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Visited: all year round
Recommendation: Centennial Park is one of the best wildlife locations in the country, remarkable when you consider the location in the middle of Sydney. Everything from owls, bats, crakes, waterbirds and cockatoo to be seen here. If you are nearby, it is an absolute must do.
Centennial Park is one of Sydney's most iconic green spaces, a large urban parkland comprising 360 hectares located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. Originally swampland, it was transformed into a park in the late 19th century in celebration of Australia's centenary. Today, it's a popular spot for locals and visitors alike to relax, play sports, or simply enjoy the outdoors.
Centennial Parklands acts as an urban oasis, not just for people but also for a surprising variety of wildlife. The diverse habitats within the park, including reed-fringed freshwater ponds, remnant bushland, and long grassy areas, provide shelter and food for many native species.
Centennial Park is a birdwatcher's paradise. Nearly 200 species of birds have been recorded in the park, including the more common ducks, swans, kookaburras and galahs to the more interesting kites, owls, bittern and crake. It is the number one birding spot in Sydney.
There are also plenty of mammals here to and any visit might yield possums, echidnas, flying foxes, and even the occasional wallaby. Frogs, lizards and snakes are present in the park but less frequently seen.
My cousin lives in Sydney and I have stayed with him on a number of occasions over the years and despite the urban sprawl, I have found the birding to be fantastic. I could spend days and days just wandering around Centennial Park. I know I haven't seen the best of it yet and I look forward to getting back there soon.
There are several pools in the park and they are host to numerous waterbirds. Because it is a park and there are lots of people around, the birds tend to be quite tolerant, which is good.
Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca)
The 'bin chickens' are very common here. I think it is such a mean thing to call the Australian Ibis. If they are scavengers, it is because humans have made them so! Being from the UK and NZ, all Australian birds are wonderful and novel to me and I have loved watching these birds that locals deem to be feral. Familiarity really does breed contempt!
Australian Darter (Anhina novaehollandiae)
The Australian Darter are also regular visitors here and in quieter parts of the park, you can sit and watch them quite easily. The so-called 'snakebird' are fascinating to anyone who has only seen cormorants before.
The key feature is the darter's long, thin neck. When swimming underwater with its body submerged, this neck looks remarkably like a snake slithering through the water.
Adding to the snake-like impression is how they hunt. Darters spear fish with their sharp beaks, and their sinuous neck movements while underwater can be reminiscent of a snake attacking its prey.
Australian Pelican (Peleccanus conspicillatus)
The pelicans are not so shy and will flock in pools where there are lots of people. It is one of the few times that I have seen them in breeding plumage. This photo remains one of my favourites showing that bright eye and facial markings.
Eastern Cattle Egret (Bubulcus coromandus)
I was surprised to find a Cattle Egret feeding along the margins of one of the ponds on one visit. Usually very shy, this time it allowed me to watch it from a distance as it trawled along the vegetation looking for food.
The eastern subspecies breeds across South Asia, Eastern Asia, and Australasia. They are one of the most successful and widespread birds in the world.
Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia)
The Royal Spoonbill is another regular visitor and this cresty fellow has prominent facial markings indicating breeding plumage.
It's seemingly odd bill is actually a cleverly designed tool perfectly adapted for its feeding strategy. The broad, spoon-shaped tip of the bill acts like a large net. As the bird wades through shallow water, it sweeps its bill back and forth just below the surface. This wide surface area increases the chances of scooping up small aquatic creatures like fish, shrimp, and insects.
Surprisingly, the bill's wide, flat surface is packed with special receptors. These receptors are sensitive to touch and pressure, allowing the spoonbill to detect tiny movements and vibrations made by its prey in the water, even in murky conditions. This helps the bird locate food it can't necessarily see.
The shape also allows the bird to probe the soft mud, where prey might be hiding, without sinking its whole head in. The spoonbill can then use its sensitive bill to detect any hidden creatures. They are usually seen quickly sweeping large areas of water. This is important because the small aquatic creatures they eat are not very abundant, so the spoonbill needs to be able to find enough food to survive.
Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea)
In the trees around the ponds are often different species of corella. These must be the most gregarious of the cockatoo family (and that's saying something). I have seen them wrestling on the ground, squabbling in the trees and zooming about like lunatics. Never boring with them around.
Little Corellas belong to the genus Cacatua, which is the same genus that encompasses most white cockatoos. The term "corella" is used to refer to a group of smaller white cockatoos, with little corellas being one of the six recognized species. All corellas are cockatoos, but not all cockatoos are corellas.
Buff-banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis)
There are several areas of dense forest in the park and although it is difficult to find birds in them, when you do it is quite magic. In one area, alongside a swampy patch, I heard a unique call. After waiting for sometime, I found this Buff-banded Rail. It wandered for a while and then called over and over again. It was a very special experience.
Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)
On one occasion, I knew there were frogmouth in one of these dense areas and it took me a long time to find them. Their cryptic nature makes them one of the most difficult birds to find, even when they are sitting out. I particularly liked how this chick looked as grumpy as the adults do!
The bill of the frogmouth is a strange feature that is quite frog-like (hence the name!). This beak is ideal for their insect-based diet. The wide gape allows them to snatch insects quickly and efficiently. While similar to an owl's beak, it lacks the sharp, hooked design for tearing flesh.
Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua)
The most incredible bird to be found in the park has to be the Powerful Owl. It is a huge beast of a bird, twice the size of the more common Southern Boobook. There are times when you can find them because of the litter of fruit bat carcasses on the ground. Most often I have found them by clambering underneath the big fig trees until I spot them in the branches above. My favourite time was when they were grooming and there was also a chick present. You really wouldn't want to argue with these animals (or be a local fruit bat)!
This huge owl ranges in length from 45 to 65 cm. This means they can be roughly the size of a large crow up to the size of a medium-sized chicken. Their wingspan is even more impressive, reaching 112 to 135 cm. With their wings outstretched, they can be as wide as a small doorway.
Overall, the Powerful Owl is the largest owl species in Australia and one of the biggest owls found anywhere in the world.
Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus)
My last bird is the Rainbow Lorikeet. Anyone visiting eastern Australia (or even watching an Australian TV show) will be familiar with their screeching call as they tear around the place. In the country or urban areas, these birds have no shame. This makes them another victim of familiarity. They are disregarded because they are so common and so noisy. But their plumage is so stunning and their expressions comical and interesting. I cannot resist photographing them whenever I can.
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