Tumbi Creek

Striped Honeyeater

Tumbi Creek discharges into the southern end of Tuggerah Lake. The last few hundred metres of the creek pass through an area of reserve that provides some unique lakeside habitat. Given the vegetation and proximity to a reasonable body of water, there were a relatively large number of insect feeding birds present. I counted at least 6 Dollarbirds, 2 Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes and an Olive-backed Oriole during my last visit. There are a number of informal tracks that give access to the creek front and other areas of the reserve. A walk along the bank of the creek revealed an Azure Kingfisher, roosting Little Pied and Little Black Cormorants and heaps of Chestnut Teals. Small birds seen included; Yellow Thornbills, Superb Fairy-wrens, Striped Honeyeaters and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters. I must admit my main reason for visiting this place is the possibility of capturing a reasonable image of a

Dollarbird

Dollarbird given their large numbers within a small area.
One downside to photographing the birds is that they often appear to congregate around the powerlines running through the reserve. The Dollarbirds do take some interest in the one and only recording that I have, however their interest does not extend to getting them to land on a particular perch. Given that the reserve in surrounded by residential areas it was not surprising to find young children swimming in the creek. Hopefully when the school holidays end the kids will be less frequent visitors.