Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus)

The Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus) is an Australian lorikeet found in woodland in eastern Australia. The common name aptly describes this bird, which has yellow breast feathers broadly edged with green that look like scales.  Look for them on nectar-bearing plants such as bottlebrush and grevellia.

IMG_0208Next to the gaudy Rainbow Lorikeet, these more delicately hued birds are the easiest Lorikeet to see in Eastern Australia.  I’ve seen them in my neighborhood, in most local Brisbane reserves and parks and as far west as Coolmunda Dam where I took the above photo.

sb lkt rangeLEARN MORE ABOUT SCALY BREASTED LORIKEETS

Wikipedia

World Parrot Trust

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Nice close up at a feeder

Chattering flock

Birding Lake Coolmunda Caravan Park & Surrounds

The area between the Cunningham Highway to roughly the railway tracks has plenty of birdlife.

Coolmunda2Once again, it was a great place to look fro parrots!  Red-winged Parrots were hanging around just outside the caravan park while Scaly-breasted Lorikeets & Crested Pigeons were easily found inside the park.

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The stretch of road just opposite this fancy house is good for Red-Rumped Parrots foraging in the grass.

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The grassy area just outside the park was also good for fairywrens.  I was a bit far from the bush they were hanging out in so had to zoom quite a bit.  At first I was thinking they were all Superb Fairy-wrens.

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Zooming in on this photo showed that I had also found a flock of White-winged Fairy-wrens!

IMG_0763 IMG_0763a IMG_0764 IMG_0765 IMG_0765a IMG_0766 IMG_0766aMeanwhile a Laughing Kookaburra kept watch.

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And a Black-shouldered Kite put on an amazing display of hunting.  He hovered like a ……………………. well a kite!

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Aha, spotted something!

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The kite swooped quickly and withdrew to a pole holding a rat.  I was so impressed I would have gladly offered him a job keeping my home free of rats if I could be sure that was all he would eat!

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Birding Lake Coolmunda – Boat Ramp & Adjacent Areas

Lake Coolmunda is an amazing birding hotspot and has something for everyone!  There were plenty of parrots to keep me happy, lots of water birds in the lake and elusive little Fairy Wrens to watch out for in the bush.  These photos were taken around the boat ramp area which also has a campground and picnic area, the area across the road which is really good for parrots and the road leading to the dam.  The Coolmunda Caravan Park is where the purple dot is.

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As we approached the turn-off to the lake & boat ramp, some Galahs were waiting to greet us.

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Before we turned left down the boat ramp road, I heard parrots in the field across the street so we pulled over to investigate.  Good move as we found Scaly-breasted Lorikeets, Eastern Rosellas, Pale-headed Rosellas, more Galahs, Red-rump Parrots and Little Corellas!

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Noisy Miner

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This camping area has spaces for tents and caravans and a nice picnic area which we used for breakfast.

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We drove a bit further towards the dam and saw water birds on the lake and some Superb Fairy-wrens in several bushes along the road.  Many birds were on private property and as you can see by the signs, trespassers are not wanted!  Fair enough, I wouldn’t want strangers traipsing around my property either!  The roads here are paved and in excellent condition, normal sedan cars are fine.

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We turned around at the above sign and went back to the picnic area for breakfast.  We enjoyed a nice view of many water birds while we ate.  A Pied Butcherbird came over to beg steal our food!  Public conveniences are available here.

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When we went back to this area in the evening, there were lots of Red-rumped Parrots foraging in the tall grasses.  The light was really beautiful on the lake!

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Magpies squabbling, probably over territory or a female.

IMG_0586 IMG_0587 IMG_0589 IMG_0590 IMG_0592 IMG_0585 IMG_0588And with these Outback sunset shots we ended a fantastic day of birding!