Winter in the Byron Bay Wetlands

Most days the wetlands seem quiet at this time of the year but every now and then there will be a buzz of birds that signals spring is not far away. Willie Wagtails and Grey Fantails are most obvious inhabitants but many of the small birds can be seen with some patience: Grassbirds, Fairy-wrens, Cisticolas, Whistlers, Silvereyes, Red-browed Finches, Brown and Lewin’s Honeyeaters, Kingfishers, Flycatchers are all there. Water birds are still thin but represented the last weeks by Herons, Egrets, Royal Spoonbills, Ibis, Comb-crested Jacana, a solitary Black-fronted Dotterel and a few Ducks. A White-bellied Sea-Eagle has been very attentive and was seen last week flying with an eel or snake dangling below it.

On cold, windless days the birds are moving slowly and make good targets for photographers. This Grey Shrike-thrush was unsually cooperative.

A single pair of Black Swans is seen most days at the Byron Bay Wetlands, checking out the various ponds; presumably the same two birds?

This Straw-necked Ibis was a flyover. The Straw-necked Ibis rarely use the wetlands but are often present in the surrounding farm lands.

The Comb-crested Jacanas are hiding in the Malaleuca tree swamp, over the last year not often seen.

The Plumed Egret, a less frequent visitor than the larger Great Egret normally in residence.

This White-necked Heron, the Egret above and a White-faced Heron were feeding in D cell.

Autumn in the Byron Bay Wetlands

Autumn brings changes in the wetlands. The Latham’s Snipes have gone to begin their journey north. The Nankeen Night Herons have left, perhaps heading north as well? Orioles, whipbirds and wattlebirds are scarcer than usual. The post cyclone rain and continuing falls are keeping the ponds topped up, with no exposed mud flat. And so there are very few water birds.

The Melaleuca is flowering and with it have come the honeyeaters; teams of Brown Honeyeaters, Scarlet Honeyeaters, Noisy Friarbirds, Blue-faced Honeyeaters plus large flocks of lorikeets, predominantly Rainbow but some Scaly-breasted as well. A Grey Goshawk has been particulary busy the last few days. Grey fantails and many Willie Wagtails to be seen.

A big positive is that the weevil treatment for the Salvinia weed overgrowing many ponds is starting to work. It was a treat to see three Forest Kingfishers feeding at a pond that had been previously choked with Salvinia.

The Forest Kingfisher is always a photogenic treat, here it was with two others feeding around a pond rejuvinated by the successful treatment of the Salvinia weed that had been choking it.

This Grey Goshwawk was particularly active this week in the Melaleuka woodlands of F Cell.

A young Superb Fairy-wren with adult colour just starting to appear forages for insects in the bark.

Many Scarlet and Brown Honeyeaters in the white flowers of the Melaleuka.

Lots of Willie Wagtails, all as busy as usual.

Numbers of Grey Fantails have increase dramatically as April draws to a close.

The Blue-faced Honeyeater is an occaisional visitor to the wetlands.

Three Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos make a timely visit to check out some tasty Swamp Banksia.

A Mistletoebird visits a Mistletoe plant growing on a Melaleuca in the F Cell ponds.

One of the few water birds present at the moment, the White-faced Heron.

Byron Bay Wetlands after the Cyclone

Cyclone Alfred brought 120 km per hour winds and hundreds of millimetres of rain to the Northern Rivers Region last week. Fortunately the damage overall has been minor compared to the 2022 floods but still many houses and farms were badly affected. At the wetlands the visual damage was limited to broken branches and debris. The affect on the birds is harder to discern.

These two Black-necked Storks seemed very happy with the extra water in I Cell at the Byron Bay Wetlands. Their colours sparkling in the newly arrived autumn sun.

The Little Shrike-thrush (now called the Arafura Shrikethrush), a less often seen bird in the wetlands but reasonably common in the Byron area.

Still some cukoos around the area as demonstrated by this Shining Bronze-Cuckoo seen in F Cell. But the Pheasant Coucals seem to have disappeared at this time.

