Wendy wanted to travel down from her home in the Blue Mountains to the city and see some whales. Valerie was also keen on a whale watching excursion, so we decide on a visit to the sea cliffs near Wattamolla.
We had a very pleasant day out on the cliffs. Being a weekend, it was quite busy with lots of walkers and whale watchers.
We walked along the Royal Coast Track to the headland south of the Providential Cove at Wattamolla. We found a nice sunny spot to sit and wait for whales.
Some Australasian Gannets were hunting for fish –
We did see some distant whale action –
Nearby, a seal was hunting –
Another Australasian Gannet –
And then we saw a much larger bird, perhaps a Petrel?
And then a pod of Humpback Whales cruised past. They were not far from the shore.
Crested Tern
More Humpback Whales –
We then followed the Royal Coast Track a short way to the south.
New Holland Honeyeater
Juvenile White-bellied Sea Eagle –
Looking south –
Through our binoculars, we could see fishermen on the last rock shelf you can see to the south. This is south of Curracurrang. I wondered how they had been able to climb down through the cliffs there.
New Holland Honeyeater
Coastal Heath
New Holland Honeyeaters
Curracurrang
New Holland Honeyeater
Epacris longifolia
Little Wattlebird
It had been a very pleasant day. It was great to catch up with Wendy, and many thanks to Valerie for driving.
Very nice images. iNaturalist is reasonably sure that the large petrel is a Northern Giant Petrel.