| Sun 24 | | Australasian Figbird
Newton St Armidale |
| At least three Figbirds (one seen, two heard) in small area of bush just north of upper end of Newton St. Locally scarce. |
| John Grant 24/8 #272670 |
| | Topknot Pigeon
Linley Point NSW 2066 |
| Solitary bird feasting on privet berries in a garden on Lower Burns Bay Rd opposite View St. |
| Ted Nixon 24/8 #272669 |
| | Topknot Pigeon
Cremorne Point |
|
| A group of 12 Topknot Pigeons landed in the brush box trees right outside my living room window this morning. They are a new species for my 'yard list' and I have lived here for 38 years! Good record for central Sydney and a poor record shot in the backlit glare is attached. |
| Roger McGovern 24/8 #272668 |
| Fri 22 | | Brahminy Kite
Websters Lookout, Oatley Park |
| The Brahminy Kite described by Chris Reneberg on 16.8.25 is still present and may now be a permanent resident.
THREE Sea Eagles were also present. I have not seen so many in Oatley Park before.
A Little Egret was also on the mudflats and this species is an irregular visitor to Oatley Park. (I had not seen one in the park or Lime Kiln Bay before).
A pair of Caspian Terns flew past a number of times. |
| Dave Koffel 22/8 #272667 |
| Wed 20 | | Australian Brush-turkey
Gibbs Street, Miranda |
| I saw 2 this morning at 8am and they were feeding gloriously |
| Manuela Vasington 20/8 #272666 |
| Tue 19 |  | Rose-crowned Fruit-dove
Sydney Harbour National Park--North Head |
|
| Collins Beach Road. Adult and juvenile feeding on Blueberry Ash. eBird checklist |
| Bill and Nicci Raffle 19/8 #272663 |
| Sun 17 | | Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross
Offshore--Sydney Pelagic |
|
| The highlight from today's rescheduled pelagic organised for the Cumberland Bird Observers Club was an Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross. The adult albatross was encountered after the shelf drop-off in ~280m while we were still motoring out to sea. Fortunately the bird stuck around the boat for some 2.5 hours giving everyone excellent views and photographic opportunities and the time to compare it to other albatross species nearby. As with previous AYNA encounters off Sydney the bird was in moult. This is the 5th record off Sydney (maybe the beginning of a trend). The previous four being July and August 2023, and August and September 2024. Other albatrosses encountered on the trip included Black-browed (mostly sub-adults), Shy, Buller's, Indian Yellow-nosed and Gibson's. Albatrosses dominated the day. Both Northern and Southern Giant-Petrels were also seen with the former encountered at the shelf and the latter close to shore. A lone Fairy Prion joined the drift as did a Grey-faced Petrel. As expected we had numerous Providence Petrels at the drift. Interestingly a Providence Petrel was seen and photographed not too long after leaving the heads. The first of the Wedge-tailed Shearwaters have started moving through the area now. We encountered a few on the regular monthly pelagic as well on Saturday. Other shearwaters included both Hutton's and Fluttering but most views of them were distant and the rough conditions made identification difficult. Three Brown Skuas sorted out the Silver Gulls during the journey. White-fronted Terns were seen at the drift. For may onboard this was there first pelagic. Hopefully the AYNA hasn't skewed their expectations for future trips. A BARC submission is being compiled for the AYNA. Photograph: Greg McLachlan. eBird checklist |
| Sydney pelagics and all on board 18/8 #272662 |
| | Grey-crowned babbler
Mingoola |
| Went for the squatter pigeon (not seen), stayed for GCB x 4, a party of white winged choughs, a mob of apostle birds and a spotted bowerbird. |
| Ian Colvin 17/8 #272661 |
| Sat 16 | | Brahminy Kite
Oatley Park |
| The sub-adult Brahminy Kite reported in July seems to have taken up residence at Gertrude Point (the very end of the Lugarno peninsula). Easiest viewed from Hill’s Peak lookout in Oatley Park although binoculars near-essential. Bird often perches on oyster lease posts and on the tidal sandbank - so is visible from various suburbs around that river junction when on the sandbar. Distinguished from the local female Osprey while perched via all-cream/white head, rather than having an eye stripe. Local pair of Goshawks frequently fly between the park and Lugarno; local pair of Sea-eagles often at Illawong and a Peregrine has been around. Baza often turns up about now too - so a great time to watch for raptors. eBird checklist |
| Chris Rehberg 17/8 #272658 |
| Tue 12 | | Double-banded Plover
Lake Katabritoi, 25 km SW of Ivanhoe |
| While conducting waterbird surveys here this morning I observed 11 of theses birds, many still in breeding plumage. This is the same site I found them at back in early June only this time there are more of them |
