I spent the morning at Emu Green Reserve at Emu Plains spending my time there looking for and photographing birds.
Emu Green can be very good for birds. This trip was not my best visit. but it was reasonable and it was nice to visit some of my old birding sites again.
I walke to the Reserve from Emu Plains station, and on the way I had a look at where I had seen Whistling Kites nesting last season. I soon spotted one Whistling Kite perched near a large nest.
The Kite was being harassed by a Raven. After a short while, it took off after the Raven.
It then returned back towards its nest thinking the Raven had got the message.
However… perhaps not.
At the entrance to the Reserve I could see a Satin Bowerbird –
And, at the gate I bumped into Graham, another bushwalker I knew. He was also there for some bird photography.
We soon spotted a Black-shouldered Kite –
I was after some photos of Rainbow Bee-Eaters. I had seen them this time last year, so I went to that spot. There were two. Here is one of them.
But they didn’t stay around for long. I later managed to get some photos of one flying.
Nearby was a Bar-shouldered Dove –
And a New Holland Honeyeater –
Then I spotted another raptor – a Brown Goshawk –
Another bird photographer, Gavin had now arrived.
Back down near the river, we could hear Sacred Kingfishers. There were two perched on one tree –
And another two perched on another tree –
I then headed down the River. I spotted a distant Grey Goshawk –
Here is a Red-browed Finch –
Anda Golden-headed Cisticola –
Back at the top area to look for Bee-eaters again, I spotted a very distant Nankeen Kestrel –
After a lunch break, I walked further downstream. I spotted a Chestnut-breasted Mannikin –
And I heard and then spotted a Rufous Whistler –
I saw a Rufous Fantail, but it didn’t want to come out of the foliage for a good photo.
Walking back I spotted a single Zebra Finch –
It was now getting quite hot, so I decided to leave early. On the way out, I saw a Yellow Thornbill –
And the Whistling Kite was still near its nest.
