CUMBERLAND BIRD OBSERVERS CLUB
Birdwatching in Sydney since 1979
Affiliated with BirdLife Australia
OUR OUTINGS
Outings are a great way to enjoy birdwatching, to learn about the birds and to meet new friends. We have a range of outings including:
-
Weekend outings on either Saturday or Sunday
-
Mid-week outings on Wednesday
-
Outings for young birdwatchers - click Nestlings for details
-
Weekends away to prime birding locations
-
Opportunities to participate in bird surveys and other events
We have at least 3 outings per month. The outings are informal and cater for birdwatchers of all experience levels. Helpful, friendly advice is always available on all aspects of birding.
Visitors are welcome to attend two outings prior to joining CBOC. If an outing is nearly full, priority will be given to members.
For more information, click the links below, or email the Activities Officer on outings@cboc.org.au.
BOOKINGS REQUIRED for all outings
Outings will be limited to 25 people so that the group is not too large for effective birding, but may sometimes have a lower limit based on the outing location.
An email will be sent to members when outings are open for booking and a confirmation will be sent confirming your place on the outing.
Sunday 26 April 2026 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
SECOND PONDS CREEK RESERVE, ROUSE HILL
Meeting place
Meet at Withers Rd at Second Ponds Creek, adjacent to the Rouse Hill Rural Fire Brigade
Leader
Damian Turner | 0415 450 476
Habitat
Wetland and forest
Grade
Grade 3. Approx. 6 km of walking on a gentle slope.
Facilities
Plenty of roadside parking. Closest toilets are at the nearby Bunnings or Mitre 10. No picnic tables.
Wednesday 6 May 2026 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
WATTLE FOREST & LADY CARRINGTON DRIVE, ROYAL NP
Meeting place
Meet at Wattle Forest picnic area at Audley. Enter park at Audley end. After crossing Audley Weir, turn right onto Lady Carrington Drive. Turn right to cross the white wooden bridge, then turn left and continue to the end of this road to Wattle Forest.
National Park entry fee of $12 applies unless you have a NP pass.
Leader
Greg McLachlan | 0405 578 967
Habitat
Rainforest and woodland
Grade
Wattle Forest: Grade 3. Approx. 2 km walk with some uneven ground, including negotiating some fallen trees and roots.
Lady Carrington Drive: Grade 2. Approx. 5 km walk on a gravel track with some gentle inclines.
Facilities
Plenty of parking. There is a set of toilets as you go across the bridge and also at Wattle Forest. Plenty of under-shelter picnic tables.
Lady Carrington Drive has plenty of parking and toilets are a short walk away and plenty of under-shelter picnic tables.
Friday 15 May 2026 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
MILL CREEK PICNIC AREA and DEVINES HILL WALK, DHARUG NP
Meeting place
Meet at Mill Creek Picnic Area on Mill Creek Rd off Wisemans Ferry Rd, Gunderman. Turn left before the car camping area and go past the turn-off to group camping, to the picnic area. Allow time for the ferry crossing if coming via Wisemans Ferry.
Leader
Gabrielle Rees | 0414 947 138
Habitat
Bushland, wetland, sandstone woodland, parkland and rainforest
Grade
Mill Creek Picnic Area: Grade 2. Approx. 2 km on a dirt rocky trail and a flat dirt road.
One Tree Reach Wetlands: Grade 2. Easy flat track.
Laughtondale Gully: Grade 2. Stop at the top of the hill; short walk only.
Facilities
Toilets and plenty of parking at Mill Creek Picnic area. Some picnic tables, but best to bring a chair.
Saturday 23 May 2026 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
SCHEYVILLE NATIONAL PARK
Meeting place
Meet at Scheyville National Park Headquarters carpark. Vehicle access is from Scheyville Rd (not from Old Pitt Town Rd, despite what the GPS tries to tell you).
Leader
Heather Cavanagh and David Cree | 0419 432 720
Habitat
Bushland, woodland
Grade
Grade 2. Morning walk of approx. 2.7 km loop on wide, mown tracks that are mostly flat with some gentle hills. Decide what else to do on the day.
Facilities
Plenty of parking. Toilets nearby at the back of the headquarters (follow the signs).
Only a few picnic tables with not much shade.
Sunday 31 May 2026 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
NORTH HEAD - SYDNEY HARBOUR NATIONAL PARK AND NORTH HEAD SANCTUARY
Meeting place
Meet at Gunner Road Carpark, Manly..
Leader
Bill and Nicci Raffle | 0438 941 611
Habitat
Coastal and bushland
Grade
North Head Sanctuary: Grade 3. Approx. 4 km on roads, dirt tracks, and boardwalks with steps, uneven surfaces and some steep climbs.
Sydney Harbour National Park: Grade 2. Approx. 2 km on flat paths..
Facilities
North Head Sanctuary: Plenty of free parking. Toilets in the vicinity. Will need to bring chairs.
Sydney Harbour National Park: Plenty of free parking. Toilets and cafe available.
Wednesday 3 June 2026 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
CHILTERN TRAIL, INGLESIDE and WARRIEWOOD WETLANDS
Meeting place
Meet at start of Chiltern Trail near the end of Chiltern Rd, Ingleside.
Leader
Lindsay Sherman | 0418 624 905
Habitat
Bushland and wetlands
Grade
Chiltern Trail: Grade 3. Approx. 2 km return on a fire trail.
Warriewood: Grade 2. Max 4 km. 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.
Sunday 14 June 2026 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
RICHMOND LOWLANDS AND SURROUNDS
Meeting place
Meet at Pughs Lagoon, Smith Park, corner of Old Kurrajong Road and Francis Street, Richmond
Leader
Adrian Dick | 0451 825 403
Habitat
Pastureland
Grade
Grade 1. Approx. 3 km, mainly flat on paths or roadsides.
