Watsons Bay Sunset – 15 January 2019

I spent a very pleasant afternoon in the Watsons Bay – South Head Area. I was hoping for some good sunset photography – in particular the Sun setting behind the city buildings (which happens at this time of the year when viewed from Gap Bluff). I had an earlier trip with this intention – but on that occasion a large cloud mass to the west meant no real sunset.

I also planned to full in my time looking for and photographing some of there birds in the area. It was a very hot day, but at least on the coastal cliffs there was a cool sea-breeze which made conditions considerably more comfortable. 

I caught a ferry to Watsons Bay, and walked up to Gap Bluff. I scanned the cliffs nearby for birds, but there was not many around except for some fast moving Swallows and lower down some Silver Gulls near the sea. But in the far distance to the south, I could see a Nankeen Kestrel hovering and occasionally diving.

I walked along the Coastal Path and looked for the kestrel without any luck. I walked past the Signal Station to Macquarie Lighthouse. No sign of the kestrel, so I started walking back. At Gap Park I noticed a boat on fire between the heads.

I watched the burning boat for a while and then retreated to a shady part of the park to eat my lunch. I then walked back to the cliffs. This time the Nankeen Kestrel was back – and I was able to get some reasonable photos of it.

I then headed back to The Gap and walked to Camp Cove. It was very crowded, so I kept on walking to Hornby Lighthouse on South Head. Not too many birds there, so I headed back towards The Gap.

Welcome Swallow

I then caught a bus and got off near Rodney Reserve. There I looked around for Peregrine Falcons – but with no success. I continued to Dudley Page Reserve and took a few photos of the city.

Then back to the coastal cliffs and along the path past Diamond Bay.

At Christison Park, I spotted a Nankeen Kestrel, sitting on the same house roof I had seen it perched on previously. I knew it used that spot to scan the park for prey. I had plenty of time before sunset, so waited for the bird to take off.

I got a few photos of it as it flew to afar part of the field, grabbed a small animal then flew back with it. I am not sure what it had caught.

It soon took off again, and this time perched on a bush.

I walked over closer to it, and took a few more photos. It soon took off again and flew to a different bush.

Then it took off and flew to land high up in a pine tree.

However its presence was not appreciated by a nearby Noisy Miner and a skirmish took place. The Kestrel took off and landed in the middle of the park.

It then started digging in the dirt.

Every now and then it would stop, look all around, then resume.

I am not sure what the bird was after. Perhaps a worm? It did eventually find something which was then eaten. It then ran over to another spot about ten metres away and repeated this digging.

Next it flew off to one of the bushes.

I waited for it to take off – but it did so over the sea – no good for photos. It then left the area, so I continued back towards The Gap.

it was still too early for sunset, so I headed down to the the ferry wharf and bought some take away fish and chips from Doyles. This made a nice dinner, sitting in a shady part of the park nearby.

Then back to Gap Bluff for the sunset. It was nice – bit not too atmospheric.