More from Byron Wetlands in February

The majestic female Black-necked Stork made a visit to the Byron Bay Wetlands last week. A few hours earlier, a Wedge-tailed Eagle circled the large pond in Cell H. Breeding activity continues, as demonstrated by the presence of numerous cuckoos and lots of feeding activity. Silvereyes have joined the list of parents feeding their young; and a juvenile Black-faced Monarch indicates breeding in the area.

More information about this significant wetland at Byron Bay in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales can be seen at the Byron Bird Buddies website.

This female Black-necked Stork was directly in front of the birdhide and was startled by my arrival. It took off towards the south, slowly circling and gaining altitude before it finally headed off in a northerly direction.

The Black-necked Stork at the Byron Bay Wetlands, close to the H Cell birdhide.

A more common majestic sight in the wetlands, the elegant Black Swan.

This juvenile Black-faced Monarch has still to develop the distinctive black face of the adult bird.

Scores of Silvereyes were feeding on insects in the trees bordering I Cell. And there were numerous parents attending to the needs of their offspring.

This female Rufous Whistler and male companion below were also making the most of the insects feeding on the I Cell trees. Caterpillars seemed to be a popular snack.

The male Rufous Whistler was there too, keeping its distance in the background.

Later on, as the sun was setting, some fifteen White-breasted Woodswallows were gathering on the wires above the wetland carpark, using it as a base to pursue the flying insects.

Both Pied and Grey Butcherbirds are seen in the wetlands, with this Pied Butcherbird a less frequent visitor.

Byron Bay Wetlands in February

Summer moves on but the breeding activity at the wetlands is still in full swing. The number and variety of cuckoos in the wetlands indicate there are plenty of opportunities for their parasitic egg laying too. Breeding species noted so far this month include Rufous Whistlers, Purple Swamphens, Fairy Martins, Brush Cuckoos, and Lewin’s Honeyeaters. The presence of juvenile Cicadabirds, Little Bronze-cuckoos and others indicates they may be breeding in the wetland or nearby.

There are often Fairy Martins at the north end of D and E Cells. This is the first time I have observed young feeding here.

This young Brush Cuckoo was calling loudly waiting for its food. The juvenile colours are quite different to the adult grey and buff with black and white cuckoo markings on the tail.

I lined up my camera with the juvenile and waited. Soon the surrogate mother arrived, a tiny Superb Fairy-wren.

It appears this Superb Fairy-wren has some very strong feelings about its oversized charge.

Little Bronze-Cuckoos are one of the less frequently seen species in the wetland but the presence of this juvenile could mean they are breeding here or closeby?

The female Cicadabird, very different to her grey coloured male counterpart. Cicadabirds have been calling most days over the past month.

Good to see a Sacred Kingfisher, the first seen for several months.

There are still good numbers of Latham’s Snipes to be seen, now scattered around the wetland.

An early start resulting in photos of each of the three White-necked Herons in Cell E enjoying an early morning feed.

Byron Bay Wetlands in January

Byron Bay Wetlands in Byron Bay, Northern Rivers district of New South Wales, is an important haven for many birds species, including the migratory Latham’s Snipe. As the summer moves on the snipe have moved to the ditches and waterways through the wetland. While the wetlands seem quiet, there are still many birds making their way in the malaleuca woodlands and reedbeds.

A pretty picture in the greenery, the colourful White-cheeked Honeyeater.

This Latham’s Snipe was resting close to one of the drains that move water through the wetlands.

This male Cicadabird chose the highest branch of the highest tree to broadcast his cicada like song.

There were two Nankeen NIght Herons in the wetlands yesterdy, in the same area that a flock of six had been previously seen.

Another pretty setting for this Red-browed Finch.

An unusual display by a Bar-shouldered Dove, tail splayed to show its full colours.

Little Wattlebirds have moved into the woodlands during January, presumably in response to fruition of a new food source.

Byron Bay Wetlands at Christmas

Bird numbers are down in the hot weather over Christmas but still much to see in the wetlands. Yesterday’s visit highlights were a flock of six Nankeen Night-Herons, juvenile Leaden Flycatchers and a juvenile Restless Flycatcher, all seen on the second path through F Cell. The Latham’s Snipes have dispersed to the various drains, with five seen in total.

