Brief trip report – Mackay area and Central Queensland

Brief trip report – Mackay to Melbourne

I recently was fortunate to spend a week from Central Queensland back to Melbourne with Rohan Clarke largely looking for wildlife with an emphasis on mammals. He had spent three weeks travelling up when I flew into meet him so will likely post a more comprehensive report.

Day 1: Flew into Mackay late afternoon and we spent an unsuccessful evening looking for Water Mouse in mangroves south of Mackay

Day 2: Birded around Mackay and Eungella then spotlit from Crediton State Forest to Broken River to Eungella Dam. Highlights of 5 glider species including Central Greater, Yellow-bellied, Squirrel and Broad-toed Feather-tailed Glider as well as Unadorned Rock-wallaby, Rufous Bettong and some nice bats.

Day 3: A bit of birding and exploring then a night spotlighting Homevale NP. Highlights of Rufous Bettong, Dingo, Squirrel Glider and some bats.

Day 4: Epic day! Had permission to enter Epping Forest NP to test some thermal gear. Highlights of Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat! And Spectacled Hare-wallaby as well as being in an awesome place!

Day 5: Could it get any better? Had also permission to visit Taunton NP for a couple of hours. Highlights of Bridled Nail-tailed Wallaby! as well as many Black-striped Wallaby as well as many other macropods. Spent the night at Blackdown Tablelands NP where spotlighting was not particularly successful.

Day 6: Time to head south. Dropped in at Tolderodden CP and camped the night at Cressbrook Dam. Highlights of Herbert’s Rock-wallaby

Day 7: Up early at Cressbrook Dam and Lake Perseverance before heading down to Girraween NP for a night of spotlighting. Highlights of Red Deer, Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby, Southern Greater Glider and some nice bats.

Day 8: Heading for home spending the night at Forbes. Got many good bat recordings during an evening of frogging at Gum Swamp near Forbes.

Day 9: and home

For more information read some rambling blog posts:

– http://gobirding.com.au/the-bucket-list-a-wallaby-and-a-wombat-part-1/

– http://gobirding.com.au/the-bucket-list-a-wallaby-and-a-wombat-part-2/

Techniques:

Standard spotlighting

Car mounted and hand held thermal

Echometer touch 2 bat detector

Species recorded:

Platypus – Mackay Botanical Gardens and Broken River near Eungella

Echidna – various especially Epping Forest NP

Brown Antechinus – 1 seen well at Girraween NP

Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat – at least 8 seen on an epic night a Epping Forest NP

Yellow-bellied Glider – a couple heard and seen near Crediton Hall road/Eungella Dam-Broken River intersection.

Sugar Glider – Eungella, Blackdown and Girraween

Squirrel Glider – several seen Eungella Dam area and Homevale NP

Central Greater Glider – 14 or so seen between Crediton State Forest and Eungella Dam – even seen cavorting on the ground

Southern Greater Glider – single seen in Girraween National Park

Eastern Ring-tailed Possum – various

Broad-toed Feather-tailed Glider – one detected by thermal and then spotlit at Broken River near Eungella

Common Brush-tailed Possum – various

Rufous Bettong – Eungella Dam, Homevale NP, Taunton NP and near Perseverance Dam

Herbert’s Rock-wallaby – 7 or so animals seen at and near Tolderodden Conseveration Park, Eidsvold

Unadorned Rock-wallaby – a half dozen or so at Eungella Dam

Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby – perhaps a dozen at Perseverance Dam near Toowoomba

Red-legged Pademelon – Crediton State Forest

Spectacled Hare-wallaby – 8+ Epping Forest NP – allowed very close approach at times

Eastern Grey Kangaroo

Agile Wallaby – around Mackay

Black-striped Wallaby – very common at Taunton NP – a couple of roadkill elsewhere

Red-necked Wallaby – Girraween NP and surrounds

Bridled Nail-tailed Wallaby – Saw 30+ at Taunton NP

Common Wallaroo – seen at a few places, great close views at Girraween a highlight

Red Kangaroo – near Epping Forest NP and at various spots on the way south

Swamp Wallaby – various – seems lighter in build and colour up north

Fawn-footed Melomys – a number seen at Crediton State Forest

House Mouse – Homevale NP

Hare

Rabbit

Black Flying-fox – Mackay area and Homevale NP

Eastern Horseshoe Bat – Great recordings from Girraween NP

White-striped Free-tailed Bat – heard various and spotlit at Girraween NP

Little Bent-winged Bat – Crediton State Forest

Gould’s Wattled Bat – recorded various

Chocolate Wattled Bat – recorded and spotlit Girraween and Gum Swamp

Eastern Forest Bat – Crediton State Forest

Dingo – Thermal and heard at Homevale NP

Fox

Cat

Pig

Red Deer – Cressbrook Dam

Also:

Pretty-faced Wallaby – Rohan saw a couple of live ones but I only saw roadkill on this trip

Melomys sp – Several seen in mangrove and surrounding grassland south of Mackay

Likely Inland Broad-nosed Bat on recording – Gum Swamp

Multiple Vespaleus sp on recording in various places

Likely Eastern Cave Bat – Homevale NP

Chalinolobus nigrogriseus or Scotoperens greyii on recording – Homevale NP

Long-eared bat sp on recording – Girraween NP and Gum Swamp