We now have an Instagram account, thanks to the inspiration and enthusiasm of our very own Bec Bain!

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Gold Creek Dam on Sunday”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucy Harrold’s Highly Commended entry in our Young Persons Digital Photo Competition

Just one of the photos you’ll see on Instagram!

To check out some great posts and more wonderful photos, please head to our Instagram site!

There is a mighty bird in our catchment which uses “Stealth mode” to hunt its prey.

The male of the species hunts for small birds such as honeyeaters, whilst the larger female attacks larger birds such as currawongs, herons, pigeons and parrots. She also feasts upon reptiles and mammals such as rabbits, possums, and bats.

These predators have mastered the element of surprise when bringing down their prey.

Can you guess which bird we’re referring to?

To learn more, please head to our Feather Fascination 2019 page and open Jim Butler’s November issue.

The MCCG Annual General Meeting will be held at the Brookfield Showground Hall on Thursday 28th November, starting at 7.30pm.

Our guest speaker for the evening is Queensland Herbarium Senior Ecologist, Dr Melinda Laidlaw.  

Melinda has a PhD in rainforest ecology and since commencing work at the Herbarium in 2005, she has worked on regional ecosystem mapping, vegetation condition assessment, carbon farming and species distribution modelling.

Melinda also coordinates the Weed Spotters Network Queensland citizen science project.  Weed spotters are citizen scientists who assist in the surveillance and reporting of new and emerging weeds. 

Melinda’s presentation will provide information on weed ecology, surveillance and priority weed identification.

Attendees will also learn how to use the Weed Spotters App and how to collect and preserve specimens for sending to the Queensland Herbarium for identification.
Tea, coffee and snacks will be provided.

For more info, please email our secretary Kathleen Walmsley: [email protected]

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU TO ALL 2019 ENTRANTS!

Here’s some fun facts about this year’s competition:

• Did you know that this competition has been an annual event for the MCCG since 1998, making this year it’s 21st year!
• We received a total of 56 entries (less than previous years)
• 10 entrants submitted 43 quality photos for our open categories 
• This year we decided to run the Young Persons (grades 1 to 6) category as a digital category in the hope of receiving more entries.  We were delighted to have 8 kids submit 13 entries between them
• This year’s judge: Anne Pappalardo, president of Queensland Camera Group.

---

• Head to our MCCG Facebook page and our newly established MCCG Instagram page to view entries in the Young Persons Digital category
• Click here to see some of the winning entries listed below!

---

Here are the winners!

People’s choice

• 1ST PRIZE:  Ed Frazer: Fruit-dove Colour Study 
• 2ND PRIZE: Ed Frazer: Back Attack
• 3RD PRIZE: Ed Frazer: Me Next

* Sponsored by The Pet Chalet

Chairman’s choice Open Category

• ADULT WINNER: Mandy Watson:Eastern Water Dragon 

* Sponsored by Cafe Fiori

Open category 1 – Native plants and Fungi

• 1ST PRIZE:  Malcolm Frost: Dendrobium speciosum
  
• 2ND PRIZE: Jim Pope: Brisbane Wattle (Acacia fimbriata)
• HIGHLY COMMENDED: Malcolm Frost: Grevillea sp.
  

* Sponsored by Pisces Enterprises

Open category 2 – Native birds

• 1ST PRIZE: Mandy Watson: Welcome Swallow
• 2ND PRIZE: Anne Love-Hoskins: Azure Kingfisher
• 3RD PRIZE: Peter Koury: Bird on a Wire
• 4TH PRIZE: Lloyd Bullock: Eastern Yellow Robin
• HIGHLY COMMENDED: Anne Love-Hoskins, Ed Frazer, Peter Koury, Ed Frazer 

* Sponsored by Kenmore Bridge Club

Open category 3 – Native animals (excluding birds)

• 1ST PRIZE:  Mandy Watson: Parasitic Snail Blowfly
• 2ND PRIZE: Anne Love-Hoskins: Fiery Skimmer
  
• 3RD PRIZE: Alexander Davies: Clash of the Titans
• HIGHLY COMMENDED: Janine Nicklin, Anne Love-Hoskins, Alexander Davies

* Sponsored by Dr Christian Rowan (State MP for Moggill)

Young persons category (Grades 1-6) – Our Catchment 

• 1ST PRIZE: William McConaghy: A kookaburra taking a rest
• 2ND PRIZE: Liam Kelly-Crawford: The Matters of a Leaf
• 3RD PRIZE: Molly Nearhos: Carpet Python
• HIGHLY COMMENDED: Aislin Kelly-Crawford, Charlotte Keddie, Lucy Harrold

* Sponsored by Cr Kate Richards

---

Cr Kate Richards, Councillor for Pullenvale Ward

Dr Christian Rowan MP, Member for Moggill 

Amcal + Pharmacy Kenmore

Cafe Fiori 

Kenmore Village

The Pet Chalet 

Pisces Enterprises 

Kenmore Bridge Club

DON’T MISS OUT!    

The Brisbane Wild West Calendar for 2020 is now available!

These calendars are produced each year jointly by:

• THECA (The Hut Environmental and Community Association Inc.)
• Cubberla Witton Catchments Group
• Moggill Creek Catchment Group and 
• REPA (Rural Environment Planning Association).

Priced at only $15.00 they make  wonderful Christmas gifts!

To place an order, please contact Bryan Hacker by phone on (07) 3374 1468 or via email at [email protected]

Collect your purchase at 41 Gap Creek Road (by arrangement) or a copy can be posted for $3.00 by contacting Bryan.

Brisbane City Council invites bush carers and volunteers to the “Seeding Success forum-Innovation in restoration 2019” forum on Sunday November 17.

This all day event will be held at the Seven Hills Hub Community Centre.

You will learn about the latest innovations from technology, ecology and conservation industries which will impact bush care practices.

Bookings are quickly filling up, so if you haven’t yet booked you should do so quickly! If you have a teenager in your life please encourage them to come along.

The event is fully catered and is free. 

For more information and to book a place, please visit Eventbrite before Thursday 14 November.

MCCG member Ed Fraser reports that he has double the number of birds visiting his property at the moment than usual.

He has graciously shared some wonderful photos of egrets visiting his dam (see below).

Ed reports that currently all four White Egret species, all in breeding plumage, are visiting his property for the first time – ie: the Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Cattle Egret and the Little Egret.

It is very rare indeed to see the Little Egret as far inland as Brookfield and Ed has never seen this species on his property. It is very much a coastal bird.

Why are they visiting?

We can only speculate that it is due to the drought.

Food and water sources for Australian wildlife are ultimately determined by rainfall.

Many regions in eastern and inland Queensland, NSW and Victoria are registering a marked decrease in rainfall since 1994.

Could it be that the Little Egret, in its current search for nourishment, is being drawn to large expanses of water, inland or coastal, such as Gold Creek Dam and Ed’s dam?

We would love to hear any theories from birders, or similar stories from local residents who are seeing changes in bird visitors and their behaviour.

If you have something you’d like to share, please email [email protected]

Meantime, please enjoy Ed’s stunning egret photos:(our thanks to Ed for sharing!)

Cattle Egret

Intermediate Egret

Great Egret

Little Egret

Little Egret standing

All photos copyright of Ed Fraser