These Leaden Flycatchers have been calling at this spot in Cell F for several weeks, but this was the first time I saw them together. Here is the female Leaden Flycatcher.

The male Leaden Flycatcher was close by.

And not too far away this Restless Flycatcher near its nest directly above the track. One chick, transitioning from juvenile colours, was close to the nest.

Swamp Wallably, often be seen around the wetland entrance. Here keeping an eye on proceedings for some 60 seconds before turning and rushing away.

Eastern Yellow Robins keep to the “rainforest’" patch of the wetlands, preferring the heavier shade and coolness.

Yellow Thornbills are not that often seen here, they have been visiting the last two weeks.

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.

Byron Bay Wetlands in November

Some rarer birds have been seen in the first days of November. A Pale-vented Bush-hen was seen during a nature walk and very unusually a Diamond Dove seen in Cell E. The Radjah Shelduck is still here, looking a bit lost at this stage. The Brush Cuckoo and the Pheasant Coucal are constantly calling. And there are a number of birds still on their nests, including the White-winged Trillers and the Mistletoe birds.

A lost Radjah Shelduck was walking in circles making a rather sad hoarse whistling sound.

Another wetland inhabitant busy making its nest, the Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike.

This Buff-banded Rail seems to be getter bolder by the day and is regularly seen on the Cell E pond.

Finches tend to congregate where the wetlands adjoin a neighbouring large sports field. This Double-barred Finch was flying down to the sports ground’s grass.

A Black-shouldererd Kite surveys Cells D and E from this central tree.

A lot of Tawny Grassbirds flapping around and calling, presumably nesting?

Always present, often feeding in and around the wetland ponds, Magpie Larks make their presence known by their call, the famous “Peewee…”which became a common name for this bird.

The female Red-backed Fairy-wren is feeding just before dusk in grasses close to a pond.

Close by, the male Red-backed Fairy-wren is also feeding

Majestic Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos circle the outskirts of the wetland.

It is half and hour after sunset. These Royal Spoonbills and Black-winged Stilts seek a safe roost in the middle of the Cell E pond.

Byron Bay Wetlands in October

More birds are arriving in October as the weather warms. Water birds are increasing; one reason is better management of the wetland ponds to allow larger areas of mudflat for waders to feed. There are more cuckoos, with almost constant calls of Pheasant Coucals during the day. The highlight was the presence of over a dozen Latham’s Snipe in E Cell and more in other wetland ponds. Despite regular watches in the evenings of the full moon, no Bitterns have been heard to date this year.

My one pair of Mistletoe birds at the wetland gates has been increased by numerous Mistletoe birds across the wetlands.

This Brush Cuckoo made its haunting call a number of times, but was finally spotted in the later evening near the bird-hide. This picture was taken at ISO 5000 and its graininess cleaned up using Lightroom AI based Denoise.

Another regular songster the Shining Bronze-Cuckoo.

Over a dozen Latham’s Snipes were seen in the pool at Cell E in the wetlands. This picture was taken from the “mobile bird hide” , i.e. the driver’s window of the car, as opening the car door would have sent the Snipes into rapid flight.

White-throated Needletails flying high arrive with an incoming storm, the original storm birds.

The White-winged Triller is a rare visitor to the wetland. This bird is one of a pair nesting in a tree recovering from fire. This tree has its feet in water.

One of a pair of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, migrants arriving from the northern hemisphere after their long flight.

Spring in the Byron Bay Wetlands

As September moves on spring activity has increased, birds are active with nest building and courting. The Latham’s Snipes have arrived; the one photographed below was one of three flushed from the D and E Cells of the Byron Bay Wetlands. Despite lower water levels and more mudflat the Snipes are the only migrant birds seen on the wetlands so far this year. A number of Pied Stilts have moved in as well as up to a dozen Black-fronted Dotterel. A Black-necked Stork was seen visiting but so far has not turned up for a photo session with yours truly. And there is an increased presence of foxes as waterbird numbers increase.

For the last month at the wetland’s front gate a pair of Tawny Grassbirds have been busy while making a lot of buzzing and trilling sounds.

