Queensland – Bird Families of the World

week 094 | Big Zigzag – THE END :-( | trip list 636 – 636

Posted on May, 2026May, 2026

Lockyer Valley - Moreton Bay - Brisbane

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 636 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 93 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 168 (+0 this week)
Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 225 (+0 this week), AU list now 654.
eBird days of checklist streak: 654
Week’s special milestones: Big Zigzag – THE END

Bird(s) of the Week

Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis), seen from our RV window as last photographed bird in BigZZ, at Wescloude Lodge Fare Stay.

Non-bird image(s)

Wescloude Lodge Fare Stay

near Laidley

Last Big Zigzag zig…

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled TOTAL: 84468 km (this week 368 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2390. 01 May 2026 10:22 AM Brisbane Airport International Carpark

2389. 30 Apr 2026 11:49 AM Wyllie Park, Petrie, Moreton

2388. 29 Apr 2026 8:23 AM Wescloude Lodge Fare Stay

2387. 28 Apr 2026 6:00 AM Wescloude Lodge Fare Stay

2386. 27 Apr 2026 11:00 AM 76 Formation Street, Wacol, Queensland, AU (-27.603, 152.927)

2385. 26 Apr 2026 8:48 AM Narda Lagoon, Laidley

Big Zigzag Birding

week 093 | Almost Done, SE QLD | trip list 636 – 636

Posted on April, 2026April, 2026

Toowoomba - Western Downs - Lockyer Valley

In an Eggshell:

Bird(s) of the Week

Little Lorikeet (Parvipsitta pusilla) was the most common Australan bird that was missing on my list before the Big Zigzag. Ticked already in Victoria at the end of 2024, seen a few times sicne, and photographed for the first time this week at Redwood Park (near Toowoomba). Sharing the endemic genus Parvipsitta only with Purple-crowned Lorikeet (Parvipsitta porphyrocephala) which was also a lifer in SA, late 2024.

Non-bird image(s)

Redwood Park

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 84100 km (this week 400 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2384. 25 Apr 2026 9:15 AM Narda Lagoon, Laidley

2383. 24 Apr 2026 3:54 PM Lake Dyer, Bill Gunn Dam, Laidley

2382. 24 Apr 2026 9:32 AM Narda Lagoon, Laidley

2381. 23 Apr 2026 9:32 AM Narda Lagoon, Laidley

2380. 22 Apr 2026 10:44 AM Redwood Park (Redwood)

2379. 21 Apr 2026 2:47 PM 6 Kingsthorpe Haden Road, Kingsthorpe, Queensland, AU (-27.48, 151.815)

2378. 20 Apr 2026 11:48 AM Myall Creek, Dalby at Patrick St

2377. 20 Apr 2026 9:45 AM Bowenville Reserve (Wainui)

Big Zigzag Birding

week 092 | around Dalby, QLD | trip list 636 – 636

Posted on April, 2026April, 2026

Toowoomba - Western Downs

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 636 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag bird families count: 93 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag Lifers: 168 (+0 this week)
Campsite Lifers 30 (+0 this week)
Big Zigzag New for Australia list: 225 (+0 this week), AU list now 654.
eBird days of checklist streak: 642
Week’s special milestones: eBird days of checklist streak > Big Zigzag bird species count

Bird(s) of the Week

Black Kite (Milvus migrans). The bird(s) of the camp in Bowenville Reserve.

Australian Boobook (Ninox boobook), heard before sunrise at Bowenville Reserve free camping area. (Photo from 2013, NE QLD).

