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 27 April 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (waiting list open)
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.
Saturday 3 May 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
WIANAMATTA REGIONAL PARK, ROPES CROSSING section
Meeting place
Meet at the car park just inside the gates off Mainwaring St, Ropes Crossing.
Leader
Mark Fuller | 0424 440 140
Habitat
Ironbark Woodland
Grade
Grade 2. Approx 2 km on flat bush tracks.
Facilities
Plenty of parking just inside the gate. There are toilets and picnic tables in two sections of the park.
Wednesday 7 May 2025 | 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.
Friday 16 May 2025 | 8.20am for an 8.30am start (open for booking)
MILL CREEK PICNIC AREA & 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
Mill Creek: Bushland, creek, grassy areas.
Devines Hill: Sandstone rock formation and bushland convict history of the Great North Rd.
Grade
Mill Creek Picnic Area: Grade 2. Approx 2 km on a dirt rocky trail and a flat dirt road.
Devine Hill: Grade 3. A 3-4 km walk on a steep graded firetrail.
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 (open for booking)
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 (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 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 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 (open for booking - nearly full)
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
Sunday 29 June 2025
"Longswamp" private property at Cobbitty
Leader: Peter Ridgeway
Wednesday 2 July 2025
Australian Botanical Gardens, Mt Annan
Leaders: Heather Cavanagh and David Cree
Sunday 13 July 2025
Nurragingy Reserve, Western Sydney Parklands
Leader: Daniel McDonald
Saturday 19 July 2025
Central Coast Wetlands and Canton Beach
Leader: Prasad Ganesan
Sunday 27 July 2025
Pelagic Boat Trip with Sydney Pelagics (cost $170)
Leader: Greg McLachland
Wednesday 6 August 2025
Floyd Bay and Mirrambeena Regional Park
Leader: Peter Abraham
Friday 15 August 2025
TBC
Leader: TBC
Saturday 23 August 2025
Sydney Olympic Park - starting at the Waterbird Refuge
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
TBC
Leader: TBC
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
Crosslands Reserve, Hornsby Heights
Leader: Prasad Ganesan
Wednesday 3 December 2025
TBC
Leader: TBC
Sunday 7 December 2025
TBC
Leader: TBC