Continuing on State Route 31 towards Lake Wivenhoe, the road name changes to Northbrook Pkwy. Before the entrance to the western section of the National Park, you’ll find two picnic/camping areas called Red Cedar Park and White Cedar Park, situated on the banks of the picturesque Northbrook Creek. Site coordinates are 27o18’16’’S and 152o40’57’’E.
Look for Azure Kingfisher (breeding here) and Nankeen Night-Heron along the creek. Bell Miners are calling constantly; noise is so intense that it may interrupt a conversation.
This is a good spot for cuckoos. Even Oriental Cuckoo is a regular summer visitor here. You may encounter three species of Monarchs: White-eared, Black-faced and Spectacled Monarch. We observed the latter on the nest with two chicks.
In the vegetation near the creek, look for Tawny Grassbird and Brown Quail. White-throated Nightjars and Australian Owlet-nightjars can be heard calling at night.
Other birds in this area include Rose Robin, Varied Triller, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Topknot Pigeon and Pacific Baza.
Mount Mee Section
Mill Rainforest Walk
This is a beautiful 2km loop walk with a section of boardwalk along the creek. To get there, from Mount Mee Rd (58) turn into Sellin Rd, then take Pickering Rd which will lead you to the site. Site coordinates are 27o04’50’’S and 152o42’34’’E.
This place is good for the nocturnal birds. Powerful Owls often roost at the first creek crossing at the footbridge. Marbled Frogmouths are quite common. There is also a possibility to hear Greater Sooty Owl and Southern Boobook.
Azure Kingfisher can be found perching along the creek.
Three species of monarchs: White-eared, Black-faced and Spectacled Monarch may be found here with relative ease. Many fruit-eating species have been reported, the most reliable are Wonga Pigeon and Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove. Other rainforest species in the area include Barred Cuckoo-shrike, Regent Bowerbird, Paradise Riflebird, Noisy Pitta and Australian Logrunner. In summer, there are plenty of Shining Bronze-cuckoos that fill the forest with sound.
The Gantry Day-use Area
This site is located at the end of Sellin Rd near an intersection with Lovedays Rd. Site coordinates are 27o05’38’’S and 152o42’11’’E.
A lot of unafraid birds will interact with you in the area including Satin Bowerbird, Regent Bowerbird, Pied Currawong, Crimson Rosella, Australian King-Parrot and Lewin’s Honeyeater. They all may come to inspect your lunch. Wonga Pigeons strut unconcerned on the ground. Small birds such as Brown Gerygone, Brown Thornbill, White-browed Scrubwren and Large-billed Scrubwren are everywhere.
A male Paradise Riflebird displayed for us on top of a tree. A flock of Pale-headed Rosellas landed on the grass. On the flowering gums, we observed hundreds of Rainbow and Scaly-breasted Lorikeets, with White-naped Honeyeaters, Scarlet Honeyeaters and Eastern Spinebills working the tree edges. We also came across Green Catbird, Tawny Frogmouth and Crested Shrike-tit.
Just 1km from The Gantry you’ll reach Falls Walking Tk leading to the Falls Lookout. Site coordinates are 27o04’59’’S and 152o41’46’’E. This is a good spot for Regent Bowerbird, Noisy Pitta and Pale-yellow Robin. There are plenty of monarchs, all three species can be found here. New Holland Honeyeaters are often reported, they follow the flowering plants in the heathy forest.
Look also for Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, Common Cicadabird, Eastern Spinebill and Grey Goshawk.
Archer Campground
