Water Birds Day

Rain was forecast -again- for southern Queensland so we changed our plans, thinking that we could watch water birds from the car. We drove for an hour, almost due west, along the Centenary Highway until we reached the Gatton Campus of the University of Queensland. It's the Agricultural school on a truly enormous site in the Lockyer Valley, which is a vast plain where fruit, vegetables and grain is grown. We toured the site a bit finding delightful Red-rumped Parrots, a flock of about 50 Little Corellas and Scaly-breasted Lorikeets feeding at a grain store.
Scaly-breasted Lorikeets

before locating Galletly Lakes which is a bird reserve. There were hundreds of waterfowl in view, mainly the rather gawky Magpie Geese, delightful Pink-eared Ducks, Plumed Whistling Ducks and Grey Teal.

The few endemic Red-necked Avocets were a world tick, handsome birds. Pam saw a Latham's Snipe in the far reed bed whilst I was photographing. A good spot and a definite Aus tick. Purple Swamphens and a Forest Kingfisher watched over the scene until we dragged ourselves away.
Purple Swamphen


As we walked back hordes of magpie Geese flew in overhead whilst I prayed that they didn't poo. They're huge birds and so much more graceful in flight.

We found an empty car park with a shady awning, parked with doors and windows open and enjoyed a breakfast of muesli and Milo.
Apex Lakes at the nearby town of Gatton are also full of common waterfowl with more cormorants, nesting Cattle Egrets, a single black-billed Royal Spoonbill and a tiny (14-16 cm) Black-fronted Dotterel.

Five species of Bird

Black-fronted Dotterel

Lack of a map of the area prompted a visit to the Information Centre, just a month old and palatial. Most unexpected. After a drink and a shortbread star in the cafe, we set off for Lake Clarendon, stopping at a roadside stall to buy a melon. Served by a lovely elderly couple who had grown the fruit and gave us a slice to taste. We didn't stop for mangoes at 12$ (about £8) a tray of 16.......
The water was miles away at Clarendon, a roadside pool en route was much better, adding a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper and two species of tern to our list.
Lake Atkinson was full of water and also had a speedboat and water skier with two large caravan/awning/ frame tent encampments. BUT, we saw a Wedge-tailed Eagle, A Fish Eagle and two Black Falcons spiralling together. It was now mid-day and still dry. After eating a roll for lunch we returned to Brisbane by a rather circuitous route (lost). The radio told us that there was already a storm in Brissie and we hit the first rain at 1.30, still 30K away.
No big car and family, they'd all gone to see 'Avatar', I'd turned down the offer and Pam never says yes to the cinema. A very pleasant temperature to-day so, we sat out whilst I turned up a pair of shorts (they were too long) for Pam and, cut down a pair of cotton trousers for me. Sara brought me some 'black' thread last night. In the light to-day, it was bottle green.......for blue trousers.
Sara and the boys are wrapping Mike's presents which is fairly entertaining. Josh is often a source of amusement. He was brushing his cheek with his electric toothbrush the other night. Sara asked him what he thought he was doing. It says on the box he says ' for brushing tongue and cheeks'.