| Warren Chad 12/8 #272653 |
| | Superb Parrot
Killarney Gap Road ca. 11 km NE of Narrabri |
| This morning at ca. 8:45, while driving along Killarney Gap Road (not far from the entrance to Llara Station), I saw two Superb Parrots flying across the road. The characteristic, long Polytelis tail was clearly visible. The location is on the edge of woodland near Killarney SCA, with grassland on the opposite side of the road; this is farther eastward than most of the local sightings, which tend to be out in the plains, not in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. No chance to take a photo. |
| Michael Dahlem 12/8 #272651 |
| | White-bellied Cuckooshrike
Northbridge Golf Course |
| A fully dark-headed bird with distinctive black barring on the lower breast. Appears to be the first record for Willoughby and the lower North Shore (closest records East Ryde, French's Forest and Manly (all 2020-2). eBird checklist |
| Mike Kilburn 12/8 #272649 |
| Sun 10 | | Flame Robins
Blast Furnace Park, Lithgow |
|
| We had about 12 examples mainly males feeding on the road leading to the park… and the following Tuesday we found 3 females and the birds were within the ruins and grounds at the rear . |
| Joe Deluca 19/8 #272664 |
| | White-headed Petrel, White-chinned Petrel
Offshore--Sydney Pelagic |
|
| The highlights from Sunday's pelagic included two White-headed Petrels encountered on variable seas at the shelf. The other highlight being a slightly early White-chinned Petrel. At the shelf we had both Providence and Grey-faced Petrels which were present throughout our drift. A lone White-faced Storm Petrel and Northern Giant-Petrel joined the slick for part of the drift along with a handful of Fairy Prions. Albatrosses included three Gibson's, a few Indian Yellow-noses, Shy, a single Buller's as well as many Black-browed. This season Black-browed Albatrosses have dominated winter trips. We managed to drag some individuals from the heads out to the shelf and back again. Four Brown Skuas were encountered whilst motoring with two following us out to the shelf. The conditions varied throughout the day with winds and seas becoming challenging at times only to drop to no discernible breeze and a relatively flat ocean. Sea temperatures were on the warm side out wide (+20C). eBird checklist |
| Sydney pelagics and all on board 12/8 #272650 |
| Mon 4 | | White-breasted Woodswallow
Freemans Rd, Rawdon Island, Wauchope. |
| 2 birds sighted by Erin Wise - Hastings Birdwatchers. First returns for the season. |
| Clive Meadows 7/8 #272646 |
| | Buller's Albatross
Long Reef Aquatic Reserve |
| Highlight of a seawatch this afternoon were 4 Buller's Albatross,150+Black-browed and 20+ Shy Albatross all off Long Reef point. |
| Michael Ronan 4/8 #272644 |
| | Squatter Pigeon
Near Mingoola school |
|
| Single bird observed walking from direction of house near Mingoola school for 50 metres or so and then flew to a large Eucalypt at 1450 hrs. |
| Greg Clancy, Russell Jago, John Westaway 4/8 #272643 |
| | Eastern Great Egret
Greenwich |
| A rare visitor to our neck of the woods.
Feeding in the currently extremely muddy shallows of Gore Cove. |
| Ted Nixon 4/8 #272642 |
| Sat 2 | | Satin Bowerbird
Skeleton Rocks, Lower Portland |
| A conservative count of 117 Satin Bowerbirds in a loose gathering feeding on White Cedar and privet at the junction of the Colo and Hawkesbury rivers . The local pair of White-bellied Sea-eagles were seen in courtship and mating. eBird checklist |
| Eric Finley 3/8 #272639 |
| | Squatter Pigeon
Near Mingoola School, Bruxner Highway west of Tenterfield |
|
| Single bird near Mingoola School west of Tenterfield (-29.0066 151.541). Flushed from slashed paddock just west of school, flew up into large gum tree. No recent confirmed NSW records (none on eBird). HANZAB quotes 8 confirmed NSW records since 1975, the last in 1979 (Warialda). (Moderator's Note: This is a very exciting discovery and is the first record for this species in NSW since a bird was photographed near the "NSW Texas" in August 2019 https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/193335863. Prior to that, two birds were seen by multiple observers in Bebo State Forest in 2001 [per NSW Bird Atlas Vol.1], though it has been since the late 70's since it was reliably found in NSW [as HANZAB states]. Squatter Pigeons were once commonly found on the western slopes and tablelands of NSW, perhaps as far south as the Upper Lachlan, though through persecution were driven to near-extinction. NSW ORAC has received a submission for this 2025 bird, and will also try to seek one for the 2019 and 2001 birds.Let's hope more birds start being found in NSW! MR).
