One Dimensional Solutions

The floods of 2022 loom large when considering the safety and security of the people of Lismore and its surrounds. Heavy rain in the Richmond Catchment in the Northern Rivers District of New South Wales resulted in a record peak flood height at Lismore of 14.4 metres, with the tragic loss of seven lives and extensive damage to property. So a study by the CSIRO that modelled the entire catchment and the effect of potential mitigation measures has been widely welcomed. The mitigation measures considered in the study were; a total of ten detention basins in the upstream areas, dams that temporarily capture water as it moves down the catchment; and management of the outflow of water in lower reaches as it passes through drains and swamps. Selection of sites for the detention dams were based on local recommendations and their effectiveness. The implementation of all 15 measures showed a significant reduction in flood height, in the order of two metres.

So after last weeks survey of a very extensive bush regeneration project I was astonished to hear that the preferred site for a dam on the Wilson River would flood the entire site we were surveying, including the very spot where the picture below was taken. Not only that, it appears that the detention basin would impact on the Booyong Nature Reserve, one of very few remnants of the massive Big Scrub sub-tropical rainforest that has been 99 percent destroyed by logging and farming over the past century. Surely a very elementary review of the options would have eliminated this location from consideration.

Building new dams will always affect current residents and farmers, and raise economic and environmental issues in their path. The need for balance between present and future needs is ever present in the planning of land use in the Northern Rivers. Approval for housing on land categorised as flood plain or of high environmental value is still happening. Shouldn’t alternative means of mitigation including relocation be considered? Let us hope that the eventual flood mitigation plan for the Richmond Catchment will not involve endangering a rare and valuable remnant of its original vegetation.

One of sixteen Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves counted in last weeks survey. The area this bird and bush occupy would be underwater as part of the mitigation to reduce flooding during times of high rainfall under the CSIRO plan.

Little Eagle at the Wetlands

The Little Eagle is a rare visitor to the Byron Bay Wetlands. That said, Little Eagles do turn up every few years and the bird below has been seen a number of times over the past week. The nearby Byron Waste Water Treatment Plant attracts dozens of Silver Gulls and it looks as though our Little Eagle is picking them off one by one?

This unlucky Silver Gull, captured in the talons of a Little Eagle.

Black Swan Family

After some forty days incubation, the Black Swan family are ready to go!

Good good parenting skills on show for this young family.

Broken Head Nature Reserve

At Broken Head Nature Reserve lush sub-tropical rainforest meets the surf on Australia’s easternmost beach. Just south of Byron Bay, the headlands provide access to a long stretch of beautiful and private beaches, and a wild rocky coastline. The offshore rocks are home to Silver Gulls and cormorants. There is always something of interest to see here.

A Pacific Reef Heron forages in a weedy pond.

Two Sooty Oystercatchers look like they’re shopping for dinner.

Winter Quiet Time

The Byron Bay Wetlands are quiet at the moment. Bird numbers are low and water birds have virtually deserted the ponds. But look carefully and many of the regulars are still around. Lots of Lewin’s Honeyeaters calling, Rainbow Bee-eaters still chirping, Brown Honeyeaters are still active, the Comb-crested Jacanas are on I Cell, the Pied Butcherbird is singing and Rainbow Lorikeets are barn-storming across the sky. Numbers of some species have grown, Grey Fantails abound and there is a Willie Wagtail on every corner. Today a Grey Goshawk made a surprise appearance and the Black Swan is still on the nest.

In the reed beds the grassbirds and Golden-headed Cisticolas (above) are getting active.

This Grey Fantail commandeered this perch above the pond on I Cell and was making repeated scoops across the water for flying insects.

A single Varied Triller counted on a survey on I Cell. Other interesting birds seen included a Black-shouldered Kite, a pair of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, and a Grey Goshawk.

And a single Shining Bronze-Cuckoo.

And a single Eastern Yellow Robin.

This Grey Goshawk seen unexpectedly in a low bush.

This Black Swan is nesting in the wetlands, the first for several years to do so. Note that this photo was taken with a telescopic lens from over 50 metres away, on a public walkway. Every care taken to ensure that the swan was not disturbed.

A Forest Kingfisher finds a suitable perch.

While the Forest Kingfisher is feeding a Willie Wagtail moves in.

This perch is getting very popular. Now a Little Black Cormorant takes it over.

