CUMBERLAND BIRD OBSERVERS CLUB
Birdwatching in Sydney since 1979
Affiliated with BirdLife Australia
8.30am | Sunday 9 January 2022 (open for booking)
LAUGHTONDALE GULLY and WISEMANS FERRY
Meeting place
Meet at the corner of Laughtondale Gully Rd and Old Northern Rd, Maroota.
Leader
Cathy Goswell | 0418 865 421
Habitat
Sandstone woodland, parkland and rainforest
Grade
Grade 2. Approx 3 kms walking on tracks with uneven surfaces and gentle uphill sections and some steps.
8.30am | Saturday 22 January 2022 - morning only (full - waiting list open)
DAVIDSON PARK, ROSEVILLE
Meeting place
Meet at Davidson Park picnic area at Roseville. Entry to Davidson Park is from the south-bound lane of Warringah Rd only. If coming north across Roseville Bridge, it is best to go right to the top of the hill, turn left into Arthur St, turn around somewhere safe, and then turn right at the Arthur/Woodland St lights back onto Warringah Rd to head back down the hill. Turn left just before Roseville Bridge, following the sign to the boat ramp. At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn right and follow the road around as far as it goes, stopping at the toilet on the way if necessary. National Park entry fee of $8 applies unless you have a NP pass.
Leader
Heather Pearce | 0412 051 951
Habitat
Bushland, river foreshore
Grade
Grade 2. Approx 3kms on wide bush track.
8.30am | Sunday 30 January 2022 (nearly full)
CASTLEREAGH and WINDSOR DOWNS NRs
Meeting place
Meet opposite the Northern Auto Wreckers, 557 The Northern Rd, Londonderry. The closest toilets are at McDonalds at 1-21 Cranebrook Rd.
Leader
Daniel McDonald | 0404 374 362
Habitat
Woodland
Grade
Grade 2. Approx 2kms at each site on bush tracks and trails.
8.30am | Wednesday 2 February 2022 (nearly full)
WORLD WETLANDS DAY: SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK WATERBIRD REFUGE, NARAWANG WETLANDS AND MASON PARK
Meeting place
Meet at the south east end of the Sydney Olympic Park Archery Centre carpark on Bennelong Parkway.
Leader
Cathy Goswell | 0418 865 421
Habitat
Wetlands, parkland, and woodland
Grade
SOP: Grade 2. Depending on the sites, up to 3km of relatively flat walking.
Mason Park: Grade 1. Approx 1km on flat pathway.
9am | Sunday 13 February 2022 (fully booked - bookings closed)
CENTRAL COAST WETLANDS (PIONEER DAIRY) and CHITTAWAY BAY
Meeting place
Pioneer Dairy parking area, 1897 South Tacoma Rd. Veer left off the Pacific Hwy near the Hyundai dealer before the Wyong River bridge, then follow this around to South Tacoma Rd. After passing under the railway line, the turnoff is on the right.
Leader
Pat Thorn | 0414 248 941
Habitat
Wetlands
Grade
Grade 1 or 2 easy walks, depending on tracks chosen.
8.30am | Sunday 27 February 2022 (cancelled due to flooding)
MITCHELL PARK AND CATTAI NP
Meeting place
Meet at the second picnic table in Mitchell Park. National Park entry fee of $8 applies unless you have a NP pass.
Leader
Adrian Dick | 0451 825 403
Habitat
Bushland, woodland
Grade
Grade 2. Approx 3.2km on bush tracks and fire trails with occasional gentle slopes.
8.30am | Sunday 27 March 2022 (open for booking)
FLOYD BAY and MIRRAMBEENA
Meeting place
Meet at the end of Hollywood Drive, Lansvale.
Leader
Peter Abraham | 0451 292 512
Habitat
Parkland, wetlands
Grade
Grade 2. Approx 6km on mainly flat easy concrete paths.
Facilities
Plenty of parking at Floyd Bay but no toilets or picnic tables. Mirrambeena has plenty of parking, toilets and picnic tables.
