The Ballina region has so much

to offer — surf,

sand and

rock pools

overlooked

by broad

jagged rock

faces — the imposing

Richmond River and its

beautiful estuaries — the steep

hillsides covered with

subtropical rainforest and

adjacent wide areas of coastal

heath.

These are matched by the

diversity and beauty of the

birdlife.

White-belliedSea-Eagle

Lake Chickiba28° 50’ 47”153° 35’ 06”

A tidal salty lake with marshy margins, surrounded by a widemown area. Best visited during summer, one hour before hightide when a surprising variety of migratory waders leavescattered mudflats to congregate at the lake. Bush birds canbe seen in the adjacent forest. Excellent notice boards illustrateand name some of the birds.

Access: From Ballina drive north on the Pacific Highway.Pass Ballina Fair on the left and bear right at first roundabout.100m later turn left at next roundabout onto Angel’s BeachDrive. Then 3.3km to the lake.

Birds seen include: Bar-tailed Godwit, Eastern Curlew, TerekSandpiper, Grey-tailed Tattler, Great Knot, Curlew Sandpiper,Pacific Golden Plover, Lesser and Greater Sand Plovers,Sacred Kingfisher, Azure Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater,Eastern Whipbird.

Flat Rock28° 50’ 57”153° 36” 12’

The rock platform divides miles ofpristine surfing beach. At low tideseveral hectares of flat basalt rockprovide a resting place for hundreds ofseabirds and migratory waders. Afterrough weather rarities can turn up on therock.

Access: On River Street (main street)Ballina drive east and then north overMissingham Bridge. Then another 4.5km

to Flat Rock road on the right and 600m to parking.

Birds seen include: Eastern Reef Egret, Osprey, BrahminyKite, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Whimbrel, Wandering Tattler,Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Red-necked Stint, both speciesof Oystercatcher, Lesser and Greater Sand-Plover, Crested,Common and Little Terns, and Common Noddy (occasional).And out to sea: various species of Petrel, Shearwater, Gannet,Frigatebird and Jaeger.

Lennox Head Heathland28° 46’ 23”153° 35’ 39’

The specialised habitat of coastal heath provides good birding atany time, but in spring a vast carpet of wildflowers attracts greatnumbers of birds.

Access: From Ballina Drive north to Lennox Head. Turn right atthe Ballina Street roundabout and continue north. Just outsidetown is Lake Ainsworth. Bear left between the caravan park andthe lake for 1.7km to parking bay. Walk through the barrier bearingright to adjacent heathland.

Birds seen include: Brahminy Kite, Whistling Kite, Swamp Harrier,Rainbow Bee-eater, Superb Fairy-wren, Variegated Fairy-wren,Red-backed Fairy-wren, Little Wattlebird, Brown Honeyeater,White-cheeked Honeyeater, Tawny Grassbird, and Golden-headedCisticola.

Broken Head Nature Reserve28° 42’ 21”153° 36’ 44”

The Nature Reserve encompasses 98 hectares of superb headlandswith steep littoral rainforest slopes sweeping down to secludedbeaches. Just out to sea large rocks form small islands for seabirdsto roost and nest. Kiosk, shelter, toilets and barbecues are available.

Access: On River Street (main street) Ballina drive east then northover Missingham Bridge onto the Coastal Road which becomesByron Bay Road. Right hand turn-off to Broken Head is 24kmfrom River Street. Then 1.7km to car park. Eastcape Road (200mbefore car park) leads to Kings Beach car park – 1.3km. Walk tobeach down rainforest track.

Birds seen include: Australian Brush-turkey, Australasian Gannet, Eastern ReefEgret, Pacific Baza, Sooty Oystercatcher,White-headed Pigeon, Emerald Dove,Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove, TopknotPigeon, Tawny Frogmouth, Rose Robin,Eastern Whipbird, Little Shrike-thrush.

Bicentennial Gardens28° 50’ 57”153° 32’ 55”

A circular lagoon surrounds a small tree-covered island. Behind and on both sidesof the lagoon is a wide mown area withattractive shade trees. Behind this againare tracks leading in and out of the paperbarkforest. Shelter, water and toilets are available.

Access: From Ballina drive north on Pacific Highway. PassBallina Fair on left. Bear left at next roundabout and followthe highway for 1.7km.

Birds seen include: Plumed Whistling-Duck, Grey Teal,Pacific Baza, Dusky Moorhen, Superb Fairy-wren, EasternYellow Robin, Varied Triller, Olive-backed Oriole, Figbird, Red-browed Finch. A Little Bittern has been recorded.

Mobbs Bay and Richmond RiverNature Reserve28° 52’ 50”153° 34’ 10”

Near the mouth of the Richmond River, Mobbs Bay is a deepindentation in the south bank which is now protected by theSouth Ballina wall. Several short tracks provide access fromthe road. This is a good spot for waders feeding at low tideand roosting at high tide. The Osprey nest on the providedpole is used regularly by the resident pair. The Reserveoccupies land on both sides of the road between Mobbs Bayand South Ballina beach. Tall timber and roadside bushesprovide habitat for a wide variety of birds. Dugong andLoggerhead turtles have been sighted in the river.

