site is located on Rasmussen Rd near Neurum Creek. Site coordinates are 27o00’58’’S and 152o41’52’’E.
Black-breasted Button-quails are occasionally recorded in this area. We had a great time one September when we camped there. Crested Shrike-tit and White-eared Monarch were the most common birds in the camp. We also ticked off Wonga Pigeon, Black-faced Monarch, Rose Robin, Varied Triller, Little Shrike-thrush and Azure Kingfisher. There were plenty of parrots, particularly Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, Crimson Rosellas and Pale-headed Rosellas.
In the evening, we were amazed with a grand firefly display. Plenty of wallabies, pademelons and other small marsupials rambled among the tents. Later at night, we were awakened at an ungodly hour by a horny male koala calling lustily in the most revolting way. After it finished, we could hear Bush Stone-curlew, Southern Boobook and White-throated Nightjar. Masked Owl is recorded occasionally at this location.
The morning walk produced a lot of interesting birds including Speckled Warbler but also had us covered in leeches.
Lovedays Road
The site is located just south of Archer Camping Area at 27o02’22’’S and 152o40’52’’E. This is a good place for Red-browed Treecreepers. You may also encounter Leaden Flycatcher, Bell Miner, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Wonga Pigeon, Rufous Fantail, Shining Bronze-cuckoo and Grey Goshawk.
Gold Creek Reservoir
Gold Creek Reservoir is located in the suburb of Upper Brookfield, 14km west of Brisbane CBD. This is one of the oldest former drinking water reservoirs for Brisbane, and one of the smallest (23ha). It is connected with Enoggera Creek Dam, situated nearby. Gold Creek flows from the hills of the southern section of D’Aguilar National Park.
To get there, from a roundabout in Moggill Rd in Kenmore take Brookfield Rd. After 4km, turn right past the showgrounds into Gold Creek Rd. Follow this road for 5km to reach the carpark at the reservoir. A walking track runs around the lake, passing through a range of habitats such as rainforest, open eucalypt forest, creek and lake. The walk takes about 2-3 hours and is excellent for bush birds. See map in the Gold Creek Reservoir brochure, downloadable here: https://www.seqwater.com.au/sites/default/files/PDF%20Documents/Recreation/201403%20Recreation%20Guide%20GOLD%20CREEK.pdf.
Over 200 bird species have been recorded around this small reservoir. Key species are Pale-vented Bush-hen, Black-breasted Button-quail, Lewin’s Rail, Regent Bowerbird, White-eared Monarch and Russet-tailed Thrush. Other birds of interest include Azure Kingfisher, Forest Kingfisher, Painted Button-quail, Large-billed Scrubwren, Crested Shrike-tit, Spectacled Monarch, Paradise Riflebird, Noisy Pitta, Topknot Pigeon and Pale-yellow Robin. Rarities include Great Crested Grebe, Black Bittern, Cotton Pygmy-goose, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Turquoise Parrot, Spotted Quail-thrush, Oriental Cuckoo, Pallid Cuckoo and Powerful Owl.
Pale-vented Bush-hens are here in good numbers and whole families are regularly observed. Look for them in the creek vegetation near Gold Creek Rd. Check also the creek lines outside the Reservoir borders. Another good spot is the reservoir overflow.
Black-breasted Button-quails were observed skulking in the undergrowth at the southwest edge of the Reservoir.
Look for Black Bittern in the area about 10-20m upstream of the foot bridge.
Good places for Lewin’s Rail include the creek near the metal gate and weedy vegetation by the causeway. In the same areas look for Spotless Crake.
On the water in the Reservoir you will find large flocks (60-70 birds) of Australasian Grebes congregating here in autumn/winter. Great Crested Grebes have also been recorded several times. Other waterbirds include Hardhead, Cotton Pygmy-goose, Buff-banded Rail, Nankeen Night-Heron (often hunting in the vicinity of the dam wall), Comb-crested Jacana and Azure Kingfisher.
Australasian Grebe with chick
Everywhere in the area and all year long you can hear the calls of Bell Miners.
Check the large fig trees growing behind the toilet block. When fruiting, it can yield Barred Cuckoo-shrike, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Emerald Dove, Topknot Pigeon, Wonga Pigeon, Channel-billed Cuckoo and Wompoo Fruit-Dove. White-eared Monarchs have also been spotted in these trees.
Spotlighting is good here, so give it a go. Concentrate on the area near the dam wall when you may encounter White-throated Nightjars hunting over the grassy areas at dusk. Bush Stone-curlews are the regulars as well as Tawny Frogmouth, Nankeen Night-Heron and Southern Boobook. Occasionally, you may hear Powerful Owl and Australian Owlet-nightjar.
Bush birds on the walk around the Reservoir include Varied Triller, White-winged Triller, Crested Shrike-tit, Shining Bronze-cuckoo, Forest Kingfisher, Scarlet Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, Large-billed Scrubwren, Green Catbird, Rose Robin and Dusky Woodswallow. In the rainforest patches, look for Russet-tailed Thrush, Noisy Pitta, Spectacled Monarch, Regent Bowerbird and Grey Goshawk.
You may come across Buff-rumped Thornbill and Painted Button-quail in the drier forest near the ridgetops. Occasionally, Spotted Quail-thrush has been recorded there.
A large nest of the resident pair of White-bellied Sea-Eagles is located near the Reservoir. Other raptors at this site include Pacific Baza, Brown Goshawk, Square-tailed Kite, Wedge-tailed Eagle and Peregrine Falcon.
Mount Coot-tha Forest
Mount Coot-tha Forest, also known as Mount Coot-tha Reserve, is located just 15min drive west of Brisbane CBD. The mountain provides a picturesque backdrop to the city and is the largest natural area of Brisbane. It comprises 1,600ha of open eucalypt forest, rainforest gullies and creek lines. The forest borders the southeastern section of the D’Aguilar National Park, providing together 40,000ha of pristine wilderness in the metropolitan area.
Access to Mount Coot-tha is from Sir Samuel Griffith Dr that runs around the mountain and leads to nine well-equipped picnic areas. Gap Creek Rd provides access to the Gap Creek Reserve included in the site description below.
A good, complex network of tracks criss-crosses Mount Coot-tha. They are well signposted. The Mount Coot-tha Forest Track map can be downloaded from here: https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/20171013-mt_coot-tha_track_map.pdf.
Among many good birding spots are Gap Creek Reserve, Honeyeater Track, Simpson Falls, JC Slaughter Falls and Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens.
The star attraction of Mount Coot-tha is the pair of resident Powerful Owls. We know birders who would eagerly fly to Brisbane, take a taxi, go to JC Slaughter Falls, see the owls, take a picture and return to base the same day – such reliable a sighting of this species is at Mount Coot-tha.
In 2018, a controversial venture was proposed to be built at Mount Coot-tha which may seriously jeopardise the future of the Mount Coot-tha Powerful Owls. A mega 1.5km treetop canopy zipline is proposed to be constructed between the Lookout and JC Slaughter Falls. An application was lodged in September 2018 to Brisbane City Council for approval. The proposal suggests
