Recent bird sightings in New South Wales

Duck

Port Macquarie (opens in a new tab)

Luke 8/6 #273000 · eBird checklist (opens in a new tab) · More info (opens in a new tab)

Powerful Owl

Royal National Park (opens in a new tab)

Roosting in a tall eucalypt near the trailhead.

Access: Park near the gate.

Jane Doe 7/6 #272999 · eBird checklist (opens in a new tab) · More info (opens in a new tab)

Brown Cuckoo-Dove

Hornsby Quarry (opens in a new tab)

These 2 flew into the back deck from the surrounding bush, looking towards the quarry site this afternoon.

Rodney 11/2 #272998

Brown Goshawk

Near Berridale

Flew into window but recovered and flew off. Picture is through the window.

Moderator's note: This would appear to be a juvenile Brown Goshawk; one can see the vertical breast streaks of a juvenile. AKM

Jude Murray per Phil Murray 7/2 #272995

Whiskered Terns (5)

Eastlakes Golf Course (opens in a new tab)

5 Whiskered Terns feeding together over the big lake here. First record in 3 years. They are more likely seen here in dry years.

Richard Murray 7/2 #272993

White-fronted Chat

Bushells Lagoon (opens in a new tab)

Single male White-fronted Chat seen in bushes at the southwest corner of the lagoon (far end of the smaller lagoon on the right if walking down the slope). Although distant scope views, the grey back, black nape and black breastband separating the white face and chest were all very clear. Also seen were 2 Spotless Crakes, 6 Pink-eared Ducks, a Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo, 3 Tawny Grassbirds, 6 Little Grassbirds and several raptor species. No sign of the 3 Freckled Ducks reported on 6 February.

Tom Wilson 7/2 #272992 · eBird checklist (opens in a new tab)

Australian Shelduck

Macquarie University, North Ryde Campus (opens in a new tab)

A pair on the main lake, first reported on eBird on 4 February. Seen at 7 am and still there at 6 pm. Also a Royal Spoonbill on the small pond by the childcare centre at 8:45 am, but not there later in the day. Assume this is the spoonbill reported a week ago, though it has not been on that pond continuously.

Tom Wilson 6/2 #272991

White-tailed Tropicbird

Burradoo, NSW

Brought into a veterinary practice in the Southern Highlands, and BirdLife Southern Highlands was contacted for identification. I did not find the bird but was contacted as part of the BLSH committee.

Anna McConnochie 5/2 #272989

Grey Goshawk

Coutts Crossing Village

Adult Grey Goshawk again present in neighbour's yard. It flew into a Silky Oak in our front yard and was mobbed by a number of Blue-faced Honeyeaters.

Greg Clancy 5/2 #272987

Magpie Goose

Wetland along Big River Way, Clarenza

More geese have returned to this regular daytime roost, with numbers probably exceeding 100, rising from about 50 in recent weeks. The number was estimated as I drove past, so it is not a definitive count.

Greg Clancy 4/2 #272988

Oriental Cuckoo

Killalea State Park - River Walk (opens in a new tab)

One adult bird was observed feeding on grubs; it then landed on a branch, allowing us good views. A rare bird for the Illawarra, this being only the seventh record. Four of the records were in February.

Terrill Nordstrom, Dave Rower 4/2 #272986 · eBird checklist (opens in a new tab)

Channel-billed Cuckoo

Mortdale, NSW

3 Channel-billed Cuckoos, grouped together, have been in the area for a week or two. Difficult to say for sure, but it appears only 1 magpie is feeding them.

Graham Hughes 1/2 #272983

Red-tailed Tropicbird

Long Reef Aquatic Reserve (opens in a new tab)

Had an adult Red-tailed Tropicbird flying north off Long Reef Point during a 2-hour seawatch this afternoon. I followed it through my scope for about 7 or 8 minutes until it disappeared to the northeast.

Michael Ronan 28/1 #272981

Grey Goshawk

Coutts Crossing Village

Adult Grey Goshawk in neighbour's yard eyeing off domestic pigeons and chickens. Infrequent at this site.

Greg Clancy 27/1 #272980

Royal Spoonbill

Macquarie University, North Ryde Campus (opens in a new tab)

A sometime visitor to the university. This one was foraging in the pool near the childcare centre at the west end of the campus.

