This was a pleasant day cycling along the Cooks River Cycleway from near Cup and Saucer Creek to the Tempe Wetlands photographing the birdlife.
I spotted two sets of nesting Tawny Frogmouths – one near the Boat Harbour and one near the Dog Area upstream. There should be some chicks to see soon.
Also, at the Dog Area, a curious Butcher Bird fly around for a look at me wondering what I was doing. Last year there was a Butcher Bird nesting in the same area.
At The Cup and Saucer Creek Wetlands there was a Cormorant swimming in the lower pool. This is unusual here – they tend to be in the river.
As well, a large group of Sacred Ibis seem to have occupied the lower pool. Perhaps this was why I didn’t see the Swamphen chicks? Some of the Purple Swamphens in the middle pool were “marching” around in a line –
At the Boat Harbour, there were the usual Pelicans, Cormorants and some Sulphur Crested Cockatoos –
At the Tempe Wetlands I saw two Royal Spoonbills in the middle pool.
The upper of the three pools was completely dry. I have never seen it like this before!
Reed Warbler
The lower pool has quite a few baby birds – Eurasian Coot chicks were visible –
And some of the other birds –
Perhaps a Fan-tailed Cuckoo
Superb Fairy Wren
Horsefield’s Bronze Cuckoo
Little Pied Cormorant