This was a pleasant activity organise by Brian Everingham with the National Parks Association of NSW. I travelled to the park with Valerie and Sue and we met the others at Lake Belvedere a little after 7 am. In the rest of the party was as well as Brian was Sue W, Ken, Ann and later Helen.
We first visited Lake Belvedere, then the large Waterbird Refuge and then walked back via the mangroves and the Bennelong Pond. We finished at lunchtime.
Here are some of the birds at Lake Belvedere and nearby –
Australasian Darter
The Darter was gathering nesting material.
Royal Spoonbill
Pied Cormorants
Superb Fairy-wrens
Australian Reed Warbler
Willie Wagtail
We then walked down to the Waterbird Refuge. The tide was very low, but there was still water draining out of the pond.
White-faced Heron
Red-browed Finch
Pied Stilts
Royal Spoonbill
Great Egret
Red – necked Avocet and Chestnut Teals
We didn’t spot any Red-necked Avocets on our visit, but looking through my photos I can see there is one flying wit the Teals.
Black Swans
These two may have been courting – they were mirroring their movements with their necks.
Sharp-tailed Sandpipers
Superb Fairy-wrens
Black-faced Dotterels
On the way to the Shipwreck Lookout, we saw a pair of Black-faced Cuckoo Shrikes. Here is one –
Crested Tern
We then walked back to the Mangrove Boardwalk. On the way we spotted this Eastern Water Skink –
In the mangroves, Brian pointed out these very small Samphire Blue Butterflies –
And there were plenty of Dragonflies –
And Spiders –
Our last bird was an Olive-backed Oriole –
Many thanks to Brian for organising the interesting morning and to Valerie for driving.