Iron Bark Basin and Point Addis – 8 August 2026

The weather was good for birdwatching given it was August: slight winds (at least for the first two hours) and some sunshine. A great turnout and many new people – some of the group shown in this photo by Meredith Sussex.

A short drive to Point Addis where we started at Iron Bark Basin. The Red Wattlebirds were in full cry when we arrived, dominating the top of the eucalypts. We walked along the Nature Trail circuit. The path is in good condition and winds down amongst the iron barks, and the Red Wattlebird noise is mostly left behind. An early highlight was a group of around ten Spotted Pardalotes which were flitting around, and not too high in the trees. You might think of Galahs as open country birds, but they seem to really like Iron Bark Basin, and there were plenty flying overhead and sitting in the trees in ones and twos.

It was also a good day for honeyeaters and they were busy high up in the trees: Brown-headed, White-naped, Yellow-faced and New Holland. We didn’t record a White-eared Honeyeater which is unusual. Towards the end of the Nature Trail circuit a couple of Eastern Spinebills were chasing each other just above the bracken; and some Crescent Honeyeaters starting calling, but we didn’t manage to see them. Good sightings of White-throated Treecreepers during the walk. When we got to the end of the Nature Trail, there were two Eastern Rosellas sitting in a tree, as shown in this photo by Meredith Sussex.

Eastern Rosellas

We walked along the path at the top of the basin for a short time but not many birds around, so returned to the parking area for morning tea. After morning tea some people left, and the remainder drove down to the point itself. The wind had picked up by this time. We searched high and low for albatross, and even set-up the scope but all the large white birds flying above or sitting on the water seemed to be Australian Gannets. A Pacific Gull flew across, and also a Great Crested Tern. A highlight was a Sooty Oystercatcher down on the rocks. As usual for Point Addis we did hear a Rufous Bristlebird but faraway; however, one was later seen running across the car park bitumen. Point Addis is one of those places in the area where you can see a bristlebird in one direction, and an albatross in the other, but this time we missed the albatross!

A good day of birdwatching, with lots of bird discussion.

James Orton

Iron Bark Basin  – Bird List

The table below shows the names and count of birds seen/heard on the walk at Iron Bark Basin. Note this list has been recorded in eBird, and shared with the Angair eBird account.

Point Addis – Bird List

The table below shows the names and count of birds seen/heard at Point Addis. Note this list has also been recorded in eBird.