Birds at the Northern Beaches – 1 January 2023

I visited two venues in the Northern Beaches – starting at Long Reef. I later met Michael, birding friend from the inner west, and we travelled to Rat Park to see if the Ospreys were around.

At Long Reef, when I arrived the tide was low, so I walked out on the rock platform to see what migratory birds were around. On the way down, I spotted two Nankeen Kestrels perched on the cliffs. I watched them for a while, but they seemed to be content to stay perched.

Pied Cormorant

Crested Tern with fish –

Red-necked Stints

There were lots of these stints on the rock platform, but I did not spot any other migratory birds on this visit.

Sooty Oystercatcher

Walking back up to the higher area, I again spotted the Nankeen Kestrels –

While having lunch, I spotted an Osprey fly past.

It flew out to the end of the rock platform. I walked out and met up with Michael. But we didn’t manage to see where it had gone. We saw this Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike hovering like a Kestrel –

Micheal had his van, and suggested visiting Rat Park. The Osprey nest was empty, but we did spot a pair of Nankeen Kestrels when we arrived.

One of them stayed in the park to hunt.

It did have a Miner problem however.

in the far distance, we saw an Osprey –

Back to the Kestrel –

Then we almost missed an Osprey returning to the nest –

And a second Osprey appeared and circled around.

Galah –

The first Osprey was still at the nest –

The Nankeen Kestrel was still around too –

And a photo of the second Osprey perched on another light –

Another good day out. Thanks to Micheal for a lift home.