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Lake Broadwater

Sacred kingfisher – Todiramphus sanctus Photo: Howard Ward

Braving dense fog (in Toowoomba) and hordes of mosquitoes on site, 11 birders visited Lake Broadwater (via Dalby) early on 10 February for the fourth excursion to this conservation park by BirdLife’s Darling Downs group.

Australasian Darter – Anhinga novaehollandiae Photo: Howard Ward

The mostly overcast sky was at least helpful in keeping temperatures down and while beside the lake the persistent light easterly dispersed the bothersome insects.

Apostlebird – Struthidea cinerea Photo: Howard Ward

The first three visits by our group to this park had been in winter, so this was our first summer encounter. On this occasion, our teams re-surveyed five of the 2 hectare, 20 minute sites established on previous visits and added another of these standardised surveys nearby. Some incidental observations were documented as well.

Australian pelican – Pelecanus conspicillatus Photo: Howard Ward

Our efforts meant that a wide range of habitats was included: woodlands of poplar box, native Callitris pine, and red gums, and mixed grey box, brigalow and belah; also short tussock grassland and lake edge wetland. Lake Broadwater had filled to capacity from summer rain and inflow, causing waterbirds to disperse—they were also discouraged by speed boating on the open lake, a popular recreation here at this time of year.

Whistling kite – Haliastur sphenurus Photo: Howard Ward

Altogether, 50 bird species were recorded on the day, a reasonable outcome for mainly plot-based effort, summer conditions and scarcity of waterbirds. The few lake edge birds included a group of seven Great Crested Grebes displaced from mid-lake, three White-bellied Sea-Eagles, and a tight flock of (unusually) 15 White-necked Herons passing overhead.

Nankeen kestrel – Falco cenchroides Photo: Howard Ward
Australian King-Parrot – Alisterus scapularis Photo: Howard Ward
Grey-crowned babbler – Pomatostomus temporalis Photo: Howard Ward
Pied Cormorant – Phalacrocorax varius Photo: Howard Ward
Rufous Whistler – Pachycephala rufiventris Photo: Howard Ward
Scaly-breasted lorikeet – Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus Photo: Howard Ward
Striated Pardalote – Pardalotus striatus Photo: Howard Ward
Sulphur-crested cockatoo – Cacatua galerita Photo: Howard Ward

This is the full list from the visit:

ApostlebirdStruthidea cinerea
Australasian DarterAnhinga novaehollandiae
Australian MagpieGymnorhina tibicen
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikeCoracina novaehollandiae
Brown HoneyeaterLichmera indistincta
Caspian TernHydroprogne caspia
CockatielNymphicus hollandicus
Crested PigeonOcyphaps lophotes
Double-barred FinchTaeniopygia bichenovii
Eastern Yellow RobinEopsaltria australis
GalahEolophus roseicapilla
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatus
Great Pied CormorantPhalacrocorax varius
Grey FantailRhipidura albiscapa
Grey TealAnas gracilis
Grey-crowned BabblerPomatostomus temporalis
Inland ThornbillAcanthiza apicalis
Little CorellaCacatua sanguinea
Magpie-larkGrallina cyanoleuca
MistletoebirdDicaeum hirundinaceum
Nankeen KestrelFalco cenchroides
Noisy MinerManorina melanocephala
Oriental DollarbirdEurystomus orientalis
Pale-headed RosellaPlatycercus adscitus
Peaceful DoveGeopelia placida
Pied ButcherbirdCracticus nigrogularis
Plumed Whistling-DuckDendrocygna eytoni
Rainbow Bee-eaterMerops ornatus
Red-winged ParrotAprosmictus erythropterus
Rufous WhistlerPachycephala rufiventris
Sacred KingfisherTodiramphus sanctus
Scaly-breasted LorikeetTrichoglossus chlorolepidotus
Spangled DrongoDicrurus bracteatus
Spiny-cheeked HoneyeaterAcanthagenys rufogularis
Straw-necked IbisThreskiornis spinicollis
Striated PardalotePardalotus striatus
Stubble QuailCoturnix pectoralis
Sulphur-crested CockatooCacatua galerita
Superb Fairy-wrenMalurus cyaneus
Torresian CrowCorvus orru
Wedge-tailed EagleAquila audax
WeebillSmicrornis brevirostris
Whistling KiteHaliastur sphenurus
White-bellied Sea-EagleHaliaeetus leucogaster
White-necked HeronArdea pacifica
White-plumed HoneyeaterPtilotula penicillata
White-throated TreecreeperCormobates leucophaea
Willie WagtailRhipidura leucophrys
Yellow ThornbillAcanthiza nana
Yellow-faced HoneyeaterCaligavis chrysops