Bird Watching...

Bird watching - South Coast NSW
Australian birdlife is prolific on the South Coast, This abundance of bird life provides simple pleasure to those relaxing and enjoying a holiday break right through to opportunities for the serious bird watching enthusiast and/or bird guide.

In many places on the NSW South Coast and especially within our extensive National Parks and reserves you can watch and listen for many types of birds including Laughing Kookaburra, see the beauty & grace of King Parrots, Rainbow Lorikeets, shrieking Galahs and cockatoos mixed with wagtails & warblers, including the beautiful warble of the Magpie.

From the South Coast beaches and offshore you can watch the local sea birds, such as White-bellied Sea Eagles, Crested Terns, Yellow-headed Boobies, shearwaters and pelicans.

We include some interesting bird facts that might be useful knowledge for you or your family.

For bird identification we recommend the following references. "Field Guide to the Birds of Australia" by Simpson and Day plus the "Field Guide to Australian Birds" by Michael Morcombe. "Birding Australia Site Guide The South East" self-published by Lloyd Nielsen includes a species list for each site, facilities, visitor information, access, maps, plus seabird and wader hotspots.

Also, the Naturalist's Diary for the Eurobodalla [mid South Coast] region is a fascinating collection of observations made by local octagenarian, Jill Whiter, who's has been a keen observer and naturalist for most of her many years of experience.

Click here for more details and to order a copy.

We welcome any contributions from our readers and visitors to this page. Please upload any pics that you may have of South Coast birdlife with a few details of where they were sighted in the space provided at the bottom of this page.

 

BIRDING BY SOUTH COAST REGIONS

ILLAWARRA
Our local Bird Observers Club aims to join together people with a common interest who wish to further their knowledge and enjoyment of the bird life around them. One of it’s members, a local authority on birding and bushwalking - has documented a rich history of bird observations dating back to the times soon after the first Europeans landed in Botany Bay. He has researched the notebooks and diaries of the early explorers to find reports of the diversity of birds found in the “gardens of the Illawarra.

Our local expert has also documented a vast array of walks in the Illawarra, the Shoalhaven and adjacent Tablelands.

PELAGIC BIRDING TRIPS from Wollongong
Southern Oceans Seabird Study Association [SOSSA] was set up to be an umbrella organisation for many study groups concerned with studies of Southern Ocean biodiversity. SOSSA is a wildlife conservation and research organisation. Its members are dedicated amateurs and professionals who share a common interest and concern for the marine environment and the wildlife of the Southern Oceans. SOSSA organises regular pelagic trips from Wollongong, Ulladulla and Eden NSW so both members and visitors can view some of the spectacular marine life that occurs off Australia's coast.

KIAMA - BARRENS GROUNDS BIRD OBSERVATORY
Enjoy stunning coastal views as you enjoy a leisurely walk through Barrens Grounds Bird Observatory at the top of Jamberoo Pass. This nature reserve is a bird watcher's Mecca.

RAINFOREST AND WALKING TRAILS
For observing birds the Bushbank Mill Track is a must, located just south of Kiama. Also, Hoddles Track commencing from Saddleback Mountain offers a return walk with some great views along the coast on its way to the escarpment. Griffiths Trail located at Barren Grounds Nature Reserve gives you a relatively flat but scenic route through the heath land.

An experience with our most beautiful rainforest should not be missed either and can be enjoyed at Minnamurra Rainforest within the Budderoo National Park, just west of Jamberoo. Within a 2 hour drive south of Sydney, the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre is located just 15 kms west of Kiama on the NSW South Coast (Tourist Drive ’9’). The park features a rainforest education centre and a walkway (wheelchair accessible) takes you along the creek and into the rainforest. 1 hour walk on Board Walk. 2 hour return walk to Minnamurra Falls. Picnic facilities and kiosk are available. Open 9am - 5pm.

The Centre offers visitors an opportunity to experience this rare rainforest remnant which is representative of the once extensive rainforests of the Illawarra region.

Bonaira Street Gardens Walk featuring newly established rainforest species and can be found just south of Kendalls Beach or commence from Reid Street, Kiama.

JERRARA DAM ARBORETUM & WETLANDS
Recently established on the banks of a 9 hectare dam and just 5 km west of Kiama here you can enjoy a picnic on the fringes of a remnant rainforest and freshwater wetland.

SPRING CREEK BIRD HIDE
This observation hide located between the lagoon and freshwater lake enables a close-up view of waterbirds including cormorants, chicks, moorhens, coots, swans and many other local species. A must for the bird-watching enthusiast! Access from Glenbrook Drive off Dido Street, Kiama.

SHOALHAVEN
According to Ricki Coughlan, Avian consultant and guide: "The Shoalhaven is excellent for migratory shorebirds and is adjacent to locations where Ground Parrots, Eastern Bristle Birds and plenty more can be found”.  The Satin Bowerbird can also be found throughout the South Coast.

Deep Water PELAGIC BIRDING TRIPS from Ulladulla Harbour
These trips head out between 80 to 100 nautical miles NE or SE from Ulladulla on the MV Banks and provide 2 full days of daylight viewing. All meals provided.

EUROBODALLA COAST
The Tourism brochure says, ”Perhaps the birdlife know this is a place that respects and nurtures its natural assets. A place they know they’ll find sanctuary. A place of parks and gardens full of good things to eat and safe places to stay. And a place where their encounter with humans leaves each party going safely on its way”.

