I was able to spend a few hours at Sydney Park in the afternoon. When I arrived however, I was a bit worried as there was a big storm nearby. I consulted the rain radar ands that it was to the south and should miss where I was. So I started looking around for birds.
In the top pool, at the far end was a Pied Cormorant –
And a family of Eurasian Coots –
I then met up with Gokay, another bird photographer. We then headed to the lower pond where we saw a Pacific Black Duck with a large group of ducklings fleeing to the bank away from a rather large eel.
The parent took the ducklings to safety.
But not far away was a Eurasian Coot chick.
Another Eurasian Coot had just caught a Dragonfly.
The second parent was feeding the chick.
But the chick seemed to have a preference for the Dragonfly.
But the chick was not too good with its food. It dropped its meal.
The parent rescued the meal.
I think it had one bits first, then the rest.
Meanwhile, while the parents were distracted feeding their chick, a Pelican approached ready to scoop up the chick.
But the parents reacted very quickly and got between the chick and the Pelican.
The Pelican left and resorted to a more conventional diet.
It caught a few very small fish.
There only seemed to be one Coot chick. I wonder if this is one the ones I had seen on my previous visit on 8 March – then there had been four chicks. So, it looks like only one has survived.
Some Australian Swamphens were renewing their bonds –
I wandered around a bit, and saw some people looking at a bird in the Island Pond. It was a Buff-banded Rail lurking in the reeds.
Four days before, I had also seen a lot of stinkhorn fungi out. There had been more pop up, but these fungi only lasts day or so.
And a few more birds. Some Black Swans –
And these Eurasian Coots are nesting –
And a juvenile Crested Pigeon was being fed by a parent. I think these birds feed their young on a type of “milk” that they regurgitate.
It was not long after I had taken these photos when it did start to rain – and the rain soon got heavier. Much heavier! I beat a treat to St Peters Station and to home. Not long after the railway line at Marrickville was flooded and train were stopped.