I got up early in the morning to arrive at the Land St Bridge on the Cooks River at 7 am for the Mudlarks Cooks River bird survey. This month the group surveyed upstream to the Boat Harbour and the Cup and Saucer Creek Wetlands.
Rufous Whistler
The highlight was seeing a female Rufous Whistler. it was spotted by David Hair. Here are some of the other birds we saw –
Grey Butcherbird
Superb Fairy-wren
Magpie Lark
Olive-backed Oriole
Tawny Frogmouth
This Tawny Frogmouth was perched under the abandoned nest at the Boat Harbour. Near the Sugar Mill we found its mate –
Mudlark member Jamie, had spotted its body the day before and from his photo we could see it had not been attacked by a predator. Perhaps it died from old age? or perhaps it ate a poisoned rat or mouse? It is very sad to see this outcome. I think the deceased Tawny Frogmouth is the male from the pair. Before this they had been successfully breeding for many years in this location. They had become well known to many of us that visit the river.
Australasian Swamphen
These were at the Cup and Saucer Creek Wetlands.
Noisy Miners
Pied Currawong
Australian Magpie
This is a juvenile.
Australasian Figbird
Rainbow Lorikeet
Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike
The group finished with morning tea at Ewen Park.