Wednesday, 20 November 2024

Australia - New South Wales : Nov 2024 - Part 4

Day 8 - Chiltern

This was our last morning of proper birding before we had to drive all the way back to Sydney, we got up early again and packed all our stuff. Just outside the hotel were a few flowering bottlebrush trees, which attracted a few birds, including some Yellow Thornbills. Superb Fairywrens are forever present, and the familiar but non-native Blackbirds are common garden birds.

Superb Fairywren - male

Yellow Thornbill

Eurasian Blackbird - a common non-native species

We arrived at Cyanide Dam and was greeted by a lone Pacific Heron on the water. Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters were again quite common. A Willie Wagtail nesting nearby was hawking for food near where we parked the car.

Pacific Heron

Yellow-tufted Honeyeater

Willie Wagtail

A Swamp Wallaby showed up, although it stayed quite far away from us. A flock of Brown-headed Honeyeaters showed very well and allowed us to get some good photos.


Swamp Wallaby



Brown-headed Honeyeater

Other birds that were seen includes a few confiding Striated Thornbills and White-throated Treecreepers. Splendid Fairywrens were again present.

Striated Thornbill

White-throated Treecreeper - female

Superb Fairywren - male

Our only new addition to our trip came in form of a Satin Flycatcher, it stayed quite high up but showed well enough for everyone to get a good look.

Satin Flycatcher - male

We didn't have a lot of time on our hands, so we headed over to Green Hill Dam, on the way in we got great views of a small flock of Superb Parrots! All feeding quite low down! I don't think I can get bored of looking at this fabulous parrot.


Superb Parrot - adult male

Superb Parrot - immature male

The walk around Green Hill Dam was a bit underwhelming, as we added very few birds. A Spotted Pardalote was perhaps one of the more interesting birds present. We spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to get photo of the extremely common Fuscous Honeyeater, for some reason they were all staying very high up and extremely jumpy, making photographing them a real challenge, in the end I made do with a record photo.

Spotted Pardalote - female

Fuscous Honeyeater

The best was saved for last, as we were walking back to the car, we came upon a male Crested Shrike-tit! It showed very well for us, allowing us to get some good photos. No doubt the best bird of the morning! From there, we drove nearly 6 hours back to Sydney, by the time we got to our hotel it was already late afternoon, we decided to call it a day on birding and later went out for dinner at Cabramatta, also known as the Little Vietnam in Sydney.




Crested Shrike-tit - male

Day 9 - Sydney

Mike offered to bird with us for our final morning in Sydney before our flight in the afternoon. One of the bird that we haven't seen properly (although I did see a few flying over as we were driving along) was the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo. While not a rare bird, they can be tricky to track down when you want to find it. Mike suggested us head over to Marouba Beach, just because he knew someone reported some there just the day before. At the car park we saw a few Australian Figbirds, males of race vieilloti with greyish throat.

Australian Figbird - female

Australian Figbird - male race vieilloti

We walked along the coastal footpath without seeing all that much, Pied Currawongs were flying around. The most 'interesting' bird was probably a few Red-whiskered Bulbul! A familiar bird to us and one I did not expect to see in Sydney, they are of course non-native here. Seeing there were not many birds around, we walked back towards the carpark, along the way we saw an Elegant Snake-eyed Skink.


Pied Currawong

Red-whiskered Bulbul - very familiar species to us

Elegant Snake-eyed Skink

Near the carpark there were a lot of common park birds, such as Noisy Mynas and Australian Magpies, both I have not taken a single photo this entire trip until now.

Noisy Miner

Australian Magpie

A big flock of Little Corellas were feeding on the lawns and the trees, allowing for close approach.


Little Corella

Having thought we failed to locate the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, we decided to head to Centennial Park next, as Mike drove his own car, we went separately. As we just got out of the car park, we received a call from Mike that he located the Cockatoos! We immediately circled back and to our surprise they were just feeding next to the car park, on a few small Banksia trees at touching distance! They were completely unbothered by people, and we got excellent views of them.


Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo - male

With our biggest target of the morning achieved, we got to Centennial Park hoping to add the Black Swan onto our trip list, as we for some reason have not seen any during our trip. This was also our last chance to take some photos of the common birds around Sydney. At the ponds there were plenty of Grey Teals and several Hardheads.


Grey Teal

Hardhead - female

Crested Pigeons are very common in Australia, but I haven't taken a single photo during this trip. They are actually quite a good looking species and probably deserve a bit more attention.

Crested Pigeon

At the large pond there were plenty of Australian Ibis, another 'trash' bird that most people ignore. And of course, there were many Black Swans, all asking to be photographed!

