"Inskip Peninsula" Along the "Bird Trails of Cooloola"
(Photo Courtesy of Fiona Hawthorne, Cooloola Coastcare)
About “Inskip Peninsula”
From 1965 until 1976, areas of Inskip Peninsula, (more often referred to as Inskip Point), were subject to sand mining for Rutile, Zircon and Ilmenite.
Upon cessation of this activity, rehabilitation of mining affected areas was undertaken with planting of native vegetation.
Today, Inskip Peninsula is widely recognised and appreciated by many as a great place to “get away from it all” for a camping holiday.
It is equally well recognised as one of the best “Birding” sites in South-east Queensland.
(The following information is with acknowledgements to “The Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing”)
“The Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area was declared in 1996, covering 459 ha of the Inskip Peninsula and extends to the low water mark.
It contains land which is Reserve and State land tenure, managed by “The Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing” (NPRSR).
Although the Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area is only 459 ha, its’ natural values are wide ranging.
Its’ unique aesthetic qualities provide a surf beach to the east, the calm waters of the Great Sandy Strait to the west and largely uninterrupted views to Fraser Island.
The area supports a variety of vegetation including mangroves, allocasuarina, paperbark and scribbly gum woodlands, mallee brush box forest and cypress forest.
This vegetation provides habitat for a variety of animals including 112 bird species.
Rare and threatened species inhabit the area, which is also a roosting site for migratory shorebirds protected under international conventions.
Studies have identified a number of migratory bird species which use the intertidal sandbanks for feeding and roosting during their stay in Australia from September to April each year.
In March–April the birds migrate to Siberia to breed, returning to Australia in September–October.
The time they spend in Australia is essential to build their energy reserves so they are healthy enough to continue their journey north each year.
If disturbed during this time the risk of the birds not surviving their journey increases.
Inskip Point is a significant habitat for the endangered black-breasted button-quail and the vulnerable beach stone-curlew.
The area is also a major feeding and roosting ground for many significant wader birds, making the recreation area subject to two international conventions, the China-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (CAMBA) and the Japan-Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (JAMBA).
The wetlands of Inskip Peninsula and the Great Sandy Straits are of international significance, listed under the Convention of Wetlands agreement (Ramsar).”
Click on the link below for more information on Inskip Peninsula
(For Origin of Inskip Place Name & others, Click on Highlighted Text) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Your Birding Experience –
Inskip Peninsula offers the best of “Bush & Beach” for Birders
Watch for Variegated & Red-backed Fairy-wren in the grasses and low vegetation at the car park entrance to the walking track.
Watch for Eastern Whipbird, White-browed & Large-billed Scrub-wren, (among others), feeding on the forest floor as you walk the tracks.
You may even see a Noisy Pitta!
Watch too for Inskip Peninsulas’ “signature” Bird species, the Black-breasted Button-quail, as it scurries through the undergrowth!
(Look for their Platelets on the forest floor; these are shallow depressions created while they are feeding)
While the Inskip forest canopy is home to a great variety of Honeyeaters & many more Bush Bird species, the shoreline is only a few short steps away, offering Birders a wide range of sea & shore frequenting birds, including migratory & resident Tern & Shorebird species.
(The small sand island just offshore from the peninsula tip is an important migratory Tern & Shorebird Roost.)
To Print the Brochure “Birds of Inskip Peninsula” giving a full listing of Bird Species recorded at Inskip –Click here
(All species listed recorded from the “Bullock Point” turnoff to the Fraser Island Barge Landings)
Members of Birds Queensland have conducted regular February surveys of Inskip Peninsula Birds over 10 years, from 2002 to 2011.
Please follow “Birdwatching Ethics” as you enjoy your stay! __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Road Conditions – Access to Inskip Peninsula is via the well sealed Tin Can Bay Road to –
Exit right into Rainbow Beach Road – Rainbow Beach Road is well sealed, though with crests & steep descents, please drive according to conditions to –
Exit left into Clarkson Drive – Clarkson Drive is well sealed to -
At the roundabout take the second exit into Inskip Avenue – Inskip Avenue is well sealed
Please drive according to conditions on all “Bird Trails of Cooloola”
For a Digital Map to “Inskip Peninsula” –Click Here
Habitat Type (As per Regional Ecosystem (RE) Data) –
RE 12.2.7 - Melaleuca quinquenervia or M. viridiflora open forest to woodland on sand plains
RE 12.2.11 - Corymbia spp., Eucalyptus spp., Acacia spp. open forest to low closed forest on beach ridges in northern half of bioregion
RE 12.2.5 - Corymbia spp., Banksia integrifolia, Callitris columellaris, Acacia spp. open forest to low closed forest on beach ridges usually in southern half of bioregion
RE 12.2.14 - Foredune complex
RE 12.1.3 - Mangrove shrubland to low closed forest on marine clay plains and estuaries
RE 12.1.2 - Saltpan vegetation including grassland and herbland on marine clay plains
RE 12.2.12 - Closed heath on seasonally waterlogged sand plains
RE 12.2.9 - Banksia aemula woodland on dunes and sand plains. Usually deeply leached soils __________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ease of Difficulty - Easy
Walking Conditions – Well tended sand based walking track leading to beach & Tidal Flats.
Points to Note for your Safety – Sunscreen & Insect Repellant are recommended, as are appropriate protective footwear if venturing to the Tidal Flats.
What to expect of your Excursion – Inskip Peninsula offers the best of Bush & Beach for Birdwatchers!
Experience easy walking through low forest that is home to a surprising array of Bushbirds.
The beach at any time is only a few steps away, presenting the perfect opportunity to add Birds of the “Sea & Shore” to your list.
At low tide from September to April, migratory Shorebirds are “easy pickings” for Binoculars & Telescope while they are feeding on the shore & Tidal Flats.
The small sand island a short distance from the Peninsula tip is an important Roost for Migratory Shorebirds & Terns.
Among the variety of Bird Species you may encounter are –
Australian Brush Turkey, Brown Quail, Black-breasted Button-quail, Eastern Whipbird, Noisy Pitta, Striated Heron, Nankeen Night Heron, White-browed Scrubwren, Large-billed Scrubwren, Mangrove Gerygone, Fairy Gerygone, White-throated Gerygone, Beach Stone-curlew, Eastern Curlew, Curlew Sandpiper, Pacific Golden Plover, Grey Plover
(Note – Surveying conditions and Bird Species as described are accurate at time of compilation; these may vary over time with the influence of climate and other factors)
To view a Video from “Inskip Peninsula” Click here (Note – This Link is Being Established) __________________________________________________________________________________________________
To visit "Birds Queensland" Click on the "Sunbird"