Winter trills and August thrills for bird and art lovers
- Kara Smith
- Jul 25
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 9
Bird and art lovers are in for a treat at Kiambram, with a recent visit from Mick Atzeni and the instudio art trail begins in August
Report by Mick Atzeni, local Birding Guide
Counterintuitively, winter birding in SEQ is very rewarding. In mid-June, I guided US guests, Tim and Ellen. We picked up 139 species in the Toowoomba/Lockyer Valley area during their three-night stay at “Kiambram”. Tim had visited Australia before, but Ellen hadn’t, and she was particularly keen to see Plumed Whistling-duck, Pink-eared Duck, Peaceful Dove, Rose Robin and any of the parrots and fairy-wrens. Top of Tim’s wish list was a tough one, Spotted Quail-thrush. Koala and Echidna in the wild were also high priorities for both of them.
Tim and Ellen hired a car from Brisbane Airport, and we met up at Lake Galletly on the UQ Gatton campus after lunch. They’d already found the two Pink-eared Ducks themselves, plus Magpie Geese and a few other waterbirds. After stops at Lake Apex for a Great Crested Grebe (Ellen’s favourite bird; not a ‘lifer’) and Placid Hills for Blue-billed Ducks, we beelined for “Kiambram” after picking up some supplies in Toowoomba.
Day 1. First stop was Oakey for Plum-headed Finches. Unfortunately, a Council worker was mowing the site, so we decided to come back onto Arthur Shooter Park, where my guests marvelled at the hundreds of Little Corellas, and at the beauty of Plumed Whistling-Ducks. We looked for a Koala there unsuccessfully. On the Oakey abattoir dam, an unexpected bonus was a pair of Freckled Ducks. However, Tim and Ellen found the behaviour of some nearby Apostle birds far more entertaining and memorable, and they were. The resident Yellow-throated Miners also showed well. On to Jondaryan, where the target species came thick and fast: Peaceful Dove, Yellow Thornbill, Weebill, Bluebonnet, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, but a stunning male Purple-backed Fairy-wren and a gorgeous male Mistletoebird stole the show.
Later, another stunner, a male White-winged Fairywren, showed briefly near Oakey. Spotted Harrier and Ground Cuckoo-shrikes at Devon Park Boundary Rd were bonuses. Back at Oakey, we found the Plum-headed Finches, plus Red-rumped Parrot and Pale-headed Rosella for Ellen. Tim picked up an Australian Hobby. En route to Cooby Dam to look for koalas, we added a Black Falcon. At Cooby, we saw our first macropod, a Red-necked Wallaby, but we dipped and had no luck with a koala. We finished the day with Black Swan and Australasian Darter, and more Great Crested Grebes for Ellen.
Day 2 started with a nice haul at Redwood Park, including Rose Robin, Varied Sittella, Variegated Fairy-wren (a lovely male), but no Crested Shrike-tit—Tim’s other main target. Next, another search for a Koala at Postman’s Ridge. We’d all but given up, then one materialised in a tree fork; they are so easy to miss! Photos later revealed it had a joey, which we missed at the time.
Onto Upper Lockyer for Red-backed Fairy-wren, Silvereye, and Fuscous Honeyeater. Then a change of plans to focus on Spotted Quail-thrush for Tim. We tried a few sites near Murphys Creek without luck, but added Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, and Spotted Pardalote for our troubles. Our focus then shifted back to Crested Shrike-tit. After trying at Highfields Falls, we decided to return to Redwood Park for a final crack.
We reached the favoured patch, and then a magical moment: I heard a rustle off the track and couldn’t believe my eyes. Echidna! What were the odds? We watched in awe as it scratched and probed methodically along the length of a decaying fallen branch. The highlight of the day!
Thanks Tim and Ellen for a thoroughly enjoyable time together.
Bird images courtesy of Ann Alcock. Mammal photos courtesy of Tim.
What a treat for the art lovers
InStudio Art Trail: An August Odyssey Through High Country Creativity
Every August, just north of Toowoomba, the InStudio Art Trail awakens the High Country Hamlets—Crows Nest, Highfields, Hampton, Goombungee, Cabarlah, Meringandan and beyond—with a vibrant celebration of local art. These rural pockets transform into welcoming creative hubs as over 40 artists fling open their studio doors across four consecutive weekends.
Event Snapshot
When: Every weekend in August (e.g. 2/3, 9/10, 16/17, 23/24, 30/31)
Where: Self-drive trail stretching from Crows Nest down to Highfields, through the rolling hills north of Toowoomba
Time: 10 am–4 pm each day
Cost: Entirely free—no bookings required
🎨 What Awaits You
Inviting Studios & Galleries – Explore 44+ open studios, country halls, curated exhibitions and outdoor artist collectives.
A Spectrum of Artforms – Meet painters, potters, felters, printmakers, mosaicists, jewellery designers, sculptors and more. Expect everything from whimsical trinkets to fine art.
Meet the Makers – Artists share their tales, inspirations and techniques, bringing deeper meaning to every piece.
🎨 Artists Near Kiambram Country Cottages
Nestled in the scenic Gowrie Little Plain region, Kiambram Country Cottages offers the perfect base for exploring a variety of talented local artists featured in the InStudio Art Trail. Here are some must-visit creatives located just a short drive away:
Sylvia Free – Kiln-Fired Glass & Artisan Soaps
📍 38 Highland Park Road, Meringandan West Explore Sylvia’s studio to discover vibrant kiln-formed glass artworks and her handmade botanical soaps. Her studio is open on 17–18 & 24–25 August.
Kim Simmons – Watercolour, Oil & Acrylic Painting
📍 10 Plaza Circle, Highfields Known for her expressive landscapes and floral studies, Kim welcomes visitors throughout the entire month of August.
Deborah Burton – Acrylic, Watercolour & Charcoal
📍 Gumtree Gallery Studios, 10 Greenway Court, Highfields Deborah’s work is deeply emotive and textural, ranging from serene landscapes to bold abstracts. Open every weekend in August.
Visit the Instudio Art Trail to plan your August art experience!
PLAN AHEAD AND BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION AT KIAMBRAM COUNTRY COTTAGES
Make a minibreak of it if you are escaping the Ekka crowds - Reduced Longweekend rates Aug 13 to 17 in Basalt and Wrens Cabins - 1 Night stays available in Coolibah Cabin.
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