Outings
Saturday 28 August – MapletonThursday 16 September - Metroplex, Queensport
Sunday 19 September -Whites Hill Reserve, Camp Hill
Sunday 10 October: Toorbul wader ID day with Qld Wader Study Group
Wednesday 20 October - Joyner's Ridge Road, Mt. Glorious
Saturday 30 October - Bribie Island
Wednesday 17 November - D M Henderson & Norma Croker Parks
Saturday 27 November - Old Beaudesert Road, Coulson
Outings elsewhere
General information
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| Rainbow Bee-eaters © A. Parmiter |
Birds Queensland has two main outings each month, one on a weekend, and the other in mid-week. The Photogroup usually has an outing each month on the weekend, mostly in the morning, though the tide influences the timing if waders are the target. Details for these outings over the next few months are recorded on this page below.
In addition, there are Easy Start walks for new members, on the fourth Sunday of each month (except December). Interested persons should contact Dawn Muir by telephone 3870 8076 or by for details of locations and timing.
The Queensland Waders Study Group usually has a monthly outing (for Wader counts and other wader related activities), timed to suit the tide on a Sunday early in each month. Details are given on their web page.
Outings organized by the Noosa parks Association are included here for those who would like to participate. Please contact the organizers if you intend to participate in these activities.
BQ members and friends in Cairns have planned a number of birdwatching outings for the rest of the year. Dawn Magarry explains that they call themselves "Mabel's Mates" after their mascot, who is a knitted doll, complete with bird book, binoculars, walking stick and lunch pack, donated by a club member for a raffle. Birds Queensland members and friends are welcome to attend. Please contact Dawn (Ph 4053 1183 Cairns) if you intend to do so.
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| Noisy Friarbird © M. Gilpin |
The details of some of the following outings listed may need to be confirmed, and additional outings may be added as the year progresses, so keep checking here at least each month. If the details of the meeting place, etc. given are insufficient, please call the nominated Leader for more precise directions. It is also important to notify the Leader to confirm your attendance. We encourage car-pooling wherever possible.
Saturday 28 August – Mapleton
Leader: Burnie Collins (ph 5445 7127 or 0402110637)
This walk falls during the Blackall Range Festival of Walks 2010 (Aug 21 – 29). You might like to check out their website www.brbta.com.au to see what other walks and activities are planned for the festival. We will meet in the car park of the Mapleton Lilyponds in the middle of Mapleton Township at 8.00am (UBD Sunshine Coast section Map54 G8). The Lilyponds have recently been revamped by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council and the range and variety of birds is continuing to develop.
We will then have the option to visit up to 3 local sites (a) Mapleton Falls National Park – previously surveyed by Birds Qld (b) Linda Garret Conservation Park(c) Mapleton Forest Day Use Area. Each of these sites is less than 2 km from the Mapleton Lilyponds and car-pooling may be possible. Some of the driving is on gravel roads. A range of birds is expected as each habitat is different.
There are toilet facilities at all sites except Linda Garret C.P. Bring insect repellent, hat, sunscreen, morning tea and a chair. This will be a half day outing and after birding; you might like to explore the coffee outlets of Mapleton (4) or the shops at Montville. Mapleton is on the Blackall Range in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast. Travellers from Brisbane can come via Nambour or past Australia Zoo to Landsborough and Montville.
Thursday 16 September - Metroplex, Queensport
Leader: Merrian Kuerschner
Meet at the bridge on Borthwick Terrace at 7am. (UBD map 161 M4). Bring Morning tea, chair, hat, sunscreen and insect repellent. There are a number of short walks around the edge of the wetland and a park on the river. Telescope may be an advantage in some areas if you have one.
Sunday 19 September - Whites Hill Reserve, Camp Hill
Leaders: Rod Cox & Linda Sulakatku Ph 3398 8775
Last visited by Birds Queensland October 2004. The walk is a bit hilly, but with well graded tracks. Start at 7am and estimated walk time is 3 to 3½ hours. Access off Boundary Road (UBD map 181 B8), then turn left at the changing rooms and meet at the picnic area car park (UBD map 181 C8). There are toilet facilities at the picnic area
Sunday 10 October - Toorbul wader ID day with Qld Wader Study Group
Leaders: Phil & Linda Cross 5495 2758
High tide is at 11.06 am (plus 30 minutes later for Toorbul) of 2.42m. Meeting time is 9am. Take the Bruce Highway north from Brisbane to the Donnybrook/ Toorbul exit. Turn off here and head east over the highway, continuing on this road to Toorbul. Turn right at the T-junction, then first left and then right, which brings you onto the Esplanade. Follow this road to the end (approximately 2kms) and we will be on the left. Bring water, food and a chair, and it is a good idea to have a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent. Most importantly bring your binoculars or telescopes. Hopefully we can provide the answers to all your questions.
