Cooks River and Barton Park Birds – 23 May 2019

This was a full and very pleasant day spent cycling with Digi Dave along the Cooks River Cycleway to Tempe and then along the cycleway to Botany Bay (and back). Along the way we stopped plenty of times and various locations to photograph the local birdlife.

Before meeting Digi Dave near the old Sugar Mill, I had located one of the resident sets of Tawny Frogmouths. These were perched in a tree near the Boat Harbour.

At the bridge over the river, I took some photos of passing Cormorants.

There was not too much happening at the Cup and saucer Creek Wetlands, so we cycled down the river to Tempe and a lap around Tempe Reserve. Again – not many birds around, so we continued on our way to Barton Park and the Landing Lights Wetland.

There, I first photographed some of the Black-winged Stilts.

Then I spotted a nice Grey Fantail –

And a Superb Fairy-wren.

We met Daniele, another bird photographer. She mentioned a Nankeen Kestrel in one of the sporting fields near the old stadium. So we made our way up there, and sure enough we spotted it.

We then rode on to Botany Bay for fish and chips for lunch. A few birds were nearby –

on the way back, we stopped near the mouth of the Cooks River to photograph some of the Crested Terns diving for fish –

At one place, Digi Dave tried a different bike –

Then back to Barton Park. The Kestrel had gone, but Danielle was still there photographing. There were a number of Black-faced Cuckoo Shrikes in trees near the stadium –