Cooks River Birds – 3 November 2017

I spent a very pleasant day on the Cooks River observing and photographing the birdlife between roughly Cup and Saucer Creek and the Alexandria Canal. I cycled between sites on the cycleway.

Cattle Egret

I started at the Dog Area near Canterbury and looked for the tawny Frogmouth family – no luck in finding them. Perhaps the sound are now old enough for them to range further away from their nesting area? I then went to The Cup and Saucer Creek Wetlands. There were quite a few baby Moorhens –

I also saw the Purple Swamphen chicks that I had observed before. They are now quite a lot larger, but not quite grown up –

Nearby was a nice Figbird –

At the Boat Harbour, there were the usual Cororants on or near the rubbish boom –

It was interesting to watch the Pelicans at the Boat Harbour. Two of them seemed to be mirroring each there’s actions. I assume these two have bonded.

Also a few Lapwings flew past, and I also observed a group of Noisy Miners very aggressively bullying another bird all by itself. I think it may be a Starling chick –

Nearby I was able to spot the Tawny Frogmouths at the Boat Harbour. I had previously seen their nest.

I could only see one chck in the nest with one of the parents. The other parent was nearby and it seems to have a damaged eye –

I then cycled down to Ewan Park. There I observed a family of Butcher Birds –

I then continued slowly to Tempe Wetlands. I soon spotted another Figbird and a Willie Wagtail –

At the middle pool, I spotted a Cattle Egret perched at the top of a Casuarina Tree –

I quickly took a photo and then it flew off. This was one bird I had never seen along the River before. I was hoping to be able to take more photos and was looking around for it, when it flew back to the top of the same tree. This time I was able to get more photos as it was chased away by a pack of Noisy Miners –

When it was gone the Noisy Miners all perched in the same tree where the Egret had been and kicked up a noisy fuss – gloating I suppose?

I then wandered around a bit more, seeing a nice Silvereye –

Next I left the wetlands and walked around the track on the side of the Container Depot. Here I saw a few Superb fairy Wrens.

The track continues into quite different terrain – wastelands covered in Lantana and other weeds – and good habitats for smaller birds. I spotted a few Bulbuls and a very nice Little Grassbird  Golden Headed Cisticola (thanks to Matt for the correction here).

The track then drops down to the water pipeline access road which I followed back to Tempe Reserve. On the way I spotted the Cattle Egret again, It had again perched at the top of a Casuarina on the far side of the Alexandria Canal. I was able to photograph it as it flew off –