Non-bird image(s)

Bowenville Reserve free camping area

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 83700 km (this week 550 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2375. 18 Apr 2026 8:34 PM Bowenville Reserve (Wainui)

2374. 18 Apr 2026 11:57 AM Myall Creek, Dalby at Patrick St

2373. 17 Apr 2026 3:30 PM Myall Creek, Dalby at Patrick St

2372. 16 Apr 2026 8:11 AM Bowenville Reserve (Wainui)

2371. 15 Apr 2026 4:00 PM Bowenville Reserve (Wainui)

2370. 14 Apr 2026 12:13 PM Myall Creek, Dalby at Patrick St

2369. 13 Apr 2026 10:07 AM Bowenville Reserve (Wainui)

2368. 12 Apr 2026 8:56 AM Bowenville Reserve (Wainui)

Big Zigzag Birding

week 091 | SE QLD | trip list 636 – 636

Posted on April, 2026April, 2026

Balonne - Maranoa - Western Downs

In an Eggshell:

Bird(s) of the Week

Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), member of Cacatuidae (Cockatoos), Thallon, QLD.

Plum-headed Finch (Emblema modestum), member of Estrildidae (Munias, Parrotfinches, Waxbills, and Allies), Roma Bush Gardens.

Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea), member of Aussie endmic family of Corcoracidae (White-winged Chough and Apostlebird), Roma Bush Gardens.

Non-bird image(s)

Thallon Silo Art

Roma Bush Gardens

Week's Key location(s)

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 83150 km (this week 800 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2367. 11 Apr 2026 9:17 AM Jandowae Dam–Old

2366. 10 Apr 2026 9:11 AM Chinchilla Weir Spillway

2365. 09 Apr 2026 11:07 AM Warrego Hwy at -26.67750, 150.35472 (Western Downs)

2364. 08 Apr 2026 7:53 AM Judds Lagoon (Yuleba)

2363. 07 Apr 2026 2:15 PM Roma Bush Gardens

2362. 07 Apr 2026 9:08 AM Yuleba Surat Road, Noorindoo, Queensland, AU (-27.072, 149.093)

2361. 07 Apr 2026 7:36 AM Surat Riverwalk

2360. 06 Apr 2026 1:05 PM Beardmore Dam

2359. 06 Apr 2026 11:48 AM Lions Park, St George

2357. 05 Apr 2026 10:38 AM Thallon Park

Big Zigzag Birding

week 084 | Back to NSW via New England Hwy | trip list 632 – 632

Posted on February, 2026February, 2026

Scenic Rim - Southern Downs - Glen Innes Severn - Clarence Valley

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 632 (+0 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: 586.
Week’s special milestones: Traveled 77777 km!

Bird(s) of the Week

Blue-faced Honeyeater. Common and beautiful.

White-headed Pigeon (Columba leucomela), was already Bird of the Week in the past, but choosen again :-), nice surprise in Fishing Haven Holiday Park near Yamba.

Non-bird image(s)

Gibraltar Range NP, NSW

New England Hwy

Week's Key location(s)

Although dipped the Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, still great place.

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 78200 km (this week 450 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2280. 21 Feb 2026 11:07 AM Fishing Haven Holiday Park, Clarence Valley

2279. 20 Feb 2026 3:13 PM Fishing Haven Holiday Park, Clarence Valley

2278. 19 Feb 2026 4:37 PM Coutts Crossing, Clarence Valley

2277. 19 Feb 2026 1:49 PM Raspberry Lookout Road, Glen Innes Severn

2276. 18 Feb 2026 11:17 AM Australian Standing Stones (Glen Innes), New South Wales

2275. 17 Feb 2026 10:39 AM Girraween National Park–Pyramid Trail, Queensland

2274. 16 Feb 20269:46 AM Mount Alford Hotel, Scenic Rim

2273. 15 Feb 2026 12:28 PM Mount Alford Hotel, Scenic Rim

Big Zigzag Birding

week 083 | SE QLD | trip list 630 – 632

Posted on February, 2026February, 2026

Toowoomba - Lockyer Valley - Moreton Bay - Somerset - Scenic Rim

In an Eggshell:

Big Zigzag bird species count: 632 (+2 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: 579.
Week’s special milestones: None