Australian Ibis



Black Swan

Our final bird was a Grey Butcherbird near the cafe, where we bought a few cold drinks, sat down and had a few laughs with Mike before saying goodbye to him. It was very nice to be able to meet up and have a bit of time birding together, hopefully it won't be too long until we meet again.

Grey Butcherbird

The rest of the afternoon was spent at the airport, where we got the late afternoon plane back to Hong Kong, arriving at around 9:45pm. All in all, I think this trip was quite successful, as we connected with most of our main targets, although there were a few I thought we may see but didn't, such as Spotted Quail-thrush, Gang-Gang Cockatoo, White-eared Honeyeater, White-fronted Chat, Beautiful Firetail and Diamond Firetail. There were also a lot of birds which were surprises for me, such as Square-tailed Kite, Pink Cockatoo, Australian Hobby and White-backed Swallow. With 204 species in just 9 days (8 days of birding effectively), I thought we did fairly well, considering we were mostly self guided! I had over 70 lifers!

It was a shame we didn't have enough time to visit Barren Grounds or the Capertee area, as those two areas are well known for birds, and things like Eastern Bristlebird and Ground Parrots could well be possible. I was probably a bit greedy on the itinerary, wanting to include a lot of inland habitat in such a short trip, but I also think it was nice to sample a lot of different habitats, which gave a good variety throughout the trip. Huge thanks again to Ian and Mike for helping us find some of our targets in Sydney, and for everyone in our group for being such good company. For guiding near Deniliquin, I highly recommend Phil and Robert from Australian Ornithological Services, they were extremely professional, made sure everyone saw the birds and knew which angle works best for photography, they kept us comfortable and were very good at what they do, I can't not imagine finding a Plains Wanderer and many other species if it wasn't for their vast local knowledge. I know for sure this is not the last time I will be birding in Australia, as there are still a lot to see and many areas to explore!

