Greenway Bird Survey – 11 December 2024

Posted on December 14, 2024 by Dave Noble

Now it was time for the Greenway Bird Survey along the Hawthorne Canal. As usual, we started at Taverners Hill Light Rail Station and finished at Hawthorne Light Rail Station.

Here are some of the birds we saw – Continue reading →

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Mudlarks – Cooks River Birds Survey – 10 December 2024

Posted on December 14, 2024 by Dave Noble

It was time for the bird survey along the Cooks River with the Mudlarks. This month the survey was downstream – on the Wave Rock Circuit.

Here are some of the birds we saw – Continue reading →

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More Raptors in Royal – 9 Dec 2024

Posted on December 12, 2024 by Dave Noble

Brian Everingham had suggested a few dates for some walks, in Royal National Park or nearby. I suggested a visit to the sea cliffs north of Wattamolla to see the young Peregrine Falcons I had been fortunate to photograph two weeks earlier. Brian thought this was a good idea, and we were joined by Sue, Valerie and Elaine.

We had a most interesting walk. Continue reading →

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Long Reef Birds – 8 December 2024

Posted on December 12, 2024 by Dave Noble

Another day spent on Long Reef. Actually, I had visited Long Reef two days earlier, but had been greeted by a thick sea fog. I had waited to see if it cleared, but it didn’t, so I headed home early. This visit was a lot more fruitful. As well as photographing the Ospreys, I also photographed a rare visitor to Sydney – a Beach Stone-curlew.

Here are how things panned out.

When I arrived, around 10:30 am. I didn’t see any flying birds from the lookout. Descending down the steps, with binoculars, I spotted an Osprey perched on one of the trees on the northside of the headland. I walked over towards it. Continue reading →

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Dargans Creek and Cicada Canyons – 5 December 2024

Posted on December 7, 2024 by Dave Noble

Bob and myself were keen on some more canyoning, and the weather forecast was not too bad, so we set off up the Mountains with the plan on first visiting Dargans Creek Canyon at Clarence, and then, if time permitted we planned to visit the small Cicada Canyon near Lithgow.

Dargans Creek Canyon

This canyon is very good value as the canyon is easy to get into and back out of. So a good ratio of value to effort. Continue reading →

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Birds at Sydney Park – 4 December 2024

Posted on December 7, 2024 by Dave Noble

Another quite hot day. I ventured out and spent an hour or so at Sydney Park before it got too warm.

Here are some birds I saw – Continue reading →

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Malabar Headland – 2 December 2024

Posted on December 3, 2024 by Dave Noble

The Peregrine Falcon season at Malabar Headland has been a frustrating one this season. On our previous visit, it looked like things may have been looking up, with possible late season nesting. Both adult Peregrine Falcons were perched near the nesting area for long periods, leaving only for some hunting. So, Valerie, Sue and myself made another visit – but this time, we only spotted a single adult Peregrine Falcon for a short time, just after we arrived.  It soon flew off, and we didn’t see it or any others while we were there.

On the way out, we did see a number of Jacky Dragons. Continue reading →

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Coast Walking – Scarborough to Bulli – 29 November 2024

Posted on November 30, 2024 by Dave Noble

Bob had suggested this walk, and it sounded like a good one to do on a wet day with low tide. We traveled down to Scarborough by train, and there met up with Doug. The plan was to walk along the coast south to at least Thirroul. Bob had read about this walk in a new small booklet on Northern Illawarra Beach Walking by Geoff Whale.

We then walked north along Lawrence Hargrave Drive to Clifton to Moronga Park. Continue reading →

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Cooks River Birds – 26 November 2024

Posted on November 30, 2024 by Dave Noble

It was the first a series of very hot days, but I was keen to venture outdoors, so I did short local walk along the Cooks River between Wardell Road and Canterbury Road.

I first went to the cricket nets and looked for the Tawny Frogmouths. I only found the one on a nest – Continue reading →

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Raptors in Royal – 25 November 2024

Posted on November 28, 2024 by Dave Noble

I was keen on a walk to the sea cliffs in Royal National Park to see how a breeding pair of Peregrine Falcons were going. Valerie and her great niece Izzy joined me. We had a very enjoyable walk.

We didn’t see the breeding pair of Peregrine Falcons but we did see their new juveniles. Three in total. And we also saw three White-bellied Sea Eagles. Continue reading →

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