Cooks River and Barton Park Birds – 21 June 2022

I spent a nice day photographing local birds. I started off walking down the Cooks River from Wardell Road and made my way to the Cahill Park. Then I caught a bus to Barton Park and spent the rest of the day there.

Along the Cooks River, the main birds I photographed where two Sacred Kingfishers I saw just downstream on Illawarra Road. Here are some photos –

Further downstream, a Little Pied Cormorant –

Then at Barton Park. Walking to the Landing Lights Wetland, I saw a large flock of Red-browed Finches –

It is interesting to with them fly away when I got too close – right through the fence!

I talked to John, another bird photographer about what was around. I had brief look at the wetlands, then went to the old sporting fields to look for raptors.

This time it was the Grey Goshawk that was active. I saw no sign of the Nankeen Kestrel that has been in that section a lot recently.

I did see a very distant Brown Goshawk –

Back to the Grey Goshawk. It is very wary, and flies off as you approach.

It left the area. Two White-faced Herons flew over.

Outside that area, I was talking to one of the dog walkers, when we spotted the Grey Goshawk perched on a nearby pole. It soon flew to a tree not too far off.

And now some other birds.

Superb Fairy-wren –

I met Danielle, another bird photographer that I often see at Barton Park, and we talked a bit before I moved off to the end of the Spring Street Canal. Then I spotted an Osprey flying up Muddy Creek.