Oxley Creek Common, Saturday 26 October 2024

Oxley Creek Common

Saturday 26 October 2024 at 07:30am; Leader: Penny Mills

Registration: Registration is via the QNC website (see form below). Complete all fields and submit & once you have successfully registered you will receive an automatic email confirming your registration, along with the contact details of the excursion leader.

Those wishing to attend the excursion as guests can email the excursion secretary at: excursion@qnc.org.au and include the excursion name, the full name/s, mobile phone number, email address, emergency name and contact number, for all participants (including additional guests).

Meeting Location: Saturday 26 October at 7:30am at The Red Shed, Oxley Creek Common, 271 Sherwood Road, Rocklea, Qld, 4106. GPS: 27.5354° S, 152.9931°. Approx. 7 km S of the Brisbane CBD. Parking available (limited car parks and grass parking)

Details: The last QNC excursion to Oxley Creek Common (OCC) was Nov 2012. On eBird, 226 bird species have been recorded at the OCC (about one quarter of Australia’s total species) with over 100 species recorded in September 2024. Rare visitors to the site include black-necked storks, oriental cuckoos, white-eared monarchs and migratory species from the Northern Hemisphere such as Latham’s snipes. In addition to the birdlife the OCC is abundant with invertebrates with approx. 300 different species of insects reported from the area. A recently described species of horned thrips (Eurynothrips laheyi) has been found nearby in Oxley and makes galls on Planchonella pohlmaniana (black apple/yellow boxwood).

The track is reasonably flat, with only a few dips. Length of the track is about 6km, including the side tracks to Pelican and Jabiru lakes (a must for spotting water birds and even a rakali if you’re lucky). Conditions are generally sunny throughout October, but the walk will be rescheduled if adverse weather conditions do occur.

It is encouraged that you download the iNaturalist and eBirds app if you haven’t already done so. You can also download the track information from the AllTrails app.

What to bring: Morning tea (can have it back at the Red Shed after the walk), long sleeves and pants suggested but not required, hat, 1-2 L water (can fill up at the Red Shed), sunscreen, insect repellent (mosquitoes will be present), binoculars, camera, mobile phone, walking pole/s optional but not required. Due to the warm weather snakes could be present along the tracks so a portable snake kit is also suggested.

Amenities: The Red Shed at the entrance has toilets and water fountains. There is excellent mobile phone connection throughout the site. There are undercover and exposed picnic tables, but the nearest food outlets are at the Brisbane Markets, Sherwood Road, Rocklea, (about 600m away).