Ted Nixon 27/1 #272976 · eBird checklist (opens in a new tab)

Royal Spoonbill

Huskisson Maritime Museum Boardwalk Mangroves

Single bird feeding at low tide along with about 10 Australian White Ibis and one White-faced Heron. Only a few records in Huskisson in the last 20 years on eBird.

Lewis Benham 26/1 #272979 · eBird checklist (opens in a new tab)

Spotted Harrier

Blue Mountains National Park - Lockley Pylon (opens in a new tab)

Surprised to see a Spotted Harrier flying low above the heath and over the ridge on Australia Day morning. It was flying roughly south-southeast and was most likely on passage from west of the Great Dividing Range to the east. Poor record shot attached. Resident species included good numbers of Southern Emu-wrens (9), only 2 Tawny-crowned Honeyeaters heard, and 3 Australian Pipits.

Veeraj Sharma 26/1 #272972

Streaked Shearwater

Long Reef Aquatic Reserve (opens in a new tab)

The highlight of a 3.5-hour seawatch from Long Reef this morning was a Streaked Shearwater heading south with large numbers of Wedge-tailed and Short-tailed Shearwaters. A few Flesh-footed Shearwaters were also heading south.

Michael Ronan 26/1 #272970

Glossy Ibis

Little Cattai Creek Floodplain

3 Glossy Ibises in non-breeding plumage were observed in a wetland on private property in the Little Cattai Creek floodplain in the Hills Shire. One individual was observed nearby on 27 December, the second record of this species in the local government area and the first since 2010.

Rachel Hunt 25/1 #272975

Australian Brush-turkey

Maroubra Junction (opens in a new tab)

I was not expecting to see an Australian Brush-turkey happily foraging in the Maroubra Junction car park tonight. It could be the same adult female spotted in Paddington 2 weeks ago, following the green traffic islands south along the old La Perouse tram route.

Richard Murray 25/1 #272966

Australian Masked Owl

New England National Park, near Bellinger River headwaters

Flushed in broad daylight at approximately -30.473509, 152.525939. Circled low above the track, then drifted towards the river and disappeared. Good views were obtained: large, heavy owl with masked face; pale colour with rufous or buff areas around the collar and breast; large round head; short tail; broad wings.

Henry Coleman 24/1 #272977 · eBird checklist (opens in a new tab)

Royal Spoonbill, Black-necked Stork, Black Swan, Australian White Ibis, Glossy Ibis

Ellis Swamp, near Tucabia

235+ Royal Spoonbills loafing with Black Swans, Australian White Ibis, Straw-necked Ibis and other waterbirds. A large number of spoonbills. Two adult Black-necked Storks at separate parts of the wetland. 12 Glossy Ibises foraging.

Greg Clancy 24/1 #272965 · eBird checklist (opens in a new tab)

Pheasant Coucal

Near Red Hill Reserve

Exact location: 33°44'46.8"S 151°15'13.9"E.

Tony Palliser 24/1 #272961

Gould's Petrel, Black Petrel, Buller's Albatross

Offshore - Sydney Pelagic (opens in a new tab)

There were a few highlights from Friday's pelagic, including a single Gould's Petrel and a Black Petrel, both seen at the shelf drift. As expected, the Black Petrel came to the boat, giving everyone excellent and prolonged views, unlike the Gould's Petrel, which disappeared as quickly as it appeared. The other more interesting highlight was a Buller's Albatross, seen late in the day at the shelf drift, which parked itself briefly among the many Shy Albatrosses sitting on the water. This marks the first January record for this species on the Sydney pelagic. The high number of Shy Albatrosses (28) was also notable for January. Interestingly, no jaeger species were seen.

Sydney pelagics and all on board 23/1 #272962 · eBird checklist (opens in a new tab)

Barn Swallow

Altona Road, Cudgen

In company with 50 Welcome Swallows and a few of each martin.

