Birds at Tempe and The Cooks River – 9 November 2024

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.