A Regent Honeyeater has been found feeding on blossoming trees in the grounds of the Tanilba Bay Sailing Club, on the foreshore of Port Stephens.

The bird was first found by Tanilba Bay birdwatcher Shelly Zvingulis on the June 8. She has been keeping an eye on it ever since, meeting many excited birdwatchers in the process, keen to see the rare and endangered species.

The Regent Honeyeater is one of Australia's most endangered bird species.

Recent population estimates are between 350-400 adult birds.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and NSW government list the Regent Honeyeater as "critically endangered", meaning it is at high risk of extinction in the immediate future.

Biannual range-wide searches, involving dozens of experienced field ornithologists have been occurring for more than 20 years.

Only two birds were found during the May count and the Tanilba Bay bird is one of fewer than 15 found throughout all of NSW so far this year.

Hunter Bird Observers Club president Mick Roderick said it was a significant find.

"BirdLife Australia monitors the population of Regent Honeyeaters and maintains a database of sightings dating back to the 1970s," he said.

"This is the first time a Regent Honeyeater has been found on the shores of Port Stephens according to the database."

This Regent Honeyeater has been feeding in flowering Swamp Mahogany Eucalyptus robusta trees, a high-yielding tree that flowers during the winter time. It is keeping company with a range of other native birds such as lorikeets and other species of honeyeaters. A koala has also been seen nearby.

"The bird is an adult and is likely visiting the Port Stephens area because there are few flowering trees inland at the moment.

"The Swamp Mahogany forests of the Port Stephens area are very important for Regent Honeyeaters," Mr Roderick said.