Activities
Everyone is welcome to attend these events, including visiting birders and those new to birding.
Please contact the Leader if you are planning to attend.
If you have a large group please email Illawarra Birders at illawarabirdersinc@gmail.com as we offer seperate walks for groups.
Meeting - Coniston Community Centre
Tuesday 1st April, 7:30PM
Andrew Wood: Birding All-at-Sea.
Club member Andrew will describe a nine day pelagic cruise in November 2024 from Port Vila, Vanuatu, to Hobart.
Wollongong Botanic Garden ‐ Lunchtime Walk
Thursday 3rd April 12.30pm
Walk leader: Martin Potter - 0437 683 677 - please text if you plan to attend.Walk description: A gentle stroll through the Garden, via the Duck Pond, rainforest and other habitats.
Parking: Meet at the Discovery Centre. Parking is available in the nearby car park on Madoline Street. However this can fill up quickly at lunchtime; if this car park is full then there may be more parking in the Murphys Street car park or the surrounding streets.
Toilets/Water: Yes
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: An easy 1.7 km walk on paved or mulched paths. A circuit is walked lasting 1-1.5 hours. Some seats.
Bring: Carry ‐ water, hat & sunscreen. Wear sturdy shoes.
Notes: This is an especially good walk for new and inexperienced birders, and also for photographers.
Social Lunch - Wollongong Golf Club
Saturday April 5th, 12 noon
RSVP to Penny Potter - penpott@yahoo.com - by Wednesday 2nd April.
This is both an opportunity for new members to meet other members, and also for existing members to catch up. Friends and family are also welcome.
Please choose and pay for your meal from the normal menu. Details of the venue and menu are available at https://www.the19th.com.au/the-deck/
Budderoo National Park - Jamberoo
Wednesday 9th April 8:30am
Walk leader: Ralph Stadus - 0412 244 12 - please text if you plan to attend.
Walk description: Return walk on a fire trail through heathlands, eucalyptus and bloodwood forest.
Parking/Maating Place: Meet at the car park for Budderoo Fire Trail approx. 2.6km north from the turn-off to Barren Grounds along Jamberoo Mountain Road. After the 60 km/h bends on Jamberoo Mountain Road the speed goes back to 80km/h and you go up a slight hill. At the top of the hill on the left is a dirt pull-off marked with two signs Budderoo Plateau and Budderoo National Park. Follow the dirt road in about 200m to a carpark before the locked gate.
Toilets/Water: No
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: Easy return walk on a fire trail. Approx 4 hours total. Some shade.
Bring: Carry - water, hat, sunscreen, morning tea. Wear sturdy shoes.
Notes: You may want to bring lunch to have back at the car after the walk ends.
Tallawarra Wetlands - Yallah
Saturday 12th April 8:30am
Walk leader: Belinda Baccarini - please email illawarrabirdersinc@gmaill.com if you plan to attend.
Walk description: Walking around the Tallawarra Ponds - looking for shorebirds and waterbirds, some woodland birds.
Parking: Drive into Yallah Bay Rd which leads to the Energy Australia Tallawarra Power Station. Yallah Bay Rd is only accessible from the Princes Highway southbound from Dapto. Meet at the carpark opposite the security gates just before the bridge.
Toilets/Water: No (toilet is available at the Security check in).
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: 4km round trip, easy walk on wide trails. Minimum shade.
Bring: Water, hat, sturdy shoes, morning tea (carry).
Notes: Path may be muddy after rain. Bring a scope if you have one.
Integral Energy Park, Kembla Grange
Wednesday 16th April 8:30am
Walk leader: Suze Giuffre – 0414 860 740 - please text Suze if you plan to attend.
Walk description: A loop walk around the Park. Mixed habitat with some open areas, creek lines, lantana thickets and wooded areas. Often produces a list of 30-40 species. Good spot for photography.
Parking/Meeting Place: At the picnic area past the Motorlife Museum on Darkes Road Kembla Grange.
Toilets/Water: Beside the car park.
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: Easy level walking of about 2kms and 2 hours. Large undercover picnic area.
Bring: Carry water, hat. Wear sturdy shoes. Morning tea back at car park.
Notes: Can be extended with a walk around nearby William Beach Reserve afterwards.
Wollongong Botanic Garden ‐ Lunchtime Walk
Thursday 1st May 12.30pm
Walk leader: Martin Potter - 0437 683 677 - please text if you plan to attend.Walk description: A gentle stroll through the Garden, via the Duck Pond, rainforest and other habitats.
