Lion Island Bushcare – 26 June 2022

Our bushcare group spent a productive day weeding at Lion Island in Broken Bay. The Island is a Nature Reserve and is not open to the public. It is an important location for penguin nesting. So it a special place to visit and worthwhile place to help regenerate the bush.

We had been to the Island before, back in 2015. On that occasion we mainly removed Lantana from the top of he ridge above the penguin rookery. This time we headed to the high point of the Island and concentrated on removing Asparagus.

We travelled by barge from the wharf at Barrenjoey for the trip to the Island. The barge landed at the small beach on the west side of the Island and we unloaded our tools. While we were having a briefing from the ranger in charge, a pair of White-bellied Sea Eagles circled above the cliffs.

One flew off and soon reappeared with a fish.

There had been a bushfire (due to a lighting strike) on the Island back in 2018, and the regrowth was very thick. It was slow going climbing up the summit point.

This high point provided great views.

We soon set to work.

We had back down on the beach by 1:30 pm in time for the boat to pick us up. On the beach we noted these mammal footprints –

I wonder what animal made them.

Some of the group, that had been working in a different area and seen a number of Penguins in their nest burrows.

The boat trip back provided us some good views of Barrenjoey.

And we could see the seals basking in the Sun –

Thanks to Enmoore for organising the bushcare activity and to the NPWS staff for their great assistance. And to Martin and Steffy for the lift up and back.