| Wed 10 | | Eastern Koel
Balmain |
| Heard calling near College Street Park at 5.30pm, during a gap in the rain. First of the season for here. |
| Robert Griffin 10/9 #272716 |
| Tue 9 | | Channel-billed Cuckoo
Wollongbar, NSW |
| Calling birds (possibly two) at 0139hr. My first for the season. (Moderator's Note: Seems the Channel-bills are back so we won't publish any more arrivals this season) |
| David Charley 9/9 #272715 |
| Mon 8 | | Latham's Snipe
Byron Bay TAFE |
| Three birds. First Latham's Snipes here this year. The pond is a 50m rectangular pond with creek flowing into it. The pond is adjacent to the Byron Bay Wetlands but no sightings there yet to my knowledge. Moderator's Note: The first sighting for the Central Coast Wetlands, Tuggerah was on 7/9/2025 when David Shuemaker saw one at the Dairy Swamp. AKM). |
| Geoff Ball 8/9 #272712 |
| Sun 7 | | Channel billed Cuckoo
Balmain |
| First of the season here, flying over College Street just before 6pm. (Moderators Note: while it might not be actually in Balmain, on 31/7/2025 a Channel-billed Cuckoo was reported flying over the Carraige-works at nearby Newtown. AKM) |
| Robert Griffin 7/9 #272709 |
| | Osprey
Port Botany |
|
| I saw the adult Ospreys back in January fishing with a youngster and it seems for the second year the same pair are nesting on top of a tall lamp post in the middle of the 24/7 busy Port Botany Container Terminal. Best views are across the water from the walk along Foreshore Drive from the Boat Ramp carpark to the Penrhyn viewing platform. |
| Chris Gregory 7/9 #272708 |
| Sat 6 | | Bar-tailed Godwit
Halliday Park, Parramatta River, Abbotsford, NSW |
|
| 35 Bar-tailed Godwits counted on the mudflats 2 hours after high tide. Flew around the bay in tight formation a couple of times. Feeding and resting. (Survey data recorded in Birdata). |
| Tony Peri; Bel Peri 9/9 #272714 |
| | White-bellied Sea Eagle
Rosenthal Lane, Sun Valley |
| About 2km from start of the lane we were alerted by screaming cockatoos and ravens to a huge raptor in the sub-canopy. It was getting chased by ravens and at first glance we thought it was a Wedge-tailed Eagle. But when it came back past we were very surprised to see it was a White-bellied Sea Eagle. It was well below the canopy and getting chased around. This is an area of deep ravines and blue gum forest so a very unexpected bird to be seen here. eBird checklist |
| Brett Mezen, Paul Pellegrini 6/9 #272705 |
| | Great Bowerbird
Palm Lake Resort Ballina |
|
| Reporting my sighting of the Great Bowerbird which I saw from my back garden this morning at the top of tree in small park 20 metres away.
He was "hissing, clicking" and mimicking for a couple of minutes then had a quick preen before he flew off.
The first sighting of this bird was 17th June when he was in my garden collecting 15-16 cm twigs from my bottlebrush. I found the bower that same morning. It seemed fully constructed, complete with small whitish rocks and a variety of pink pegs and other treasures. Lately he has green peppers to place at the entrance. This bird has no leg bands.
Palm Lake where we now retire is a private property, gated community with no public access.
I have daily written notes of his displays, feeding on Melicope berries, interactions and mimicking of local species and many photos. (Moderator's Note: While the Moderator's have a policy of not publishing details of aviary escapees, which this bird must surely be, this event is so extraordinary that I believe it is worthy of publication. Note that the distribution shown for the Great Bowerbird in the Aust. Bird Atlas 1978-1982 (Blackers et al 1984) appears similar to the current distribution as shown in eBird, so that there is little evidence that would indicate a gradual movement south by this species. AKM). |
| June Harris 6/9 #272689 |
| Fri 5 |  | White-headed Petrel
Shelly Beach Carpark, Manly |
| Flew south past Bluenose Point at 4:37 eBird checklist |
| Mike Kilburn 5/9 #272688 |
| | White-throated Gerygone; Eastern Shrike-tit
Pitt Town-Dural Rd at Scheyville Rd |
| 2 Gerygones heard calling from trees in the house paddocks on w side of road. 3 Shrike-tits in trees by the fate into the NP area. eBird checklist |
| Tom Wilson 5/9 #272685 |
| Thu 4 | | Superb Parrot
Parkes area |
| Superb Parrots were seen at three different sites close to Parkes viz 4 on Back Yamma Rd on 3/9/25, 2 on Old School Rd and 3 on Terrill Rd Parkes both on 4/9/2025. A check of eBird appeared to show that these are the first return sightings following their absence during the winter months eBird checklist |
| Doug Hocking et all, Central Coast Group, Birding NSW 6/9 #272706 |
| | White-winged Triller, Dusky Woodswallow, Diamond Firetail & Fuscous Honeyeater
Gumble Community Hall, near Manildra |
| 14 members of Central Coast Group explored the roads and tracks around the Gumble Community Hall, along Bocobra Lane Bocobora, (Diamond Fioretail, Brown Falcon and Common Bronzewing), Windus Rd Gumble (5 White-winged Triller, 10 Dusky Woodswallow & Jacky Winter on 4/9/25 and 10 Diamond Firetails on 1/9/25), and Fuscous Honeyeaters, an adult female Golden Whistler & Jacky Winters on Gumble Trail, Killumbatta NR. This would appear to be the first return of White-winged Trillers to the Mid West for this season, the first report on eBird of a Golden Whistler in the Gumble Scrub eBird checklist |