A Pacific Black Duck enjoying the winter sunshine.

Look at me!

This male Superb Fairy-wren spent 10 minutes on the car mirror. Landing on top, peering into the mirror and fluttering around its image. It was hard to tell if it was a case of vanity, or an attack on the strange bird in the mirror?

Bangalow Creek Reserve

Byron Creek flows through the town of Bangalow, one of the hinterland towns close to Byron Bay. The Byron Creek Walking Track is accessed from Piccabeen Park, and passes though remnant bush home to the local birdlife. Last weeks visit revealed the usual Lewin’s Honeyeaters, White-headed and Topknot Pigeons, Grey Shrikethrush and Rufous Whistlers, some Noisy Miners and various ducks. Also the Pacific Baza photographed below. There is a small but vocal bat colony in the park.

Grey-headed Flying-fox colony in Piccabeen Park, Bangalow.

An unusual visitor in Bangalow, a Pacific Baza.

Back to the Landing Lights Wetland

The Landing Lights Wetland is, true to description, located on the south side of Sydney International Airport close to the landing lights. The site is a saline wetland and contains threatened salt marsh vegetation, a remnant of the Cook river’s original flow. The wetlands were restored a few years ago with board walks and paths and signs to inform the public. Unfortunately it is now neglected, overgrown and in need of repair. This does not necessarily deter the birdlife though.

Chestnut Teals are such beautiful birds, the first I have seen for a while. There were 12 present this week.

A Great Egret prepares to leave, with Chestnut Teal in the background. Other birds seen included a White-faced Heron, Australian White Ibis, one Pacific Black Duck and one Hardhead. Around the pond were Superb Fairy-wren, Red-browed Finches, Grey Fantails and a Grey Shrike-thrush.

This sign is still where it was last year and no sign of the action suggested in the print.

A Red-browed Finch feeds on one of the paths through the wetland.

Three Pied Stilts graced the day, feeding in the largest pond.

Byron Bay Wetlands in March

The weed reduction in I Cell is still working with more water birds than before. Over one third of the area is now open water and Black-fronted Dotterels, Comb-crested Jacanas, and Pied Stilts are back. There was a single Latham’s Snipe on H Cell on the 5th March, the only one I have seen in the past two weeks and perhaps it may be the last to leave for its flight to Japan.

The were two White-bellied Sea-Eagles near the car park last week, and not surprisingly no sign of the Forest Kingfisher family that had been seen there the week before.

There were six Comb-crested Jacanas enjoying some open water on the newly cleared I Cell, the most seen together for a while.

This Dusky Moorhen ventured out on H pond; normally the Moorhens prefer well secluded spots in the melaleuca wetlands.

A happy Willie Wagtail eating breakfast.

Flat Rock Ballina heads to Autumn

March arrives and the migratory birds that use Flat Rock at Ballina are leaving soon for the northern hemisphere. This is an important time for undisturbed feeding before the long journey. While Flat Rock is favoured by many vulnerable species in this part of the coast, the rocks are often frequented by selfie takers, fossickers, and despite the signs, dogs.

Red-necked Stints travel to Siberia to breed. The characteristic red neck develops through March before their departure in April.

The Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, another species that breeds in Siberia and a regular during the summer at Flat Rock.

Red-necked Stints feeding while a Curlew Sandpiper probes for worms in a rock-pool. The Curlew is showing a hint of colour as departure looms. Nearby, Ruddy Turnstones were feeding.

The Greater Sand Plover has a large, somewhat cumbersome bill. Altogether it is a bulky unit. Presumable this single plover at Flat Rock will soon head to the deserts of central Asia to breed.

A regular resident this Great Cormorant uses Flat Rock as a base It is often seen fishing in waves that break parallel to he rocks.

Flat Rock is also a favourite spot for Crested Terns. Other terns seen on the day were Common Terns and the endangered Little Terns.

As the sun started to set this Beach-stone Curlew arrived, searching for its favourite food, crabs!

Byron Bay Wetlands in February

The Wetland’s management are continuing to wrestle with massive infestations of water weeds. Spraying with weed killer in Cell I has made a significant improvement, with large patches of open water returning bordered by a growing ring of mudflats. The pond is now attracting numbers of waterbirds including Pacific Black Ducks, Grey Teal, Australian White Ibis, Royal Spoonbills, Black-fronted Dotterels, Red-kneed Dotterels, Pied Stilts, Comb-crested Jacanas, and good numbers of Latham’s Snipes.

