I spent a very enjoyable walk, partly spent at Bicentennial Park at Homebush Bay photographing birds and then finished off with a walk from there to Rhodes and along the Foreshore Path to Cabarita.
Welcome Swallow
I started by catching a train to Concord West and then walking the short way into the park. I then strolled along some of the tracks in the park. I first went of a dirt path I had not noticed before that runs along the east side of Powells Creek. I soon came to a large pod full of birds – Spoonbills, Ibis and Cormorants. Later in the day, I returned to this pool -and there were no birds at all. Perhaps it is where many spend the night?
I then visited the main ponds – and saw a lot of water birds. Here are some –
Black Winged Stilt
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
Black Winged Stilts and a Red Necked Avocet
Bar-tailed Godwits
Bar-tailed Godwits
It was interesting to watch some young Welcome Swallows practising their flying. They fly very fast and are challenging to track and focus on.
Some of them did annoy a Silver Gull –
Around the periphery in the bushes were lots of Wrens –
Superb Fairy Wren
Superb Fairy Wren
Superb Fairy Wren
And a White Faced Heron feeding in the bay –
I then walked back to the bridge over Powells Creek and I walked right out along the track on the east side. As I said above, the first pool was deserted by birds so I keep on walking and soon arrived at an old observation tower, like the ones on the major paths. This one seemed to be forgotten.
I walked back to the main path and followed it to Rhodes, walked past the shops and crossed the railway line at the station and then crossed the main road into a park on the foreshore. This was a nice place to stop for lunch.
I then followed the Foreshore Path (maps and brochures here) and soon entered the Kokoda Path. This is a memorial with lots of photos and audio material along the way.
At Concord Hospital, the main path crosses through some carparks and misses the point. However, there was a dirt path that stayed out of the Hospital Fence and seemed to follow the foreshore. That was where I went. I soon entered the grounds of the Thomas Walker Estate. It would have been a private residence at one time, but then became a convalescent hospital and is now a special school called Rivendell. The grounds are certainly beautiful with many nice trees.
Once around the point, the track is less obvious and crosses through some more hospital carparks. But it keeps going across a grassy area and then through bush and around another point – this time The Dame Edith Walker Estate (and now another hospital).
Along this section, the track was rougher and not as well signposted. Further along it emerges into some sporting fields near Mortlake. For a short section you need to follow some roads to meet the path back along the foreshore at the huge tenement developments between Mortlake and Cabarita –
However, the foreshore path has been well landscaped with native plants and there were quite a few birds.
At Cabarita Park, I caught the ferry back to Circular Quay.
This was a pleasant day to. Also, I would like to thank Jacob Grossbard for suggesting a visit to the Thomas Walker Estate.