| Thu 16 | | Singing Honeyeater
The Entrance North |
| Another western bird at the beach! Chance encounter with a Singing Honeyeater in the Coast Banksias today. The first Central Coast record! |
| Nick Carson 16/10 #272801 |
| Wed 15 | | Little Bronze-Cuckoo
Coutts Crossing Village |
|
| Adult male Bronze-Cuckoo in Foambark tree in village yard. Heard calling in yard on 14 October by Clive Heywood Barker and on 13/10 by me in the village #272797. (Moderator's Note: There are a few around, as according to eBird, 2 birds were seen at Balls Rd Bellbrook, in the Upper Macleay Valley by Paul Wood & Matt Hinze, on 11/10/2025), but others also were present on 4/10 (Tuckean Swamp), 5/10 (Lismore and South Grafton #272780) and 11/10 (Palmers Rd Terragon), demonstrating a tight movement south. AKM) |
| Greg Clancy 15/10 #272800 |
| Mon 13 | | Little Corella, Little Bronze-Cuckoo
Coutts Crossing Village |
|
| 15+ Little Corellas feeding at flowers of Silky Oaks in backyards in village, appeared to be feeding at and not on the flowers at 08:30 hrs. HANZAB states that the species eats flowers among other foods but not pollen or nectar which these birds seemed to be accessing. A couple of flowers had been nipped off but this may have been done by Rainbow Lorikeets that are known to do this. One Little Bronze-Cuckoo heard calling at the edge of the village was the first for the season at this location. |
| Greg Clancy 13/10 #272797 |
| Sun 12 | | Whiter-throated Nightjar
Kent Street, Sydney CBD |
| A White-throated Nightjar was found on the ground in Kent St Sydney and Gillian from WIRES report that it came into care, I have been advised that the bird has quickly recovered, and the good news is that it is being released back into the wild tonight, at an appropriate site where White-throated Nightjars are known to occur. |
| per Alan Morris & Gillian from WIRES 14/10 #272799 |
| | Magpie Goose
Coldstream Wetland |
| 5+ Geese were observed in brief check of the wetland. More than likely a large number present as the 500+ that were at the Big River Way, Clarenza have not been recorded there for some weeks and are known to breed on the Coldstream Wetlands. |
| Greg Clancy 12/10 #272796 |
| | White-necked Heron
Sweeneys Creek, near Ulmarra |
|
| Most wetlands in the Coutts Crossing, Grafton and Ulmarra area had at least one White-necked Heron present with a flock of 34+ at Sweeny's Creek. |
| Greg Clancy 12/10 #272795 |
| Sat 11 | | Wandering Whistling-Duck
Wetland S of Round Mountain Road, off Lawrence Road |
| 6 Whistling-Ducks loafing at edge of water. Observers first record at this location. Others reported at Lawrence egret colony swamp in recent days. |
| Greg Clancy 12/10 #272794 |
| 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 |