| Doug Hocking et all, m,embers of Central Coast Group, Birding NSW 6/9 #272704 |
| | Ground Cuckoo-shrike
Baldry Rd Baldry |
| 14 members of the Central Coast Group, Birding NSW surveyed the lanes and roads around the Baldry Community Hall and found a variety of good birds which included an early Sacred Kingfisher, and a Ground Cuckoo-shrike, on Baldry Road. However on 1/9/2025, Doug Hocking and Graham Nelson located three Ground Cuckoo-shrikes at this site. Also present were 3 Brown Falcons and Nankeen Kestrel eBird checklist |
| Doug Hocking et al, members of Central Coast Group, Birding NSW 6/9 #272701 |
| | Diamond Firetail, Little Lorikeet
Spring Creek picnic Area, Goobang National Park |
| a pair of Diamond Firetails were seen basically around the carpark for this picnic area, feeding on the ground. There were few other birds present at the site despite plenty of flowering Mugga Ironbarks, although a small number of Little and Musk Lorikeets were present. However, there were many Noisy Friarbirds, but the smaller honeyeaters were noticeably absent. A Wedge-tailed Eagle and a Brown Goshawk were also presaent. eBird checklist |
| Doug Hocking et al, members of the Central Coast Group, Birding NSW 6/9 #272692 |
| | Channel-billed Cuckoo
Eulah Creek |
| First Channel-billed Cuckoo of the season heard calling at 16:15, 20 km E of Narrabri. A relatively early return (I can only find one set of August records for the species on ebird for our region in inland NSW, by the Hinze family from Gunnedah, starting on 28 Aug. 2022). My own previous earliest record at Eulah Creek was on 11 Sep. 2018. |
| Michael Dahlem 4/9 #272683 |
| Wed 3 | | Freckled Duck, Little Eagle, Magpie-Goose
Gum Swamp, Forbes |
| about 90 minutes were spent at Gum Swamp by 14 members of the Central Coast Group, Birding NSW during the Parkes Camp Out. The highlight was seeing 9 Freckled Ducks amongst the 600+ Grey Teal, with lesser numbers of Black Ducks, a few Hardheads and surprisingly only 3 Pinkears. First eBird report for Freckled Ducks seen at this site since November 2024. Also seen was an immature Little Eagle, a Brown Goshawk, an Australian Hobby and a Whistling Kite. At nearby Lake Forbes there were a group of 30+ Magpie-Geese eBird checklist |
| Doug Hocking et al, members of Central Coast Group, Birding NSW 6/9 #272699 |
| Tue 2 | | Baillon's Crake
Parkes Sewerage Ponds |
| The Parkes Regional Council are at present re-landscaping and re-developing the Parkes STW evaporation ponds and turning them into a wetland suitable for waterbirds and wildlife generally and have landscaped the surrounding area with new tree plantings. with an expected opening to the public later this year. While there we all had great views of a Baillon's Crake feeding and swimming in the shallow water. Pied Stilts, Swans and Australasian Grebes were nesting there, and the usual ducks were present. There are no previous eBird records for Baillon's Crake's at Parkes. eBird checklist |
| Doug Hocking et al, Central Coast Group, Birding NSW 6/9 #272702 |
| Mon 1 | | White-browed Woodswallow
Boat Harbour, Kurnell |
|
| Just one seen hawking insects in vegetated dune area. Also chirped several times. (Moderator's Note: A very early record for a coastal site, perhaps blown in during the persistent westerlies recently? MR). eBird checklist |
| Darren Broughton 5/9 #272687 |
| | Plum-headed Finch
The Glen BULLARAH (private property) |
|
| Flock of 0ver 200 Plum-headed finch.
Feeding on ground, when flushed large number could be appreciated. Approx 150 counted in photo of birds on powerlines (see ebird) many other remained on ground or went into nearby tree. Birds quickly returned to feeding on ground.
BULLARAH locality (NW NSW approx 70km west of Moree).
4 out of last 5 years good rainfall and numerous floods which has rejuvenitated floodplains and grasslands after Tinderbox drought. eBird checklist |
| Patrick Johnston 3/9 #272682 |
| | Great Crested Grebe
Capertee National Park |
|
| Very unexpected sighting of a Great Crested Grebe on the river opposite the campsite in the national park. (Moderator's Comment: there are a couple of unsubstantiated claims of this species in the Capertee but this is the first report backed up by photographic evidence. Very interesting report! MR) |
| Rob Hynson, Tim Paasila & Beau Meaney 1/9 #272678 |
| | Channel billed cuckoo
Waterloo Park, Macquarie Park |
| Single bird heard calling at approximately 7:45 am. My first bird for the spring. |
| Tom Wilson 1/9 #272675 |
| Sat 30 | | Pacific baza
Sydney Olympic Park |
|
| Hello
I live in Newington and regularly walk through the Sydney Olympic Park parklands.
Yesterday near Woo-laa-ra on Louise Savage Pathway I came across a bird I have not seen in the park before, which I believe to be a Pacific baza.
Cheers
Alan |
| Alan Waugh 31/8 #272672 |
| 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 |