A few days around Brisbane

Red-necked Pademelon

Decided to treat myself for my birthday this year and so headed up to Brisbane for a few days taking in State of Origin with the boys followed by a quiet weekend with Emily in the Lamington National Park.

Pre-game at Suncorp Stadium

Origin is the biggest and best rugby league event of the year consisting of a three game series between NSW and Queensland with an intensity and standard way higher than internationals even. The Queenslanders take it especially seriously and after winning the last 8 series in a row the NSW boys were generally not given much of a chance. However a fantastic game of footie and an heroic performance saw the Blues run out 12-8 winners to silence the 50-odd thousand locals. A tremendous start to the holiday!  

Kick-off!

After a couple of days in Brisbane, Emily and I headed south to the Border Ranges and Lamington National Park. O'Reilly's rainforest retreat is well known among birders and the surrounding forest holds a few regional specialties. After perfect Queensland weather for the first few days in Brisbane we awoke at O'Reilly's to find the rain set in. With my new contacts causing me grief and my specs covered with water I couldn't really see much at all but still managed to bag the magnificent Regent Bowerbird #445 before breakfast and Emily spotted me a Paradise Riflebird #446 when we headed out into the forest.

Contemplating the rainforest

Things then got miserable as my vision reduced further and when Emily saw an Albert's Lyrebird down in a gully I didn't stand a chance. Swearing I'd give up the birding for good I was somewhat buoyed by a lovely dinner in the lodge restaurant followed by a bottle of wine in the hot-tubs and by next morning I was ready to go again. 

The rain had lifted and I had Russet-tailed Thrush #447 early doors and a lyrebird calling close by in the undergrowth but again it refused to show itself. After checking out we had time for one last walk and, approaching a particularly large tree, the familiar call of the lyrebird was heard once more coming from behind said trunk. We froze and a moment later the Albert's Lyrebird #448 finally showed itself in the middle of the track before spotting us and silently skulking away. Four ticks in a day and a half. Result!

Early morning Wonga Pigeon

I should also start a bedroom list I think as we had White-browed Scrubwren under the coffee table and Lewin's Honeyeater on a bedside chair!