Local Birds – Tempe, Barton Park and Cooks River – 10 October 2020

It was the day for the Tempe Birdos to have their monthly survey. I joined them and helped survey the wetlands. After the group finished with morning tea, I cycled to Barton Park and had a look at the Landing Lights Wetland and the hinterland. I finished by riding home along the Cooks River and checking a few spots.

It was relatively quiet at the Tempe Wetlands. Here are some of the birds we saw –

Magpie Lark

Dusky Moorhen with chicks

Australian White Ibis

The Ibis were in the top pond, which was looking quite dry.

Here is a Currawong being harassed by a Noisy Miner.

This Currawong is at its nest –

And a Willie Wagtail –

I was surprised to see the Landing Lights Wetland at Barton Park almost dry. There was one Pied Stilt there –

And I later spotted a single Black-fronted Dotterel –

There were a number of Yellow-rumped Thornbills in the bushes around the wetland –

Up, near the sporting fields, were some Superb Fairy-wrens.

And here is a Red-browed Finch –

And a New Holland Honeyeater –

I saw a larger bird fly past at high speed. I think it may be a Grey Goshawk.

I was also annoyed to see several groups of people removing some of the vegetation in and around the wetlands. This is despite a sign saying there is a $110,000 fine for doing this, and another sign saying the fine is $220,000. I wonder who polices this?

I then made my way back to the Cooks River and headed upstream. At Younger Avenue I soon located the nesting Tawny Frogmouths. I could not see any chicks.

Here is the other of the pair –

There were lots of chicks at Cup and Saucer Creek Wetlands. Here is a Dusky Moorhen and one of its chicks –

Meanwhile – these Moorhen were mating –

At the Boat Harbour, there was a single Pied Cormorant on the boom –

I could only spot one of the pair of Tawny Frogmouths at the Boat Harbour. This is the one with the bung eye.  I suspect its mate is on a nest nearby.