Another bike ride out along the Cooks River Cycleway to Homebush Bay with some stopping along the way to photograph birds.
My first stop was at Mason Park Wetlands. In Powells Creek, I again spotted a Great Egret hunting for fish. This time, it caught a very small fish, then flew off into the wetlands.
I spotted a raptor suddenly take off from a perch in one of the trees next to the wetlands. It then flew away. I think it was a Brown Goshawk.
Back to the wetlands, a few Black-fronted Dotterels were about.
Then there was a bit of commotion. I looked up hoping a raptor may be flying over. I did see some birds high up. One was this Australasian Darter.
Then the Goshawk did fly over, but it didn’t stay around for long.
I continued on to Bicentennial Park. In one of the small ponds before the main lake, I spotted some more Black-fronted Dotterels –
There were quite a few more in the main lake. Here is one photographed from the bird hide –
I also met Daniele again. She was photographing some of the Black Swans.
Closer, a White-faced Heron was hunting.
It caught something small.
The hide is a good place t observe the nearby Superb Fairy-wrens.
I then continued cycling around Wentworth Common, The Brickpit and Newington Armory without observing any more birds of interest. After short lunch break, I headed back into Bicentennial Park. This time I continued to Lake Belvedere. Lots of birds were active.
Here is a Pied Cormorant with breeding plumage.
Lake Belvedere is a good place for getting birds in flight shots. Here is a Masked Lapwing.
And here is an Australasian Darter coming in to land.
Then a large gulp of Little Black Cormorants arrived. Perhaps 20 of them in the gulp. Here are some coming in to land –
This one has an interesting method of slowing down –
Some female Australasian Darters –
While the male took off –
On my way home, I looked in at Mason Park Wetlands. The Great Egret was around – but perched in a tree.
