| Fri 10 | | Glossy Black Cockatoo
Morgans Creek near Thomas St Tennis Courts, Revesby Heights |
|
| I was notified by my partner who was undertaking bush regeneration in the area of Glossy Black Cockatoos feeding on Allocasuaria littoralis. They were first observed in the morning around 8:30am, and were still there when I went to look at them at 3pm. I observed 3 individuals, two adults (male and female) and one juvenille. |
| Sarah Cardenzana 10/10 #272792 |
| Tue 7 | | Rufous Whistler, Latham’s Snipe, Mistletoebird
Barton Park South--Landing Lights Wetland |
| A few locally uncommon birds. Male Rufous Whistler hanging around singing on bike path (down near where Buff-banded Rails were reported about a year back - on bend near newish footbridge over canal). Mistletoebird female seen there too. Latham’s Snipe flushed from grasses between canal and walking track on the overgrown side. eBird checklist |
| Chris Rehberg / Sydney Birding 7/10 #272786 |
| Mon 6 |  | Letter-winged Kite
Norah Head, Central Coast |
|
| Not my observation but much discussed on Facebook. See screenshot. First report for Central Coast LGA. (Moderator's Note: Initially considered to be the first report for NSW since 18 were seen in NSW at Narriearra National park, Tibooburra, near the Homestead by James Bennett et al on 15/11/2024, however on 6/9/2025, a single bird was seen from the Carypundy Bird Hide in Narrriearra NP on 6/9/2025 by Gary Neill, as per eBird. The record is subject to review by NSWORAC. AKM) |
| Shaun Harris via Native Birds in Australia FB Group - shared here by Chris Rehberg 7/10 #272787 |
| | Pale-vented Bush-hen
Dirty Creek Range, S of Halfway Creek |
| Pair calling loudly in wetland at 1824 hrs. |
| Russell Jago per Greg Clancy 6/10 #272785 |
| | Pheasant Coucal
Willunga Track, Ku-ring-Gai NP |
| 2 birds (maybe a 3rd) calling from the scrub to the north of the track approx. 11:30am. Also 3 Glossy Black Cockatoos (2 Ad, 1 noisy youngster) and a singing Chestnut-rumped Heathwren eBird checklist |
| Tom Wilson 6/10 #272784 |
| Sun 5 | | Eastern Koel, Channel-billed Cuckoo
Coutts Crossing Village |
| Both cuckoos heard calling in the early morning were the first returning birds for this site. |
| Greg Clancy 5/10 #272781 |
| | Little Bronze-Cuckoo, Eastern Koel, Australian Owlet-nightjar, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo
South Grafton Water Reserve (Abattoir TSR) |
| The Little Bronze-cuckoo heard calling was the observers' first record of the season. The Owlet-nightjar called during the heat of the day. The Eastern Koel was the observers' first record for the season shared with a bird heard calling at Coutts Crossing earlier. The Channel-billed Cuckoos, adult male Eastern Shike-tit and Black-chinned Honeyeaters were also present again today. eBird checklist |
| Greg Clancy, Rodney Falconer 5/10 #272780 |
| Sat 4 | | Channel-billed Cuckoo, Brown Treecreeper, Eastern Shrike-tit, Black-chinned Honeyeater
South Grafton Water Reserve (Abattoir TSR) |
|
| Birds observed/heard during banding operations at the site. The Channel-billed Cuckoo was the first local record for most observers, the Eastern Shrike-tit, although known at the site, is rare close to Grafton, the Brown Treecreeper has declined at the site and apart from a single bird banded in 2019 was thought to be locally extinct. A Dusky Woodswallow and a pair of Little Lorikeets observed at the site are generally rare locally. Black-chinned Honeyeaters are regular at the site. eBird checklist |
