Ricki Coughlan
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rickicoughlan.bsky.social
Ricki Coughlan
@rickicoughlan.bsky.social
Herbivore 🦕 Bird Observer 🦜 Rainforest Flaneur 🐍 Author 📗 Rational Humanist 👩🏻‍🔬 She/Her Birding tours and nature discovery walks in the Sydney region: http://aussiewild.com.au
Yesterday in the #rainforest I met a mum who had a sling with a gorgeous newborn baby tucked within. We chatted about the importance of a newborn baby hearing the sounds of the forest, taking in its subtle aromas, receiving its energies, building connection with the living planet. #naturelovers
November 16, 2025 at 3:09 AM
I really couldn't get enough of this guy. He is in peak condition and bound to dominate many other males and get the attention of the girls in this beautiful forest.
November 15, 2025 at 8:55 PM
I encountered this king amidst the splendour of the rainforest in Royal National Park yesterday. I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful male Eastern Water Dragon than this guy. I've also added couple of photos below . . . check 'em out 👇 🧵 #nature #reptiles #herping #naturelovers
November 15, 2025 at 8:55 PM
By November the Superb Lyrebirds have regrown their tails and begin to follow females, shake their tails, raise their wings and call vociferously. I came across an entourage of 5 lyrebirds this morning in Royal National Park and this boy was clearly getting hot and bothered! #birds #birding #nature
November 8, 2025 at 4:00 AM
They were in massive bloom attracting many invertebrates . . .
November 4, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Back in April 1975 "Grumpy Scientist" Dr Harry Recher stuck a New Holland Honeyeater in a precocious child's hand telling her to "hold this". Thus he laid out the course of my life, my calling and obsession . . . #birding #birds #nature
November 4, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Immerse yourself in a few moments of the breathtaking ridge top dry sclerophyll habitat and its aural beauty on Wise's Trail in Royal National Park. Look out for this trail on my Nature Walkabouts schedule in 2026.
aussiewild.com.au/nature-walka...
#birds #birding #nature #naturelovers #hiking
November 4, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Sound UP! I survey Yellow-throated Scrubwrens in Royal National Park. Whilst in Boris and Natasha's territory yesterday I found a lyrebird foraging. Boris enters from left at 26 secs and begins his mimicry which will grow in volume and complexity. Enjoy this sonic celebration of planet Earth! 🧵 1/
October 24, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Sound UP! When a gang of young male Superb Lyrebirds surround you, often within less than a metre. I zoomed back to 80mm but often had to lean back to get this footage. I've left it largely unedited to capture the mayhem of the moment. #birds #birding #nature #lyrebirds
October 24, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Just as I pressed submit after my count two Australian Magpies clashed viciously in the sky right above me, locking claws in the air for an instant before parting with angry cries . . . Tonight's winner was certainly the Rainbow Lorikeet!
aussiebirdcount.org.au
#aussiebirdcount #birds #birding
October 20, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Just another urban Sydney Echidna giving it his best shot, snuffling about and hoovering up masses of ants along the curb at North Head . . . #naturelovers #nature #wildlife #echidna #australia
October 16, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Here, in the predawn along Bola Creek in Royal National Park, it would be at least half an hour before sunrise, so apologies for the grainy footage. However, I think the ambience is clear. I've had thousands of lyrebird encounters of the years, but each one is as exciting as the first! #birding
October 6, 2025 at 7:37 AM
And the textures . . .
October 6, 2025 at 6:35 AM
One can do a whole lot worse than spend some time in this truly magical part of the earth. I'm looking forward to heading there next year for more birding and nature adventures . . . end
October 6, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Once we get out onto the flatter areas of the trail we're in Dusky Grasswren country, where the patient and observant will be well rewarded. It seems that every time I've visited (usually in March) there's been mass breeding events with hundreds of Grey-headed and Grey-fronted Honeyeaters . . . 3/
October 6, 2025 at 6:06 AM
The dry riverbed of Ormiston Creek is decorated by gorgeous River Red Gums, these trees around surrounding vegetation are home to Red-browed and Striated Pardalotes, Rainbow Bee-eaters, Red-capped Robins and Slaty-backed and Chestnut-rumped Thornbills, to name a few . . . 2/
October 6, 2025 at 6:06 AM
A 15 minute stroll over the spinifex covered hills from Ormiston Gorge brings one to this vista; looking west along the Larapinta Trail on the Macdonnell Ranges. Thereis some amazing birding to be had along this trail . . . 1/
October 6, 2025 at 6:06 AM
It was a difficult decision, with many of my favourite birds on the starting ticket, but I've kicked things off with a sentimental favourite . . . Go Team Southern Emu-wren! 🥳 www.theguardian.com/environment/...

#birds #birding #birdoftheyear #birdoftheyear2025
October 6, 2025 at 1:05 AM
This cheeky busy body came so close to me I had to put my camera down. I shook a few plants for him and he dashed over in the hope that I might dislodge and insect or two. When I held my hand out he hopped to within 2 or 3 centimetres hand. Certainly the friendliest Willie Wagtail I've ever met!
October 5, 2025 at 2:27 AM
In 2019 we had at least 6 Welcome Swallows living around my home. Now there's one. I'm observing this trend everywhere. We're losing small aerial insectivores because we're losing our insects. I urge everyone to keep records of Swallow and Martin numbers in localities. (image: Clinton Wood) #nature
October 4, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Superb Fairy-wren, Royal National Park.

#birds #birding #nature
October 3, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Far, far away, over 24.8 billion kilometres . . . beyond the heliosphere in the freezing darkness of space Voyager 1 continues a journey which may last as long as this universe does. On board is this image. A person chosen to represent the human species . . .
October 3, 2025 at 5:49 AM
October 2, 2025 at 8:19 AM
A tiny second year male Variegated Fairy-wren is taking a moment to preen in the early morning sun and is joined by another second year male, most likely his brother from the same clutch . . . but they're fairy-wrens so nobody can be sure whether they share the same father. #birds #birding #nature
October 1, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Nelson is one of my favourite Koalas in the zoo . . .
October 1, 2025 at 5:02 AM