Birds at the Northern Beaches – 18 November 2019

This was another full day spent in the Northern Beaches photographing birds. I set off with several aims on this trip – one of them being to photograph a Crimson Chat that had been seen near Long Reef. On an earlier trip, I had looked for it – but on that visit a lot of dogs were off leash in the area and few birds were around.

I set off early, and caught a B-line bus to Dee Why, and then changed to local bus and went a bit further along Pittwater Road and got off near the Long Reef Surf Club. I walked out past the golf course and looked closer to the beach for the Chat. I was surprised and lucky – I spotted it straight away. I was looking for food and soon found a caterpillar. It then flew off with it.

I continued on my way, stopping to photograph a New Holland Honeyeater nearby.

At the beach, I photographed a pair of Little Pied Cormorants.

I then went out to the rock platform at Long Reef. I had timed my visit for low tide, but found few birds of interest. Here are some Sooty Oystercatchers –

I then walked to Pittwater Road and caught a bus to Warriewood and walked to the wetlands and then to Irrawong Reserve. Here are some of the birds I saw –

Olive-backed Oriole

Eastern Yellow Robin

Pied Cormorant

Lewin’s Honeyeater

Dusky Moorhen – chicks and parent

White-cheeked Honeyeater

And some Waterdragons

I had lunch, and then walked to Rat Park to check out the Ospreys. I could not spot any, either flying nor on the nest. I am beginning to think this pair may have given up breeding for the season. I did spot a Nankeen Kestrel – and was able to get a series of photos of it hunting for food –

I then walked to Narrabeen Lagoon and walked via the lakeside track back to Pittwater Road. No Kestrels this time. Back on a bus, I got off at Manly Vale and again looked at an Osprey nest. Like the one at Rat Park no birds were around – so perhaps more unsuccessful breeding?