Day 105 of Lockdown. Another visit to Barton Park and a very full morning of bird watching and photography. It turned out to be a very good session. I left around lunch time as it started to get too hot.
I travelled to Barton Park by bus as that would allow me to walk back via the foreshore of the Cooks River, so I could see if the Osprey was around.
I was a popular day for bird photographers and bird watchers to be at Barton Park. There were quite a few others wandering around with their cameras.
At Landing Lights Wetland, I saw this Little Egret was active –
And the usual resident Pied Stilts were busy feeding.
The Little Egret had caught a small fish.
A Royal Spoonbill flew off to the end of the wetland.
And here is one of a flock of Little Corellas that flew overhead.
The Little Egret flew over to where the Spoonbill now was.
There was also a White-faced Heron in the same spot.
On the periphery were some Superb fairy-wrens.
I then walked out towards the point to look for the Osprey. On the way, I saw this Yellow-rumped Thornbill with a small moth.
Close by were a pair of Australasian Figbirds –
Then, a little way further along, and bird photographer Linda, called my attention to a beautiful Fan-tailed Cuckoo busy trilling away.
And not much further along the road was a White-browed Scrubwren.
There was no sign of the Osprey, so I walked back.
This New Holland Honeyeater has a beak full of insects.
And a Willie Wagtail is about to grab an insect –
I then went back to the wetlands to see if any other birds were around. I did not have t wait long as a Brown Goshawk flew high overhead.
It was then joined by a second Brown Goshawk. What followed ws very interesting to watch as they both flew around. Perhaps aerial courtship?
The Goshawks drifted away.
I then tuned my lens to some Golden-headed Cisticolas.
Behind the pond, a Yellow-rumped Thornbill was hunting for insects on small tree. I think they normally find them under the bark, but this time there were so many flying around that the bird was spoilt for choice.
Back at the pond, this Pied Stilt was incepting her eggs.
The White-faced Heron was watching.
The other Pied Stilt nest was unattended. The stilts seem to leaves their nests for short periods. It was a warm day, so the Sun would keep the eggs warm. The bird may need to sit on them to stop them getting too hot.
The parent returned and inspected the eggs. Perhaps seeing how they were or if any were hatching?
The Stilts also seemed busy building up their nest mounds, as the water level was higher than it had been.
I then went up to the higher area near the old stadium. Not too many birds around. I then decided to walk back towards the Cooks River and slowly make my way home. Part way, near Muddy Creek, I spotted the Grey Goshawk perched in a tree.
About to take-off? No. It is getting into a defensive stance as a Pied Currawong swoops down.
But soon after, the Goshawk does fly off, Unfortunately it takes off away from me.
As I walked back to Cahill Park along the foreshore of the Cooks River, I saw no sign of the Osprey.