EXPLORING OXLEY CREEK COMMON

  Oxley Creek Common is a large natural wetland. The park borders Oxley Creek to one side and farmland on the other.

The park is accessed via Sherwood Road, Rocklea. Located approximately 14km from Brisbane City.

 A place for large gatherings is possible with many decent size picnic areas.

 Taking a peek inside the red shelter shed

 Nice place to rest in the cool, away from the summer sun

I have a fascination with windmills they seem to add character to a place.

    Which way to go

 The park is popular for bird watching, but is known for canoeing, walking dogs, and jogging. In January 2011 the park was covered by several feet of muddy flood water and as a result was closed off to the public. The main park and walking trail have been restored but unfortunalety the Pelican Lagoon is still closed off to the public.

     the stairs down to canoe platform

  The Canoe platform area . If your are interested in canoeing along the creek, a map for a guide is available at this link; http://www.upstreampaddle.com/oxley.html

 Walking the trail around the creek, looking into the farmland that borders the pathway.

 

  

 Oxley Creek Common is a haven for birdlife. 180 known species have been recorded in the park in the past several years. The park even has its own Bird watching guide; The Birding Guide . A list of birds at the park can be found at this link;http://www.uq.edu.au/spatialecology/docs/Hughs_Bird_Files/OCC-AnnotatedList-February-2009.pdf 

 The walking trail goes close to the creek's bank

           The view of the walkway.

  found this plant growing in the grassy field   near the edge of the pathway.

Cattle grazing, daring the heat in the middle of a hot summer day.

Another view of the creek bank.

I was lucky enough to get close to this dragonfly to take the photo.

 Guys walking back from their water rafting adventure. 

  There is a remarkable large number of Butterfly's fluttering around the walking trail, however they are very hard to capture on camera. This photo took me almost an hour. 

Butterfly in mid flight