The Birds of Mystery Bay, south coast NSW
Mystery Bay, Eurobodalla National Park, NSW
Mystery Bay is so named because many years ago some men exploring the area in a boat disappeared. Their whereabouts remains a mystery.
On our way south from Bateman’s Bay in NSW in January we stopped briefly at Narooma to buy some bread and some goodies for morning tea. The picnic grounds at Mystery Bay seemed as good as any for a rest and a cuppa. It also looked promising from a birding point of view.
Click on the photos to enlarge the images.
Mystery Bay, Eurobodalla National Park, NSW
The Eurobodalla National Park started on the edge of the picnic area and looked like it would have some interesting species on the long walking trail leading south. Unfortunately I had no time to investigate and had to be content to stay in the picnic area.
Mystery Bay, Eurobodalla National Park, NSW
It was interesting to see both the Red Wattlebird and the Little Wattlebird in the trees near the picnic area. A solitary Laughing Kookaburra kept us interested as we had our cuppa. My wife and daughter noticed that this bird seemed to have some sort of injury to one of its legs. It didn’t come close enough for a closer inspection. A family of Superb Blue-wrens could be heard in the nearby undergrowth and soon braved the open lawn area near where we sat.
Mystery Bay, Eurobodalla National Park, NSW
Four Great Cormorants were sitting on the rocks just out to sea (photo above) while Silver Gulls and Crested Terns were seen on a nearby beach. Back in the picnic area I saw a few Welcome Swallows, a single Grey Fantail and several White-backed Magpies.
We had a very pleasant morning tea but the bird list was not all that impressive.
Mystery Bay, Eurobodalla National Park, NSW
We LOVE Mystery bay. We have had 5 summer vacations at Mystery bay Cottages. One day we were on 1080 beach and I was watching a sea eagle, whistling kite and peregrine falcon all at one time!
The list looks impressive to me. Tell me more about Welcome Swallows; is that their actual name?
Thanks for visiting Wendy. I can imagine how lovely the area would be to spend some time in. We had a strict time schedule and could only visit briefly. One day soon I hope we can spend 4 or 5 weeks in our caravan in that part of NSW. So much to see and do.
Hi there Bev,
The Welcome Swallow is its common name and is the most commonly seen swallow in most of southern and eastern Australia. It is Hirundo neoxena and it makes a bowl shaped mud nest. It frequently nests in or on buildings such as sheds or house verandas.
You can see a photo and read more about them here:
http://www.trevorsbirding.com/welcome-swallows-2/
Greetings from Mystery Bay. Amazing to find this site, thanks.
I live on Lamont Young Drive and along with another friend (who lives in Caseys Cr)enjoy keeping track of our feathered friends several times a week. If you look at the Eurobodalla Natural History site on http://www.enhs.org.au you can find out about all the birds in our neck of the woods. Over the last few weeks we have noted around 70 different species the most exciting for us being Rose Robin, several pairs of Scarlet Honeyeater and a pair of Peregrine Falcon. Happy bird watching. Ann. 🙂
Hi there Ann – sorry about the delay in replying.
The whole area where you live looks amazing and we would love to visit again in the future for an extended period of days or weeks – rather than the hours we had in this visit.
Another visit may be a little way off. We are about to leave to visit our daughter who is teaching in Ethiopia, and then holiday in Morocco and Spain. When we return we will be looking after my elderly mother in law (dementia) so that will restrict our travel for some time.
Meanwhile – I can dream.