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 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 still increasing in the Byron Shire as its favourite food, the introduced Camphor Laurel continues to thrive here.

One of many White-browed Scrubwrens in the wetlands.

The Yellow Thornbill, a less common visitor here.

Two Black-shouldered Kites were patrolling the large pond.

Grey Fantails were everywhere, some thirty plus counted.

A young Superb Fairy-wren

A Forest Kingfisher watching for insects in a section burnt out by the recent fire.

Still lots of Golden-headed Cisticolas in the reed beds.

A rainbow blesses the Byron Wetland!

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 regular Byron Bird Buddies surveys are often in the 70 - 90 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, easily 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.

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

Fan-tailed Cuckoo, the third cuckoo seen on the 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.