Cooks River Bird Walk – 18 November 2020

I joined Valerie and Sue for a nice day out – walking along the Cooks River to look at the local birds.

A secondary reason was to check out the new foot-bridge (and cycleway bridge) that had just been opened at Lang Road. This bridge replaced an old rickety structure.

There is also a new floating pontoon with a canoe launching facility.

We then walked upstream. At the Foord St Bushcare site, we spotted a White-plumed Honeyeater –

And a Superb Fairy-wren –

We located the Willie Wagtail nest that I had seen a few days before (and Valerie had seen on the Mudlarks Survey) –

The bird on the nest suddenly few off. It was time to change – the second bird had arrived, and after an inspection, hopped on.

Then to the Boat Harbour Tawny Frogmouths. They had moved from the nest tree, but we found them in another Casuarina not too far away. And all four were together.

It was hard to get a photo of them all looking the sane way. I guess they are supposed to all be asleep. But the chicks are very curious and often look around.

Nearby in a hollow was a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo chick.

But another Sulphur-crested Cockatoo was nearby that seems to be suffering from Beak and Feather Disease.

We crossed the River at the Sugar Mill, then had a look at the Cup and Saucer Creek Wetlands and then continued downstream on the south bank. Here is a juvenile Magpie, and it looks like it wants some food.

Its parent was nearby, but seemed to have other things on its mind. Having a rest? Probably not – more likely having a dirt bath to get rid of parasites.

We spotted the Tawny Frogmouths at Younger Avenue. There seems to be no change – no sign of any chicks so far.

This is the pair that have been unsuccessful in their nesting during the previous two years. This year they moved their nest site to another tree, and I was hopeful it would be better. But perhaps they have a problem producing viable eggs?

Further along the river we came across a Magpie Lark on a nest –

And a second Magpie Lark nest further downstream with chicks –

And we heard an Olive-backed Oriole calling and soon located it –

A young Australasian Darter was drying it wings near the Illawarra Road Bridge.

We continued down to the area near Gough Whitlam Park where there is another Tawny Frogmouth nest. We watched the bird on the nest and waited patiently for any signs of a chick. The bird seemed a bit restless which isa sign it may be sitting on a chick.

And our patience was rewarded. The tiny head of a chick appeared.

And the chick soon disappeared back under Dad’s feathers.

We the looked for and spotted the Satin Bowerbird’s bower on the island in Gough Whitlam Park, but could not see the bird.

We then had a nice lunch at the cafe at Gough Whitlam Park. And later set off back upstream. At Illawarra Road, we crossed the river and started walking back through the golf course. We could see a rather large barge coming downstream.

It had been used in the construction of the new foot-bridge. It only just fitted under the Illawarra Road Bridge.

We then watched some young Welcome Swallows being fed –

And a Rainbow Lorikeet –

Further upstream, we heard a commotion from a lot of the birds. I though it may be due to a raptor. A bird flew past at high speed, and it was being pursued by Currawongs. We could hear the commotion in some nearby trees, and after a bit of time, we spotted the culprit – not a raptor, but a Channel-billed Cuckoo.

It was soon forced to leave –

I farewelled the others, and decided to walk upstream again to see if I could get better photos of the Tawny Frogmouths. The pair at Younger Avenue were a bit more active –

And the light was better now at the Boat Harbour –