| Greg Clancy, Rodney Falconer, Richard Harris, Clive Barker, Russell Jago 5/10 #272779 |
| Fri 3 | | Sahul Cicadabird
Henry Kendal Reserve, Laurieton |
| On Friday 3/10, 20+ members of the Hastings Birdwatchers on the regular outing led by Peter Hudd, heard a Cicadabird calling at the start of the Laurieton -Lakehaven walking track that goes around the edge of Queens Lake, the bird was again heard calling on the return trip, but still not seen. Subsequently Erin Wise reported a Cicadabird on Morton Creek Rd, Beachwood on 3/10, another was reported from Deanes Creek Rd Tionee near Taree on 5/10 by Will Brown, at Heatherbrae on 6/10 by Sage Rundman, on 7/10 at Partridge Ck Fernbank by Will James & at Ravensdale, Yarramalong by Louise Salter, and at Ourimbah Creek Rd Ourimbah today by Darren Earnshaw. It does look like that the birds were moving on a wide front south over a few short days. I am aware that there have been at least two reports much earlier but that movement seems to be unrelated to this bunch! eBird checklist |
| per Alan Morris 8/10 #272790 |
| | Spangled Drongo, Olive-backed Oriole
Eastlakes golf course |
| A good selection of passage migrants today including 3 Sacred Kingfisher, 2 Rufous Whistler, 2 Scarlet Myzomela, 2 Latham’s Snipe, 1 Spangled Drongo and an Olive-backed Oriole. Snipe have been very scarce here in recent years. |
| David Mitford 6/10 #272783 |
| Wed 1 | | Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius)
Lemington Road Jerrys Plains NSW |
|
| Red-backed Kingfisher observed at Jerrys Plains, NSW, at 5:30 pm on 1 October 2025. Initially perched in a tree above the river, moved to powerlines over an adjacent paddock where it perched, swooping for worms. Clear photographs obtained; noted rufous rump, pale underparts, and dark mask. eBird checklist |
| Jayden Richardson-Parsons 2/10 #272777 |
| Mon 29 | | Noisy Pitta
Surrey Hills, Sydney |
|
| Gillian, from WIRES picked up a Noisy Pitta from a suburban house where it had apparently been concussed, so went into care. Then on 1/10/2025, Gillian had another pick up from a suburban house in Waterloo, a nearby suburb, this one an immature bird, which is doing much better. Both will be released tomorrow in an appropriate location. Obviously both birds enroute to their northern NSW mountain rain forests. |
| Gillian from WIRES per Alan Morris 3/10 #272778 |
| | Brush Cuckoo
Coutts Crossing Village |
| Heard Brush Cuckoo from our property. First return of the season. (Moderator:s Note: The returns further south are much more earlier, the first being at 16/9 Penrith Weir Reserve (Bob Sinclair), 18/9 Tomago Wetlands (P. Keenan), 20/9 Tomaree NP Shoal Bay (J.McLaren) & Lake Cathie Village Track (L.V.Bussell), 22/9 Mulgoa (Heny Cook), & 26/9 Lake Rd Tuggerah (D.Purcell).AKM) |
| Greg Clancy 29/9 #272770 |
| Sun 28 | | Brown Songlark
Llewella Davies Walk Camden NSW |
| Two Brown Songlarks observed early morning Camden Town farm walk. (Moderator's Note: The first Coastal Brown Songlark for the season that I am aware of is at the Pipeline Track, Hexham Swamp NR, seen by Ted Elks on 24/9/2025.AKM) |
| Bronwyn Hayter 28/9 #272768 |
| Sat 27 | | White-backed Swalllow
Grenfell |
| 2 White-backed Swallows seen in the morning hawking over private property during the regular Grenfell survey.