8.30am | Saturday 2 April 2022 (open for booking - nearly full)
SHAWS RIDGE TRAIL, WINMALEE and GLENBROOK LAGOON
Meeting place
Meet at the northern end of White Cross Road, Winmalee. Carry morning tea.
Leader
Pat Thorn | 0414 248 941
Habitat
Forest
Grade
Shaws Ridge Track: Grade 2. Approx 4kms on a fairly flat bush track.
Glenbrook Lagoon: Grade 2. Approx 1-2kms on a fairly flat track.
Facilities
There is parking in the cul-de-sac at the end of White Cross Rd. No toilets or picnic tables at either site. There are toilets at the Winmalee Village Centre, White Cross Road, which is en route to the meeting place.
8.30am | Wednesday 6 April 2022 (open for booking)
FIELD OF MARS, SUGARLOAF POINT and BORONIA PARK
Meeting place
Meet at Field of Mars Reserve, Pittwater Rd, East Ryde
Leader
Cathy Goswell | 0418 865 421
Habitat
Forest, mangrove
Grade
Field of Mars: Grade 1. Approx 0.6km Boardwalk loop.
Sugar Loaf Point: Grade 3. Approx 3 km on bush tracks with short steep hill sections, some rough surfaces and a few steps.
Facilities
Plenty of parking with toilets nearby and some picnic tables.
8.30am | Saturday 23 April 2022 (fully booked)
"WIVENHOE" PRIVATE PROPERTY AT COBBITTY
Meeting place
Meet in the large carpark at the far end of Mater Dei Road off Macquarie Grove Road, Cobbitty.
Leader
Peter Ridgeway | 0401 481 037
Habitat
Woodland, grassland and riverflats.
Grade
Grade 2. Approx 3km on fire trail with occasional small stones, and some gentle hills. No steps.
Facilities
Plenty of parking with toilets nearby. No picnic tables.
8.30am | Wednesday 6 July 2022 (cancelled due to the wet weather)
MULGOA NR and NEPEAN WEIR
Meeting place
Meet at corner of Dillwynia Drive and Cormorant Cres, Glenmore Park.
Leader
Carol and Peter Abbott
Habitat
Bushland and river
Grade
Grade 2. Mostly level walking on wide paths. Some small inclines at Mulgoa NR. Approx. 1.5-2km walk at Mulgoa, approx. 600m walk at Nepean Weir.
Facilities
Limited street parking at Mulgoa NR. No toilets or picnic tables. Plenty of parking at north end of Nepean Weir. No toilets or picnic tables at that end. We generally stop en-route for toilets.
8.30am | Saturday 20 August 2022 (open for booking)
WIANAMATTA REGIONAL PARK
Meeting place
Meet at the car park just inside the gates off Mainwaring St, Ropes Crossing.
Leader
Edwin Vella | 0402 067 619
Habitat
Ironbark Woodland
Grade
Grade 2. Approx 2 kms on flat bush tracks.
Facilities
Plenty of parking just inside the gate. There are toilets and picnic tables in two sections of the park.
Friday 26 to Sunday 28 August 2022 (open for booking via email to Jeff)
WEEKEND AWAY - COWRA AREA
Meeting place
Jeff will confirm closer to the date
Leader
Jeff Byron
Habitat
Open woodland
Grade
Mainly Grade 2
Facilities
We will ensure that we stop at places with suitable parking and toilet facilities.
Location link
8.30am | Wednesday 7 September 2022 (open for booking)
CHILTERN TRAIL and WARRIEWOOD WETLANDS
Meeting place
Meet at start of Chiltern Trail near the end of Chiltern Rd, Ingleside.
Leader
Heather Pearce | 0412 051 951
Habitat
Bushland and Wetlands
Grade
Chiltern Trail: Grade 3, approx 2kms return on a fire trail.
