It was time to join the Tempe Birdos for their monthly bird survey. This month I was in the group surveying at the wetlands.
Walking down to the wetlands, I spotted this White-faced Heron –
While the group was gathering, one of the members pointed out this Eastern Long-necked Turtle. Someone had seen it on a nearby road and carried into the wetland area. It was good to see it was heading towards the pond.
It was interesting to see a lot of birds harassing the turtle. Mainly Magpie Larks and Noisy Miners.
Some birds in the lower pond –
Chestnut Teals
Pacific Black Duck
Here is a nesting Willie Wagtail –
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
Here it has caught an insect –
Australasian Figbird
Red Wattlebird
In the middle pond, we spotted some Dusky Moorhen chicks –
And their parents –
A Little Pied Cormorant was fishing in the upstream pond –
Pacific Black Duck
Superb Fairy-wren
Walking back, another Little Pied Cormorant –
It was then time to join the group surveying at Tempe Reserve for morning tea. On the way I spotted two Pelicans. Here is one –
After a vey pleasant morning tea and a chat, I decided to walk part way home via the Cooks River. Here are some birds I saw along the way –
White-faced Heron
Channel-billed Cuckoo
The Australasian Darter was on Fatima Island –
Near tempe Station, one of many Australasian Figbirds –
In Gough Whitlam Park, a Noisy Miner feeding a juvenile –
The Tawny Frogmouth was still sitting on its nest –
Some Little Black Cormorants seen upstream –
At Marrickville Golf Course, near Bruce Street, I was pleased to see a Tawny Frogmouth sitting on a nest.
It usually the male that sits on the best during the day. I located the female roosting nearby –
Another Pelican –
At the cricket nets, I soon spotted the Tawny Frogmouth family –
And another Tawny Frogmouth nest – this one at Ewen Park. It is unchanged and I fear probably not successful. The bird has been on the nest for too long.
Olive-backed Oriole
Magpie Larks
And the Boat Harbour family of Tawny Frogmouths –
I walked past the old Sugar Mill to Canterbury Road, where I caught a bus towards home. It had been a great morning.