A single bird was seen in the late afternoon by several participants. |
| Paul Johnstone, Mikla Lewis, Agnes Kwong, 2/10 #272776 |
| | Red Wattlebird
Iluka Marine Rescue station |
|
| Juvenile Wattlebird feeding at flowers of New Zealand Christmas Tree (Pohutukawa) Metrosideros excelsa, next to Marine Rescue building. Red Wattlebirds are usually a cooler season visitor/migrant to the Clarence Lowlands. Its age would suggest that it was hatched locally. This would constitute the observer's first breeding record on the Clarence lowlands. |
| Greg Clancy 27/9 #272767 |
| | Black-eared Cuckoo
Nielsen Park, Vaucluse |
| Seen in low sandstone woodland on the trail at -33.8544, 151.2671. Seen briefly at first, then better views later on, and seen by both myself and Sharon Yang. In same area as other birds presumably on passage at the site: viz Grey Fantail, Australian Golden Whistler, Black-faced Monarch. Typical bronze cuckoo shape. Grey above, plain buff below, black mask through eye. Not a Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo (which is what I tried to make it at first as I couldn't believe it could be Black-eared Cuckoo), no bronze tint, no trace of barring on flanks. Black-faced Monarch was an added bonus (and equally raised the rairty flag on eBird, although not as unusual as the cuckoo). Tried to take a distant photo on Iphone but not successful and not diagnostic. I've never seen this in Sydney before, and suspect anywhere in Sydney would be great, but would not have expected so close to the coast. (Moderator's Note: The first and only Central Coast Record was on 22/1/2017 at Crackneck Lookout, Bateau Bay, it too was very unexpected. There are early records for the Country of Cumberland, as in the book "The Birds of Sydney" Hindwood & McGill 1958, it is recorded that they were occasionally seen in the north-west part of Sydney where Speckled Warblers occur, as that species is one of the main hosts of the Cuckoo. AKM) eBird checklist |
| Frank Hemmings 27/9 #272766 |
| | Topknot Pigeon
St Ives |
| Having not seen them here before in 47 years of residence, a pair are nesting in a neighbour’s spindly jacaranda tree. An unexpected choice, given our distance from rainforest in suburban St Ives". |
| Bob Way 27/9 #272764 |
| Fri 26 | | Leaden Flycatcher, Grey Fantail
Coutts Crossing Cemetery Reserve |
|
| 2 Flycatchers, adult male observed and photographed (poor photo attcahed) and second bird heard calling. First records for the season at this site. 2 Grey Fantails were foraging in the canopy and may have been returning local birds as they disappear during the cooler months and are replaced with birds of the Tasmanian race. It was too dark to determine their race. |
| Greg Clancy 26/9 #272763 |
| | Dollarbird
Coutts Crossing School |
| 1 observed flying out from tree at school. First record for season at this location. (Moderator's Note: Elsewhere in NSW, first arrivals were 12/9 at Lisarow (Sue Watts), 15/9 Deep Pond, Ash Island (B.Sommers), 16/9 Wingen (G.Newling), 18/9 Garigal NP, Sydney , and then across Sydney and the Central Coast, but the first Mid North Coast record was at McLaren Drive, Port Macquarie on 20/9 (W.James)!. AKM) |
| Greg Clancy 26/9 #272762 |
| Wed 24 | | Channel-billed Cuckoo
Moree Common |
| As we were leaving Moree Commons I saw a large grey bird overhead in a small tree which turned out to be a Channel-billed Cuckoo. Clearly seen as it flew off towards the common. |
| Mandy Wright 27/9 #272765 |
| Tue 23 | | Black Kite
N edge of Ulmarra |
| 3 over cleared canfield in morning. One same location in afternoon. |
| Greg Clancy 24/9 #272760 |
| | Dollarbird
Iluka Road, Mororo |
| Adult on powerline. Also one on powerline at Iluka. Observer's first records for season. |
| Greg Clancy 24/9 #272759 |
| Sat 20 | | Eastern Koel
Mollymook |
| Heard first bird for the season calling from my front verandah at around 0630 this morning at Mollymook Beach. (Moderator's Note: The first returning Koels for Laurieton, Camden Head and North Shore of Port Macquarie were reported by members of the Hastings Birdwatchers on 20/9 as well, however the first for Vaucluse was reported by Renee Furster-Levy on 19/9. AKM) |
| Sean Grogan 20/9 #272753 |
| Fri 19 | | Square-tailed Kite
Leichhardt |
| This afternoon, following the usual Noisy Miner raptor alert call, I checked outside and was astounded to see, not the usual Brown Goshawk, but a Square-tailed Kite soaring fairly high above Tebbutt St Leichhardt. It amazes what sometimes turns up in the Inner West. |
| David Hair 19/9 #272751 |
| | Mangrove Gerygone
Bicentennial Park (Sydney Olympic Park)--Waterbird Refuge |
| One bird calling on Powells Creek near mangrove boardwalk. My first record here since 2015. |
| Brian Downer 19/9 #272750 |
| Thu 18 | | White-headed Pigeon (16)
Mount Kembla Village |
|
| Suddenly lots of them. (Moderator's Note: While White-headed Pigeons are regularly seen in and around Mount Kembla and environs, but usually only in small numbers, they are not considered rare, nor out of range at this site, but 16 birds in the one group at this location is worth reporting! AKM) |
| Sarah Evans 18/9 #272749 |
| Wed 17 | | White-headed Pigeon
Greenwich |
| Four White-headed Pigeons made a brief visit to a fig-tree near the mouth of Gore Ck this morning.
