It was the week of the Aussie Bird Count. I was taking part this year as a member of the Tempe Birdos. The bird count sessions take 20 minutes, and I recorded the birds I saw on an app on my phone. I did two sessions at the Wetlands and one at the Reserve.
Nankeen Night Heron
These areas suited me, as I should be able to recognise any birds I would see.
White-plumed Honeyeater
Before I started counting I walked around the Wetlands a bit to see what birds were out. This allowed me to also take some photos. A few honeyeaters were out. Here is a New Holland Honeyeater.
I also could not help hearing the call of a Reed Warbler. These small shy birds are hard to photograph however.
In one area I heard a lot of bugs flying. Good food for the birds.
Here is a Grebe in the top pool –
I also photographed a Spotted Pardalote about to go into its nest hole. The bird was at the same place I had seen it (or its mate) before. They seem to perch near their hole for a while, look around and check things are OK before flying into their hole. This gives you a bit of time to get some photos.
Another bird was a Red-browed Finch, one of the usual residents at the Wetlands.
Another common resident is the Superb Fairy-wren –
After my bird counts, I saw a Nankeen Night Heron. It had been sitting high in a tree, but was being harassed by some other birds and it flew off. I was not able to get photos of it. I walked in the direction of where it had gone, and after a while it flew back. This time I did get some reasonable photos.
I had not been able to include it in my bird counts, but later when I was in Tempe Reserve doing my last bird count, I saw it fly overhead – so could include it for there. I have seen these Herons in Royal National Park a few times, but closer to home I have only seen them once before – a pair resting on a perch in Wolli Creek.