Best place in Sydney for birds!!?

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oconnore51
oconnore51's picture
Best place in Sydney for birds!!?

I went on a bird watching outing with the Cumberland Bird Club, which I enjoyed a lot.  Someone there said that the best place to see birds in Sydney was the Eastlakes golf Course and the lakes there.  (I think there is also an Eastlake Golf course which is confusing). 

Has anyone else heard this?

HelloBirdy
HelloBirdy's picture

Eastlakes Golf Course: See http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/hotspot/L928007 with 177 species

A quick Scan on the ebird map of the area also brings up the following:

Ranking higher is Sydney Olympic Park: http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/hotspot/L2555587 with 183 species

followed by Bicentennial Park http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/hotspot/L961684 with 173 species

and Centennial Park http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/hotspot/L945869 with 157 species.

Slightly further afield, you've got Royal NP, Warriewood Wetlands, and Mt Annan Botanical Gardens. 

Note I haven't been to any of these locations (except centennial park)

Much further afield, you may want to try Jerrabomberra Wetlands in Canberra, which I can personally recommend having seen over 100 species there of over 200 recorded.

Anyway, have a look on the ebird hotspot map as there would be many more good locations near you- these that I've named above are just the most exceptional of the sites but many good birds can be located in many of the other locations too

http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/hotspots?env.minX=148.761582&env.minY=-35.92208&env.maxX=150.772781&env.maxY=-35.111946&yr=all&m=

Ryu
Canberra
Aiming for DSLR-quality shots with a bridge camera

oconnore51
oconnore51's picture

Thank you Ryu, for the links and the info.  I have been to a number of locations and have my favourites, there are a lot of places i have yet to discover. I just hadn't heard of the golf course one, and it is good to know.   Not yet made it to Canberra though!

elizabeth

WhistlingDuck

I see Eastlakes golf course pop up regularly for sightings on birdline NSW - http://www.eremaea.com/BirdlineRecentSightings.aspx?Birdline=2

I have not been there and am not sure what the etiquette is to avoid getting told off by irate golfers!

HelloBirdy
HelloBirdy's picture

I think most golf courses are restiricted to golfers or members due to insurance issues or whatever in case you get knocked on the head by a golfball so be sure to enquire beforehand

Ryu
Canberra
Aiming for DSLR-quality shots with a bridge camera

sue818
sue818's picture

I agree with Whistling Duck about the Eastlakes area: it sounds very good but the thought of those golf balls and ducking through some hole in a fence has put me off.

I recall you mentioning not having a car. Sydney Olympic and Bicentenial Park are much easier to reach by public transport and a variety of birds can be sighted plus there is access to coffee and toilets. Warriewood Wetlands and the adjoining Irrawong Reserve are favourites of mine with numerous birds to be seen but it may be more difficult for you to visit by public transport. Not too far from there is Long Reef which is also great for shorebirds and a number of raptors. Not sure if the Nankeen Kestrel is still resident but it used to pose for pictures on the fence by the path down to the reef.

Hope that is of some help

Sue

oconnore51
oconnore51's picture

Thank you, yes, I was recently at Sydney Olympic Park, which was new for me as i usually love to go to all the beautiful bushland areas of Sydney.  I am planning a trip to Warriewood soon too, and the club that i went with last time is planning a trip there too.

From what i have read, it seems okay to just walk or drive into the gold course, but yes I would hate to be worried about a golf ball hitting me in the head, it might take the shine off the day a bit.

elizabeth

Woko
Woko's picture

If you can afford it perhaps the shot would be to join the golf club & take your binoculars/camera in your golf bag. Once your golfing skills have improved you should have no trouble with the birdies, eagles & albatrosses.

WhistlingDuck

You hit the hole in one there Woko !

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