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| Junction of the Logan River & Burnett Creek, Rathdowney, Qld, Sept 2014 |
During the September holidays we spent three nights camping at Rathdowney, South-East Queensland, on a private property bordered by the Logan River and Burnett Creek. We had a really enjoyable time and loved compiling a bird and wildlife list during our stay. The children had a great time swimming in the cool water of the river and along with plenty of walking, eating and playing, it was a relaxing few days.
The highlight of our stay, would have to be that Brendon was very fortunate to have his first sighting of the ever elusive platypus in the Logan River. He was very blessed to see it on two consecutive days while out in the kayak, late in the afternoon, the second afternoon it appeared right next to his kayak and took a good look at him! I however, despite getting up very early each morning and many hours spent sitting on the river bank didn't get to experience this much sought-after sighting this time around. It was really wonderful to know that these special creatures are surviving and that they are safe from harm on a property such as the one we stayed at and we felt blessed to be able to share the area with them for a short time.
The area we stayed is very beautiful, but I must admit I was a little overwhelmed by the amount of environmental weeds on the river banks, mainly cats claw creeper which was taking over an extensive area and was out of control. The native lomandras and bottle brush trees were beautiful and made for very picturesque waterways.We both took many photos during our stay and have included some of the better ones.
We took a couple of drives to explore a few local areas including Maroon Dam
(see other post) and also explored the banks of the Burnett Creek near the roadsides (see pics at end of this post). It was great to get away, however three nights is never enough when you want to really unwind. We would definitely recommend the Rathdowney area for anyone looking for a relaxing time in the bush with easy access to the local rivers and creeks, and of course the chance of seeing a platypus in the wild.
J & B
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| The beautiful Logan River at Rathdowney - Sept 2014 |
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| Mt Maroon, Rathdowney, Queensland September 2014 |
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| Silvereye feeding on the Bottlebrush Flowers at Rathdowney, Sept 14 |
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| The surprisingly well camouflaged Scarlett Honeyeater in a flowering Bottle brush Tree at Rathdowney |
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| Azure Kingfisher watches over the Logan River at Rathdowney |
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| White-cheeked Honeyeater, Rathdowney Sept 14 |
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| White-cheeked Honeyeater, Rathdowney Sept 14 |
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| Red-backed Fairy Wren, Rathdowney Sept 14 |
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| We saw this Laughing Kookaburra each day near our campsite,easily recognizable without it's tail feathers! It managed however to fly to low branches and source worms within the grass below. We wondered how it had the misfortune of losing all of the tail feathers! |
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| Little Friarbird at Rathdowney, Sept 14 |
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| Grey Shrike-Thrush, Rathdowney, Qld Sept 14 |
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| Male Australian King Parrot feeding on the fruit of a Wild Tobacco Tree (Environmental Weed) at Rathdowney Sept 14 |
BIRDS & WILDLIFE LIST FROM OUR STAY AT RATHDOWNEY:
| Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata) |
| Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa) |
| Brown Quail (Coturnix ypsilophora) |
| Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius) |
| White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica) |
| White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) |
| Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax) |
| White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) |
| Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles) |
| Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis) |
| Brown Cuckoo-Dove (Australian) (Macropygia phasianella) |
| Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes) |
| Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida) |
| Southern Boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae) |
| Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) |
| Azure Kingfisher (Ceyx azureus) |
| Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) |
| Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis) |
| Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla) |
| Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) |
| Australian King-Parrot (Alisterus scapularis) |
| Pale-headed Rosella (Platycercus adscitus) |
| Little Lorikeet (Glossopsitta pusilla) |
| Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus) |
| Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus) |
| Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) |
| Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus) |
| Lewin's Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii) |
| Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala) |
| Scarlet Honeyeater (Myzomela sanguinolenta) |
| Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta) |
| White-cheeked Honeyeater (Phylidonyris niger) |
| Blue-faced Honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis) |
| Little Friarbird (Philemon citreogularis) |
| Noisy Friarbird (Philemon corniculatus) |
| White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis) |
| White-throated Gerygone (Gerygone olivacea) |
| Eastern Whipbird (Psophodes olivaceus) |
| Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) |
| Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina) |
| Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) |
| Grey Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla harmonica) |
| Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys) |
| Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca) |
| Torresian Crow (Corvus orru) |
| Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) |
| Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) |
| Red-browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis) |
OTHER SPECIES SEEN AT RATHDOWNEY:
Platypus
Common Brushtail Possum
Red-necked Wallaby
Evidence of Bandicoots daily
Microbats
Stoney Creek Frog - Male's with bright yellow breeding colour
Eastern Sedgefrog
Common Green Tree Frog
Carpet Python
Eastern Water Dragon
Short-necked Turtle
Eel
Eel Tailed Cat Fish
Bass
European Carp (Pest)
Fireflys
Lesser Wanderer Butterfly
Dainty Swallowtail Butterfly
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Common Brushtail Possums were a welcome sight at night, many with little babies on back. They were very quite and used to campers and we loved observing them. These possums were a lot more ginger brown in colour than the ones we have at home.