Moderator's note: Looks like the return of the annual January Barn Swallow to the Kingscliff/Tweed Heads area. Welcome back! AKM

Chris Rehberg / Sydney Birding 23/1 #272960 · eBird checklist (opens in a new tab)

Brown Treecreeper, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Southern Boobook

South Grafton Water Reserve (Abattoir TSR)

One Brown Treecreeper was observed and photographed where one was seen on 4 October 2025. The bird seen on 21 January was wearing a band and was most likely the adult female banded there on 20 April 2019. The species was common at the site from 10 June 1979 to 18 July 2001, with 18 individuals banded and a few recoveries. They were thought to be locally extinct until this bird was caught and banded in 2019. It is possible that this bird is the last of its species at the site. The Black-chinned Honeyeater was heard calling. Two Southern Boobooks were located at their daytime roosts; Keith and Greg saw and photographed one.

Greg Clancy, Keith Fisher 21/1 #272957 · eBird checklist (opens in a new tab)

Australian Brush-turkey [Tagged]

Wollstonecraft Station (opens in a new tab)

I am not sure whether Eremaea is the right place for this, but I wanted to report to whoever tagged Brush-turkeys in the 2010s (John Martin?) that Yellow 038, which I first recorded in the neighbourhood around 2017, is still pottering around Berry's Creek and the lawns near the station. He is, however, showing his age, like this correspondent, and has an inclination to look for a handout.

Ted Nixon 20/1 #272969

Swamp Harrier

Randwick Environment Park (opens in a new tab)

Late-morning visit rewarded with some of the best views I have ever had of a grey male Swamp Harrier circling low over the water. It then sat low in dead flooded trees, preening, before taking to the air, circling high and gliding south. Also present were a Latham's Snipe flying into the site and good close views of a calling juvenile Pacific Koel. The park has been very good in the last month or so, with exceptionally high water levels and a great range of waterbirds, including 5 species of duck, breeding Australasian Grebes, Buff-banded Rail and a roost of more than 100 Australian White Ibises. It is like a little southern billabong in the heart of the Eastern Suburbs.

Michael Ellison 20/1 #272955 · eBird checklist (opens in a new tab)

Eastern Osprey

Orara River, Coutts Crossing

Immature bird perched in a dead tree at the edge of the river near the bridge. Very few records at this site and none in recent times.

Greg Clancy, Keith Fisher 19/1 #272951

Black Bittern, Azure Kingfisher, Brown Goshawk

Gap Road Bridge, Jerusalem Creek

Black Bittern first observed in the canopy of the paperbark forest by Keith, just after I had said it was good habitat for the species. An Azure Kingfisher flew under the bridge and landed on a log. A Brown Goshawk flew just above the canopy.

Greg Clancy, Keith Fisher 19/1 #272950 · eBird checklist (opens in a new tab)

Plumed Whistling-Duck, Wedge-tailed Eagle

Dam on Colletts Island

130+ Plumed Whistling-Ducks with Australian Wood Ducks on the edge of the dam. Largest flock seen in recent months, as the species is absent from many of its usual haunts. Three Wedge-tailed Eagles were over the nearby Collett's Swamp.

Greg Clancy, Keith Fisher 18/1 #272954

Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, Azure Kingfisher, Latham's Snipe

Bunyip Creek, Trenayr (opens in a new tab)

21+ Chestnut-breasted Mannikins, almost all juveniles. A juvenile Azure Kingfisher perched on a fence in the creek. 5 Latham's Snipes were foraging on a muddy bank.

Greg Clancy, Keith Fisher 18/1 #272953 · eBird checklist (opens in a new tab)

Beach Stone-curlew

Crowdy Head (opens in a new tab)

Single bird seen 3 times in the last week, hanging around the boat-trailer car park at the turnoff to the surf beach. Very quiet and not worried by traffic or human activity.

Warren Chad 18/1 #272948

Shy Albatross

Long Reef Aquatic Reserve (opens in a new tab)

Shy Albatross.

Gerard Duane 18/1 #272947 · eBird checklist (opens in a new tab)

Black Bittern

West Byron Wetlands (opens in a new tab)

One or more Black Bitterns heard calling intermittently at Byron Bay Wetlands since the last day of October 2025. They were heard on 7 evenings between 7:30 pm and 9:50 pm, then more recently on 4 occasions between 4:30 am and 5:30 am. The latest was recorded on 17 January at 5:23 am.

Access: Restricted access - Council key required.

Geoff Ball 17/1 #272956