Sydney, Blue Mountains 30May-5Jun12

From KH

Went to Sydney and Blue Mountains for holiday and did some birding. Got a total of 69 species and 9 lifers: Chestnut Teal, Superb Lyrebird, Satin Bowerbird, Brown Treecreeper, Variegated Fairy-wren, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Striated Thornbill, Eastern Whipbird and Golden Whistler.

The Black Swan (left) and Australian Woodduck (right) are both common endemics.

The Chestnut Teal is another endemic duck - male left, female right.

The Pacific Black Duck, a common distinctive duck, is shown here behind a Dusky Moorhen.

The Australasian Grebe (left) found in freshwater bodies, while the Australasian Gannet (right) is pelagic.

The Little Black Cormorant (left) and Pied Cormorant (right) are common in freshwater bodies. We also saw Little Pied Cormorants.

The last cormorant we got was Great Cormorant, shown hereon the left of an Australian Pelican.

White-faced Heron (left) and Australian White Ibis (right) are common.

Brown Falcon (left) and Nankeen Kestrel (right) are common raptors.

Australasian Swamphen (top left), Dusky Moorhen (top right with chick) and Eurasian Coot (bottom) are common members of the rail family.

There are two species of oystercatchers - the endemic Sooty Oystercatcher (left) and the native Pied Oystercatcher (right).

Masked Lapwing (left) and Silver Gull (right) are common Australian birds.

The Crested Pigeon (top left) is endemic, while the Feral Pigeon (top right) and Spotted Dove (bottom) are introduced.

This is a Laughing Kookaburra despite the blue on the wing.

Birds from the parrot family: Galah (top left), Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (top right), Crimson Rosella (bottom left), Rainbow Lorikeet (bottom right).

The Superb Lyrebird is a great mimic of other bird calls.

One of my favourite birds, Satin Bowerbird (left male, right female).

Two endemics: Brown Treecreeper (left) and Superb Fairywren (right, female).

Little Wattlebird (left) and Red Wattlerbird (right).

New Holland Honeyeater (top left), Noisy Miner (top right) and the endemic Yellow-throated Scrubwren (bottom)

Eastern Whipbird - left male, right female

The endemic Grey Butcherbird (left) and Pied Butcherbird (right) are very similar, but differ by the extend and depth of the black coloration

Australian Magpie (left), a very common Australian bird; and the endemic Pied Currawong (right), which is not so common.

Two greyish birds: White-bellied Cuckooshrike (left) and Grey Shrikethrush (right).

Two yellowish birds: Golden Whistler (left) and Eastern Yellow Robin (right).

Two very common black-and-white Australian birds: Willie Wagtail (left) and Magpie Lark (right).

The Australian Raven is an endemic crow.

 

The Bassian Thrush (left) is an endemic thrush, while the Common Blackbird (right) is introduced.

Other introduced birds: Common Myna (left) and House Sparrow (right).

Whale Spout!

Hopping marsupials: Eastern Grey Kangaroo (left) and Red-necked Wallaby (right).

Other mammals: Brown Antechinus (left) and Grey-headed Flying Fox (right)

Some Reptiles: Elegant Snake-eyed Skink (left) and Eastern Water Dragon (right).

The Australian Longfin Eel can be found along the whole Eastern coast of Australia.