Day 9 - Saturday 20th October 2012 

Another slow starting day - but it was nearly P E R F E C T.  Not a cloud in the sky, warm (~25 degrees), golden sun and a light breeze from the north.  Later it became almost unpleasantly warm, estimate 35 degrees and sticky.  Late morning the breeze shifted to the west and built to about 12 knots.  Late afternoon to early evening was beautiful - it cooled back to a lovely 25 degrees, the wind died off and the sunset was gorgeous - there had been burning off somewhere to the west and the haze made for a dramatic sunset.  About 6:30 PM the raucous cries of Yellow-tailed black cockatoos echoed around the neighbourhood.  Suddenly a group of 6 cockatoos appeared, shrieking and swooping.  The group grew progressively larger and larger as more cockies joined the group.  Eventually over 20 black cockatoos were chasing each other around the trees in our neighbourhood.  It took my breath away.  
   

Observations - My backyard in Charlestown  
Rainbow lorrikeets x 20+ (not many this morning) 
Eastern rosella x 1
Pied Currawong x 4 
Kookaburra x 2 

Noisy miners x 6

Crested pigeons x 2

Channel-billed cuckoos x 2 (heard not seen)

Australian ravens x 2

Black-backed magpies x 2

Australian koel x 2 (dueting pair heard not seen)

Yellow-tailed black cockatoos x 20+ !!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Observations - Breakfast on the waterfront at Belmont Bay 
Willy wagtail x 1
Australian figbirds x 20 + (Hard to estimate numbers as they are so secretive in the tree tops)
Galahs x 6
Silver gulls x 100+ (Impossible to be accurate with so many . . .) 
Little pied cormorants x 3
Rainbow lorrikeets x 10+ 
Noisy miners x 5
Indian miners x 6 (in the main street of Belmont)