Bird Photography – Cooks River and Barton Park – 4 August 2019

This was a full day spent along the Cooks River. I started near the Boat Harbour and then cycled all the way to Botany Bay and back. I spent most of the time at Barton Park.

Near the Boat Harbour, I spotted one of the Tawny Frogmouths. This one was in a tree on the south side of the river.

I then went to the Cup and Saucer Creek Wetlands, but I could not see too much to photograph. At the mouth of Cup and Saucer Creek was an Egret.

At the Boat Harbour, on the boom where some Cormorants and Pelicans.

I then cycled down to Tempe. I did not see many birds along the way, so I continued towards Barton Park.Near the M5 was a Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo –

At the Landing Lights Wetland at Barton Park, things were also quite quiet. There was a pair of White-faced Herons.

And a nice Golden-headed Cisticola.

There were a few Black-winged Stilts.

And a Masked Lapwing.

I then went up to the higher level. All I could find the photograph were some Welcome Swallows.

I then continued along the cycleway to Botany Bay. I was hoping to find some Terns or Gannets fishing in the river at its mouth. But no luck. So I cycled a little further and then stopped for fish and chips for lunch. I then headed back to Barton Park. More birds were now out. Some Nutmeg Mannikins –

And some more Welcome Swallows –

There was a nice male Superb Fairy-wren –

A Black-shouldered Kite made a brief appearance.

And a pair of Brown Honeyeaters –

There were also the usual New Holland Honeyeaters around.

I then went back down to Landing Lights Wetland. Here is a Chestnut Teal and a Little Egret arrived and started hunting for fish –

I then started cycling towards home. At Cahill Park, I stopped. A White-faced Heron was hunting for fish.

Then it was joined by an Intermediate Egret.

The Egret didn’t seem to like the Heron sharing its fishing spot. It then puffed out its feathers.

The Heron them flew a short distance away and did the same.

This seemed too much for the Egret. It flew away.

Meanwhile a Caspian Tern was circling around overhead.

Higher up was a Pelican.