Day 85 of lockdown. Another bike ride down the Cooks River to Barton Park and back.
This visit it was the turn of the Grey Goshawk to star.
When I arrived, it was fairly quiet, bird wise, on the Spring St Canal. No Striated Heron, but there were a pair of Spoonbills. I went up the high area near the old stadium and bumped into some other birds photographers. They had just seen the Grey Goshawk. It then flew up, and around and perched in some trees near the old stadium. We all went closer to see if we could spot it. Before we could, it flew out.
It flew over the wetlands where it was harassed by a Willie Wagtail.
It flew over once more then headed off towards the Cooks River.
I then headed out to the point on the Cooks River to see if I could see the Grey Goshawk or the Osprey. No sign of the Goshawk, but I did see the Osprey. It was perched a long way away, on the far side of the river, near the airport.
As I was retiring back towards the wetlands, I spotted the Grey Goshawk perched on a pole.
It took off before I could get close, and flew back towards the stadium.
I looked for it on the higher area without spotting it, so went back down to the Landing Lights Wetland. The usual Pied Stilts were around.
As well as a Little Pied Cormorant.
A White-faced Heron arrived.
I could then hear some Sulphur-crested Cockatoos making a racket. I waited for them to fly closer and saw the reason for their noise. They were trying to drive away the Grey Goshawk.
The Grey Goshawk went back to the higher area, and I went up that way but it was not around. It seemed to have gone back to the lower area. Heading back down I spotted this Laughing Kookaburra.
Then there was a commotion over the market gardens next to the wetlands. The Grey Goshawk was there and flew away. But I also saw another raptor. It was a Brown Goshawk.
Then all of sudden there were two Brown Goshawks.
By this time all he raptors had gone, so I visited the old sporting fields near the M5. I could see the Grey Goshawk in the far distance. It flew over the gold firing range and then circled around closer.
The last I saw of it was in the far distance near the M5 where it had caused all the Starlings to take to the air.
I then deduced to head back to Cahill Park and look for any Kingfishers that may be out. I didn’t spot any, but I found a nice shady spot to have lunch. After that, I cycled out to the point at Tempe Reserve. From there, I could just spot the Osprey, perched over 1 km away, close to where I had seen it earlier from the other direction.
Then it was time to head home. It was great to see the Grey Goshawk again, even If I was not able to get some closer shots.