After taking a day off to stay indoors during a heat wave, I was keen to get outdoors the next day. I decided to visit some of my local biding sites – the Cooks River and Barton Park.
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
I travelled by bike and first visited the Boat Harbour. Both Tawny Frogmouths seemed OK.
I have since heard that the nest has been abandoned. Sad news! No chicks this year.
Then I cycled down to Gough Whitlam Park. Again, I checked the Tawny Frogmouth nest there. It was difficult to see the chick, but it seemed OK.
But, again, I have heard since this visit that the chick is likely to have died. Both parents were spotted perched together on a branch and there was an empty nest. No sign of the chick.
I continued cycling to Barton Park and stopped off at Landing Lights Wetland. A few other bird watchers and photographers were there.
Here are some of the Pied Stilts –
The two nest at the wetlands seem to have failed, most likely due to changing water levels. But I did see one juvenile Pied Stilt. Perhaps one that had been raised elsewhere?
The highlight of the visit was seeing a single Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. This is the first one I have seen at the wetlands for two years.
Some of the other birds. A White-faced Heron –
A Superb Fairy-wren –
A Royal Spoonbill arrived. It had breeding plumage.
I then left the wetlands and walked down the Spring St Canal. Here is a Striated Heron flying past.
And here is a New Holland Honeyeater –
I then went back to the wetlands. A lot of birds suddenly took off and I looked up and spotted a Brown Goshawk.
A little later the Spoonbill flew off.
I them left to head home for lunch. On my way I had another look at the Tawny Frogmouth nest at Gough Whitlam Park. I could not get a better look at the chick.
