It is the first week of spring at the Byron Bay Wetlands and already seven Latham’s Snipes have arrived from their long journey to north Asia. Activity is picking up and a few water birds have arrived, but the ponds are still suffering from weed coverage. Even I Cell, which was cleared of weed a few months ago, is now nearly totally covered again. The bush birds are as active as ever, with nest building in evidence.
Shining Bronze-Cuckoo at the Byron Bay Wetlands.
It has been a good year for Mistletoe with Lewin’s Honeyeaters, Mistletoebirds and Silvereyes (above) out in force.
Although the White-headed Pigeon is a very common bird in Byron Shire, making the most of the Camphor Laurel trees that have taken over where the original semi-tropical rainforest once grew, they are not common visitors to the melaleucas of the wetland.
The Yellow Thornbill is an occasional visitor to the wetland, more common in the cooler months of of the year.
Another raptor visits, the Whistling Kite.