I joined Brian Everingham and a group from the National Parks Association of NSW for a photo walk at Wottamolla. We later continued with some bird photography at Audley.
In the party, as well as Brian, was Sue, Alan, Ken, Bob, Gary S, Gary B, Erden and myself. From the carpark at Wottamolla, we first walked out to Providential Point. We were hoping to see a Sea Eagle or two, but we had no luck on the day. But we did see some whales pass by quite close.
We watched the whales head off across the bay. Their path would take them close to a small boat with a few fishermen in it. We waited to see how the encounter went. Not far before the boat, one of the whales breached and made a huge noise and splash. I think the people in the boat realised a whale was nearby!
Bob then showed us an interesting ledge not far below the top of the cliff – it went through an amazing section of beautiful eroded sandstone.
At the far end, we sat down to watch (and photograph) the antics of a Rock Warbler.
We were near a gulph in the cliffs – by from an eroded dyke. On the far side we noticed four large ring bolts and wandered about their origin and purpose.
We then joined the main Coastal Track and climbed over the hill and down to some rock platforms. More whale watching – and we saw some more pass close by (but only a distant whale breaching).
And there were quite a few honeyeaters around. Mainly New Holland Honeyeaters but also some Yellow-faced Honeyeaters.
I later spotted a Striated Thornbill –
We then returned to the carpark for lunch at one of the picnic tables. Nearby was an Eastern Spinebill.
Some of the party then stopped off at Audley on the way out. Brian had recently seen a Nankeen Heron and wondered if it was still there. It was.
Nearby was a honeyeater and an entertaining Grey Fantail.
The honeyeater was a Lewin’s Honeyeater –
On the other side of the Hacking River we noticed a Lyrebird, an Azure Kingfisher, an Eastern Yellow Robin and a Bassian Thrush.
