It was the time for the monthly Mudlarks Bird Survey along the Cooks River. The group meets at the north side of the Land St Bridge on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 am (in summer, 7:30 am in winter). The direction for the survey (upstream or downstream) alternates each month. This month the survey was upstream. On the morning we found good range of birds – I think 43 species were recorded.
Here are some of what we saw –
Musk Lorikeets
We usually only see Rainbow Lorikeets along the Cooks River, but lately a lot of Musk Lorikeets have turned up.
Rainbow Lorikeet
Still plenty of these.
Superb Fairy-wrens
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos
This pair flew past.
Golden Whistler
Leaden Flycatcher
Tawny Frogmouths
We located the pair at the Boat Harbour, but could not spot any of the others.
Striated Heron
We spotted one at the end of Cup and Saucer Creek
In the Cup and Saucer Creek Wetlands we saw some Pacific Black Ducks –
And this Australian Swamphen has some chicks.
Here are some birds seen from walking back along the south side of the river.
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Little Pied Cormorant
And here is a flyover of Topknot Pigeons.
And then as usual, the group finished with morning tea at the picnic shelter at Ewen Park.