Bird(s) of the Week

Painted Honeyeater (Grantiella picta), monotype genus. New for the Big Zigzag (seen only once before, near Deniliquin, QLD, 2018). Also the 4th of the 4 “Painted Aussie birds” to be added to BZ list. The 3 other “Painted”:

Painted Firetail was a lifer at Pamela Street Water Tanks, Mount Isa, QLD, 9/2024
Australian Painted-Snipe was a lifer at Coombabah Lakelands, QLD, 1/2026
Painted Buttonquail seen already in NSW, 11/2018, add added to BZ list at VIC 12/2024

Speckled Warbler (Pyrrholaemus sagittatus), Brisbane Valley Rail Trail–Coominya, new for the Big Zigzag list. Seen in the past only once near Bacchus Marsh, VIC, 2018. Member of Acanthizidae (Gerygones, Thornbills, Scrubwrens, and Allies). Sharing the genus Pyrrholaemus with 2 other Australian endemics: Pilotbird (Pycnoptilus floccosus) & Redthroat (Pyrrholaemus brunneus).

Non-bird image(s)

Jondaryan, Sabine Rd

Brisbane Valley Rail Trail–Coominya

Week's Key location(s)

Jondaryan Sabine Rd, Painted Honeyeater site

Brisbane Valley Rail Trail–Coominya, Speckled Warbler site.

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 77750 km (this week 950 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2272. 14 Feb 2026 12:56 PM Moogerah Dam–Haigh

2271. 13 Feb 2026 11:54 AM Brisbane Valley Rail Trail–Coominya

2270. 13 Feb 2026 2:00 AM Woodford Showgrounds

2269. 12 Feb 2026 8:00 AM Narda Lagoon, Laidley

2268. 11 Feb 2026 4:12 PM Narda Lagoon, Laidley

2267. 10 Feb 2026 9:01 AM Jondaryan Sabine Rd at -27.36927, 151.61280 (roadside birding only)

2266. 09 Feb 2026 4:31 PM 6 Kingsthorpe Haden Road, Kingsthorpe

2265. 09 Feb 2026 11:30 AM Laurel Bank Park, Toowoomba

2264. 08 Feb 2026 10:52 AM Queens Park Garden, Toowoomba.

2263. 08 Feb 2026 9:51 AM 6 Kingsthorpe Haden Road, Kingsthorpe

Big Zigzag Birding

week 082 | SE QLD | trip list 629 – 630

Posted on February, 2026February, 2026

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).

Fuscous Honeyeater (Ptilotula fusca), Cement Mills road

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus) common all over this area

Non-bird image(s)

Durikai State Forest Waterhole photographed on Wednsday (Buff-rumped Thornbill site). On Friday thw whole area was on bush fire

Greenup Meeting Place (Coolmunda). Great for camping and birding.

My second Australian Painted-Snipe with Tom at Vernor Rd, Wivenhoe Pocket.

Week's Key location(s)

Mosquito Creek Rd, Goondiwindi

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 76800 km (this week 1000 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2262. 07 Feb 2026 8:29 AM Millmerran Golf Course

2261. 06 Feb 2026 5:18 PM Millmerran Showgrounds

2260. 06 Feb 2026 8:40 AM Cement Mills

2259. 05 Feb 2026 5:16 PM Greenup Meeting Place (Coolmunda)