Facilities
Plenty of parking at Pugh's lagoon with toilets and picnic tables nearby. Depending on route taken after leaving the lagoon, toilets and facilities might not be nearby.
Saturday 20 June 2026 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
ROYAL NP – WATTAMOLLA CLIFFS and BONNIE VALE (near Bundeena)
Meeting place
Meet at the P2 car park at Wattamolla. The turnoff to Wattamolla is on the left, 10kms from Audley when coming from the north. The car park is about 5km further on, accessed from a right hand turn as you go down the hill, before you get to the bottom carpark. Entry fee of $12 applies unless you have a NP pass. Note that there is no mobile reception at Wattamolla.
Second location is at Bonnie Vale picnic area, off Sea Breeze Lane, Bundeena.
Leader
Prasad Ganesan | 0450 670 199
Habitat
Heath, forest
Grade
Wattamolla Cliffs: Grade 2. Mainly flat with a few steps and a gentle hill. Approx. 2 kms.
Bonnie Vale: Grade 2. Level walking on easy bush tracks. Approx. 3 km.
Sunday 28 June 2026 | 6.45am start (waiting list open)
PELAGIC BOAT TRIP with SYDNEY PELAGICS - $200 cash paid on board
Max: 13.
Meeting place
The boat picks up at 6.45am from Mosman Bay Wharf, Avenue Rd Mosman. The wharf is located at the end of Avenue Road in Mosman. There is unrestricted public parking adjacent to the wharf.
It then picks up from approx. 7am at Double Bay Wharf in Bay St, Double Bay. The wharf is situated in Steyne Park, Double Bay. Access is via New South Head Rd Double Bay. The public wharf is at the end of Bay Street.
All day free parking is available in designated areas near the wharf in Bay Street and Ocean Avenue.
If the boat is cancelled, Greg will lead an outing somewhere else.
Leader
Greg McLachlan | 0405 578 967
Habitat
Seabirds
Grade
Grade 1. Minimal walking but you need to be able-bodied. If you're prone to sea-sickness, this may not be the outing for you. Otherwise, talk to your GP and take the tablets as prescribed. Greg does not recommend Ginger tablets or Travacalm.
Facilities
Toilet on the boat.
Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September 2026 (waiting list open)
Friday 18 to Sunday 20 September 2026 (waiting list open)
WEEKENDS AWAY - FORBES AREA
Meeting place
These two Members' weekends will be based in Forbes, travelling to nearby birding areas. They are now open for booking. Once the booking has been confirmed, more details will be sent to you. Do not book any accommodation until then as there will be a maximum of 30 people on this weekend.
Leader
Heather Pearce | 0412 051 951
Habitat
Various
Grade
Various
Facilities
TBC
Wednesday 1 July 2026
Australian Botanic Garden, Mt Annan
Leader: Heather Cavanagh and David Cree
Sunday 19 July 2026
Mitchell Park, Cattai National Park
Leader: Corinne Tomkinson
Saturday 25 July 2026
Floyd Bay and Mirrambeena Regional Park
Leader: Peter Abraham
Sunday 2 August 2026
Beginners and New Members, Crosslands Reserve, Hornsby Heights. Max 15.
Leader: Cathy Goswell
Wednesday 5 August 2026
West Head, Ku-ring-gai Chase NP
Leader: Coralie Turner-Morris
Friday 14 August 2026
Annual Raptor Count, Scheyville area
Leader: Greg McLachlan
Saturday 22 August 2026
Rookwood Cemetery and Sydney Olympic Park
Leader: Adrian Dick
Sunday 30 August 2026
Bushells Lagoon and Swallows Reach, Ebenezer
Leader: Damian Turner
Wednesday 2 September 2026
Longneck Lagoon
Leader: Nathan Bligh
11-13 September 2026
18-20 September 2026
Spring 2026 weekends away to Forbes from Friday to Sunday inclusive (mentioned above)
Leader: Heather Pearce
Sunday 27 September 2026
Emu Green and Penrith Weir
Leader: Robyn Pedersen
Sunday 4 October 2026
Nurragingy Reserve, Western Sydney Parklands
Leader: Daniel McDonald
Wednesday 7 October 2026
Wattle Forest and Lady Carrington Drive, Royal NP
Leader: Robyn Pedersen
Saturday 10 October 2026
BBQ - Location TBC
Leader: TBC
Sunday 18 October 2026
Blue Gum Creek Reserve, Annangrove and Scheyville NP
Leader: Paul Johnstone
Saturday 24 October 2026
Stockton Sandspit (near Newcastle)
Leader: Nathan Bligh
Sunday 1 November 2026
Beginners and New Members, Sydney Olympic Park
Leader: Cathy Goswell
Wednesday 4 November 2026
Wianamatta Regional Park (Ropes Crossing section)
Leader: Mark Fuller
Saturday 14 November 2026
(optional birding Sunday morning)
Capertee Valley
Leader: Cathy Goswell
Saturday 21 November 2026
TBC
Leader: TBC
Sunday 29 November 2026
CLC properties "Wallaroo" and "Wombat", Mulgoa
Leader: Steve Henshaw
Wednesday 2 December 2026
Field of Mars, Sugar Loaf Point, Boronia Park
Leader: Steve Henshaw
Sunday 6 December 2026
TBC
Leader: TBC
Friday to Sunday 11-14 March 2027
Friday to Sunday 18-21 March 2027
Advance notice of 2027 Autumn Weekends away - possibly to Urunga
Leader: Heather Pearce