A Grey Teal in Cell I, with a Masked Lapwing and Latham’s Snipe behind.

This Black-fronted Dotterel was on Cell H, which is still heavily infested with Salvinia weed. It looks as though the weevils introduced to control the weed are fighting a loosing battle at the moment.

Red-browed Finch feeding on the path between I Cell and J Cell.

This Pheasant Coucal was waiting in the car park when I arrived.

One of the Brush Cuckoos that has been calling in the melaleuca wetlands.

Three Latham’s Snipes and a Masked Lapwing enjoying the open water on Cell I.

Mount Jerusalem

Mount Jerusalem National Park is 50km inland from Byron Bay and lies within the International Birdlife Nightcap Range Important Biodiversity Area (IBA). It is part of the outer rim of the the Tweed/Mount Warning volcano caldera, a volcano that was active 23 million years ago. Water runoff from the park drains into three catchments, the Tweed River, Brunswick River and the Wilson/Richmond River.

On a short walk from the car park, down Middle Ridge Road, we heard Brown Cuckoo-Doves, Spotted Pardalotes, White-throated Scrubwren, Crimson Rosellas, Brown Thornbills, Golden Whistlers, a Grey Shrike-thrush, and saw the two Pacific Baza photographed below. Middle Ridge Road is on rocks formed in the Triassic period, the Chillingham Volcanics which have reappeared as the newer volcanic rock above them was eroded away. It has open wet sclerophyll eucalypts on one side and a more rainforest type flora on the other.

A Pacific Baza, still in juvenile plumage, seen on Middle Ridge Road in Mount Jerusalem National Park.

The two juvenile Pacific Bazas together.

Sandhills Wetland opened in Byron Bay

The restored Sandhills Wetlands recently opened close to the Byron Bay town centre. The area was heavily mined for sand in the 1960s and this destroyed the original wetlands. Across the 1.8 hectare site are three ponds, a network of shared paths and seating. The new wetlands aim to improve water quality of the outflow onto the beach and to provide environment for wildlife. The Byron Bird Buddies are surveying to establish the initial bird populations. Forty species were counted at last weeks survey.

Welcome Swallow have moved into the new wetlands along with Australian Ibis, Masked Lapwings, with visits from herons, Royal Spoonbills and a Little Egret.

A view across the largest pond of the new Sandhills Wetland. Good numbers of Figbirds, Noisy Friarbirds, Little Wattlebirds as well as Noisy Miners and Common Mynas were counted.

It was encouraging to see some small birds including White-browed Scrubwrens and Superb Fairy-wrens.

The wetlands will clean up waterways used by some regular visitors to the Byron beaches including the Beach Stone-curlews.

Red-Kneed Dotterel at Byron Bay Wetlands

The water weed Salvinia invaded the waterways of the Byron Bay Wetlands, covering most of the free water areas, making them unusable for the waterbirds that normally visit. Salvinia is a very hard pest to get rid of and efforts to date have not been that successful.

A few weeks ago Cell I of the wetlands was sprayed with an approved weed killer. The results have been promising with the opening of a large area of free water. Even more encouraging has been the return of a limited number of water birds, including two Red-Kneed Dotterels, a bird that has not been seen in the wetlands for several years.

A pair of Red-kneed Dotterels return to the Byron Bay Wetlands after several years absence.

The view across Cell I after spraying to control the Savlinia weed that had totally covered it.

A Comb-crested Jacana comes out of the Melaleuca swamp to feed on top of the remaining Salvinia water week on Cell I.

Scarlet Jezebel

The Scarlet Jezebel belongs to a butterfly family found in Australia and New Guinea. The Scarlet Jezebel is seen in Australia’s northern states. The caterpillars feed exclusively on mistletoes.

A Scarlet Jezebel Butterfly, photographed in Byron Bay.

This Scarlet Jezebel is laying its eggs below a patch of mistletoe. Hopefully the caterpillas will climb to the mistletoe to feed.

Byron Bay birds

Photos taken around the bay in recent weeks.

Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove photographed on the “old”" New Brighton Road pathway.

A Red-backed Fairy-wren taken at the "old” New Brighton road pathway.

Golden-headed Cisticola singing loudly from a tree top in the Byron Bay Wetlands.

