More photos from the wonderful Byron Bay Wetlands. More than 220 species of bird have been recorded since the Wetlands were created and counts at the regular Byron Bird Buddies surveys are often in the 70 - 90 species range. A very vocal Tawny Grassbird in one of the extensive reed beds of the wetland. Grey Teals add a calming touch to proceedings, photographed from the bird-hide. The Pheasant Coucal, looking like an vintage aircraft on take-off. Rainbow Bee-eaters are a regular presence in the wetland. LINK TO NORTHERN RIVERS NSW BIRDS ..read more

Chestnut-breasted Mannikins are found in the north and the east coast of Australia. They are often seen in the Northern Rivers New South Wales region; in the grasses around coastal wetlands as well as more inland grasslands or rushes near to water. The adult Chestnut-breasted Mannikin sports a very distinctive plumage with a chestnut bib underlined in black. Younger birds are plainer although the bird on the right is showing the black line that will underline its chestnut breast. LINK TO NORTHERN RIVERS NSW BIRDS ..read more

Flat Rock is a small headland shaped patch of horizontal rocks north of Ballina in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. It has a constant population of terns and cormorants and acts as a gathering place for shore birds. This adult Red-necked Stint has started to gain the red coloration of its breeding plumage. By June-July the red coloration will have extended across its neck and face and upper parts of its back. A group of Little Terns are dwarfed by the larger birds of the colony. There were a dozen Little Terns on the rocks at Flat Rock, mingling with a large number of Crested ..read more

Byron Bay Wetlands in the Northern Rivers region New South Wales is part of the Byron Integrated Management Reserve, an advanced sewage treatment system that has created a natural habitat for both flora and fauna. This week’s visit resulted in sightings of 49 bird species and the photos below. This Golden-headed Cisticola flew into a nearby bush then onto the reeds below for a close up photo session. A Restless Flycatcher was in a group of trees adjacent to the wetland’s “Interpretive Centre”. The centre consists of a meeting room with facilities and is used by the Byron Bird Buddies for com ..read more

Goonengerry National Park in New South Wales Northern Rivers district is another of the magic sub-tropical forests on the mountains that surround the ancient Mount Warning volcano. A survey count of 39 species included Logrunners, Varied Sittellas, Emerald Doves as well as eight threatened Rose-crowned Fruit-Doves and six Albert’s Lyrebirds. Surveyors deftly avoided contact with this local resident coiled in the middle of an overgrown bush track. This Brown-headed Emerald Dove, glowing in the early morning light on the road at the park entrance. Hiding in the foliage were two Eastern Creste ..read more

This week’s survey of bird species shows again that the planned Wallum Development is in the centre of an outstanding area for wildlife. A total of 44 species were recorded including the Glossy Black-Cockatoo, listed as vulnerable in New South Wales. Also of interest was the presence of “platelets” (see photo below) indicating that Painted Button-quail are using the area. During the week came the news that the Byron Shire Council has issued authority to proceed with this development of the Wallum Sand Heath and will not contest the decision of the Northern Region Planning Panel. While understa ..read more

Standing in the water near the rocks at the Broken Head end of Tallow Beach, Northern Rivers, New South Wales, I was watching a single Little Pied Cormorant quietly fishing in shallow water. It was presumably taking advantage of an onshore current feeding the northerly current that runs along the beach. And then the Little Black Cormorants arrived! LINK TO NORTHERN RIVERS NSW BIRDS ..read more

Byron Bay Wetlands appear to have escaped relatively lightly from the October bush-fire that burnt from Byron Bay to close to Brunswick Heads in October 2023. The fire impinged mainly on the western side of the reserve and did not affect the wetland area directly. Close to the wetlands, the fire did not crown and was a relatively cool burn. Bird and species numbers do not seem to be affected as shown by post-fire bird surveys on Birdata. This male Varied Triller was close to the fire area. The fire skirted the eastern fringe but did not affect the eastern ponds. Several Cicadabirds were ca ..read more

The Wallum Development at Brunswick Heads, New South Wales, once more illustrates Australia’s totally inadequate planning and environmental protection laws. Putting aside that the site concerned is declared Flood Prone by the Byron Bay Council, this planned development would destroy a unique Northern Rivers coastal habitat - consisting of Wallum Sand Heath - and should have been stopped many years ago. The Wallum Development is a housing subdivision to be built within a patch of Wallum Sand Heath, one of the last remaining in northern New South Wales. It would be adjacent to endangered Coasta ..read more

Magpie Larks build a large mud nest and lay 3 to 5 eggs. Both parents sit on the nest for the 18 days of incubation and both parents feed the chick with worms, insects and caterpillars for a further three weeks. But parenting doesn’t stop when the chicks leave home as seen in the picture above ..read more