Parking: Meet at the Discovery Centre. Parking is available in the nearby car park on Madoline Street. However this can fill up quickly at lunchtime; if this car park is full then there may be more parking in the Murphys Street car park or the surrounding streets.
Toilets/Water: Yes
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: An easy 1.7 km walk on paved or mulched paths. A circuit is walked lasting 1-1.5 hours. Some seats.
Bring: Carry ‐ water, hat & sunscreen. Wear sturdy shoes.
Notes: This is an especially good walk for new and inexperienced birders, and also for photographers.
Abrahams Bosom Walking Track– Jervis Bay
Friday 2nd May 8.30am
Walk leader: Belinda Baccarini - please email illawarrabirdersinc@gmail.com if you plan to attend.Walk description: We will be walking sections of the Abrahams Bosom Beach track.
Parking/Meeting Place: Meet at the carpark at Abrahams Bosom Beach. https://currarong.org.au/things-to-do/bush-walking/
Toilets/Water: Flushing toilets available. Bring own water.
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: 2-3km, tree roots and big steps along the path.
Bring: Carry water, hat. Wear sturdy shoes. Walking pole. Carry morning tea and lunch if you plan to stay for birding after lunch.
Notes: Notes: If you plan to continue on bring lunch. And water. And swimmers.
NB there is a walk the next day at the Beecroft Weapons Range so you may want to stay overnight in the area. See walk 3rd May for more details.
Beecroft Weapons Range – Jervis Bay National Park
Saturday 3rd May 8.30am
Walk leader: Belinda Baccarini - Please email illawarrabirdersinc@gmail.com if you plan to attend.Walk description: We will be walking on a well maintained heath track some way to Little Target Beach. We may also visit Point Perpendicular Lighthouse.
Parking/Meeting Place: Meet at the carpark at Little Target Beach.
All visitors to the area must read the Beecroft induction brochure: https://www.defence.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-12/beecroft-brochure.pdf
NB – Plans may change at the last moment if the weapons range is closed.
Toilets/Water: No. Bush toilet. Bring own water.
Bring: Carry water, hat. Wear sturdy shoes. Carry morning tea and lunch if you plan to stay after lunch.
Notes: Notes: If you plan to continue on bring lunch. And water. And swimmers.
NB there is a walk the previous day at Abrahams Bosom Reserve so you may want to stay overnight in the area. See walk 2nd May for more details.
Meeting - Coniston Community Centre
Tuesday 6th May, 7:30PM
Dr Ross Crates, Post doctoral Research fellow, Australian National University: Ecology and conservation of the Regent Honeyeater
Ross is a postdoctoral fellow within the Difficult Bird Research Group at the Australian National University. His PhD studies were in the conservation of the Regent Honeyeater, but he has broad interests in avian ecology and conservation, with a focus on woodland birds. He manages national monitoring programs for the Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot and his research topics include Noisy Miner management, Regent Honeyeater song culture, Nest predators and nest protection, and Conservation of King Island's small brown birds.
Tallawarra Wetlands - Yallah
Saturday 10th May 8:30am
Walk leader: Michelle and Dave Rower - 0421 335 037 - please text if you plan
to attend.
Walk description: Walking around the Tallawarra Ponds - looking for shorebirds and waterbirds, some woodland birds.
Parking: Drive into Yallah Bay Rd which leads to the Energy Australia Tallawarra Power Station. Yallah Bay Rd is only accessible from the Princes Highway southbound from Dapto. Meet at the carpark opposite the security gates just before the bridge.
Toilets/Water: No (toilet is available at the Security check in).
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: 4km round trip, easy walk on wide trails. Minimum shade.
Bring: Water, hat, sturdy shoes, morning tea (carry).
Notes: Path may be muddy after rain. Bring a scope if you have one.
Mt Annan Botanic Garden all day Adventure ‐ Mt Annan
Wednesday 14th May 8:30am
Walk leader: Belinda Baccarini - illawarrabirdersinc@gmail.com please email if you plan to attend.
Walk description: All day birding, lunch at the café and more birding.
Parking: Park on Cunningham Dr at Lake Nadungamba (first pond in Garden).
Toilets/Water: Yes throughout the Garden.
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: Driving – all day. In and out of car all day.
Bring: Carry water, hat, morning tea and afternoon tea. Wear sturdy shoes.
Notes: Some of the winter birds may be arriving.
Wattle Forest and Wattamolla, Royal National Park
Thursday 22nd May 8:30am
Walk leader: Richard Smart ‐ 0414 972 236 please text if you plan to attend.
