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.
Friday 16 May 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
MILL CREEK PICNIC AREA, DHARUG NP then ONE TREE REACH WETLANDS and LAUGHTONDALE GULLY
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 24 May 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (nearly full)
EMU GREEN and PENRITH WEIR
Meeting place
Meet at Emu Green Reserve, corner of Palomino Road and Russell Street, Emu Plains. For Penrith Weir, meet at Weir Reserve, in the furthest car park, towards the north (far) end of Bruce Neale Dr (signposted to the Great River Walk and Rowing Club), Penrith
Leader
Robyn Pedersen | 0438 989 422
Habitat
A mix of parkland, riverside and bush reserves
Grade
Grade 2. Generally flat on gravel paths or bush tracks with up to 4km walking at Emu Green.
Sunday 1 June 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (nearly full)
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 4km on roads, dirt tracks, and boardwalks with steps, uneven surfaces and some steep climbs.
Sydney Harbour National Park: Grade 2. Approx 2km 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 4 June 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
BUSHELLS LAGOON AND PITT TOWN LAGOON
Meeting place
Meet at the junction of Blacktown Road and Brewers Lane, Freemans Reach
Leader
Adrian Dick | 0451 825 403
Habitat
Wetland and forest
Grade
Bushells Lagoon: Grade 2. Approx 2 kms on gravel track with short hill.
Pitt Town Lagoon: Grade 2. Easy but may have areas of long grass. Moderate climb back to cars.
Facilities
Plenty of street parking near Bushells Lagoon. No toilets or picnic tables.
Sunday 15 June 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
BEGINNERS AND NEW MEMBERS - SYDNEY OLYMPIC PARK - Wentworth Common and Waterbird Refuge
Meeting place
Meet at Wentworth Common, Sydney Olympic Park on Marjorie Jackson Parkway. Parking is on either side of the road. After parking, walk north along the path to the pond on your left..
Leader
Cathy Goswell | 0418 865 421
Habitat
Wetlands and forest
Grade
Grade 2. Up to 2km on paved paths.
Facilities
Plenty of parking. Toilets at Wentworth Common and some picnic tables. No facilities at the Waterbird Refuge.
Saturday 21 June 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
WEST HEAD, KU-RING-GAI CHASE NP
Meeting place
Meet at the lookout at the end of West Head Road. National Park entry fee of $12 applies unless you have a NP pass
Leader
Coralie Turner-Morris | 0408 510 525
Habitat
Sandstone country
Grade
Grade 2. Approx 4 km of mostly flat walking on tracks and fire trails.
Facilities
Plenty of parking at West Head early in the morning. No toilets. Plenty of parking at Resolute Picnic area with toilets and picnic tables. No other toilets on West Head.
Sunday 29 June 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
"LONGSWAMP" PRIVATE PROPERTY AT COBBITTY
Meeting place
70 Cheviot Drive Cobbitty. From Cobbitty turn right into Cut Hill Road, right into Coates Park Road, Right into Colonel Pye Drive and Right into Cheviot Drive. At the apparent ‘end’ of Cheviot Drive follow the ‘driveway’ which continues straight ahead. Continue along this gravel road until you see the property entrance on your right hand side – turn in here (the gate will be open on the day). Continue straight along the gravel to park beside the house.
Leader
Peter Ridgeway | 0401 481 037
Habitat
Woodland with clearings and small dam
Grade
Grade 3. Approx 2 km of relatively flat walking with one very short but steep gully.
Facilities
Plenty of parking. Pit toilet available. No picnic tables.
Wednesday 2 July 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
AUSTRALIAN BOTANICAL GARDEN,
MT ANNAN
Meeting place
Meet near the Visitors Centre. Parking is in the P3 carpark on Cunningham Drive, Mt Annan.
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 13 July 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
NURRAGINGY RESERVE, WESTERN SYDNEY PARKLANDS
Meeting place
Meet at the Colebee Centre, Nurragingy Reserve, Knox Road, Doonside.
Leader
Daniel McDonald | 0404 374 362
Habitat
Bushland, woodland
Grade
Grade 2. Approx 3 km on level bush tracks.
Facilities
Plenty of parking. Toilets at the Colebee Centre. Some picnic tables near the centre, but these are often being used.
Saturday 19 July 2025 | 8.50am for a 9am start (open for booking)
CENTRAL COAST WETLANDS (PIONEER DAIRY) and CANTON BEACH
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
Prasad Ganesan | 0450 670 199
Habitat
Wetlands and coastal habitat
Grade
Grade 1 or 2 easy walks, depending on tracks chosen.
Facilities
Central Coast Wetlands has plenty of parking, toilets and undercover picnic tables. Canton Beach has street parking and amenities. Bring a scope if you have one.
Sunday 27 July 2025 | 6.45am start (fully booked - waiting list open)
PELAGIC BOAT TRIP with SYDNEY PELAGICS - $170 paid on board. Max: 13
Meeting place
The boat picks up at 6.45 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 12 to Sunday 14 September 2025 (fully booked - waiting list open)
Friday 19 to Sunday 21 September 2025 (fully booked - waiting list open)
WEEKENDS AWAY - NARRABRI AREA
Meeting place
These two Members' weekends will be based in Narrabri, 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 6 August 2025
Floyd Bay and Mirrambeena Regional Park
Leader: Peter Abraham
Friday 15 August 2025
TBC
Leader: TBC
Saturday 23 August 2025
Crosslands Reserve, Hornsby Heights
Leader: Prasad Ganesan
Sunday 31 August 2025
Blue Gum Creek Reserve, Annangrove
Leader: Paul Johnstone
Wednesday 3 September 2025
Narrabeen Lagoon
Leader: Lindsay Sherman
Sunday 28 September 2025
Second Ponds Creek Reserve, Rouse Hill
Leader: Damian Turner
Wednesday 1 October 2025
Laughtondale Gully and Wisemans Ferry
Leader: Adrian Dick
Saturday 11 October 2025
Field of Mars, Sugar Loaf Point, Boronia Park
Leader: Cathy Goswell
Sunday 19 October 2025
TBC
Leader: TBC
Saturday 25 October 2025
Cumberland State Forest
Leader: Peter Abraham
Sunday 2 November 2025
Members' BBQ - Location TBC
Leader: Coralie Turner-Morris
Wednesday 5 November 2025
Wattle Forest and Lady Carrington Drive, Royal NP
Leader: Robyn Pedersen
Saturday 15 November 2025
Sunday 16 November 2025 (morning)
Capertee Valley
Leader: Cathy Goswell
Saturday 22 November 2025
Sydney Olympic Park - starting at the Waterbird Refuge
Leader: Prasad Ganesan
Wednesday 3 December 2025
TBC
Leader: TBC
Sunday 7 December 2025
TBC
Leader: TBC
20-22 March 2026
27-29 March 2026
Advance notice of Autumn 2026 weekends away from Friday to Sunday inclusive - location TBC
Leader: Heather Pearce
11-13 September 2026
18-20 September 2026
Advance notice of Spring 2026 weekends away from Friday to Sunday inclusive - location TBC
Leader: Heather Pearce