Byron Bay Wetlands in December
Byron Bay Wetlands are on the north side of Byron Bay township in the Northern Rivers Region of New South Wales. As summer arrives there is a lot of breeding activity underway. We are watching nesting Restless Flycatchers, Lewin’s Honeyeaters, Red-browed Finches, Dusky Moorhen, and Silvereyes. The Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoos have arrived and the Shining Bronze-Cuckoos have left? Several Nankeen Night Herons have been active in the area. Rainbow Lorikeets have arrived in force on the park outskirts.
This Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo was busy in the E Cell reedbeds, first calling and then appearing on this small shrub for a photo.
White-cheeked Honeyeaters come and go but are here in numbers right now feeding on the Swamp Banksias in flower.
A large group of young Red-browed Finches were very enthusiatic at feeding time, at times getting in quite a tangle when the parents arrive with food.
A Varied Triller, responsible for a unique call often heard in the wetlands.
There are a least two Nankeen Night Herons in the area, this one is feeling exposed in a burnt patch of marshland bush.
Another regular but not always easy to see, this White-browed Scubwren happily exposed and posed, nicely lit in the early morning light.
Not sure if this material is only for the Silvereye’s nest, or there is a tasty treat wrapped up in this cocoon.
A cloud of Fairy Martins patrol the northern end of Cell E.
Two Wandering Whistling-Ducks have graced the Cell E pond for the last week.