Cooks River Birds – 8 April 2018

I spent an excellent morning down on the Cooks River – between Wardell Road and Canterbury Road. I cycled along the cycleway – on both sides of the river and had my camera handy.

Here are some of what I saw. On the way to the Boat Harbour, I noticed a few stinkhorns out at Ewan Park. They were not that fresh – but they still attracted a lot of flies and other insects –

At the Boat Harbour, I stopped to watch a Great Egret hunting for fish. I saw it catch a reasonable fish which it soon swallowed (see first photo). It then tried to catch more fish, but soon flew off to the other side of the Boat Harbour.

A pelican was also in the area trying to get some fish –

I then crossed the river to the Cup and Saucer Creek Wetlands, but there was nothing special there, so I stayed on that side and cycled downstream. A few more birds –

On the far side of the river near EwanPark was a Darter. It seemed to have a bit of fish stick on its beak.

I then noticed a gulp of Cormorants heading upstream ( a “gulp” is the collective noun for cormorants). I though they would be worth watching.

It was interesting to watch the group when one of them caught a fish –

Then the Darter took off and flew downstream –

Meanwhile the Gulp continued upstream. They were accompanied by a White Faced Heron and a Great Egret. Possibly these birds were hoping to catch some of the fish that tried to escape the Cormorants.

I then noticed some wasps settling on the Mangrove leaves nearby –

I next followed the Gulp and the two escorts right up to the Boat Harbour. It was interesting to watch them dive for fish. Most of them seem to dive simultaneously but each time a few stayed on the surface. Perhaps they were the lookouts?