This visit to Oatley Park was organised and led by Gary Schoer for the National Parks Association of NSW. We spent a very pleasant time wandering around parts of the park in the morning, then headed to the Oatley Hotel for lunch. After lunch a few of us returned to the park for a visit to the lookouts.
Oatley Park is a very good bushland remnant in Sydney and isa good place to see birds and wild flowers. The group started off at the Lime Kiln Bay Wetlands. We first looked for and found some of the resident Water Dragons.
Here are some Pacific Black Duck chicks –
And here is an Australasian Grebe with a chick –
And a second adult –
The Dusky Moorhen is getting food for its chicks.
Not far away, perched high in tree overhead was a Collared Sparrowhawk.
We then continued on towards the bay, passing this Crimson Rosella –
And here are some Rainbow Lorikeets checking out a nest hollow –
As we stared walking up the hill, we spotted a large number of Hyacinth Orchids. They seemed to be two different species. The ones with green stems are likely to be Dipodium variegatum.
And ones with purple stems are probably Dipodium roseum.
One of the party, Geoff, spotted this Channel Billed Cuckoo –
We then left the road and set off along the track around the headland. There were lots of nice wild flowers. Here are some Flannel Flowers –
I knew of spot were Bonnet Orchids can be seen, and sure enough many were in flower. Cryptostylis erecta –
We could hear the call of a Sacred Kingfisher, and then we spotted it –
This Brown Thornbill was harder to see –
And another Crimson Rosella –
There were also an abundance of Trigger Plants –
We had morning tea on a nice lookout rock. In the far distance we saw this Osprey –
There was plenty of Christmas Bush out –
Some sort of native bee or wasp?
Grevillea sp.
We rounded the headland and then made our way back down the road back to Lime Kiln Bay. We looked for but could not spot any Tawny Frogmouths.
Along the track on the far side of the bay, we could only find on Flying Duck Orchid – Caleana major –
We spotted a small flock of Variegated Fairy-wrens –
And further along we spotted a pair of Sacred Kingfishers.
We think there were drilling holes in this Termite Nest for their own nest.
After lunch at the Oatley Hotel, I returned with Valerie, Sue and Suzanne and we waled around the top loop that passes the lookouts.
Here are a pair of Rainbow Lorikeets –
And a King Parrot –
Here are four Pelicans in Lime Kiln Bay –
And we could see the Osprey perched in a tree on Lugarno Point.
And this Termite Nest looks like a giant match.
And a last photo, this one of a Laughing Kookaburra –
Thanks to Gary for a great excursion.