In the morning I had visited Ferndale Park and Chatswood. After that I went home, but I headed out in the late afternoon to Sydney Park for a session of bird photography.
When I arrived, about 5:30 pm, there were a lot of people there. It was a Sunday afternoon. There was plenty of room for social distancing – and I was never close to anyone while I was there. But others were close to each other. There seemed to be a lot of people having picnics or parties – groups of ten or more. A bit worrying at present.
As on previous visits, I was on the lookout for Rail and Crakes. And like on many previous visits, I saw neither. But I did have a good opportunity to photograph a Black-shouldered Kite. I have seen one before at the park, but this one remained for a fair while – and was hunting for food. Hovering and scanning the ground below. The bird was around long enough for me to walk closer and move to an angle where I wasn’t shooting into the Sun.
But before that. As I waked into the park, I noticed quite a few of these stinkhorns out. None of them at their best –
And there were a few Reed Warblers around.
I spotted one Grebe –
There were plenty of Welcome Swallows. Here is one diving for an insect on the water surface –
Now for the Black-shouldered Kite. I first saw it a fair way off.
It was hovering. Then it dived.
I next spotted it coming closer.
More hovering now. Overhead almost.
At all times the bird is vigilant. It scans the ground, but also looks around for any trouble.
It then flew off to try somewhere else. It later came back. More hovering and diving.
I move to a better position.
I don’t think the Welcome Swallows like it being around. They buzz past very fast.
It dives out of my sight, and flies back up with a mouse. It flies off with its prey.
I later spot it perched on one of the poles where you often see Cormorants sitting drying their wings.
It gives me a brief look, then flies off and away.
Superb shots David…I follow your blog daily!