I spent a very pleasant few hours down on the Cooks River observing and photographing the birds.
I first went to check out the Tawny Frogmouths at the Dog Area. I found them easily, but could only see one chick and both parents. Perhaps the other chick was hiding under one of the parents? I could not see it nearby.
Downstream I photographed a nice Egret and a Cormorant –
Then the Egret did a funny shake and flew off –
I then went to the bridge over the river near the old Sugar Mill. I photographed some of the Welcome Swallows –
I then noticed a Striated Heron flying up the river nearby. It perched somewhere in the mangroves near the bridge.
When I left the bridge and went around the other side of the mangroves to see if I could spot the heron, I did happen to notice a nice Sacred Kingfisher sitting on a branch in the mangroves. I quickly took a few photos, then I noticed that it had a mudcrab in its beak. It seemed rather hard to the bird to eat the crab. It played around with it a bit and eventually seemed to swallow it. This was amazing to see –
I have seen Sacred Kingfishers at Tempe Wetlands and also at Barton Park, but only once previously on the Cooks River itself – and that one was downstream a fair way, and flew off before I could photograph it.
I then continued downstream. A short way below the Boat Harbour I spotted a single Royal Spoonbill feeding on the mudflats. I got a few photos before it flew downstream. I cycled down the river and on to the next bridge downstream. I photographed some of the Welcome Swallows while waiting to see if the Spoonbill would appear again.
It did –
