Anstead Bushland Reserve occupies a former basalt quarry site, now covered in native bush, on Brisbane’s western fringe. It is a lesser-known reserve, but it has an active birdwatching record online. The reserve sits off Hawkesbury Road, and a recent checklist recorded native bird species in a single visit.
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The reserve has an active hotspot listing on eBird, the global citizen science platform used by birdwatchers to record and track species sightings. The more observers contribute checklists, the more useful and detailed that record becomes over time.
Top 10 Most Recent Bird Sightings
Here are the most recorded bird species at Anstead Bushland Reserve as of 10 May, with their corresponding number of individuals observed:
- Noisy Friarbird – 10
- Scarlet Myzomela – 5
- Noisy Miner – 4
- Rainbow Lorikeet – 3
- White-throated Honeyeater – 2
- Striated Pardalote, Black-headed form – 2
- Laughing Kookaburra – 1
- Lewin’s Honeyeater – 1
- Yellow-faced Honeyeater – 1
- White-browed Scrubwren – 1
The Noisy Friarbird dominated the count with ten individuals recorded. It’s described as a large grey-brown honeyeater with a completely bare black head and a distinctive horn-like knob on its bill, commonly found across open forests, gardens and parks in eastern Australia. It is among the more vocal birds on the list, known for a variety of harsh, loud squawks.
Five Scarlet Myzomelas were also recorded. It is a small honeyeater, but the adult male is visually striking: brilliant red across the face, back and breast, with black wings and tail. Females are pale brown-grey with only faint red on the face. According to eBird, the species is found in wetter parts of coastal eastern Australia, including higher-elevation forests and mangroves, and has a distinctive high-pitched song that often gives it away before it is seen, as it tends to feed high in the canopy.
Rounding out the top three was the Noisy Miner, with four birds counted. A medium to large grey honeyeater with a black crown, yellow bill and yellow eye patch, it is a familiar presence in urban areas and open forested landscapes across much of eastern Australia. eBird notes it is aggressive and territorial, living in colonies and vigorously defending its territory against most intruders.
About the Anstead Bushland Reserve
The walking tracks are mostly flat and well signposted, with a car park, undercover picnic areas, barbecue facilities and toilets at the entrance. A three-kilometre circuit takes in views over a historic quarry and the Brisbane River, with interpretive signs identifying native flora including gum-topped box trees, ironbarks, and lemon-scented gums.
The reserve has been noted as particularly suitable for early morning birdwatching. The reserve is accessed via Hawkesbury Road off Mount Crosby Road. Visitors with the eBird app can log their own sightings directly to the Anstead Bushland Reserve hotspot (L974746), adding to the cumulative species record for the site.
Published 13-May-2026