[Further Note: the bird was still present as of the morning 4/08] eBird checklist |
| Hans Wohlmuth, Suse Inglis, Karen Dunne 2/8 #272638 |
| Fri 1 | | Regent Honeyeater
Jolly Nose Mountain Bike Park, Queens Lake State Forest |
|
| At 09.00 this morning on the Hastings Birdwatchers regular monthly field trip, a single Regent Honeyeater was found at the Mountain Bike Car Park in Queens Lake Nature Reserve feeding on blossom in White Mahogany trees. This bird was found by Darin Rounsevell. There was good flowering with many honeyeaters present. A second bird was subsequently found and at least one of them was calling occasionally. No leg bands were present on either bird. Other Honeyeaters included, Red Wattlebird, Lewin's, Yellow-faced, White-cheeked, White-naped and Eastern Spinebill. There was quite a bit of aggression defending key flowering areas. The birds were present on and off at least up to 3pm. (Moderator's Note: another chance observation of Regents at a rather atypical site [after the Manly Dam bird]. The calls being made are considered to be "clipped Blue Mountains" type, so at least not mimicry! A further note for eBirders - today marks the first day of the period when Regent Honeyeater reports in eBird will not be visible to the public due to Cornell Lab's sensitive species policy applying during the REHO breeding season. I hope this clarifies to folks why lists for this Queens Lake bird [and subsequent 2025 birds] won't be publicly visible. MR). |
| Darin Rounsevell (Found the bird) Peter West + 22 other HBW club members 1/8 #272637 |
| Wed 30 | | Great Crested Grebe
Jewfish Bay, Georges River, Oatley |
|
| Great Crested Grebe seen swimming and diving close to the eastern shore of Jewfish Bay, Oatley. Seen also on the 26/07/2025 at same location. |
| Deborah Andrew 30/7 #272634 |
| Tue 29 | | Brahminy Kite immature
Gertrude Point, Georges River, Lugarno |
|
| Immature Brahminy Kite seen at intertidal flats at Gertrude Point on the 29/07/2025 and flying over Jewfish Bay Oatley on the 16/07/2025. Photo from about 1 km away and blown up. |
| Deborah Andrew 30/7 #272635 |
| | Regent Honeyeater
Manly Dam |
|
| This morning at 10:52 we spotted a single un-banded Regent Honeyeater on the Northern side of Manly Dam.
According to eBird, this is the first sighting of a Regent HE on the Northern Beaches since 11 July 2014 (Chiltern Trail).
We were watching other birds when suddenly the Regent HE flew in and jumped around from branch to branch for about 2 minutes. Then the show was over and it took off. We both were very excited to have had such a beautiful experience. (Moderator's Note: What a fantastic find! The bird is immature, based on the brown coverts [and at least one of the 3x Chiltern Trail birds from 2014 was also immature]. The Chiltern Trail birds weren't the last ones reported on the Northern Beaches. A single bird was photographed feeding on flowering Swamp Mahogany on the 2nd June 2017 at Warriewood Wetlands, with another report there 11 days later. With the Pilliga bird not having been reported for a couple of months, this Manly Dam bird becomes the only currently-known individual. MR). eBird checklist |
| Rolf and Veronika Grether 29/7 #272633 |
| | Channel-billed Cuckoo
Kings Langley |
| 7 Channel-billed Cuckoos flew low over my head at 10:15 AM in front of the primary school heading west in a tight group. I am sure of numbers and identity but surprised by the early date.
No photo taken as they were gone by the time I pulled the camera from my backpack. (Moderator's Note: A single Channel-billed Cuckoo was heard calling in South West Rocks on 20/7/2025 by Ian Bradshaw but it did not stay around! AKM) eBird checklist |
| Michael Rutkowski 29/7 #272631 |