SpeciesScientific NameLocation
1EmuDromaius novaehollandiaeDeniliquin
2Magpie GooseAnseranas semipalmataFivebough Wetlands
3Black SwanCygnus atratusCentennial Park
4Australian Shelduck +Tadorna tadornoidesFivebough Wetlands
5Maned DuckChenonetta jubata
6Pacific Black DuckAnas superciliosa
7Grey TealAnas gracilis
8Chestnut TealAnas castanea
9HardheadAythya australis
10Musk Duck +Biziura lobataLake Wallace
11Stubble Quail +Coturnix pectoralisDeniliquin
12Rock DoveColumba livia
13Spotted DoveSpilopelia chinensis
14Brown Cuckoo-DoveMacropygia phasianellaRoyal National Park
15Common Bronzewing +Phaps chalcopteraGriffith, Deniliquin
16Crested PigeonOcyphaps lophotes
17Wonga PigeonLeucosarcia melanoleucaRoyal National Park
18Peaceful DoveGeopelia placida
19Pacific KoelEudynamys orientalis
20Fan-tailed CuckooCacomantis flabelliformisRoyal National Park
21Australian Owlet-nightjarAegotheles cristatusDeniliquin
22Black-tailed Nativehen +Tribonyx ventralisFivebough Wetlands
23Australian Crake +Porzana flumineaFivebough Wetlands
24Dusky MoorhenGallinula tenebrosa
25Eurasian CootFulica atra
26Australasian SwamphenPorphyrio melanotus
27Pied StiltHimantopus leucocephalusFivebough Wetlands
28Pacific Golden PloverPluvialis fulvaLong Reef
29Black-fronted DotterelThinornis melanopsChiltern
30Banded Lapwing +Vanellus tricolorDeniliquin
31Masked LapwingVanellus miles
32Red-kneed DotterelErythrogonys cinctusFivebough Wetlands
33Plains-wanderer +Pedionomus torquatusDeniliquin
34Latham's Snipe +Gallinago hardwickiiChiltern
35Grey-tailed TattlerTringa brevipesLong Reef
36Marsh SandpiperTringa stagnatilisLong Reef
37Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresLong Reef
38Sharp-tailed SandpiperCalidris acuminataLong Reef
39Red-necked StintCalidris ruficollisLong Reef
40Little Buttonquail +Turnix veloxDeniliquin
41Silver Gull
Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
42Caspian TernHydroprogne caspiaLong Reef
43Great Crested TernThalasseus bergiiLong Reef
44Australasian GrebeTachybaptus novaehollandiae
45Hoary-headed Grebe +Poliocephalus poliocephalusDeniliquin
46Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusLake Wallace
47Black-browed Albatross +Thalassarche melanophrisLong Reef
48Short-tailed ShearwaterArdenna tenuirostrisLong Reef
49Australasian Gannet +Morus serratorLong Reef
50Australasian DarterAnhinga novaehollandiae
51Little Pied CormorantMicrocarbo melanoleucos
52Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carbo
53Little Black CormorantPhalacrocorax sulcirostris
54Pied CormorantPhalacrocorax varius
55Australian IbisThreskiornis molucca
56Straw-necked IbisThreskiornis spinicollis
57Royal SpoonbillPlatalea regiaDeniliquin
58Yellow-billed SpoonbillPlatalea flavipesWagga Wagga, Deniliquin
59White-faced HeronEgretta novaehollandiae
60Eastern Cattle-EgretArdea coromanda
61Pacific HeronArdea pacifica
62Great White EgretArdea alba
63Australian PelicanPelecanus conspicillatus
64OspreyPandion haliaetusLong Reef
65Black-shouldered KiteElanus axillaris
66Square-tailed Kite +Lophoictinia isuraMurray Valley National Park
67Wedge-tailed EagleAquila audaxDeniliquin
68Brown GoshawkTachyspiza fasciataRoyal National Park
69Swamp HarrierCircus approximansFivebough Wetlands, Deniliquin
70Black KiteMilvus migrans
71Whistling KiteHaliastur sphenurus
72White-bellied Sea-EagleIcthyophaga leucogaster
73Powerful Owl +Ninox strenuaSydney
74Australian Boobook +Ninox boobookSydney
75Rainbow Bee-eaterMerops ornatus
76Azure KingfisherCeyx azureusRoyal National Park
77Laughing KookaburraDacelo novaeguineae
78Sacred KingfisherTodiramphus sanctus
79DollarbirdEurystomus orientalis
80Nankeen KestrelFalco cenchroides
81Australian Hobby +Falco longipennisDeniliquin
82Brown FalconFalco berigora
83Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo +Zanda funereaMaroubra Beach
84CockatielNymphicus hollandicusCocopara National Park
85GalahEolophus roseicapilla
86Pink Cockatoo +Cacatua leadbeateriCocopara National Park
87Little Corella +Cacatua sanguinea
88Long-billed CorellaCacatua tenuirostrisDeniliquin
89Sulphur-crested CockatooCacatua galerita
90Superb Parrot +Polytelis swainsoniiWagga Wagga, Deniliquin, Chiltern
91Australian King-ParrotAlisterus scapularisRoyal National Park
92Turquoise Parrot +Neophema pulchellaChiltern
93Australian Ringneck +Barnardius zonariusColeambally
94Crimson RosellaPlatycercus elegans
95Eastern Rosella +Platycercus eximius
96Greater Bluebonnet +Northiella haematogasterDeniliquin
97Red-rumped ParrotPsephotus haematonotus
98Mulga Parrot +Psephotellus variusCocopara National Park
99Little LorikeetPsitteuteles pusillusChiltern
100Rainbow LorikeetTrichoglossus moluccanus
101Superb Lyrebird +Menura novaehollandiaeRoyal National Park, Mt York
102Green CatbirdAiluroedus crassirostrisRoyal National Park
103Satin BowerbirdPtilonorhynchus violaceusRoyal National Park
104White-throated TreecreeperCormobates leucophaea
105Brown Treecreeper +Climacteris picumnusDeniliquin
