Today we went down to probably the most well known birding spot in Byron Bay, the Byron Wetlands. This place has over 230 bird species, and, at this place, you’ll never be disappointed.

we started off with a walk around the first cell and spotted some Australasian Swamphens.

We wandered on and were just passing a large bush whilst looking for Latham’s Snipe, when we spotted a large, rufous bird at the top of a tree. Rufous body, black cap, white head plumes: this was a Nankeen Night Heron. This bird is a lifer (a bird that I am seeing for the first time) and I was not expecting it.

We walked down a trail, hoping to get closer, and spotted a beautiful male Rufous Whistler.

A sudden noise of fast wingbeats and a Latham’s Snipe shot out of the reeds like a bullet. This bird only arrives in Byron for the summer and are not common. This is a poor photo.

We heard an unfamiliar call and followed it into the forest. The bird flew out from another tree and it turned out to be a Sahul Brush Cuckoo, another uncommon bird.

Willie Wagtails were common and so were Olive-backed Orioles.

A Leaden Flycatcher called its heart out on a dead branch and a Rainbow Bee-eater sat on a wire.

The last bird was a magnificent Grey Goshawk, which sat in a fig tree and gazed across the landscape.

I would 100% recommend this place to any bird lover. Tow things before you go there: the site is on a working STP and you need a council key to get in and out.