Wednesday 20 October - Joyner's Ridge Road, Mt. Glorious
Leader: Peter Woodall Phone 3848 4757
This walk takes us on a forestry track, initially running parallel to the main Mt Glorious Wivenhoe Road and passing through wet rainforest but then turning west and south into moist and wet sclerophyll forest. We hope to see and hear a range of forest and woodland birds. We are on a vehicle track but it can get overgrown; the outward walk is flat or downhill so be prepared for an uphill walk on the return.
Directions: Travel to Mt Glorious (either via Waterworks Rd from The Gap or Mt Glorious Rd from Samford), pass the cafe at Mt Glorious and just over 1 km further on turn right into the Maiala National Park parking area (UBD Map 105 C6). Toilets and a picnic shelter are available here. Maiala is about 40-45 minutes from The Gap. Depending on previous rain, leeches can be active so bring insect repellent (I put it under my socks up to knee high). We will stop for a morning tea break along the track and then return to the parking area, where you can either leave or stay for lunch. It would be useful to bring extra chairs if you’re staying for lunch. Meet at 7.30am.
Saturday 30 October - Bribie Island
Leaders: Linda & Phil Cross 5495 2758
This will be a full days outing visiting a number of areas on the island. The Island is a wonderful place to see a large variety of bird species. Previous outings have produced over 100 species for the day (including some rarities), which is probably due to the variety of habitats the island supports. We will try to visit the sites we have been to before to give a comparison for the database on species recorded previously. We will meet at Buckley’s Hole and leave early to walk along The Boulevarde and down Red Beach Road while the birds are still calling and before it gets too hot. Then return to the lagoon for an extended morning tea to allow time to check out the waterbirds. Other areas covered include the road approaching the sewerage works, Banksia Beach (for lunch), White Patch, the entrance to the National Park and the lagoons in Bellara. The whole outing is easy walking and suitable for all ages. Bring morning & afternoon tea, lunch, chair, scope if you have one, slip, slap, slop and insect repellent. Meet at 7am at the corner of McDonald St. and The Boulevarde (Gregory’s Map 63 E4).
Wednesday 17 November - D M Henderson & Norma Croker Parks
Leader: - Les Cooper ph 3388 6233
The walk will start at 7am from the car park on Granadilla Street Macgregor. We will complete a circuit of the park, which forms part of the parklands along Bulimba Creek. This should take about a couple of hours, as it is not a very large area. We will have a break for morning tea. For those members who wish to continue, we will drive to Norma Croker Park in Acacia Ridge, another relatively small park along Oxley Creek. This is a second try for these venues after our April walk was rained out part way through the walk at D M Henderson Park. Meeting point is the car park on Granadilla Street in Macgregor (UBD Map 200 R15). Parking at Norma Croker Park will be on Lismore St, Acacia Ridge (UBD Map 219 K3).
Saturday 27 November - Old Beaudesert Road, Coulson
Leader: Barry Jahnke ph 0411 278 865
This is a combination of easy walk and drive along a quiet back road near the Teviot Brook. The route takes us past open paddocks, open forest and riparian habitats, some ofwhich will be effected by the Wyaralong Dam proposal.
Directions: Take the Ipswich - Boonah Road or Beaudesert - Boonah Road to where they meet at Coulson. Just below this junction is a bare patch beside the Beaudesert-Boonah Road, where we will meet at 7am. Bring morning tea and lunch, as well as protection from sun and insects.
Outings Elsewhere
As part of a greater effort to connect with the various bird groups around Queensland, we are alerting you to other places and times where you will be welcome to join the local birders:
Tweed Bird Observers
Covering the Tweed Valley and nearby, with outings on the second Sunday of the month. Contact: Matthew Angus at 07 5579 1757 or Laurel Allsop at 07 5590 9254 for details.
Gold Coast Group
A local expedition every Thursday starting at 7.30am. Contact: Colin Collins on 07 for details on the next outing (where to start and places to be visited)
Toowoomba Bird Observers
A very active group with regular outings - Contact: Kay Williams at 4659 5475 or mob. 0429 465 954.
Noosa Parks Association - Bird Observers Group
Every second month an interpretive walk takes place before their Friday Forum with a guest speaker. Meet in the Environment Centre car park, Wallace Park, Eumundi Road, Noosaville, beside the library, at 8.30am. Contact Valda McLean 5476 2123 for details.
Bird Watchers of Hervey Bay
Another local group with regular weekly walks. Contact John Knight at 4125 2372 for details of the next outing.