Lathams Snipes fly fast and low after they have been disturbed from the wetland reeds. Even a quiet approach some 50 metres distant is enough to set these birds on the move.

Three Latham's Snipes in D Cell of the wetland.

Another busy spring arrival, this Buff-banded Rail (or friend of) has been seen all over the place the last two weeks.

This Mistletoebird has been calling in the same area at the wetland gates almost every day for weeks.

Mr Fox, here splashing after ducks - who all departed rapidly.

Byron Bay Wetlands in September

It has been a busy start to September in the Wetlands. Plenty of nest building and family raising action to be seen. Azure Kingfishers in a courting dance, Superb Fairy-wrens building nests, Tawny Grassbirds chasing and buzzing through the reeds, Masked Lapwings protecting their three chicks, a Pheasant Coucal calling. Also an unexpected visitor, a Radjah Shelduck a long way from its northern tropics home.

A rare visit from a Radjah Shelduck, more commonly found in the tropical north of Australia or the coastal rivers of north Queensland.

This Super Fairy-wren looks to be building a nest in the car park!

Identification of the sub-species of Silvereye can be difficult, with many overlaps of territory. This specimen appears to be the eastern sub-species Zosterops lateralis cornwalli.

Bar-shouldered Doves are often to be seen and more often heard around the wetlands.

Byron Wetlands in May

April’s high rainfall continued into the first two weeks of May and the wetland ponds are full, covering the mud-flats that would normally attract shore or water birds. This has left the wetland mainly in the hands of its forest and woodland inhabitants, still plenty to see.

White-headed Pigeon numbers are increasing in the Byron Shire, along with the Topknot pigeon, as their favourite food source, the introduced Camphor Laurel continues to thrive here.

One of many White-browed Scrubwrens in the wetlands. The northern Scrubwren has a more yellow belly than those further south.

A Yellow Thornbill, a less common visitor here. This bird has taken up residence close to the Wetland meeting rooms.

This young White-bellied Sea-eagle, still sporting its juvenile livery, has been seen several times on K Pond.

Grey Fantails were everywhere across the wetland park; some thirty plus counted.

A young Superb Fairy-wren showing a very fluffy mantle.

A Forest Kingfisher watching for insects in a section burnt out by the recent fire. These burnt trees are still surrounded by shallow black water ponds which have grown in the recent rain. In the fires they burnt despite having their feet in water.

Underneath, the presence of a Little Pied Cormorant shows there is life in these jet black waters.

Still lots of Golden-headed Cisticolas to be seen in the reed beds; with many opportunities for close up photos.

Two Black-shouldered Kites were patrolling the large pond, labelled K Pond.

This Shining Bronze-Cuckoo shows how the species got its name, shining brightly in the late Autumn light.

One of four Eastern Whip-birds, evidently involved in some sort of romantic tangle, had the air cracking with raucous calls and defiant displays.

Spangled Drongo, quietly watches the whipbirds go by.

A rainbow blesses the Byron Wetland, hopefully to be followed with some dry weather!

Byron Bay Wetlands in April

More photos from the wonderful Byron Bay Wetlands. More than 220 species of bird have been recorded since the Wetlands were created and counts at the Byron Bird Buddies surveys are regularly in the 70 - 100 species range.

A very vocal Tawny Grassbird in one of the extensive reed beds of the wetland.

Grey Teals add a calming touch to proceedings, photographed from the bird-hide.

The Eastern Great Egret is easily disturbed and takes off, identified by the crook in the neck while flying.

Two Superb Fairy-wrens, part of a large family moving through the undergrowth.

A Striped Honeyeater preening itself, singing its unusual call.

The Pheasant Coucal, looking like an ancient aircraft on take-off.

A Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, another Cuckoo still present in Byron Bay late in April, or perhaps and early arrival?

Rainbow Bee-eaters add a splash of colour.

This Restless Flycatcher is a regular near the carpark at the wetland.

Fan-tailed Cuckoo, the third cuckoo seen on the day’s survey.

