Urunga Boardwalk

                                 

Check my birding map for specific location.

We went to several spots around Urunga but none compared to the amazing boardwalk. It stretches along the Kalang River, then meets the Bellinger River before heading out to sea. It took us over 30 minutes to walk it and although it was a fairly gloomy day, the views were fabulous.

Terns were hawking along the rivers and flying around the headland. The only ones I managed to shoot were the largest, the Great Crested. I am still working on getting them in a full dive.

Great Crested Tern

As we walked back along the boardwalk we saw hundreds of Little Black Cormorant flying across the river. They were too far away to photograph and although we did track them across the water to Yellow Rock Island, we couldn't get over there. It was a shame because the island shores was full of oystercatchers, cormorants and terns. What we did see was a Little Pied Cormorant fishing in one of the pools formed by the incoming tide underneath the boardwalk.

Little Pied Cormorant

Also under the boardwalk were groups of Soldier Crabs. I have never seen them before and they were fantastic to watch as they scurried around, sifting through the sand for bugs.

Soldier Crabs

In between the boardwalk and the river proper was a retaining wall which seemed to be made from reclaimed blocks of slate. Where the water spilled into the area, a more natural looking wall stopped the river claiming the whole area. Although flooded at high tide, this area was home to godwits, gulls, curlews and this lovely Whimbrel who sat very nicely for me on the wall.

Whimbrel

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St Lawrence Wetlands

 

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Halfway between Mackay and Rockhampton, just off the main highway is St Lawrence. The wetlands are fed by the creek flowing in from the ocean. This gives the area a terrific level of biodiversity. Luckily for me, the township provides a free campground right on the edge of the wetlands and a short walk away is a lookout over the water. It was quite breath-taking.

Male Red-winged Parrot

Female Red-winged Parrot

I parked the van under a tree for shade and was immediately treated to a gaggle of Red-winged Parrots chatting away above me. I love these birds and it was lovely to watch them, especially in such bright plumage.

Channel-billed Cuckoo

You could drive through the wetlands on a causeway, which was alarming at times as it was covered in water. Across the other side were trees lining the road and I spotted a pair of Channel-billed Cuckoo sitting quietly. I love this enormous cuckoo, the hornbills of Australia.

Wetlands causeway

Wallabies and kangaroo were present all through this area, usually gathered in families centred around the female with very young and older juveniles hanging around. The big males were often alone and no wonder. They are so big that they are quite scary!

Male Eastern Grey Kangaroo

At the wetlands themselves, there were plenty of small birds flitting about and I sat for a while trying to keep track of them and possibly get some shots off. It is always lovely when I am travelling as visiting new areas brings new species of birds and this was no exception. The plaintive call of the Little Grassbird was a suitable background for the lovely lilt of the Singing Bushlark. 

Little Grassbird

Juvenile Male Red-backed Fairywren

Singing Bushlark

Back at the campsite at dusk, hundreds of Rainbow Lorikeet came in to roost and the doves and pigeons scoured the ground for a last meal. I was really pleased to see the southern species of the Squatter Pigeon that has much less colouring on the face to the more common northern species we have in Far North Queensland.

Squatter Pigeon

eBird Lists

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Fivebough Wetlands

 

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Now heading west from Wagga Wagga, I made a stop at Leeton to go to Fivebough Wetlands. Talk about right place, right time. A few weeks ago, the whole area had been flooded and there were no birds to be seen. On my visit, the water was much lower and the birdlife was incredible. On my first visit, I spent over 6 hours wandering around and counted nearly 60 species. 

Crakes

Australian Spotted Crake (Porzana fluminea)

Spotless Crake (Zapornia tabuensis)

Egrets & Herons

Great Egret (Ardea alba) & Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia)

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Juvenile Nankeen Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus)

Adult Nankeen Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus)

Pacific Heron (Ardea pacifica)

Other Birds

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)

Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes)

Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris)

eBird Lists

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Wonga Wetlands

 

Check my birding map for specific location.

Wonga Wetlands are just west of Albury and as I can never pass up a visit to the dwindling number of wetlands, I headed there after staying in what has just been voted the best town in Australia.

It was a gloomy day and there had been rain but undaunted, I headed onto the walk around the wetlands. It seemed quiet and subdued as I walked through the huge trees and round the waterways. 

White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)

I first spotted a White-faced Heron sitting out on a log. I love these little herons, they are very elegant and restrained not like the noisy and boisterous White-necked Heron. 

Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)

Next up were some Welcome Swallow darting along the river. I caught up with a few resting on logs over the water.

Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia)

The denser trees gave way to more open land and a larger body of water that was thick with reeds around the edges. In the middle was a huge dead tree and Great Egrets and Royal Spoonbill were chattering and jostling for position.

Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa)

On my way back to the van, I heard the delicious trill that I recognised as the Yellow-rumped Thornbill. They always sound so happy.

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Boggy Bridge Visits 4 & 5

 

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So I am back at the little spot in the wetlands again for my final few visits. It looks barren here but it is teeming with life and I am so happy to have found this little spot as the birds have the choice to go anywhere. And they do when they are flushed. They just disappear and you are lucky to see them again. But in this area there are lots of birds and when they disappear, others turn up to replace them. 

As usual, the Spotted Crake was running around at my feet. I sat in the van and watched for a while as I was sure I had seen more than one. There were at least 4 in this area which was just wonderful.

Australia Spotted Crake (Porzana fluminea)

The grebes were out in good numbers and unusually, they were quite tolerant of me. For the first time I saw the Hoary-headed Grebe here as well.

Australian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)

Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus)

The Purple Swamphen were placidly milling about as usual but I got a nice shot of one just standing in the right light.

Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus)

On the far side of the small creek I explored a bit further and was rewarded with Red-kneed Dotterel and White-fronted Chat. 

White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons)

Red-kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus)

As I walked back towards the van I flushed a raptor from the other side of the road. It flew up to a nearby tree and I snapped away, not sure what species it was. The light was right in my eyes so I worked my way around it and it was very tolerant. Turned out to be a juvenile Brown Goshawk and what a beauty!

Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus)

Back on the main road, as I was leaving, there are several signs warning of turtle crossing. You never see the animals on these signs and on my first visit I sneered a little at them. Today, I see something on the road. As I get closer, I see that it is a Long-necked Turtle. I shoot it from a distance and then closer up. It was quite big and although I was nervous about picking it up, I moved it to the other side of the road. 

Long-necked Turtle (Chelodina longicollis)

eBird Lists

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Tabilk Wetlands

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The Tabilk Wetlands are on the other side of the river to the Major Creek campsite and they are managed by the local winery. They do an incredible job with impeccable grounds and a wonderful natural resource that they allow anyone to access for a gold coin donation. I loved it there when I visited in 2019 and I did this time too.  

There was lots of activity with more fairywren than I think I have seen anywhere. Scrubwren and honeyeaters flitted about the scrub and trees respectively and ducks swam in the river with their young. The track winds through these areas, along the river, across wetlands and skirting the vines. There were Sacred Kingfisher everywhere but they were too busy to stop for me. I did get an Azure Kingfisher near the entrance which was a real thrill. They are so tiny and so vibrant. I hung around the main bridge for a while and the bird became quite unconcerned by me.

Azure Kingfisher (Ceyx azureus)

Close to one of the hides, I heard an odd call. I couldn't place it so I looked for its owner. Several Little Friarbirds were responsible, chasing each other around. I guess it is a sign that I am getting further north as I see these different birds. 

Little Friarbird (Philemon citreogularis)

Towards the end of the track, I watched an anhinga taking off and circling the water. A female (pale body) and they are much shyer than the males so she didn't entertain me and disappeared down the river.

Australasian Darter (Anhinga melanogaster)

On my way back, I heard Laughing Kookaburra with their characteristic cackle. I think this is a juvenile because of its very short bill. Still made plenty of noise though.

Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)

My find of the day, however, was coming out of a hide and movement caught my attention. I looked up to see a ball of fir sitting in the fork of a tree. Unusual to see a possum sitting out in the daylight I thought. Only it wasn't.

It was a Koala Bear. 

My first.

To my shame, a long time ago I paid to have a 'Koala Experience' and I held a captive animal. I can't fathom why we thought it was ok, even then. It was impossibly cute but nothing compares to seeing one in the wild. 

It noticed me and peered down curiously at me. It was absolutely magical. I watched it for a while as it shuffled its position, looked around, scratched its nose and then decided that I wasn't all that and went to sleep. I will never forget that! 

Some other highlights were a family of Welcome Swallow zooming around me on the bridge. This young bird took a breather but still kept an eye on me.

Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)

Then there was this sleept Eastern Rosella. I think the heat had made it too tired to be shy of me. 

Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius)

And my first Dollarbirds of the year!

Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis)

eBird Lists

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