rel="nofollow" href="https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/20150522_-_brisbane_botanic_gardens_mt_coot-tha.pdf">https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/20150522_-_brisbane_botanic_gardens_mt_coot-tha.pdf.
Over 110 species are on the Gardens birdlist. Key species are Bush Stone-curlew, Square-tailed Kite, Striated Heron and waterbirds. Other birds of interest include Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Golden Whistler, Pheasant Coucal, Sacred Kingfisher, White-breasted Woodswallow, Tawny Grassbird and White-throated Needletail. Among the rarities are Swift Parrot, Fork-tailed Swift, Peregrine Falcon and Brahminy Kite.
Bush Stone-curlews rest during the day under the trees near the café. Ponds in the Japanese garden are the favourite of Striated Heron. The breeding colony of Australian White Ibis is located in a tree near the Lagoon. When eating in the cafeteria, your table will be besieged with Australian White Ibises, Pacific Black Ducks, Pied Butcherbirds, Pied Currawongs, Blue-faced Honeyeaters and countless Australian Brush-turkeys. In front of this building is a pond with an island in the middle. Royal Spoonbills and plenty of common waterfowl like to rest there.
Other birds in the Gardens include Topknot Pigeon, Rainbow Bee-eater, Pacific Baza, Brown Goshawk, Channel-billed Cuckoo and Pheasant Coucal.
Bowman Park
This small park is located in the suburb of Bardon, north of Mount Coot-tha. Among the parkland, you’ll find a good patch of bush near the creek.
The site is bordered by Simpsons Rd, David Ave and Bowman Pde. Site coordinates are 27o27’29’’S and 152o58’41’’E. To get there, from Mount Coot-tha Rd in Toowong turn right into Sir Samuel Griffith Dr, then right again into Simpsons Rd. Access to the park is from the surrounding streets. Facilities include carpark, shelters, picnic tables, toilets and sealed pathways.
This small site is known as a regular destination for Swift Parrots. Usually 1-3 birds are recorded but records of up to 30 birds exist. They appear in autumn and winter to feed in the flowering gums near the creek.
Bush Stone-curlews reside in the park. You’ll also find here a large variety of parrots including Australian King-Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Little Lorikeet and Scaly-breasted Lorikeet.
Banks Street Reserve
The 34ha Banks Street Reserve is located in the suburb of Alderley just 5km west of Brisbane CBD. The reserve features open forest, parkland, and a large revegetated area. There are also remnants of rainforest along Enoggera Creek. A large colony of flying-foxes is located by the creek. A local Bushcare Group has installed a large number of nesting boxes which seem to be well-used by now.
The reserve is bordered by Banks St from the north and Weatherhead Ave from the west. There are several entry points from the surrounding streets. A good entry point is from Quandong St off Ashgrove Ave. Five well-marked walking tracks are provided.
Over 120 species are on the reserve’s birdlist. Key species are Azure Kingfisher, Pale-vented Bush-hen, Lewin’s Rail, Common Cicadabird and Spectacled Monarch. Other birds of interest include Buff-banded Rail, Bush Stone-curlew, Tawny Frogmouth, Nankeen Night-Heron, Rose Robin, Pheasant Coucal and Black-faced Monarch. Among the rarities are Satin Flycatcher and Forest Kingfisher.
The best birding is along Enoggera Creek and its tributaries. Nankeen Night-Herons often roost in casuarinas near Breakfast Creek. Lewin’s Rail and Buff-banded Rail are often seen along the creek edges. Pale-vented Bush-hens are not too shy in this reserve and are often observed feeding along the tall, dense vegetation.
When visiting this place one summer, we found many birds nesting. Tawny Frogmouths watched over three fledglings in the southern part of the site. We observed Brown Goshawk and Spangled Drongo on the nest, and Pheasant Coucals bringing morsels of food to a nest hidden in the dense growth. Other nests in the area included Willy Wagtail, Magpie-lark, Laughing Kookaburra and Torresian Crow.
Three fairy-wren species are common in the reserve: Superb, Variegated and Red-backed Fairy-wren. Other birds here include Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Australian King-Parrot, Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Restless Flycatcher and Brown Gerygone.
Male Rufous Whistler
Fig Tree Pocket
Fig Tree Pocket is an affluent, leafy suburb located in the bend of Brisbane River about 8km southwest of Brisbane CBD. There are several spots worth exploring here, such as Fig Tree Pocket Riverside Reserve, Biambi Jumba Park, Lone Park Koala Sanctuary and Fig Tree Pocket Equestrian Centre.
Access to the suburb is from Centenary Hwy (M5). Take the Fig Tree Pocket Rd off-ramp.
80 bird species have been recorded in the area. Key species are Bush Stone-curlew, Buff-banded Rail, Striated Heron, Mangrove Gerygone and Dollarbird. Other birds of interest include Nankeen Night-Heron, Hardhead, Pale-headed Rosella, Australian King-Parrot, Golden Whistler, Sacred Kingfisher, Scarlet Honeyeater and Channel-billed Cuckoo.
Biambi Jumba Park
Biambi Jumba Park is a large recreational park with a big lagoon in the middle. Access is from Ormsby St at the end of Fig Tree Pocked Rd.
This site is good for common waterbirds such as Australasian Grebe, Grey Teal, Hardhead, Little Egret and Intermediate Egret. Regular findings here include Nankeen Night-Heron and Buff-banded Rail. Australian Reed-Warblers can be heard calling from the reeds.
Bush birds in the area include Eastern Whipbird, Rainbow Bee-eater, Leaden Flycatcher and Spangled Drongo.
Fig Tree Pocket Riverside Reserve
To get there, from Ormsby St take Mandalay St and drive to the boat ramp.
In the mangroves, look for Mangrove Gerygone, Rainbow bee-eater, Dollarbird and occasionally Collared Kingfisher.
Check the pontoons near the boat ramp – Striated Heron loves to hunt from them. Brahminy Kites patrol over Brisbane River. Their nest is located nearby. Channel-billed Cuckoo, Australasian Figbird and Olive-backed Oriole are often found in the fig trees near the boat ramp.
Brahminy Kite
You’ll see plenty of parrots in the park, such as Australian King-Parrot, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (breeding there) and Little Corella.
Fig Tree Pocket Equestrian Centre
It is worth driving or walking around the centre in search of Bush Stone-curlews that can be spotted resting under the trees in the Centre.
Lone Park Koala Sanctuary
The Sanctuary is a small zoo for the tourists, and also a magnet for wild birds. You even don’t need to enter the facility to watch the birds attracted to the captive bird feed. Australian Brush-turkeys are everywhere. Bush Stone-curlew roost in the carpark and at the entrance to the site. Tawny Frogmouths feature in the bird show inside but you may be able to spot a couple of wild ones in the tall trees surrounding the Sanctuary. Topknot Pigeons make a stop there whenever any
