Northern Rivers NSW
The north-east corner of New South Wales is defined by three large rivers, the Clarence, Richmond, and Tweed. They rise from volcanic mountain peaks, flow through fertile flood plains to coastal lagoons and swamps, and provide a wide variety of bird habitats.
Link to “Birds of Byron Shire” for typical sites in the area.
Photo: The Beach Stone-curlew is more common on beaches and mudflats of the far north but a few individuals are seen in the Northern Rivers area; classified as Critically Endangered in NSW. Favourite food: Crabs!
The White-cheeked Honeyeater can be told from the similar looking New Holland Honeyeater by its fan-like white cheeks and lack of a white ring around the eye. White-cheeked Honeyeaters prefer the denser coastal bush, sallying for insects from a prominent perch.
Welcome Swallows are numerous in Northern Rivers coastal lagoons, taking insects on the wing. They are seen throughout the region in a wide range of habitats including forests and grassland.
An inhabitant of waterside reed beds, this Golden Cisticola shines in the last rays of the sun at Tallow Creek Lagoon. An insect eating bird.
A male Red-backed Fairy-wren in its distinctive plumage. This contrasts with the brown/buff colour of the female, which is very similar to the attire of the other female Fairy-wren species. Found in tall grass across savanahs, woodlands, and adjoining wetlands.
The Brown Honeyeater is common in many habitats but avoids the taller eucalypt forests. Its long bill is well adapted for its diet of nectar.
The reed beds are home to a variety of finches: Red-browed Finches, Double-barred Finches and this Chestnut-breasted Mannikin. Like other finches the Chestnut-breasted Mannikin’s stout bill is well adapted for its diet of seeds, especially the grass seeds.
A juvenile male Mistletoebird yet to gain the spectacular red and black livery of the adult male. Mistletoebirds feed on fruit and nectar and play an important role in dispersal of mistletoe seeds.
White-breasted Woodswallows often locate to wooded habitats near water. They forage on the wing for insects but also take nectar. They are usually seen in groups up to 20 birds; sometimes up to 200.
The mournful call of the Little Grassbird is common across the wetlands of the Northern Rivers. Usually heard and not seen.
The Brown Thornbill, a stalwart of denser bush and thickets. Here gleaning for insects in the middle branches of a medium sized tree.
Found alongside Welcome Swallows and Fairy Martins is the Tree Martin. The prefer to nest in larger trees and also crevices of bridges and man made constructions.
A Little Pied Cormorant takes a break to dry out in the sun. Little Pied Cormorants are found in coastal and inland waterways, feeding on fish, and invertebrates, or reputedly their favourite food: Yabbies! (Yabbies are a small fresh water crayfish)
A Darter drys its wings. Darters can stay under water for an extended time allowing them to stalk and feed on fish. Darters prefer calmer waters generally avoiding coastal lagoons and river mouths.
The Wandering Tattler is so named because it makes land fall in far flung places across the Pacific Ocean during its annual migration from Alaska to South America. It makes occasional visits to the Northern Rivers, here seen on the rocks at Broken Head.
The Figbird feeds on fruit and insects, preferring the tree’s higher reaches. They are found wherever there are fruiting trees, this female feeding on the fruit of the Bangalow Palm.
A Spotless Crake shuttles past at the Byron Bay Wetlands.
The Noisy Pitta, photographed in the depths of a Byron Bay rainforest.
Another rainforest bird, the Pale-yellow Robin, at Nightcaps National Park.
Large numbers of Scarlet Honeyeaters feed on coastal blossom.
A Peregrine Falcon takes pause long after dusk on a Byron Bay beach.
The nest this Leaden Flycatcher was building with its mate had just been washed away by torrential rain at Tallow Creek Lagoon.
The Silvereye, another common bird in the Northern Rivers region.
A juvenile Forest Kingfisher, distinguished by its “buff headlights” which will become white when an adult.
An Eastern Spinebill feeds in a Byron Bay hinterland garden.
A Logrunner calls in the depths of the sub-tropical rainforest.
The Bar-shoiuldered Dove is often heard in Byron bay making its characteristic “cuckoo - oo cuckoo - oo” call.