Birds of the Northern Beaches – 13 December 2019

This was another full day of bird photography spent in the Northern Beaches area. On the day I spent most of my time at Warriewood – visiting Rat Park, Lakeside Park, Warriewood Wetlands and Irrawong Reserve, and then visited Long Reef.

Grey Plover

After catching a B-line bus to Warriewood, I first maddest a quick visit to Rat Park – no sig of the Ospreys. So I then went to Warriewood Wetlands. A visitor the day before had observed a Little Bittern and a Pacific Baza with a juvenile. I was not so lucky – despite a fair time spent observing.

I did find a number of other nice birds.

Variegated Fairy-wren

At Irrawong Reserve, I bumped into Philip, a fellow bird photographer who lives in the area. He was photographing a pair of Whipbirds. I was able to get a photo of one of them –

Some of the other birds at Irrawong Reserve –

Brush Turkey

Grey Fantail

Lewin’s Honeyeater

I then went back to Warriewood Wetlands. Philip pointed out two Brown Gerygone nests – they were hard to discern! A Brown Gerygone appeared nearby.

I had lunch at the picnic area near the Wetlands and made a visit down Mullet Creek. I spotted a Nankeen Night Heron –

and a White-faced Heron .

And a few more birds –

I did a circuit of the wetlands – visiting the Settling Ponds area. The highlight there was a small flock of Dollarbirds –

Also at the Settling Ponds –

Royal Spoonbill

Dusky Moorhen chicks

Back around on the main boardwalk, no sign of Little Bitterns or Bazas. Here is a Willie Wagtail –

And a pair of Superb Fairy-wrens –

I then walked back down Mullet Creek and along to Lakeside Park. I spotted a Nankeen Kestrel, but it was too far away and flew off. Things improved at Rat Park. The Eastern Ospreys were perched at their nest – but it looks like they have given up on any chicks. Neither was sitting on eggs or guarding young. They seemed pretty settled –

Also at Rat Park was  a Nankeen Kestrel hunting for food –

I then caught a bus down to Long Reef, and stared walking to along the north side. I spotted two Nankeen Kestrels perched in a tree –

I waited a while, but they seemed settled, so I moved on. On the rock platform I saw the usual Cormorants –

I looked for small migratory birds, cut could not see any. The tide was very low – so it was easy to walk around. On the south side I did spot some Sooty Oystercatchers –

And a single Grey Plover (thanks to David Sinnot for the id)

It was now time to head home. It had been a good day.