Warriewood:
Grade 2. Max 4km. Mostly flat on gravel paths and boardwalks. Some steps on Irrawong Reserve section.
Facilities
Parking on the side of the road near Chiltern Trail. No toilets or picnic tables.
Warriewood Wetlands has parking, which can sometimes be busy. Toilets at nearby Warriewood Square. No picnic tables.
9am | Saturday 22 October 2022 (open for booking)
SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK (replacing Megalong Valley outing for safety reasons)
Meeting place
Meet by the Cafe at the Waterview Convention Centre overlooking Lake Belvedere.
Leader
Pat Thorn | 0414 248 941
Habitat
Wetlands, parkland, and woodland
Grade
Grade 2. Up to approx 4kms walking on mainly flat, hardened surfaces.
Facilities
Plenty of parking at Bicentennial Park near the café, though it can get busy on the weekends. Be aware that is a one-way road. Toilets at the Waterview Café. Not many picnic tables.
8.30am | Sunday 30 October 2022 (open for booking)
LANDING LIGHTS, RIVERINE PARK
Meeting place
Car park off West Botany Street, Arncliffe
Leader
Robyn Pedersen | 0438 989 422
Habitat
Wetland, mangroves, reed beds, parkland
Grade
Grade 2. Approx 3kms on mainly flat paths.
Facilities
Plenty of parking. Toilets at the nearby golf driving range. No picnic tables.
8.30am | Wednesday 2 November 2022 (open for booking)
BLUE GUM CREEK RESERVE, ANNANGROVE
Meeting place
End of O'Keefe Road, Annangrove
Leader
Paul Johnstone | 0434 350 409
Habitat
Forest
Grade
Grade 2. Approx 2km on flat bush trail.
Facilities
Plenty of parking. No toilets or picnic tables at the reserve, but morning tea wil be 15 mins away at Maralya Park where there are toilets and picnic tables.
9am | Saturday 19 November 2022 (open for booking)
CAPERTEE VALLEY
N.B. There will also be an outing to Dunn's Swamp on the Sunday as some members are making a weekend of it.
Meeting place
Meet at the corner of Glen Alice and Glen Davis Rds, Capertee Valley
Leader
Cathy Goswell | 0418 865 421
Habitat
Open woodland and pastureland
Grade
Grade 2. Short walks on hardened uneven surfaces and gentle uphill sections.
Facilities
Plenty of parking in the triangle in the middle of the Glen Davis/Glen Alice intersection. Toilets and picnic tables at Glen Davis campground or Glen Alice Community Hall.
8.30am | Sunday 27 November 2022 (open for booking)
BOAT HARBOUR AND BOTANY BAY, KURNELL (Migratory waders)
Meeting place
Car park at Potter Point. Approaching Kurnell, turn right off Captain Cook Drive into Sir Joseph Banks Drive (Desalination Plant). Enter Botany Bay National Park at the end of Sir Joseph Banks Drive. Follow the road to the car park at the very end.
** Bring a scope if you have one that you can carry**
Leader
Greg McLachlan | 0405 578 967
Habitat
Seashore, sand dunes
Grade
Grade 3. Approx 3kms including some uneven and possibly slippery rocky surfaces. It includes walking on sand dunes, and a climb to the beach.
Facilities
Plenty of parking. No toilets or picnic tables. Nearest toilets are a 10 minute drive away at Kamay NP near the visitors centre.
8.30am | Wednesday 7 December 2022 (open for booking)
FRED CATERSON RESERVE, CASTLE HILL (morning only)
Meeting place
Enter Fred Caterson Reserve via Gilbert Rd, Castle Hill. Continue along Caterson Drive until you reach a car park at Fields 2 and 3. Do not turn left at any time.
Leader
Gabrielle Rees | 0414 947 138
Habitat
Bushland
Grade
Grade 3. Approx 3kms on bush paths, tracks and road with some uneven ground and gentle hills.
Facilities
Plenty of parking with toilets nearby. No picnic tables but some seating near the oval.