Cooks River and Barton Park Birds – 31 July 2021

Day 35 of lockdown. I decided to return to the Cooks River for a bike ride out to Barton Park and back.

It was another good morning, with a few stops along the way to photograph birds. Early on the ride, near Illawarra Road I spotted a Sacred Kingfisher. So I stopped and pulled out my camera.

It flew off down the river.

I took a photo of a Magpie Lark then continued downstream on my bike.

Another short stop to photograph a Little Pied Cormorant –

I spotted another Sacred Kingfisher at Gough Whitlam Park. Another photos stop.

It had then flown off and I could not spot it again, so back on the bike and I  headed down to Waterworth Park and the junction with Wolli Creek.

Here is a Little Pied Cormorant landing –

I met up with Michael from the IWEG Birdos. He too was wandering around with his camera.

A Little Egret flying past –

It went up Wolli Creek and then  turned around and flew back.

We had spooked a Striated Heron. It had flown across  to the far bank of Wolli Creek.

Then we were distracted by a Great Cormorant fishing at the junction.

We watched it, and were rewarded. It soon came up with a nice large fish.

It was amazing to watch  the bird quickly swallow the fish.

The Cormorant then had to shake itself a bit to get the fish down.

it then took-off and flew up Wolli Creek.

And then a Sacred Kingfisher flew over to the railway bridge.

A few more photos of the Striated Heron –

I then farewelled Micheal. He was looking for Sacred Kingfishers. Near Tempe Station carpark, in the side creek I saw the Little Egret –

An Australian Pelican was nearby –

I then continued on to Barton Park. First stop there was at Landing Lights Wetland. Here is a Yellow Thornbill –

In the main pond was a Royal Spoonbill –

And a White-faced Heron –

There were quite a few Pied Stilts –

The Heron starting hunting.

Some of the Pied Stilts were squabbling.

I spotted a Peregrine Falcon flying high above.

None of the birds in the pond reacted to the Falcon. Here is a Willie Wagtail –

The White-faced Heron caught a small fish –

I then went up to the top area of Barton Park. I saw this nice Brown Honeyeater in the Lantana.

And here is a Willie Wagtail about to grab an insect –

A few small birds were also feeding in the grass. Red-browed Finches –

Yellow-rumped Thornbills –

Here is one of the Superb Fairy-wrens on the edge.

White-plumed Honeyeater –

Back down at Landing Lights Wetland, I spotted a Great Egret on top of the sewer vent –

More photos of the Pied Stilts and the Royal Spoonbill in the ponds –

The Great Egret was still enjoying its high perch.

on the ride home, I looked again for Kingfishers but didn’t spot any. Here is a Little Pied Cormorant in the Cooks River with a very small fish.