I’m not sure if that’s the reason but you are virtually guaranteed of seeing and photographing many bird species including the iconic Australian King Parrots, the striking Azure Kingfishers, Crimson Rosellas and those cheerful Rainbow Lorikeets.

Also abundant are cheeky Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Galahs, Kookaburras and Lyre birds. And of course sea birds including the Pelican and the Great Cormorant.

Local Bird watching

The Eurobodalla Natural History Society is very active in encouraging systematic collection and recording of members observations and many first records of species in the Shire have been identified, including a number of bird species which have extended their range and are now here permanently, such as the Crested Pigeon, White-headed Pigeon, Little Corella, Australasian Figbird and Eastern Koel. Records for the Bent-wing Ghost Moth (Zelotypia stacyi) were provided to the CSIRO, confirming a new southern limit for the species. Information on the status of threatened species is also collected and reported to the relevant authorities – for instance, Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater. Click here to see Jill Whiter's recent piece on Bird Migration. The presence of the Square-tailed Kite, and the forest owls, Powerful, Barking, Masked and Sooty, are also monitored.

BIRDWATCHING CRUISES
Bird watching is just one of the specialized charters Bateman's Bay Fishing do several times a year. If this interests you and you've never known how to go about it contact us and you can join the next bird watching tour charter and meet up with a new group of people.

Four times each year, we take a group of ornithologists out to the Continental Shelf to view the myriad of sea birds. The South Coast of New South Wales (Australia) is world famous among ornithologists and bird lovers for some of the best bird watching of marine birds in the world. Albatross, shearwaters, petrels, boobies, in fact around 30 different species have been sighted off shore from Batemans Bay.

Get Local Knowledge

Contact one of our local birders to advise and help co-ordinate your birding expedition on the South Coast.

MONTAGUE ISLAND near Narooma is a natural haven for birds. The island is snake-free and there are no predatory mammals, as found on the mainland. Birds of prey (raptors) are the only animal threat to the island's bird population. In addition, the rich waters of the East Australian current pass around or near the island providing important feeding grounds for seabirds.

Montague Island is now recognized as one of the most important seabird nesting sites in New South Wales, with species as varied and distant as the Wedge-tailed, Short-tailed and Sooty Shearwaters, Silver Gulls and Crested Terns. Some coming from as far away as Siberia to lay their eggs.  It is also home to the second largest colony of Little Penguins in the world. There is also a colony of fur seals. Dolphins and whales are often seen on trips to the island.

NAROOMA RAINFOREST WALK is an excellent temperate rainforest, with massive 300 year old Spotted Gums. Birds include Black-faced Monarch, Green Catbird, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Large-billed Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, Scarlet Honeyeater, Rufous fantail. Also Figbirds are common in the main streets of Narooma. Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Masked and Sooty Owl have also been recorded in the area.

SAPPHIRE COAST
Whether you're looking for birds of the forests, mountains and grasslands or the waterways, ocean and marshes you will find them all on the Sapphire Coast.  A huge range of birds call this landscape home, with changing vistas from the ocean shores to open forests to patches of unique rainforest. 

Bird watcher’s can get up close and personal with birds of prey, rare wetland, grassland and woodland species by utilising some of the bird watching hides that are scattered throughout the region.

The Far South Coast Birdwatchers have developed three new bird watching routes in the Bega Valley - Wallagoot Lane, Bemboka and Wyndham. The Bird Route brochures provide a "step-by-step" guide to some of the best birdwatching routes in the area.

MALLACOOTA
If you are planning to visit our southern areas of the NSW coast, a visit to Mallacoota (just over the border in Victoria) is good for bird watching. At Gipsy Point Lodge which is set in extensive grounds overlooking the Genoa River. The Lodge's gardens attract an abundance of birds.  Bassian Thrush, Eastern Whipbirds and Wonga Pigeons are frequently seen.

King Parrots and Bowerbirds come to be fed at the Lodge. Azure Kingfishers live along the river behind the Lodge.

The area around Mallacoota is very scenic and has many different habitats ranging from rainforest to coastal heath lands and beaches. November is the best time of year for bird watching in the area as the summer migrants have returned and many of the species are nesting.

Large numbers of waders and seabirds can be seen on the sandbanks and beaches near the entrance to the Inlet. While walking in nearby Croajingolong National Park be on the look out for Koalas.

At Mallacoota itself look for Hooded and Red-capped Plovers which nest on the beaches. Black Swans and Hoary-headed Grebe feed along the river. The heaths of Croajingolong National Park are home to Ground Parrots, Southern Emu-wren, Striated Fieldwren, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater and Beautiful Firetail. In the rainforest, lyrebirds are fairly common. Summer migrants include Rufous Fantail, Black-faced Monarch and Leaden Flycatchers. Several pairs of White-bellied Sea-Eagles nest in the area and are frequently seen.

The above gives you a good indication of the wide and diverse opportunities for bird watching on the South Coast of NSW.  We look forward to seeing you on our wonderful South Coast.

Shoalhaven Coast

Batemans Bay Area

Narooma,

Mystery Bay,

Dalmeny

Sapphire Coast, Bermagui to Eden

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