Lockyer Valley - Toowoomba - Southern Downs - Goondiwindi
In an Eggshell:
Big Zigzag bird species count: 630 (+1 this week) Big Zigzag bird families count: 92 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag Lifers: 168 (+0 this week) Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 224 (+0 this week), AU list now 653. eBird days of checklist streak: 572 Week’s special milestones: All Australia owls in Big zigzag list!
Bird(s) of the Week
One of the commonest Aussie owls, Eastern Barn Owl (Tyto javanica), was last of all Australian owls, to be added to the Big Zigzag list at Lake Claredon Way, QLD this week. (photographed near Daintree, QLD 2013). The Australian owls list consist of 4 Barn Owls – Tytonidae – all Tyto (Eastern Barn Owl, Australian Masked Owl, Eastern Grass Owl & Sooty Owl) and 5 “Typical Owls” – Strigidae – all Ninox (Rufous Owl, Powerful Owl, Barking Owl, Australian Boobook, Tasmanian Boobook)
Squatter Pigeon (Geophaps scripta), shares the genus with 2 other Australian endemics: Partridge Pigeon (Geophaps smithii) and Spinifex Pigeon (Geophaps plumifera).
Debaroo Deja Vu, and some birding around from Brooweena to Laidley
In an Eggshell:
Big Zigzag bird species count: 629 (+1 this week) Big Zigzag bird families count: 92 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag Lifers: 168 (+1 this week: King Quail) Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 224 (+1 this week), AU list now 653. eBird days of checklist streak: 565 Week’s special milestones:none
Bird(s) of the Week
King Quail (Synoicus chinensis) was photographed at Singapore Botaic Gardens where it is concedured introduced and not counted by eBird. Therefore, the one flashed this week for the grass around Lake Samsonvale is a lifer!
Near Atkinson Dam: A pair of Black Falcons (Falco subniger) exchanged prey (Magpie Lark) transfer while flying
Great to see again (just for the second time) Plum-headed Finch (Emblema modestum) near Lake Clarendonar.
Non-bird image(s)
Lake Samsonvale with Tom.
Blenheim Road, Laidley Heights
Week's Key location(s)
Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 75800 km (this week 700 km)
eBird Checklists this week
2245. 31 Jan 2026 2:39 PM Blind Gully Rd (south end), Lockyer Waters, Somerset
2244. 31 Jan 2026 2:04 PM 915 Coominya Connection Road, Clarendon, Queensland, AU (-27.432, 152.487)
Great plagic with 5 lifers and 10 new for the Big Zigzag + BBBQ
In an Eggshell:
Big Zigzag bird species count: 628 (+11 this week) Big Zigzag bird families count: 92 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag Lifers: 167 (+6 this week: Streaked Shearwater, Tahiti Petrel, Black-winged Petrel, White-necked Petrel, Blue-billed White-Tern, Black-breasted Buttonquail) Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 223 (+8 this week), AU list now 652. eBird days of checklist streak: 558 (8 days week) Week’s special milestones: 555 Big Zigzag days and counting!
Bird(s) of the Week
Tahiti Petrel (Pseudobulweria rostrata)
White-necked Petrel (Pterodroma cervicalis)
Blue-billed White Tern (Gygis candida)
Black-winged Petrel (Pterodroma nigripennis) Collected on the beach a while ago, relased today from the boat after recovered.
Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus)
Red-footed Booby (Sula sula)
Wilson’s Storm Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus)
Black-breasted Buttonquail (Turnix melanogaster), male. Ted and Maud Mungomery’s Vine Forest Reserve. May be called pelagic lifer as well as I got the location tip from on of the pelagic participants.
Big Zigzag bird species count: 616 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag bird families count: 92 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag Lifers: 161 (+0 this week) Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 215 (+0 this week), AU list now 644. eBird days of checklist streak: 550 (6 days week) Week’s special milestones: None
Bird(s) of the Week
Albert’s Lyrebird finally photographed at it’s best site: Lamington National Park
Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor)
Australian Logrunner (Orthonyx temminckii) is common and tame at Lamington National Park
Better views on last 2025 lifer: Paradise Riflebird (Ptiloris paradiseus).
Big Zigzag bird species count: 616 (+1 this week) Big Zigzag bird families count: 92 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag Lifers: 161 (+1 this week: Australasian Grass-Owl) Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 215 (+1 this week), AU list now 644. eBird days of checklist streak: 544 Week’s special milestones: All Australian Owls seen!
