Mudlarks Cooks River Bird Survey, and More Cooks River Birds – 13 March 2025

The Mudlarks Cooks River Bird Survey was planned originally for the previous Tuesday, but wet weather saw it postponed to this Thursday. It was warm and muggy, but a lot better than the weather earlier.

This month, the survey was along the upstream loop, from the Lang Street Bridge to the Boat Harbour, then across to Cup and Saucer Creek and returning on that side.

Early on we observed a large flock of Little Corellas –

A single White-faced Heron flew upstream.

We saw a number of Little Pied Cormorants perched on the far side of the River –

A pair of Australian Wood Ducks –

A Magpie Lark –

This Laughing Kookaburra was being harassed by Noisy Miners and a Raven –

Olive-backed Oriole

Near the Foord Avenue Bridge we spotted flock of Superb Fairy-wrens –

Another Magpie Lark –

At the Boat Harbour, a Dusky Moorhen –

Masked Lapwing

More Magpie Larks –

At Cup and Saucer Creek, we again noticed several very large eels congregating under the outlet from the wetlands. We had observed this also on the previous survey.

Australian Swamphen

Now some birds seen in the Cup and Saucer Wetlands.

Chestnut Teal

Pacific Black Ducks

A juvenile Dusky Moorhen –

Nearby, a Crested Pigeon –

And flying high overhead were some White-throated Needletails –

Another Australian Swamphen –

Nearby, a Rainbow Lorikeet –

Walking back downstream, on a nearby roof some Noisy Miners having a squabble –

A Dusky Moorhen chick –

This Magpie Lark has a tasty snack –

Back down at the Lang Street Bridge, more Little Corellas –

And a Pied Cormorant –

After the survey, the group finished with morning tea at one of the picnic tables in Ewen Park.

Later, in the afternoon, I returned to the Cooks River, further downstream. One aim was to check on progress at the Striated Heron nest I had observed several times recently.

At the nest, I spotted two chicks. They were doing well.