Access: From Ballina follow the Pacific Highwaywest 1km. Turn left onto the Burns Point Ferry Road.Cross the river and turn left after 40m into SouthBallina Beach Drive. Then 4-5 km to the Bay andReserve.

Birds seen include: Darter, Striated Heron, Osprey,Whistling Kite, Brahminy Kite, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Whimbrel, Eastern Curlew, CommonGreenshank, Terek Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt,Mangrove Gerygone, Eastern Whipbird.

Tern

Brush Turkey

Golden-headedCisticola

Prepared by members of BIRDS AUSTRALIA - Northern NSW Group

to find out more call the

ballina visitor information centre

on 02 6686 3484email balinfo@balshire.org.au

or visit www.discoverballina.com

or BIRDS AUSTRALIA

415 Riversdale Road

Hawthorn East VIC 3123

03 9882 2622www.birdsaustralia.com.au

the north coast ad agency/bto013

Red-backedFairy-wren

RainbowBee-eater

Azure Kingfisher

South Ballina Beach 28° 52’ 52” 153° 34’ 50”

The long open white sandy beach meets the South Ballina wallwhich forms a sheltered angle that is a haven for sea and shorebirds, including some rarities in rough weather.Dolphins are a common sight close to shore.

Access: From Mobbs Bay continue several kmsto parking.

Birds seen include: Short-tailed and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, Pied Cormorants, Bar-tailedGodwit, Sanderling, Red-necked Stint, Pied andSooty Oyster-catchers, Gull-billed Tern, Caspian

Tern, Little Tern. Grey Ternlets have been recordedduring rough weather.

Victoria Park 28° 54’ 09” 153° 24’ 37”

Circular Boardwalk suitable for wheelchair, through pleasantsub-tropical rainforest.

Access: From Ballina head west on Pacific Highway. After 7km turn right onto Bruxner Highway towards Lismore. After1km turn left onto Uralba Road. After 7 km turn left onto WardellRoad. After 2.6 km turn right onto Dalwood Road. After 2kmturn left into Victoria Park Road.

Birds seen include: Emerald Dove, Topknot Pigeon, EasternYellow and Pale-yellow Robins, Pheasant Coucal, Large-billedand White-browed Scrubwrens, Noisy Pitta, Figbird, GreenCatbird, Brown Cuckoo Dove, Scarlet Honeyeater.

Tuckean Nature Reserve and Canals 28° 57’ 10” 153° 22’ 02”

The vegetation is dominated by large paperbarks and swampoaks which become inundated in wet weather. There is noaccess into the reserve but the roadside viewing is excellent.

Access: From Ballina head west on PacificHighway. After 7 km turn right onto BruxnerHighway towards Lismore. After 1km turnleft onto Uralba Road. After 7km turn leftonto Wardell Road. After 6km turn rightonto Marom Creek Road. After 7.6km turnleft onto Tuckean Island Road. TuckeanIsland is visible on the right as a hill. It wasonce an island surrounded by swamp.After 5km the reserve is on the left. Theroad crosses a canal and another canalafter 2km.

Birds seen include: Brown Quail, BlackSwan, Whistling Kite, Brolga, Comb-crested Jacana, Dollarbird, Red-backedFairy-wren, White-throated Gerygone, Striped Honeyeater, Grey-crowned Babbler, Leaden Flycatcher, Spangled Drongo, Red-browed Finch.

Bagotville Barrage 28° 58’ 45” 153° 24’ 19”

The Barrage is a barrier limiting mixture of salt seawater withfresh water from the Tuckean Swamp. Hectares of waterliliesornament the scene. The birds can be seen from the roadway.

Access: From Ballina head west on Pacific Highway. After 7km turn right onto Bruxner Highway towards Lismore. After1km turn left onto Uralba Road. After 7 km turn left onto WardellRoad. After 7.5km turn right ontoBagotville Road. Then 8.6 km tothe Barrage.

Birds seen include: WanderingWhistling-Duck, Black Swan,Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal,Hardhead, Pelican, Great and Little Egrets, Coots, Comb-crested Jacana, Black-fronted Dotterel, Rainbow Bee-eater,Superb and Red-backed Fairy-wrens, Scarlet Honeyeater.

Broadwater National Park29° 05’ 32” 153° 25’ 16”

Banksia/heath community, parts of which become inundatedin wet weather. Christmas bells make a good show in summer.Good birding.

Access: From Ballina drive 26km to Broadwater. Follow signson the left to the Evans Head Road and Broadwater NationalPark. After 10 km pass Salty Lagoon sign on left. Take the very

next turn 50m to the right. Then 300m to the Park nextto the Sewage Treatment Works.

Birds seen include: Brown Quail, Black-shouldered Kite,Swamp Harrier, Brolga, Ground Parrot, Dollarbird, Superb,Variegated and Red-backed Fairy-wrens, Southern Emu-wren, White-cheeked and Tawny-crowned Honeyeaters,Tawny Grassbird.

Black-winged Stilt

Colour illustrations courtesy of Simpson & Day’s

FIELD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA

published by Penguin Group Australia

Line drawings by Gavin Gatenby — Department of

Environment and Conservation

Pelican

Spangled Drongo

Black Swan