Walk descriptions
Wattle Forest: walk along a short track along the riverside, hoping to see Superb Lyrebird, Green Catbird, Bassian Thrush and Azure Kingfishers – followed by morning tea.
Wattamolla: exploring the cliff top and coastal heath along the RNP coast track, looking for sea and heath birds.
Parking/Meeting place: Meet at 8:30 am at the Wattle Forest picnic area.Directions: Coming from the south - turn right off the Princes Highway at Farnell Avenue and proceed down to Audley. Drive across Audley Weir and take a right turn after the Visitor Centre and Café. Turn right and drive over Varneys bridge and follow the road veering to the left. It follows the Hacking River for about 750 metres to Wattle Forest Picnic Area. Park at the end of the car park where the picnic shed and toilets are.
Mid-morning we will drive to Wattamolla.
NB: Parking fees to enter the Royal National Park are $12 per day unless you have an annual pass.
https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/picnic-areas/wattle-forest-picnic-area
Toilets/Water: At Audley Visitor Centre and at Wattamolla.
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: Easy level walking about 3kms. Approx 3 hours, plenty of shade. Seats for morning tea at Audley. Rocky surface at Wattamolla, approx. 2 km, 1 hour return.
Bring: Carry water, hat, sun screen, morning tea. Wear sturdy shoes. A good walk for beginners and photographers.
Meeting - Coniston Community Centre
Tuesday 3rd June, 7:30PM
Ákos Lumnitzer and Netra Chetty: Catch that bird!
Ákos and Netra will talk about bird photography techniques and show examples of how they research and photograph birds overseas. They share a passion for wildlife photography and a commitment to conservation. They founded 2MadPhotographers in 2017 and have a website at https://2madphotographers.com
Wollongong Botanic Garden ‐ Lunchtime Walk
Thursday 5th June 12.30pm
Walk leader: Martin Potter - 0437 683 677 - please text if you plan to attend.Walk description: A gentle stroll through the Garden, via the Duck Pond, rainforest and other habitats.
Parking: Meet at the Discovery Centre. Parking is available in the nearby car park on Madoline Street. However this can fill up quickly at lunchtime; if this car park is full then there may be more parking in the Murphys Street car park or the surrounding streets.
Toilets/Water: Yes
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: An easy 1.7 km walk on paved or mulched paths. A circuit is walked lasting 1-1.5 hours. Some seats.
Bring: Carry ‐ water, hat & sunscreen. Wear sturdy shoes.
Notes: This is an especially good walk for new and inexperienced birders, and also for photographers.
Tallawarra Wetlands - Yallah
Friday 13th June 8:30am
Walk leader: Michelle and Dave Rower - 0421 335 037 - please text if you plan
to attend.
Walk description: Walking around the Tallawarra Ponds - looking for shorebirds and waterbirds, some woodland birds.
Parking: Drive into Yallah Bay Rd which leads to the Energy Australia Tallawarra Power Station. Yallah Bay Rd is only accessible from the Princes Highway southbound from Dapto. Meet at the carpark opposite the security gates just before the bridge.
Toilets/Water: No (toilet is available at the Security check in).
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: 4km round trip, easy walk on wide trails. Minimum shade.
Bring: Water, hat, sturdy shoes, morning tea (carry).
Notes: Path may be muddy after rain. Bring a scope if you have one.
Ben’s Creek Walk, Nowra and Bomaderry Creek Walk, Bomaderry.
Wednesday 25th June 8:30am
Walk leader: Bob Ashford – 0404 863 187 -please text if you plan to attend.
Walk descriptions
Ben’s Walk: a pleasant round trip walk through a mix of rainforest and wet Eucalypt woodland. A short downhill to a flat walking trail and return a short climb back to the start. A creek crossing (not difficult) over ‘prepared’ rocks.
Bomaderry Creek : another pleasant walk. Drier sandstone escarpment habitat. Open woodland. We’ll focus on the upper part of the walk. Both reasonably easy walks.
Parking/Meeting place: Scenic Drive, near Hanging Rock Lookout at the Nowra Showground. Park near the Bens Walk sign (about 20 mt left of Hanging Rock as you look out over the river).Bomaderry Creek entry point (in case!!) is on Narang Road about 70m beyond Aldi.
Toilets/Water: Nowra - 30m from parking. Bomaderry – 30m from parking.
Terrain/Distance/Time/Shade/Seats: Bens Walk -about 2 kms. No seats. Bomaderry Creek - about 1km. Some seats.
Bring: Carry water, hat, morning tea. Wear sturdy shoes. Insect repellent and walking poles might be useful.