My last local observation was in 2017. |
| Ted Nixon 17/9 #272747 |
| | Rainbow Bee-eater
Nepean River, Llewella Davies Walk, Camden NSW |
| 4 RBEs observed at lunchtime in the usual spot today. First returnees of the season eBird checklist |
| Brett Mezen 17/9 #272746 |
| | Owlet Nightjar Magpie Geese Black Kite
"Jacana" Washpool Rd Clarenza 2460 |
|
| A nest box used by Rainbow Lorikeets has become only partially attached and is now turned on its side. The nest box has now been taken over by an Owlet Nightjar. This is our first sighting of an Owlet Nightjar for 21 years
here.
Yesterday a Black Kite was circling over Centenary Drive Clarenza
On 8th September Russell Jago and I heard a Black-chinned
Honeyeater calling here
Up to 500 Magpie Geese have been seen regularly on a wetland on Big River Way Clarenza. For the past week there have been none there |
| Eric Wheeler Russell Jago 17/9 #272745 |
| Tue 16 | | Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Tuggerah Lakes |
|
| 2 sighted at the Saltmarsh area near Tacoma, north of the Wyong river entrance. 4 sighted on the 21st September. First return for the Central Coast LGA. |
| Steve Davies 22/9 #272758 |
| | Dollarbird
Stingaree Pt. Dora Creek |
| Saw lone bird resting on a power line in the afternoon. Didn't bother reporting it as we're usually well behind even the South Coast. I heard our first Koel yesterday. First Oriole 3 days ago. (Moderator's Note: usually the Dollarbirds arrive the last week in September so the Dora Creek bird was earlier than usual. AKM.) |
| Paul Schofield 21/9 #272757 |
| Mon 15 | | Dollarbird
Shoalhaven River at Warri Bridge on Kings Highway nr Braidwood |
| Saw two birds flying south over the bridge while I drove across to the west. First sighting of this species in the area this season. (Moderator's Note: This appears to be the first return for the 2025/26 season, 2 were reported at Wingen, in the Upper Hunter by Greg Newling on 19/9 but as yet no Sydney, Central Coast or Mid North Coast reports. AKM). |
| Nick Charley 21/9 #272756 |
| Sun 14 | | Black-chinned & Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters
Railway Tunnell, Sandy Hollow Rd Wollar |
|
| The White Box was in flower at this site and there were at least 6 Black-chinned & 18 Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters feeding in the flowering White Box. Other birds present included, White-plumed Honeyeaters and Noisy Friarbirds. As you can see in the photo, the Black-chinned Honeyeaters were also feeding on lerps in the White Box. In the past this was an important site for Regent Honeyeaters. eBird checklist |
| Tim and Alan Morris 17/9 #272744 |
| | Yellow-tufted and Black-chinned Honeyeater, Brown Treecreeper
Moolarben Road, Munghorn Gap NR Cooyal |
|
| On the weekend 13-14th September, 60 years of bird banding at Munghorn Gap NR was celebrated by 20 banders past and present, with the current banding group running 4 banding events each year under the current leader Rob Kyte. Banding first took place on 4/9/1965 by Alan Morris & S.G. (Bill) Lane, and AKM continue to band there for the next 20 years, after that it became a co-operative banding site with a group operating there. In the first 20 years the commonest bird caught was the Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, but this population crashed in the mid 1980's, possibly drought related, and vegetation changed and Yellow-tufts almost disappeared and they have hardly recovered. So it was good to see 9 Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters feeding in flowering White Box along Moolarben Road, other threatened species present were Black-chinned Honeyeaters and Brown Treecreepers. eBird checklist |
