Over the years, I have seen and photographed two of the three Bittern species found in Australia. The one I had missed was the Little Bittern, or what is now called the Black-backed Bittern. Some of these illusive birds had recently been seen at the Narawang Wetlands at Newington – and they are part of the Sydney Olympic Park.
So I caught a bus close to the wetlands from Strathfield. I walked down to the Avenue of Oceana, which provides a good view of the pool they had been seen near. I saw two other bird watchers. They had only been there a few minutes and had not seen the bird. But a minute or two later we saw a bird flying towards the far end of the pool. It was a Black-backed Bittern. I managed to get a few photos before it moved out of sight into the reeds. But it was facing away.The black back indicates it is a male.
I then walked around the path at the back of the pool. But could not see the Bittern. Here is a Superb Fairy-wren –
Another bird photographer, Jan, arrived and he spotted a Buff-banded Rail –
And an Australasian Darter was drying its wings –
After some more waiting, we spotted the Black-backed Bittern again.
And then some more waiting. More bird watchers arrived. Jan had spotted two Black-backed Bitterns, both males, and the previous day he had photographed a female nearby.
Our waiting paid off. We spotted a Black-backed Bittern perched in the reeds a fair way down the pool.
It then flew towards us.
It was now a bit closer. It was perhaps half way along the pool. But they are small birds and so hard to photograph at a distance (and in poor light).
The Bittern made its way down to the water.
It suddenly lunged and probably caught something.
It then made its way through the reeds. At times we would loose sight of it.
It was interesting to see how it gripped the reeds.
And one last photo showing a Dusky Moorhen, which was about the same distance away (and cropped the same) – allowing a comparison in size to be made wth the Bittern.
If I can, I will return, and try and get some better photos.
For those interested, this series of wetland ponds is artificial, created as part of the Olympics site rehabilitation. The ponds filter the treated stormwater from parts of Olympic Park, before eventually ending up in Haslems Creek. The levels in the smaller ponds are managed up and down regularly to optimise habitat for Green and Gold Bellfrog populations, which were discovered in this location as part of the environmental impact assessment before the Olympic Park development.
I saw one black bittern about this week in the reeds a few 100 metres “downstream” from where I think David took these pix (just off Avenue of Oceania).
Hello, I am interested in coming to Sydney this Friday and hope to see the Bittern. I will be driving and as the area is so big could you suggest a parking area near the area of the ponds. Is there a map of this area with the pond names. Thanks for your assistance.
I’ve only visited via public transport (bus), but I think other visitors park in the nearby streets of Newington. West of the ponds. Narawang Wetlands are a series of artificial ponds along Haslams Creek. The spot people look out for the Black-backed Bittern in from the north side of the Avenue of Oceana.