Birds at Sydney Olympic Park – 12 October 2021

After the Cooks River Bird Survey, I headed off with Valerie to Sydney Olympic Park. There was a fair bit of rain showing on the radar, and we thought that we could sit out any rain in the hide at the Waterbird Refuge in Bicentennial Park. This turned out too be what we did. The rain did not last too long however, and we had a good walk along the east side of the pond and spotted some nice birds. We also visited Wentworth Common.

Grey Plover

Valerie parked at the Archery Centre carpark, and we noticed most of the nearby nest boxes were occupied by pairs or Red-rumped Parrots.

We then made our way to the hide at the Waterbird Refuge. The hide was a refuge to us from the rain. This gave isa good chance to scan the pond to see what birds were present.

There were lots of Red-necked Avocets.

And also a lot of Pied Stilts.

This one is nesting –

And this Pied Stilt chick seemed to be by itself. Its mother had wandered off.

Some adults –

Here is one of two Black-fronted Dotterels on the east side of the main pond.

We saw this hare –

In the next pond, a small salt marsh, we saw 5 more Black-fronted Dotterels. 

Here were also some Superb Fairy-wrens there –

And a White-faced Heron –

Back at the main pond, all the birds suddenly took to the air. Here are some Chestnut Teals –

We looked around for any passing raptors that could have alarm the birds but cold not see any.

At the Shipwreck Lookout, we had our lunches and watched an Australian Darter have its lunch –

After lunch we walked to Wentworth Common. On the way we saw this Grey Butcherbird –

Here are some of the birds we saw n the ponds of Wentworth Common.

Australian Reed-warbler 

Buff-banded Rail

Superb fairy-wren

Black Swan

Fairy Martin

Australasian Grebes

We were about to leave, when we met Jodi, who was conducting a bird survey. She told us that there was a rare visitor to the park – a Grey Plover in the main Waterbird Refuge. We headed back to the pond and soon spotted it (and thanks to Jodi). A nice bird to see –

I had seen a Grey Plover at Long Reef a few years ago, but this one seems to be the first recorded at Bicentennial Park.

And thanks to Valerie for great company on the excursion and for driving.