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| Red-necked Wallaby at Rathdowney, Sept 14 |
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| Logan River at Rathdowney - a great swimming hole for the kids. |
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| Our Camping Spot at Rathdowney for a few days in the September Holidays 2014. |
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| Beautiful flowering grasses on the edges of the Logan River, Rathdowney, Sept 14 |
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| Short-necked Turtle in the Logan River, Rathdowney, Sept 2014 |
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| Eastern Water Dragon, Rathdowney, Sept 14 |
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| Can you see me? Brendon did well to spot this Carpet Python in the reeds on the edge of the Burnett Creek while kayaking at Rathdowney, Sept 14. |
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| Carpet Python in the weeds on the edge of Burnett Creek, Rathdowney, September 14 |
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| Lesser Wander Butterfly, Rathdowney, Sept 14 |
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| Eastern Sedgefrog at Rathdowney, found on the edge of the Logan River, September 14. |
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| Male Stoney Creek Frog with bright yellow breeding colours on the Logan River, Rathdowney, Sept 14. |
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| The largest Common Green Tree Frog we have ever seen, poised on the top of the ledge of the amenities building at Rathdowney. It was so big I was sure it had to be a Magnificent Tree Frog, except for the fact that they don't live in South-East Queensland. |
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| Huge Common Green Tree Frog, Rathdowney, Qld, September 2014 |
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| Noisy Friarbird at Rathdowney, Sept 14. |
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| The Azure Kingfishers were stunning - one could never tire of watching them dive in and out of the water and flying swiftly along the river. |
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| Logan River - ideal platypus habitat at Rathdowney. |
BURNETT CREEK
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| Burnett Creek, Rathdowney, September 2014 |
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| Only seconds after I said "watch out for snakes" Brendon saw this Carpet Python well hidden in the grasses on the edge of the Burnett Creek, Rathdowney. |
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| Carpet Python at Burnett Creek, Rathdowney |
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| Superb Blue Wren, Burnett Creek, Rathdowney |
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| We stopped under this beautiful tree on the edge of Burnett Creek at Rathdowney. |
That whole area is a secret wildlife hotspot, I reckon! Amazing spotting skills to find that Python in the reeds, that is incredible! I loved the frog shots too and yes, that Greenie looks MASSIVE! The photograph of it looking at the camera with that huge grin is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI did a plant survey along the Logan River a few months ago (you can read more here: http://wildbrisbane.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/july-wildlife-report.html) and was disappointed by the out-of-control weeds along the banks. There's not a lot of public access to the river either, which was surprising. Overall, the poor Logan River seems a little neglected but maybe that's why so much wildlife still survives there.
What an amazing post! All these different kind of birds and animals! Your photos are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteGreat post and pics Judith. Thanks for sharing your Rathdowney experience.
ReplyDeleteI have just discovered your beautiful and informative blog. I was so engrossed in reading it that I forgot I was cooking dinner and burnt the pot!
ReplyDelete