I had not been along the Cooks River checking out my local birdlife since the start of the month. A very hot day was forecast, but I wanted to get out and do something not too strenuous, and though a gentle walk along the Cooks River with my camera would fit the bill.
I started out from the new bridge at Lang Road and walked upstream on the north bank. Not far along, I spotted the outline of a Sacred Kingfisher perched on a mangrove. I carefully moved closer and unpacked my camera.
I managed a few photos before it flew off. Its always nice to see these beautiful birds on the river.
Further upstream, between the next footbridge and the Boat Harbour I spotted a pair of Tawny Frogmouths roosting in a Casuarina. On an earlier occasion, I had seen one here before, but not two.
I later looked for the usual Tawny Frogmouths at the Boat Harbour. I could not find neither the parents nor their chicks. Could the pair I spotted downstream be the Boat Harbour pair? No. One of that pair has a damaged left eye. Both of these don’t.
Here is a Magpie Lark being fed by parent –
At the Boat Harbour, there were a lot of Corellas –
And lurking amongst them was a single Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.
The big surprise was seeing some boats in the Boat Harbour!
The Boat Harbour had originally been excavated as a training harbour for navy cadets. But after a year or so it had silted up and was not useable.
As I mentioned above, I did look for the Tawny Frogmouths with no luck. I did spot this Currawong with a Cicada –
I then crossed the river and visited the Cup and Saucer Creek Wetlands and then walked downstream on the south bank. At Younger Avenue, it was easy to spot the Tawny Frogmouths roosting there –
And a bit further downstream, I saw a Striated Heron hunting on the mudflats –
I then crossed Wardell Road and continued down the path. Here is a Willie Wagtail –
And further down I could hear a young Pacific Koel calling for food –
Heading downstream, here is a Little Pied Cormorant drying its wings –
Mark, one of the Tempe Birdos had told me to look out for a Striated Heron nest in Gough Whitlam Park. Following his directions, I soon found it and I could see two chicks sitting upstream with their necks craned.
Mark had told me there were three chicks. And eventually the third one did appear –
Rather than walking back home, it was now getting very hot, so I caught a train home from Tempe Station.