106Southern Emuwren +Stipiturus malachurusMaddens Plains
107Purple-backed Fairywren +Malurus assimilisGriffith
108Variegated FairywrenMalurus lambertiSydney, Royal National Park
109Splendid Fairywren +Malurus splendensCocopara National Park
110Superb FairywrenMalurus cyaneus
111White-winged Fairywren +Malurus leucopterusDeniliquin
112Eastern SpinebillAcanthorhynchus tenuirostris
113Lewin's HoneyeaterMeliphaga lewiniiRoyal National Park
114Yellow-tufted Honeyeater +Lichenostomus melanopsChiltern
115Noisy MinerManorina melanocephala
116Yellow-throated Miner +Manorina flavigulaGriffith
117Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater +Acanthagenys rufogularisGriffith, Deniliquin
118Little WattlebirdAnthochaera chrysoptera
119Red Wattlebird +Anthochaera carunculata
120Singing Honeyeater +Gavicalis virescensDeniliquin
121White-plumed Honeyeater +Ptilotula penicillata
122Fuscous Honeyeater +Ptilotula fuscaChiltern
123New Holland Honeyeater +Phylidonyris novaehollandiaeRoyal National Park
124Blue-faced HoneyeaterEntomyzon cyanotis
125Brown-headed Honeyeater +Melithreptus brevirostris
126Black-chinned Honeyeater +Melithreptus gularisChiltern
127Striped Honeyeater +Plectorhyncha lanceolataCocopara National Park, Griffith
128Painted Honeyeater +Grantiella pictaGriffith
129Little FriarbirdPhilemon citreogularisGriffith
130Noisy FriarbirdPhilemon corniculatus
131Spotted PardalotePardalotus punctatus
132Striated PardalotePardalotus striatus
133Speckled WarblerPyrrholaemus sagittatusCocopara National Park
134Weebill +Smicrornis brevirostrisGriffith
135Rockwarbler +Origma solitariaMt York
136White-browed ScrubwrenSericornis frontalis
137Southern Whiteface +Aphelocephala leucopsisGriffith
138Yellow-rumped Thornbill +Acanthiza chrysorrhoaMurray Valley National Park
139Yellow Thornbill +Acanthiza nana
140Striated Thornbill +Acanthiza lineata
141Inland Thornbill +Acanthiza apicalisCocopara National Park
142Brown ThornbillAcanthiza pusilla
143Chestnut-rumped Thornbill +Acanthiza uropygialis
144Buff-rumped Thornbill +Acanthiza reguloides
145Brown GerygoneGerygone mouki
146Western Gerygone +Gerygone fuscaCocopara National Park
147Grey-crowned BabblerPomatostomus temporalisCocopara National Park
148White-browed Babbler +Pomatostomus superciliosusCocopara National Park
149Black-faced CuckooshrikeCoracina novaehollandiae
150White-winged Triller +Lalage tricolorCocopara National Park, Deniliquin
151Varied SittellaDaphoenositta chrysopteraMt York
152Eastern WhipbirdPsophodes olivaceusRoyal National Park
153Eastern Shrike-titFalcunculus frontatusMurray Valley National Park, Chiltern
154Grey ShrikethrushColluricincla harmonica
155Golden WhistlerPachycephala pectoralis
156Rufous WhistlerPachycephala rufiventris
157Olive-backed OrioleOriolus sagittatus
158Australasian FigbirdSphecotheres vieillotiSydney
159White-breasted WoodswallowArtamus leucorynchus
160Masked Woodswallow +Artamus personatusDeniliquin
161White-browed Woodswallow +Artamus superciliosusDeniliquin
162Black-faced Woodswallow +Artamus cinereusDeniliquin
163Dusky Woodswallow +Artamus cyanopterusMurray Valley National Park, Chiltern
164Grey ButcherbirdCracticus torquatus
165Pied ButcherbirdCracticus nigrogularis
166Australian MagpieGymnorhina tibicen
167Pied CurrawongStrepera graculina
168Willie-wagtailRhipidura leucophrys
169Australian Rufous FantailRhipidura rufifronsRoyal National Park
170Grey FantailRhipidura albiscapa
171Black-faced MonarchMonarcha melanopsisRoyal National Park
172Magpie-larkGrallina cyanoleuca
173Leaden Flycatcher +Myiagra rubeculaMt York
174Satin Flycatcher +Myiagra cyanoleucaChiltern
175Restless Flycatcher +Myiagra inquietaChiltern
176White-winged Chough +Corcorax melanorhamphos
177Apostlebird +Struthidea cinereaCocopara National Park
178Australian Raven +Corvus coronoides
179Little Raven +Corvus mellori
180Red-capped Robin +Petroica goodenoviiCocopara National Park
181Scarlet Robin +Petroica boodangDeniliquin
182Jacky-winter +Microeca fascinansDeniliquin, Chiltern
183Hooded Robin +Melanodryas cucullataDeniliquin
184Eastern Yellow RobinEopsaltria australis
185Golden-headed CisticolaCisticola exilis
186Australian Reed Warbler +Acrocephalus australis
187Little Grassbird +Poodytes gramineusFivebough Wetlands
188Brown Songlark +Cincloramphus cruralisDeniliquin
189Rufous Songlark +Cincloramphus mathewsiWagga Wagga, Deniliquin
190White-backed Swallow +Cheramoeca leucosternaDeniliquin
191Welcome SwallowHirundo neoxena
192Fairy MartinPetrochelidon ariel
193Red-whiskered BulbulPycnonotus jocosus
194SilvereyeZosterops lateralis
195Common StarlingSturnus vulgaris
196Common MynaAcridotheres tristis
197Bassian Thrush +Zoothera lunulataRoyal National Park
198Eurasian BlackbirdTurdus merula
199MistletoebirdDicaeum hirundinaceumDeniliquin
200Red-browed FiretailNeochmia temporalis
201Zebra FinchTaeniopygia guttata
202House SparrowPasser domesticus
203Australian Pipit +Anthus australisDeniliquin
204European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis