Day 53 of lockdown. For exercise – I joined Valerie for a walk down the Cooks River to Tempe Reserve and back. We had a very pleasant morning, that extended to early afternoon.
We met at 9 am on the Lang Street Bridge and then proceeded downstream. Along the first section we saw the usual Cormorants. Here is a Little Pied Cormorant –
The tide was right to see Sacred Kingfishers, and sure enough, we did. Valerie spotted the first one, just downstream of Illawarra Road.
We stopped to watch it for a while. It soon flew down and returned with crab. I was not too accurate with my camera –
Another dive down and another crab.
Now looking down for more crabs.
But also looking above. It can hear a pesky Noisy Miner.
It suddenly takes off.
And returns with a crab.
It flew out of sight down the river, so we continued with our walk.
Under one of the Casuarinas we saw a few of thee old Pepper Pot Puffballs ( Myriostoma australianum )
Close to Gough Whitlam Park we spotted either another Sacred Kingfisher, or perhaps the same one we had seen upstream.
And early some Rainbow Lorikeets attracted our attention.
And then another Sacred Kingfisher (or the same one perhaps – a bit further along).
Crossing the Cooks River near Tempe Station, we saw a distant Striated Heron.
We walked around Tempe Reserve. On Alexandria Canal, we saw a mixed group of Cormorants –
And a Pelican was searching for fish –
We didn’t see too much at Tempe Wetlands, so we walked back to the Cooks River and went to Waterworth Park to have a snack. A White-faced Heron was also looking for food –
At the Cooks River – Wolli Ck junction, we spotted a Sacred Kingfisher perched on the far side. We watched it for a while, but it seemed settled.
Back in Gough Whitlam Park, I noticed these leaves with perforations. I have seen them like this before and have wondered what caused this. I am sure some insects are involved. Perhaps Lurps or Psyllids? I know these live on leaves and are preyed on by birds such as Pardalotes and Noisy Miners. Perhaps the holes are made when the birds grab the small insects that are attach themselves to the leaf?
We had a coffee break at Gough Whitlam Park, then continued on our way back upstream. Valerie spotted this nice Striated Heron lurking in the mangroves.
And we saw this unusual duck. I have seen it before. It is perhaps a hybrid Chestnut Teal with a domestic duck?
Further along, we spotted a Sacred Kingfisher. Perhaps the same one we had seen a few hours earlier? We watched it flew past, too sudden for me to photograph and then it landed in the distant mangroves. We walked back and spotted it.
We then watched it dive down into the river for a very quick wash. It did this a few times.
It them moved further into the mangroves.
Further upstream, we walked along the shore on the golf course side. Here is one last bird – another Little Pied Cormorant.
We had enjoyed our exercise together.