| Tim & Alan Morris 17/9 #272743 |
| | Diamond Firetail, Hooded Robin, Black-chinned Honeyeater
White Box Flat, Goulburn River NP, Wollara Rd Merriwa |
|
| Some very interesting and Threatened Species were seen at this location including 3 Hooded Robins (2 males and 1 female), 4 Diamond Firetails, 4 Black-chinned Honeyeaters, 6 Dusky Woodswallows and 4 Brown Treecreepers, as well as 4 White-backed Swallows and Jacky Winters, and a calling Pallid Cuckoo was just down the road.. eBird checklist |
| Tim and Alan Morris 17/9 #272742 |
| | Chestnut-rumped Mannikin
Goulburn River Crossing, Ringwood Rd Murumbo |
|
| Amongst a flock of 21 Zebra Finches feeding in long grass at the edge of the road, just before the river crossing, a lone adult Chestnut-breasted Mannikin was seen amongst the Zebras! There are no records of this Mannikin on eBird for the general area. A poor-quality photo was achieved by Tim as the birds flew off! eBird checklist |
| Tim & Alan Morris 17/9 #272741 |
| | Sooty Terns, Cape Petrel, Antipodean (Gibson's) Albatrosses
Offshore--Port Stephens pelagic |
|
| Four very early Sooty Terns (the earliest recorded on any NSW pelagic in any season), a Cape Petrel and three adult Gibson's Albatrosses were the highlights of a slow-but-entertaining day off Port Stephens yesterday. The three Gibson's all sat at the rear of the boat for much of the first drift and it was a spectacular entry when the third bird arrived (see photo). To see Sooty Terns (which were all adults) and a Cape Petrel along with two Northern Giant-petrels on the same was quite fun! Other birds included a few young Shy-types (likely White-capped) and small numbers of Wilson's and White-faced Storm-petrels. Also many Pantropical Spotted Dolphins and a close encounter with a loudly-inhaling Humpback Whale. |
| Mick Roderick 15/9 #272740 |
| | Glossy Back-Cockatoo
Umina Ridge, Patonga NSW 2256 |
| One feeding on Casuarina on the edge of Van Dahls Firetrail about a km in from the Patonga Rd at 33.53254/151.28011. |
| Ted Nixon 15/9 #272739 |
| | Black-faced Monarch
Ourimbah |
| Heard the distinct call of Black-faced Monarch private residence Ourimbah. Earlier today also heard one at Palm Grove while fishing. |
| Luke Shelley 14/9 #272737 |
| Sat 13 | | Gang Gang Cockatoo
Moolarben Picnic Area, Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, Cooyal |
|
| Munghorn Gap NR is in the extreme Northwest of the Gang gang Cockatoo's range in NSW. I first started banding birds at Munghorn Gap NR in September 1975, 60 years ago, but it was not until13/7/1974 that I first saw a pair of Gang Gangs at the Reserve, 3 were seen subsequently 24-25/4/1977 and again in 2012, subsequently seen by others 2015,2017, 2023 and now this observation. My son Tim would have been with me in 1974 aged 2 years! So it was a great and pleasant surprise for to see them again in 2025, both at Moolarben Picnic Area and the following day at Honeyeater Flat. Tim took the photo. eBird checklist |
| Alan & Tim Morris 19/9 #272752 |
| | Large-tailed Nightjar
Myocum |
| Suspected chop chop call of this species heard from deep wooded gully at night. Call checked against xeno-canto. I realise this is beyond its usual range. However, with climate change, many species are extending their range south. (Moderator's Note: While we would not see this observation as being accepted as a definite sighting, we are publishing this note in order that other people may listen out for this characteristic call and or actually find a bird. This species appears to be extending its range south in QLD. AKM). |
| Simon Fahey-Sparks 14/9 #272736 |