Day 43 of lockdown. It was a bit of a wet day, but the afternoon looked better, so I walked down to the Cooks River for some exercise. I walked downstream to the junction with Wolli Ck at Waterworth Park.
As usual, while I walked I was on the lookout for birds, and in particular for Sacred Kingfishers. I soon spotted one in one of the usual locations – near the path below Illawarra Road (on the true right bank). It posed for a few photos.
It was low tide. Several times it dived down to the mudflats and returned with Mudcrabs.
These Kingfishers dive very fast, and it is easy to miss their sudden action. But I did mange to capture this dive. It is interesting that the bird does not appear to be moving its wings very much.
It took the crab to a place obscured by foliage. I then saw it fly upstream.
I didn’t spot any more Kingfishers further downstream.
Here are some other birds I saw along the way –
Little Pied Cormorant
This one is in the Billabong at Gough Whitlam Park. Alongside is an Australian White Ibis.
I bumped into Micheal from the Greenway Birdos at Gough Whitlam Park, and we had a brief chat.
I then went to Waterworth Park. Again, no Kingfishers. Here are some Little Black Cormorants –
Michael had told me about a good spot to see Yellow Thornbills. Sure enough I found some.
Walking back upstream, this Great Egret was perched on high up a tree in Gough Whitlam Park.
And lastly, a few birds seen in Marrickville Golf Course. Some Wood Ducks and Crested Pigeons.