Summer arrives at Byron Bay Wetlands

Summer arrives at Byron Bay Wetlands. Out in the bay the East Australian Current is running close to the coastline and because it is two to three degrees Celsius warmer than normal, this adds to the intensity of rain and persistent thunderstorms.

At the wetlands weeds have overgrown large areas of free water; this has happened at an incredible pace. Salvinia has covered H cell, normally the largest area of water, with a thick blanket of weed. Frogbit has taken over in parts of the melaleuca swamps. Bare mudflat has all but disappeared, reducing the desirability for water birds and shore birds, sightings are very low. However numbers of woodland and forest birds on the site are holding up, with last weeks survey counting 72 species in total on the morning. (A map of the wetlands can be seen at the Byron Bird Buddies website.)

This White-bellied Sea-Eagle regularly scows the wetlands creating havoc amongst the inhabitants. Here it is watching from a perch in the rainforest section adjacent to H cell.

We counted 12 Latham’s Snipe in the wetland during the national Snipe survey in November and at last week’s survey the count was still10 birds, 9 of them in the reedy end of E Cell and one in H Cell.

Seven Nankeen Night Herons graced the wetlands last year. So it was exciting to count seven again this week, including one immature bird. After flushing from the pond the Nankeen Night-Heron shown retreated to the line of trees behind E Cell.

Salvinia molesta is a Brazilian water fern introduced to enhance goldfish bowls and now a scourge for Australian waterways. The photo shows the brown weed completely covering what is normally the largest area of open water, H Cell, a feat it achieved in a few weeks. The infestation is being treated with a weevil but progress has been slow. Frogbit has covered areas within the Melaleuca swamps and these are currently being sprayed.

‍ ‍There have been a lot of Brush Cuckoos calling across the wetlands.

But they are not always welcome, as this Leaden Flycatcher sends the intruder on its way.

Laughing Kookaburras are getting the same treatment. There were at least three pairs of Leaden Flycatchers in breeding mode within the melaleuca swamps.

This Black-shouldered Kite was very possessive about its perch overlooking E Cell, seeing off a second Kite who tried to muscle in.

A young Australian Magpie making a lot of noise.

One of the many Lewin’s Honeyeaters that inhabit the wetlands, feeding in the carpark.

Lake Wivenhoe

Lake Wivenhoe is the largest lake in South East Queensland and provides more than half of the region's drinking water. The shoreline is mainly grazed pasture with occasional scrub and trees. The lake attracts a variety of water and other bird species. The pictures below were taken at Hamon Cove Recreation Cove on the western side of the lake.

Water birds seen included Great Crested Grebes, Hardheads, Pacific Black Ducks, Darters, Little Pied and Little Black Cormorants.

Yellow-rumped Thornbills were active in the car park, along with Masked Lapwings, Magpies, Little Friarbirds, Noisy Friarbirds and Striped Honeyeaters. Red-backed Fairy-wren, Superb Fairy-wren and Tawny Grassbirds were plentiful in surrounding areas of long grass.

A Little Friarbird feeding in the car park at Hamon Cove Recreation Cove on Lake Wivenhoe.

Evening at Tallow Beach

The evening light in Byron Bay can be magical. The old sewerage works at Tallow Beach is a good place to take advantage of the light and also to see some interesting birds. The photos below were taken there just before sunset a few weeks ago.

Pied Oyster Catchers

Brahminy Kite

Little Egret

Beach Stone-curlews

Royal Spoonbill

Varied Triller

A young Varied Triller waits for a feed.

Ravensbourne

Ravensbourne in Queensland is an elevated area just north of Toowoomba in the Darling Downs. The Ravensbourne National Park is considered the best remaining example of the rainforest that originally covered this part of the Great Dividing Range. Ferns, elkhorns and fungi cover the forest floor amongst tall trees and Bangalow palms. A three day stay in the area resulted in a 56 species bird list that included Catbirds, Cicadabirds and Bowerbirds, and Wompoo and Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves.

Several families of Rufous Fantail were busy close to our accommodation, but it took the full three days before this bird posed for its photograph.

Eastern Yellow Robins added to a dawn chorus that included Golden Whistlers, Grey Shrike-thrush and the rainforest birds mentioned above.

A constant companion, the Black-faced Monarch could be heard making its scratchy call.

Two mean looking critters, a pair of Spangled Drongos.