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:
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Weekend outings on either Saturday or Sunday
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Mid-week outings on Wednesday
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Outings for young birdwatchers - click Nestlings for details
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Weekends away to prime birding locations
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Opportunities to participate in bird surveys and other events
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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.
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Visitors are welcome to attend two outings prior to joining CBOC. If an outing is nearly full, priority will be given to members.
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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 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 P5 top 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.
Facilities
Wattamolla: Plenty of parking. Toilets next to the P2 car park (a short walk from P5). Limited picnic tables.
Bonnie Vale: Plenty of parking at Bonnie Vale and toilets are near the entrance to the carpark. Some picnic tables, but not always in the shade.
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.
Wednesday 1 July 2026 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
AUSTRALIAN BOTANIC GARDEN,
MT ANNAN
Meeting place
Meet at the Banksia Gardens. Just before the main P3 car park turn left alongside the dam and then turn right onto Caley Drive. Follow Caley Drive to Banksia Gardens. Park just past the second lot of toilets near the last shelter.
Leader
Heather Cavanagh and David Cree | 0419 432 720
Habitat
Grassland, lakes and forest
Grade
Grade 1. Approx. 3 km flat walking.
Facilities
Plenty of parking. Toilets near carpark. No picnic tables near the carpark.
Sunday 19 July 2026 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
MITCHELL PARK, 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
Corinne Tomkinson | 0488 001 802
Habitat
Bushland, woodland
Grade
Grade 2. Mostly flat with approx 4 km walk around the southern part of Mitchell Park.
Facilities
Plenty of parking at Mitchell Park with toilets nearby. Some picnic tables.
Saturday 25 July 2026 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
FLOYD BAY and MIRRAMBEENA REGIONAL PARK
Meeting place
Meet at the end of Hollywood Drive, Lansvale.
Leader
Peter Abraham | 0451 292 512
Habitat
Parkland, wetlands
Grade
Grade 2. Approx. 6 km 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.
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Saturday 2 August 2026 | 8.50am for a 9am start (open for booking)
BEGINNERS and NEW MEMBERS, CROSSLANDS RESERVE, HORNSBY HEIGHTS
Meeting place
Crosslands Picnic Area, 441 Somerville Road, Hornsby Heights. Please note that some GPSs try to take you to the western side of the creek so it is best to put Somerville Road into the GPS. It is a steep hill down to the reserve at the end of the road.
Leader
Cathy Goswell | 0418 865 421
Habitat
Parkland and bushland
Grade
Grade 1. Approx. 2 km. Mostly flat on paved paths.
Facilities
Plenty of parking with toilets a few minutes walk away. Some picnic tables.
Friday 14 August 2026 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
ANNUAL RAPTOR COUNT, SCHEYVILLE
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
Greg McLachlan | 0405 578 967
Habitat
Open
Grade
Grade 1. Birding from around cars with possible short walks.
Facilities
Plenty of parking with toilets nearby. Only a couple of picnic tables.
Sunday 16 August 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.
Saturday 22 August 2026 | 8.20am for 8.30am start (open for booking)
ROOKWOOD CEMETERY and SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK
Meeting place
Meet towards the end of William Dr, Rookwood Cemetery. Enter via East St, Lidcombe. Second start location at 9am near the Waterview Café at Lake Belvedere, Bicentennial Park, Homebush off Australia Ave.
Leader
Adrian Dick | 0451 825 403
Habitat
Woodland, parkland, wetlands
Grade
Rookwood Cemetery: Grade 1. Approx. 2 km of flat walking.
Sydney Olympic Park: Grade 1. Approx. 2 km walking mainly on flat paths.
Facilities
Rookwood: Plenty of parking beside road. No toilets in the area that we are going but there are toilets near St Michael's chapel.
Sydney Olympic Park: Plenty of parking. Toilets available. Some picnic tables depending on location.
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
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