Bird(s) of the Week
Restless Flycatcher (Myiagra inquieta), member of Monarchidae (Monarch Flycatchers, Paradise Flycatchers, and Shrikebills), Mount Alford
Australasian Grebe & Sons, Narda Lagoon, Laidley
Plumed Whistling-Duck, Narda Lagoon, Laidley
Non-bird image(s)
Kedron Brook Wetlands Reserve
Brisbane skyline from Mount Coot-Tha Botanic Gardens
Week's Key location(s)
Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 73700 km (this week 500 km)
Heritage rainforest species boosted 2025 list, back to QLD after 428 days and 2 great lifers to start with 2026
In an Eggshell:
Big Zigzag bird species count: 615 (+5 this week) Big Zigzag bird families count: 92 (+1 this week: Painted-Snipes) Big Zigzag Lifers: 160 (+3 this week: Black-backed Bittern, Australian Painted-Snipe, Paradise Riflebird) Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 214 (+3 this week), AU list now 643. eBird AU year list 2025: 508 (#15!) eBird days of checklist streak: 537 Week’s special milestones: over 500 species in AU year list 2025!, Big Lap done (and counting)
Bird(s) of the Week
Paradise Riflebird (Ptiloris paradiseus) last lifer for 2025 after 40 days without one! dipped in 2024 at Lamington National Park (QLD) found this week at the south most Paradisaeidae (Birds-of-paradise) present: Dorrigo National Park (NSW). Only 220 km distance, but it took me over 70000 km to be again in the bird’s range.
Black-backed Bittern (Botaurus dubius) finaly, at Sandy Camp Road Wetlands, QLD. After dipped a few times at ACT & NSW.
Australian Painted-snipe (Rostratula australis) at Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area, QLD. A new bird family for my Australia’s list. Can also be called the Big Lap bird, and first lifer for 2026!
Non-bird image(s)
Sandy Camp Road Wetlands.
Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area.
Week's Key location(s)
Coombabah Lakelands Conservation Area, QLD
Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 73200 km (this week 1100 km)
Big Zigzag bird species count: 610 (+3 this week) Big Zigzag bird families count: 91 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag Lifers: 157 (+0 this week) Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 211 (+0 this week), AU list now 640. eBird AU year list: 492 eBird days of checklist streak: 530 Week’s special milestones: none
Bird(s) of the Week
From 0 to 50 in a few weeks… White-headed Pigeon (Columba leucomela) was missing from the trip list and a few places checked without success in the last few weeks. Luckly eBird directed my to Emerys Road, Illaroo (NSW) where about 50 of them just waited for me 🙂 .
Brown Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia phasianella)
Little, Common and Created Terns, Port Macquarie North Wall
White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus), 1 of about 80 above Seal Rocks Lighthouse.
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus), Dawkins Park, Macksville
Non-bird image(s)
Port Macquarie North Wall
King Creek Road Swamp, Wauchope
Just after adding Scaly-breasted Lorikeet to the year list, Dawkins Park, Macksville
Week's Key location(s)
Location Emerys Road, Illaroo at this point have the ,magic to attaract dozens of White-headed Pigeons and some
Little & Common Terns (among many Created Terns) – new for Big ZigZag from Port Macquarie North Wall
Dawkins Park, Macksville
Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 72100 km (this week 1000 km)
Big Zigzag bird species count: 607 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag bird families count: 91 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag Lifers: 157 (+0 this week) Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 211 (+0 this week), AU list now 640. eBird AU year list: 487 eBird days of checklist streak: 523 Week’s special milestones: none
Bird(s) of the Week
Eastern Cattle-Egret
Baillon’s Crake
Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus), monotype genus Australian endmic
Jerrabomberra Wetlands: Australian Pelican, Australian Ibis, Maned Duck, Little Black Cormorant, Royal Spoonbill, Eurasian Coot
Non-bird image(s)
Jarabombera Marshes. Even though I dipped the Black-backed Bittern, it’s great to be here. 60 species a day, with 5 beautiful hides, and a 2 minute drive from Barrio Collective Coffee Roastery and Capital Brewing Co, where you can have a delicious vegan burger.
Week's Key location(s)
Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 71100 km (this week 800 km)
Big Zigzag bird species count: 607 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag bird families count: 91 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag Lifers: 157 (+0 this week) Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 211 (+0 this week), AU list now 640. eBird AU year list: 487 eBird days of checklist streak: 516 Week’s special milestones: travelled 70000 km
Bird(s) of the Week
Eastern Shriketit (Falcunculus frontatus), member of the 3 members endmic family Falcunculidae (Shriketits). Sale Common Nature Conservation Reserve.
Non-bird image(s)
Starlink satellite train.
Waragrambe old cars meeting at the free camping area.
Week's Key location(s)
Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 70300 km (this week 1400 km)
Big Zigzag bird species count: 607 (+3 this week) Big Zigzag bird families count: 91 (+1 this week: Bulbuls (introduced)) Big Zigzag Lifers: 157 (+0 this week) Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week) Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 211 (+0 this week), AU list now 640. eBird AU year list: 484 eBird days of checklist streak: 509 Week’s special milestones: none
Bird(s) of the Week
Rockwarbler (Origma solitaria) the only New South Wales endemic bird. Member of Acanthizidae (Gerygones, Thornbills, Scrubwrens, and Allies), monotype genus, Evans Lookout. Last week twice never seen there. This week after more than hour, just came to the lookout bench…