It had been a while since my last visit to Centennial Park. About a year. A friend had told me that there were a lot of Black Swan cygnets to be seen. So I thought it worth a visit.
There are also a pair of nesting Powerful Owls to be seen – and they were the highlight of my visit. I expected to see them in the same general area I had seen them before – and this was correct. I was also aided by seeing a group of bird photographers with their lenses pointed up into the trees. One of the Powerful Owls was hard to see – very high up, hidden behind foliage –
The second was also high up – but not obscured by vegetation.
On of the other bird photographers was Steve, a bird enthusiast I had met before at centennial Park. He was very helpful in pointing out the birds location to me. Healso told me where to look to see some Tawny Frogmouths. One was sitting on a nest not too far away. I followed his directions and soon found the nest –
I then headed back to where the Powerful Owls were. I waited to see if one would stir. At one point a Noisy Miner flew over to the Owl’s nest hole and looked in. There are two chicks inside almost ready to fledge. I though this may stop up the parents. It didn’t.
I was lucky, the easier to see one of the adults, decided to stretch a wing. I got a lot better series of photos –
Then a yawn –
That was a nice encounter. I then headed off to the Flying Fox area to look for another Tawny Frogmouth that Steve had told me about. Last year, this bird was one of a nesting pair. This year it seems to be by itself.
Nearby, were a pair of Black Swans with two small cygnets –
I looked in the ponds for Pink-eared Ducks, but they don’t seem to be at the park at present. Here are some Hardheads –
On an island, I watched two Ibis. I though there may have been some courtship behaviour going on – but no, it was an adult feeding a rather large chick.
It was becoming quite windy, so I had lunch and then left the park. Here is a Turtle –
And an Australian Grebe –
