With some easing of the lockdown restrictions I went down to the Cooks River early in the morning to meet a small group from the Mudlarks (Cooks River Bird Group) for an unofficial survey. With appropriate social distancing, we enjoyed a few hours looking at some of the local birdlife. The only downside was – we didn’t socialise later for morning tea.
We walked upstream on the true left bank up to the Boat Harbour and old Sugar Mill, then crossed over and visited the Cup and Saucer Wetlands before walking back staying on the true right bank. Some highlights –
Tawny Frogmouths
Pelicans
Various Cormorants –
A Grey Butcherbird gave us a dawn call –
There were plenty of small fish in Cup and Saucer Creek.
There were a lot of Sulphur Crested Cockatoos around, making a racket.
This one looks a little under the weather.
There was also an Australian Darter drying its wings.
And what was interesting to watch was the behaviour of a large flock (gulp) of Little Black Cormorants – flying up and down the river, landing and fishing for a while, then taking off and searching elsewhere.
