I joined Digi Dave for a visit to Oatley Park. My previous visit was cut a bit short due to rain, so I was keen to go back. On that trip, I had seen a lot of orchids, but they don’t last long, so probably would not be out still. But perhaps some new ones will have appeared? And there are always plenty of nice birds to be seen.
From Websters Lookout, we looked at the distant Osprey nest, on the far side of the Georges River. With binoculars we could see at least one Osprey perched near the nest. It looked like another head was visible at the nest.
Its good news that there are at least two chicks at the nest this year.
Nearby I could hear a Sacred Kingfisher calling.
We then headed down one of the roads to check out a Tawny Frogmouth nest. Here is the female perched in a tree near the nest –
The male as perched at the nest and was with a chick.
I had seen photos of this chick not long ago. It has grown very quickly!
Lots of Flannel Flowers were out. They always seem to attract small insects –
Then Digi Dave led me to an Aboriginal art cave. I had heard about this cave, but had not seen it before. It contains some charcoal drawings. It hard to interpret them – except for one which is a fish or whale.
Quite a few small birds were out. We saw Variegated Fairy-wrens in three spots in Oatley Park and Lime Kiln Bay –
Here is a Brown Thornbill –
Down at Lime Kiln Bay Wetlands – a Dusky Moorhen chick –
An Eastern Rosella –
Laughing Kookaburra –
Crimson Rosella
Grey Butcherbird –
And we did find some orchids. The Bearded Orchids I had seen on my last trip were all gone. The Flying Duck Orchids were better. More of them were now out –
This one has its “head” flipped down to trap a pollinator.
And Bonnet Orchids are starting to appear –
And so are Hyacinth Orchids –
We saw the usual Waterdragons –
It had been a good visit. As well as a visit to the park we had a nice pub lunch at the Oatley Hotel, and special thanks to Digi Dave for showing me the art site.