2258. 05 Feb 2026 7:54 AM Mosquito Creek Rd

2257. 04 Feb 2026 1:44 PM Durikai State Forest Waterhole

2256. 04 Feb 2026 12:21 PM Durikai State Forest–Dam

2255. 04 Feb 2026 11:13 AM 3718 Leyburn Cunningham Road, Cunningham

2254. 03 Feb 2026 2:27 PM Clifton

2253. 02 Feb 2026 7:30 PM Lake Claredon Way/Lyne Rd, Lockyer Valley

2252. 02 Feb 2026 4:11 PM 12 Blenheim Road, Laidley Heights

2251. 02 Feb 2026 10:03 AM Vernor Rd, Wivenhoe Pocket at -27.45865, 152.60027

2250. 02 Feb 2026 9:00 AM Banool Road, Somerset

2249. 02 Feb 2026 6:30 AM Seven Mile Lagoon, Lockyer Valley

2248. 02 Feb 2026 3:14 AM Narda Lagoon, Laidley

2247. 01 Feb 2026 1:28 PM Lake Clarendon–roadside farm pond

2246. 01 Feb 202610:28 AM 12 Blenheim Road, Laidley Heights

Big Zigzag Birding

week 081 | SE QLD | trip list 628 – 629

Posted on January, 2026January, 2026

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)

2243. 31 Jan 2026 12:30 PM Lake Clarendon–roadside farm pond, Lockyer Valley

2242. 31 Jan 2026 10:59 AM 12 Blenheim Road, Laidley Heights, Queensland, AU (-27.647, 152.364)

2241. 30 Jan 2026 2:20 PM Narda Lagoon, Laidley

2240. 29 Jan 2026 5:28 AM Lake Samsonvale–Golds Scrub Lane (some areas restricted access)

2239. 28 Jan 2026 3:25 PM Dayboro Showgriunds

2238. 27 Jan 2026 2:24 PM Tipperary Flat Rest Area (Nanango)

2237. 26 Jan 2026 1:01 PM Goomeri Town Park, Gympie

2236. 25 Jan 2026 6:05 PM 252 Brooweena Woolooga Road, Boompa, Queensland, AU (-25.62, 152.226)

Big Zigzag Birding

week 080 | mainly Southport Pelagic | trip list 616 – 628

Posted on January, 2026January, 2026

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.

Fairy Gerygone (Gerygone palpebrosa), Teddington Weir, Maryborough

White-eared Monarch (Carterornis leucotis), Teddington Weir, Maryborough

Non-bird image(s)

Ted and Maud Mungomery’s Vine Forest Reserve

Week's Key location(s)

Fairy Gerygone & White-eared Monarch site.

Woodford Showgrounds, was very nice with some good birds like Powerful Owl!

Big Zigzag Travelled so far: 75100 km (this week 800 km)

eBird Checklists this week

2229. 24 Jan 2026 11:46 AM Ted and Maud Mungomery’s Vine Forest Reserve

2228. 23 Jan 2026 1:42 PM Ted and Maud Mungomery’s Vine Forest Reserve, Fraser Coast

2227. 23 Jan 2026 9:59 AM Teddington Weir, Maryborough

2226. 22 Jan 2026 2:52 PM Theebine

2225. 21 Jan 2026 12:31 PM Woodford Showgrounds

2224. 20 Jan 2026 3:07 PM Woodford Showgrounds

2223. 19 Jan 2026 4:07 PM Woodford Showgrounds

2222. 18 Jan 2026 2:04 PM Mount Alford Hotel

2221. 17 Jan 2026 12:54 PM Auto selected -27.91525, 153.79701, Gold Coast Pelagic

2220. 17 Jan 2026 11:30 AM Auto selected -27.87579, 153.89510, Gold Coast Pelagic

2219. 17 Jan 2026 9:13 AM Offshore–Southport pelagic

2218. 17 Jan 2026 8:19 AM Auto selected -27.75719, 153.95597, Gold Coast Pelagic

2217. 17 Jan 2026 7:49 AM Auto selected -27.78185, 153.87865, Gold Coast Pelagic

2216. 17 Jan 2026 6:45 AM Auto selected -27.84906, 153.66010, Gold Coast Pelagic

2215. 17 Jan 2026 5:50 AM Auto selected -27.93202, 153.44380, Gold Coast Pelagic

Big Zigzag Birding

week 079 | around BNE too | trip list 616 – 616

Posted on January, 2026January, 2026

mainly O'Reilly's

In an Eggshell:

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