Exercise being allowed during the lockdown, I decided to venture out and do the full Two Valleys Walk – which traverses the valleys of The Cooks River and its tributary Wolli Creek.
I set off from home, and walked down to the Cooks River, and then walked upstream towards the Boat Harbour. On the way I photographed this Willie Wagtail with a moth.
A few Crested Pigeons were around.
At the Boat Harbour, I looked around to see what birds were out, and spotted the local Tawny Frogmouths perched in one of the trees nearby.
I then crossed the Cooks River. Here is a Little Pied Cormorant drying its wings on the post in the River.
There was not much to see at the Cup and Saucer Creek Wetlands. I proceeded up the path up Cup and Saucer Creek. Not far up, I stopped to photograph a nice patch of stinkhorns.
Further along. I saw a small group of Crested Pigeons. One was doing a display with its tail feathers. Two other Crested Pigeons flew over and then starting paying attention to it.
I continued walking p through parks, and along a few roads to reach Bexley North. I could then start down the Two Valleys Track. I stopped a few times to photograph some of the fungi that was out.
When I arrived at Illura, the large grassy clearing, I paused and looked around carefully for birds. I could hear a few small birds chatter ing in the undergrowth around the perimeter. But I was after raptors. On some previous visits to this spot, I had seen raptors – Brown Goshawks and a Black-shouldered Kite. I wanted to see if they were in the area. It didn’t seem like they were. Then I heard a commotion. I looked up and saw a White-bellied Sea Eagle flying up the valley at great speed. It was being pursued by a Raven.
When I later had a good look at the photos, I could see that the Sea Eagle was clutching a fish in its talons. The birds flew past very quickly and I was lucky to get some photos.
It was nice to observe the Sea Eagle. I continued on my way. Here are some photos of more fungi and a slime mould –
I stopped at the Wetlands near Bardwell Park Station. I was on the lookout here for birds. Here is a Superb Fairy-wren –
I then proceeded to Girrahween Park and kept on going along the track. On the way to Turrella Reserve, I spotted a few more birds, a skink and a small amount of fungi –
I had a good look around Turrella Reserve. Here is a view looking down Wolli Creek –
I kept on going, walking towards Tempe. I found some more fungi and a nice Grey Fantail –
On one greasy log, I spotted this nice slime mould –
I then walked through Gough Whitlam Park on the Cooks River. Further along a flock of Corellas were making a racket in a tree.
On the whole, The Cooks River was a lot quieter for wildlife than Wolli Creek, as perhaps would be expected.
Back home, I was feeling good after walking about 17.5 km. A nice session of exercise.