Tallow Creek in Byron Bay, New South Wales, forms what is known as an Intermittently Closed and Open Lagoon (ICOLL); this is brackish water, as the creek’s connection to the ocean is closed periodically by an accumulation of sand. Every few months, when very heavy rain fills the lagoon, it overflows to form a channel to the sea and the lagoon quickly empties. Over the days following this outflow a procession of water birds search the newly exposed banks for food. Ducks, Egrets, Dusky Moorhens, Ibis, Spoonbills and Swamphen. What can be quite frantic feeding sees some bird odd couples seemingly ..read more

At the start of last week we saw this pair of Leaden Flycatchers putting the finishing touches to a nest, about three metres above the waters of Tallow Creek in Byron Bay New South Wales. Later it looked like the birds were taking turns sitting on the nest. Today, after two day of storms and torrential rain there is sadly no sign of the nest, presumably washed off its perch. Male Leaden Flycatchers Female Leaden Flycatcher LINK TO NORTHERN RIVERS NSW BIRDS ..read more

Gilbert’s Whistler inhabits the dry eucalyptus woodlands and open forests of inland southern Australia. In the Cowra area it is occasionally seen in callitris woodlands around Koorawatha but has been absent in recent years. It was reassuring to see this pair of nesting Gilbert’s Whistlers during the recent spring surveys. The male Gilbert’s Whistler with its orange-rufous chin and throat. The female Gilbert’s Whistlers plumage is a very uniform drab brown. LINK TO COWRA BIRDS ..read more

The Cowra Woodlands Birds Program spring survey was again spectacular as bird activity ramps up with the warmer weather and the breeding season begins in earnest. It was heartening to see a number of the rarer target birds this year: Diamond Firetails, a number of Brown Treecreepers, Gilbert’s Whistlers, a Chestnut-rumped Heathren and many Woodswallows; Masked, White-browed and Dusky. The Eastern Yellow Robin, often seen along bush paths in the eastern Australian bush. The Red-rumped Parrot shows its iridescent greens and blues, the parrot’s red rump cannot be seen. Surprisingly this common ..read more

As September comes to an end, numbers of migratory birds at Ballina in New South Wales Northern Rivers region are increasing. Groups of shorebirds can now be found at many of the town’s numerous rocky shores, estuaries and river banks. Ballina has to be a hot spot for this iconic and perilously endangered group of birds. It might be even more spectacular with a little more protection from people and dogs. A group of around thirty shore birds was seen at Lake Chickiba in Ballina; a well known gathering spot. This Pacific Golden Plover was one of a dozen of these colourful birds. One of a grou ..read more

August is the month that migratory birds return to Australia after their long journey to Siberia. Many of these birds can be seen on beaches in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. This Ruddy Turnstone has just returned from its migration north to Siberia, flying great distances without a stop. It was photographed at Flat Rock at Ballina, feeding to regain weight and condition after a long and exhausting trip. Weighing between 25 to 40 grams, the tiny Red-necked Stint has also just returned from Siberia. Stints move rapidly across the rocks, feeding on molluscs and crustaceans. Th ..read more

The Big Scrub Loop walking track is in Nightcap National Park, near Lismore, New South Wales. The track passes through magnificent subtropical rainforest dominated by enormous fig trees, Giant Stinging Trees and huge buttressed Yellow Carabeen. The Nightcap Range has been designated an Important Biodiversity Area (IBA) by Birdlife International. The key IBA bird species are the Albert's Lyrebird, Green Catbird, Pale-yellow Robin, Australian Logrunner, Paradise Riflebird, and Regent Bowerbird. Four of the six key IBA species were recorded during this weeks survey by the Byron Bird Buddies; the ..read more

Mount Nardi at 812 metres is a peak in the Nightcap Range of the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. Swathed in semi tropical rainforest, the dense crown cover means there is little light for good photography. Last weeks visit to Mount Nardi was an introduction to the Logrunner, the Little Shrike-thrush, and to the call of the Albert’s Lyrebird. The Logrunner, a fascinating thrush sized bird that forages in the leaves and debris of the rainforest floor for invertebrate prey, much in the fashion of the lyrebird. The female, shown here, is unusual being more colourful than the male who s ..read more

Last week’s survey at Byron Bay Wetlands in the New South Wales Northern Rivers region showed the wide range of birds this reserve attached to Byron’s sewerage works attracts. 81 species were counted with representation in a wide variety of bird groups. Raptors included a Grey Goshawk, Whispering Kite, Swamp Harrier and Sea-eagle. Water birds included a Spotless Crake, Glossy Isis, Pink-eared Ducks and Black-fronted Dotterels. Sacred, Forest and Azure Kingfishers were sighted. A highlight was the large number of Little Grassbirds out in the open. I went back to the wetland two days later to p ..read more

Goonengerry National Park is one of several national parks in the “Tweed Caldera”, part of the ancient Mount Warning volcano in far north New South Wales. Parts of this area form the “Nightcap Range Important Bird Area”, designated because of the population of Albert’s Lyrebirds, Pale-yellow Robins, Paradise Riflebirds, Green Catbirds, Regent Bowerbirds and Australian Logrunners. Goonengerry Falls plunge into an enormous gorge. Two sociable park inhabitants; the Eastern Yellow Robin and Grey Fantail. Grey Fantail feeding from ground on one of the parks well maintained trails. LINK TO NORTHE ..read more