I spent a few hours cycling along the Cooks River Cycleway looking for birds and other wildlife to photograph. It was quite a hot day, and that may have meant that a lot of creatures were hiding in the shade.
I first visited the Tawny Frogmouths with their two chicks that I had been observing for a while now. They seemed to be doing well –
Not too much out at The Cup and Saucer Creek Wetlands –
At the rickety bridge near Wardell Road, I happened to see a few schools of fish in the river, quite close to the surface. They seem to be mullet. However, some of them seemed to have white splotches on their scales. I wonder if this is a normal? or an illness? of perhaps caused by pollution?
I then headed down to the Tempe Wetlands. Some of the Swamphen and Moorhen chicks were active, and I did witness a bit aha skirmish between their parents at one stage.
And a few more photos at the Wetlands –
On the way home I spotted a nice Striated Heron –
Hi David, living close to the start of the Cooks River myself, I just wanted to ask where the Tawny Frogmouths are? Tried going near boat harbour on the bike a few weeks ago after school exam, but couldn’t find them. I understand if you don’t want to reveal their location because of potential disturbance.
Also, what got you into nature and bushwalking? Was it from young, or did you study some degree of some sort in university. Your whole website is admirable and I’m always on it looking forward to your adventures, even when I had my school exams the next day.
Hopefully one day my brother or I might catch you cycling or bushwalking somewhere. Thanks for your time into this website, honestly its always a pleasure to read.
There is Tawny Frogmouth nest high in a tree at the Boat Harbour area. I have not seen any chicks there yet (but have not looked too hard recently – I have been chased off by aggressive birds). The ones I have been photographing are upstream at the Dog Area (there is only one fenced off dog area) – between Canterbury and the Boat Harbour. You need to look up in the trees outside the compound – close to the exercise machine.
To answer your second question – I was brought up close to nature (in the Blue Mts – with bush behind our house – that was our playground), had parents that were bushwalkers and we did a lot of family day walks to nice places, and also I had school friends that did bushwalking – one in particular was in the local bushwalking club and organised a great 7 day walk for a group of us from school just before we did our HSC. That was a real eye opener.
Went for a ride and had a look today for the Tawny Frogmouths, but to no success.
I found a nest really high up in one gum tree but that was beside the road near the units – I’m pretty sure the stand of trees must’ve been closer to the exercise machine. Must’ve been a lucky find for you!
I also had a look for them today (morning of 3 Nov) and could not find the Tawny Frogmouth family at the Dog Area. This happens some time – they don’t always come back to the same place for the day, and the older the chicks get, then the further away may be their day roost – perhaps several hundred metres away. But they may be back in that same small area tomorrow or another day. Perhaps… Will have to see.
But the other groups of Tawny Frogmouths – near the Boat Harbour, now have at least one chick. I spotted one adult sitting in a Casuarina tree, and nearby, but higher, in the nest (which I had been watching for a while) was a chick and one adult. They usually have two chicks, so the second chick may not have been visible (the nest is high and hard to see), or still in an egg? The tree with the nest is up the hill a bit from the water – and very close to the fence of the nearest house. Look up for a nest made of sticks about 10 – 12 m up. Best to take binoculars if you have them – and then climb the bank a bit, next to the house to try and see what is sitting in the nest.
Alway – make sure you do not startle the birds.