I decided to ride out to Homebush Bay again. This is a nice ride, virtually all on cycleways, and there is a lot to see along the way. It was once a very regular ride that I would do. I would ride out after work during the daylight saving season, out to Homebush Bay, and around the foreshore to Blaxland Riversie Park, then across the bridge and ride around the north side to Meadowbank, then across the cycleway bridge to Rhodes and return along the Cooks River Cycleway. That loop was about 50 km. A nice bit of exercise.
These day, the ride takes a bit longer, as I carry a camera, and look for places to stop and photograph.
This ride I first stopped at Mason Park Wetlands and looked around for birds. There was once Corella in the wetlands and also a distant Black-fronted Dotterel.
I continued on into Bicentennial Park, and my next stop was at the waterbird refuge pond. There were not many intestine birds close by. Here is a Superb Fairy-wren –
I continue on to Mason Park and the Brickpit without seeing any birds of interest. So I then rode to newington Armory and checked out the pools. Again quiet. Out on Parramatta River, I did spot a distant raptor flying. I think it was a Brown Goshawk –
On the far sie of the river I spotted two White-bellied Sea Eagles perched in a mangrove. I waited a while to see if they would fly off. No luck.
I then headed back to Bicentennial Park. At the Wreck Lookout, there was an Australian Darter –
And there was a Royal Spoonbill in the pond –
I then cycled to lake Belvedere. This was a lot better for a photo stop. There was a lot of nest building and other action going on.
I like to photograph the Darters in flight –
And plenty of other birds.
ThisPied Cormorant had trouble getting airborne.
I then started to cycle home. On my way I had another look at Mason Park Wetlands. Not many birds present. But like on a previous bike ride, I was kept entertained, this time by the amazing balletic display of a Great Egret performing in Powells Creek.
Then the Egret paused and suddenly lunged!
It was rewarded.
It then flew up the creek.
That was an amazing spectacle. I am not sure if the balletic moves were made to try and hypnotise the fish in some way, or whether it was just the bird’s normal movement when trying to follow a fast moving fish swimming in the shallow water.
