This was an interesting day of bird photography at two locations in the northern parts of Sydney. First I visited the Chiltern Trail at Ingleside (and in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park), and then on the way home I made a stop at Warriewood where I visited one of the sporting fields.
The Chiltern Trail is a good place to photograph Honeyeaters, and that was one of my aims. I have also had some success in photographing Spotted Pardalotes there. On this visit, I did find a few Honeyeaters, but my photographing the Pardalotes was quite different to what I expected.
On this trip, I caught a train to Gordon and then the bus to Ingleside. I went home via Mona Vale and later a B-line bus to Wynyard.
First, are are some of the Honeyeaters –
Yellow-faced Honeyeater
White-cheeked Honeyeater
Yellow-tufted Honeyeater
Little Wattlebird
And some of the other small birds –
Eastern Yellow Robin
Variegated Fairywren
Brown Thornbill
Silvereye
Red-browed Finch
The wildflowers were also very impressive. Here are some –
Now to the Spotted Pardalotes. I was photographing a Honeyeater, when I heard a bang noise. Then I saw a Laughing Kookaburra fly from one side of the fire road to a perch on the other side. I could see it had something in its beak. I continued with the Honeyeater until it flew away, then turned my lens to the Kookaburra. I was astounded! It had a Spotted Pardalote in its beak. The bang I had heard was probably the Kookaburra wacking it on a branch to kill it.
The Laughing Kookaburra then slowly moved the Pardalote into the right position and swallowed it. This was an amazing spectacle.
I lated checked online, and I did find that “small birds” are part of the Kookaburra’s diet. I later photographed a Spotted Pardalote that wasn’t prey –
Later in the afternoon, I caught a bus down to Mona Vale and then another to Warriewood. I then walked a short distance to a sporting field to where a pair of Eastern Ospreys have their nest. As I approached I could see the Ospreys at the nest.
There was also another bird photographer there. The Ospreys were early active. One took off for a flight. But it was immediately harassed by a Magpie. This was an amazing spectacle to watch. I took many photos as the Osprey flew around trying to shake off the Magpie. Here are some of the photos.
The Osprey then took sanctuary with its mate back in the nest. They did seem quite vigilant however – scanning around looking for any trouble.
I looked around to see if any other birds were around. No Kestrels this time. I did spot some Galahs flying past –
I still watched the Ospreys to see if they would do any more flying. One of the Ospreys did move to one of the lights –
It then cleaned its beak on a cable and stretched its wings.
It then took off and flew to the ground not far away, where it picked up a sick and returned to the nest with it.
They then seemed to settle down again. It was time for me to leave.