Byron Bay Wetlands Snapshots

Byron Bay Wetlands in the Northern Rivers region New South Wales is part of the Byron Integrated Management Reserve, an advanced sewage treatment system that has created a natural habitat for both flora and fauna. This week’s visit resulted in sightings of 49 bird species and the photos below.

This Golden-headed Cisticola flew into a nearby bush then onto the reeds below for a close up photo session.

A Restless Flycatcher was in a group of trees adjacent to the wetland’s “Interpretive Centre”. The centre consists of a meeting room with facilities and is used by the Byron Bird Buddies for community presentations about the region’s bird life and guided tours of the wetlands.

It was a very busy group of trees with this female Rufous Whistler, plus the birds in the next four photos plus Yellow Thornbills, Willie Wagtails, Brown Honeyeaters, Olive-backed Orioles, Rainbow Bee-eaters, Lewin’s Honeyeaters and Silvereyes!

The male Rufous Whistler.

A White-throated Gerygone, a bird that is more often heard than seen, with its tinkly descending trills.

This Eastern Yellow Robin was making its “fire alarm” call.

A flock of Red-browed Finch moved through the trees.

This Black Swan photographed against some angry clouds signalled a return to the rain that has persisted in the Northern Rivers area for the last four months.

Byron Bay Wetlands and the October bush-fire

Byron Bay Wetlands appear to have escaped relatively lightly from the October bush-fire that burnt from Byron Bay to close to Brunswick Heads in October 2023. The fire impinged mainly on the western side of the reserve and did not affect the wetland area directly.

Close to the wetlands, the fire did not crown and was a relatively cool burn.

Bird and species numbers do not seem to be affected as shown by post-fire bird surveys on Birdata. This male Varied Triller was close to the fire area.

The fire skirted the eastern fringe but did not affect the eastern ponds.

Several Cicadabirds were calling including this female in the Malaleuca swamps.

This male Cicadabird was photographed at Brunswick Heads, close to the northern extreme of the fire.

Half way on its journey to Brunswick Heads the fire passed through this wetland at Tyagara, burning right down to the waterline.

Byron Bay Wetlands Survey

Last week’s survey at Byron Bay Wetlands in the New South Wales Northern Rivers region showed the wide range of birds this reserve attached to Byron’s sewerage works attracts. 81 species were counted with representation in a wide variety of bird groups. Raptors included a Grey Goshawk, Whispering Kite, Swamp Harrier and Sea-eagle. Water birds included a Spotless Crake, Glossy Isis, Pink-eared Ducks and Black-fronted Dotterels. Sacred, Forest and Azure Kingfishers were sighted. A highlight was the large number of Little Grassbirds out in the open.

I went back to the wetland two days later to photograph the Spotless Crake seen on the survey. This time there were two more crakes in the reeds nearby.

This Sacred Kingfisher was in the same place two days after the survey on one of the grassy walkways through the melaleuca lined ponds.

There were many Little Grassbirds to be seen on the edges of the larger ponds.

Around a dozen Black-fronted Dotterels were feeding on the mudflats.

This Great Egret lifts for a better view from the top of the tree at the right.

Byron Bay Wetlands

The Byron Bay Wetlands form part of Byron’s 100ha Integrated Water Management Reserve, the area’s sewerage treatment process. The constructed wetlands and malaleuca/banksia woodlands are accessed by a large network of well maintained walking tracks. A printed birdlist for the site lists 227 species including migratory birds, water birds as well as honeyeaters and thornbills. Permanent or short-term site access is easily obtained from the Byron Shire Council.

This Azure Kingfisher was waiting by a roadside ditch on my arrival at the Byron Bay Wetlands.

There are a large number of ponds providing a range of wetland types, some with large areas of water, some with mudflats, and others with extensive reed beds. In this pond are Australian White Ibis, Great Egrets, a Glossy Isis, Purple Swamphens, and Eurasian Coots.

Smaller birds were well represented including this Willie Wagtail, Thornbills, Striated Pardalotes, Grey Fantails as well as Golden-headed Cisticola and other reed dwellers.

A Scarlet Honeyeater feeds on malaleuca blossom in one of the extensive planted malaleuca groves.