Another Visit to the Cooks River – 8 August 2025

I joined Valerie and Sue for another walk along the Cooks River. We started at Beaman Park (from Wardell Road),and continued down to Gough Whitlam Park, where we hoped to stop for coffee at the newly reopened cafe.

Here are some photos –

Eastern Rosella

Great Cormorant 

We spotted an empty Willie Wagtail nest, and I remarked that they often built close to Magpie Lark nests (for mutual protection?). So we looked further, and sure enough, spotted a Magpie Lark nest nearby. Then a Magpie Lark arrived and sat on the nest.

Little Pied Cormorant

Noisy Miner

We then crossed Illawarra Road. I had told the others about recent encounters with Sacred Kingfishers along the next section, and sure enough we spotted one with crab –

It soon flew to the other side of the River.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

Then the Sacred Kingfisher returned.

Back to the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo – 

Sacred Kingfisher

Here, it is coughing up a pellet –

And then a nice take-off –

We continued walking downstream. I spotted this large next in the mangroves. Perhaps for further use by Striated Herons? A pair nested close to this spot last season.

Galahs were grazing nearby. Here is one –

And, we soon spotted the Tawny Frogmouth pair of Gough Whitlam Park.

Andrew a grazing Sulphur-crested Cockatoo –

We visited the cafe, but it was not open yet. We had chat to the proprietor, and he said they should be open next week.

Willie Wagtail

Earth Star

And as we walked back we spotted the Sacred Kingfishers again.

Back at Illawarra Road, we stopped off at the Old Mates Cafe for our coffees.

White-faced Heron

It had been a very pleasant walk.