Birds at Bicentennial Park – 7 August 2021

Day 42 of lockdown. I had checked the limit of the area I could exercise in – my Local Government Area or within a 10 km radius. The western limit was Rookwood Necropolis, which I had already visited, and to the north west the limit was the Waterbird Refuge at Bicentennial Park (part of Sydney Olympic  Park). I could go as far as the bird hide, but not any further to the Shipwreck Lookout or to Wentworth Common.

So I cycled out along the Cooks River Cycleway to Homebush then along the cycleway into Sydney Olympic Park. On the way I stopped off at the Cooks River Boat Harbour and soon spotted the Tawny Frogmouths. They were in separate trees.

When I reached the larger Sydney Olympic Park precinct, I first stoped off at the Mason Park Wetlands. Here is one of a pair of Black Swans –

The wetlands were relatively quiet, but were were a few birds in the nearby Powells Creek. Here is a Little Egret hunting for fish –

At the large Waterbird Refuge, there were the usual birds – ducks, stilts and avocets – but most a long way away. Here is a Caspian Tern, two Bar-tailed Godwits and two Pied Stilts –

Heading to the hide, I spotted this Grey Butcherbird –

At the hide, all the birds were a long way off. Here is a White-faced Heron –

Heading back, I spotted two distant Black-fronted Dotterels –

And some more Bar-tailed Godwits –

Here is a Red-necked Avocet –

At the south end of the pool, I photographed some Pied Stilts that were close.

And on the ride home, I again stopped at Powells Creek. The Little Egret was still there.

There was also a Great Egret –

The Little Egret –

And two White-faced Herons were also hunting.

Then a nice ride home.