After the rush of Christmas I decided to have a quiet Boxing Day bird watching along the banks of the Yarra in Yarra Bend Park .

I began my walk in Yarra Bend Park at Dights Falls Park. I sat for a while in the Koori Garden and watched a Great Cormorant fishing at the base of the falls, Australian Reed-warbler could be heard calling from the reeds on the opposite side. I walked along the Capital City Trail, there weren't many interesting birds to be seen along this stretch but I did find a flock of Brown Thornbills, some Superb Fairywren, on the river were Pacific Black Duck and Dusky Moorhen.

View over the Yarra River

I crossed the river at Johnson Street Bridge and took the unpaved path which follows the other side of the river. I expected to see more birds in this area although it was still very quiet bird wise, I did see a Kookaburra, a Grey Butcherbird and at one point a Nankeen Night Heron flew high over the river. I climbed a steep section of the path to reach the Yarra Boulevard. This section of the road is closed to traffic and is frequently used by cyclists. A monument sits at the highest point which provides a fantastic view over the river and the park, Spotted Pardalote were calling in the Eucalypts bordering the monument.

I walked along the Yarra Boulevard towards Galatea Point, and found a small flock of Dusky Woodswallows diving down to catch insects along the roadside, as I watched them I spied a Grey Currawong stealthily and quietly moving through the scrub. Tawny FrogmouthsThings got better from here on. Near the top of Galatea Point a Sacred Kingfisher was perched in a tree, an adult and juvenile Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike flew through making beautiful chirring calls. ]I took the path towards Galatea Point and was a little disappointed to see that most of the area was dominated by Noisy Miners but was pleased to find a pair of Tawny Frogmouth in a tree above the point in the river. I continued along the path and caught the bus home from Studley park road.
Yarra Bend Park has a lovely feeling of isolation for a park so close to the city.