Outings
Tuesday 7 February - Manly Boat HarbourThursday 23 February - Wynnum Boardwalk & Wader Roost Hide
Sunday 26 February – Toorbul Wader Roost ID Day
Saturday 10 March –Gold’s Scrub Lane, Samsonvale
Thursday 22 March – Brisbane Entertainment Centre Pond & Western Section Of Boondall Wetlands
Outings elsewhere
General information
 |
| 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.
 |
| 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.
Tuesday 7 February - Manly Boat Harbour
As this Wader ID outing is on private property numbers will be strictly limited and QWSG members will be given first preference followed by BQ members.
High tide at 09.14 am is of 2.48m. Meeting time 07.30am This is your chance to legally get behind the fence and check out the waders with our group. Meet at the end of the road, east of the Royal Queensland Yacht Clubhouse, Manly. UBD map 164 A6. Gates will be locked after we enter and late arrivals will not be able to access the site. Therefore, we need to know if you are planning to attend this ID day. Please ensure you contact the people below and have your name put on the list. As the numbers are limited, you are advised to book early. Please contact any of the following people if you have any questions. Arthur & Sheryl Keates 3843 1874, Phil & Linda Cross 5495 2758.
Thursday 23 February - Wynnum Boardwalk & Wader Roost Hide
Leader: Rae Clark. Ph 3391 1642
This can be an interesting area because of the variety of habitats which includes the mangrove boardwalk, the adjacent Lytton roost and hide and the surrounding bush, both natural and revegetation. Numbers of waders at the roost can vary and what we see will also depend on the tide that morning. The bush area can be rich with a variety of birds including Brown Quail and finches. We will meet at the Mangrove Boardwalk car-park in Elanora Park at 7am. Vehicular access to the park is on the corner of Granada and Crown Streets, Wynnum. UBD 143 G13. Then follow the road through the park as shown on the map. There are toilets in Granada Street but none at the Boardwalk or Roost areas. Please bring insect repellent, sunscreen, water, a chair and morning tea.
Sunday 26 February – Toorbul Wader Roost ID Day
The high tide is at 11.54am (plus 30 minutes for Toorbul - 12:24 pm) and is of 2.04m. Meeting time 11am Take the Bruce Highway north from Brisbane to the Donnybrook/ Toorbul exit. Turn off here and head east over the highway overpass. Continue 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); we will be on the left. Bring water, food and a chair. 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. Please contact any of the following people if you have any questions. Phil & Linda Cross 5495 2758. Arthur & Sheryl Keates 3843 1874.
Saturday 10 March –Gold’s Scrub Lane, Samsonvale
Leader: Alan Boardman ph 3300 1412
We did this walk in 2011 with 86 species recorded so I hope we have a good day’s birding again this year. The walk will commence at the car park next to the cemetery end of Gold’s Scrub Lane at 7am.
I have applied for a group permit allowing access to SEQWATER areas to enable us to walk along fire break tracks within the catchment area. The lake (dam) has remained at more than 70 percent full and there has been a wealth of species present for some time. Normally there are cormorants, pelicans, striped honeyeaters, fairy wrens, and 5 species of raptors can be observed. I have seen Buff-banded Rail several times during 2011 and Osprey’s have enjoyed the abundant fish population. Tawny Frogmouths nest in a tree next to the parking area. The UBD reference is MAP 86 F11.
From Brisbane take the Samford Road through Ferny Grove onto Samford Village. At the roundabout before the village turn right into Main Street then follow Mount Samson Road for about 13 km. Turn right into Gold’s Scrub Lane. Bring back pack, morning tea, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and please wear walking boots or trainers as the grass can be thick and wet I intend to do a couple of “recce’s” prior to the actual walk so anyone wishing to come along should give me a call early February and we can work out a suitable date.
Thursday 22 March – Brisbane Entertainment Centre Pond & Western Section Of Boondall Wetlands
Leader: Martin Ryan Ph 32567583 or Mob 0437432791
This outing will commence at 7:30am and is on approx 2- 3km of level tracks in two areas not visited by BQ before. We will firstly have a brief look at the birds in the Brisbane Entertainment Centre (BEC) pond area which is a nesting site for water birds, then spend some time exploring the Eucalypt/ Melaleuca/Casuarina woodland of the new western section of Boondall Wetlands Reserve. This section of about 100ha on the western side of the Gateway Motorway was officially added to the Reserve a few years ago and has slashed tracks which may be boggy - (not wheelchair suitable). We will then return to BEC picnic area which has toilets, water and tables. Bring morning tea, insect repellent, sturdy shoes that can get wet. DIRECTIONS: UBD Map 110 Q15. Gates to BEC open
7am. Take Brisbane Entertainment Centre Exit off Gateway Motorway. Meet by the pond near parking area on left side of Melaleuca Drive loop road.
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 outing every Thursday starting at 7.30am. Contact: Colin Collins on 07 5535 5950, Beth Hall on 07 5534 2049 or Jan Clogan on 07 5563 1754 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.
Mabel’s Mates – Cairns.
Have a walk each month. Contact Dawn Magarry- 4053 1183.
Cairns Birding.
Holds regular walks each month- first Sunday at Centenary Lakes, third Sunday a field trip to various locations, and last Friday to the Crocodile Farm. Contact John Seale on 4052 1195 or check their website at www.cairnsbirding.blogspot.com.
