Birds at Sydney Park and the Royal Botanic Gardens – 23 September 2020

I started the day by visiting Sydney Park for some early morning bird photography. Then went home for brunch, and then later met two friends at The Royal Botanic Gardens to look for the resident Powerful Owls.

At Sydney Park, not long after I arrived I spotted a Sacred Kingfisher perched on a tree on the island of the Island Pond.

It later moved around to the other side of the island, and this was closer to the path, so I could get a better photo –

I met Lorne, a local birdwatcher there, and he spotted a Koel flying past –

Here are some of the many Superb Fairy-wrens –

And a Eurasian Coot with its chick –

The Reed Warblers are very chirpy –

And here are some Noisy Miners –

Here is a Black Swan with two of its three chicks –

And a Pacific Black Duck and chicks –

I looked carefully for any of the Rails. I didn’t see any, but I did hear a Lewin’s Rail calling not far into the reeds of the large pond.

Then later, at the Botanic Gardens, I met up with Valerie and Sue. We found the Powerful Owls in their usual tree without any trouble. They were asleep, but there were some noisy birds nearby, so we waited to see if they would wake up.