It was a wet day – with light rain on and off, so I thought a short walk in my local area would be nice. I also want to see if the recent rain had brought any fungi.
I caught a bus to Earlwood, and then walked down to Girrahween Park.
New Holland Honeyeater in Girrahween Park
I first walked in the upstream direction. Despite the light rain, quite a few birds were out jin the first grassy area. This included a lot of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters.
Further along, I found some jelly fungi out – on a log, a place I have previously seen this species.
Otherwise there was not that much other fungi out.
What was nice to observe, but hard to photograph was a Rufous Fantail. I think this is the first one I have seen in my local area.
I then headed back downstream. In the grassy area, there were more Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and a Wille Wagtail.
I checked out the swampy area just before the bridge. I was hoping to see a Reed Warbler, but all I could find was a nice White-browed Scrubwren.
I then made my way to Girrahween Park, where I had lunch. The birds seems to have become less active as I continued downstream.
At the old swimming pool, the rock orchids high above it where in flower.
A little further on is the Flying Fox Camp. I took a few photos of some in flight. Then I thought that at this time of the year, some of the females may have babies. So I scanned them with my binoculars.
I observed one that seemed to be behaving strangely. The flying foxes normally rest having upside down using their legs to hang on to a tree branch. But one of them was hanging on upright using its “fingers” on its wings to hang on.
Then I could see a fleshy object. I later realised that the flying fox must be giving birth and this was the placenta.
After a while a lot of licking was going on. I could not see the baby however.
After more and more licking, I eventually spotted the baby nestled up to its mother.
I then spent some time photographing some of the flying foxes in flight. When flying, any babies are exposed and are easily visible to the camera. When hanging on a tree – the babies are wrapped up by the mother’s wings.
I did manage to photograph one flying with a baby clinging on. Its probably early in the season to see this.
Mother with baby clinging on
And another one flying –
I then arrived at Turrella Reserve. It was raining, and now in the open, photography was harder. There were a lot of Red-browed Finches around.
I then continued on to Tempe. It was raining lightly, so I didn’t look to hard for animals. I crossed the highway and photographed some Welcome Swallows in Tempe Reserve.
I did a circuit of the Tempe Wetlands, but it was again too wet to take any photos, so I then made my way home.