Walking near Kurnell – 21 November 2022

Sydney is currently experiencing some very windy weather, and the 21st was perhaps the windiest day of late. But we made the best of it on our walk. It was led by Brian Everingham for the National Parks Association of NSW.

We met at Kurnell, near the Kamay Botany Bay National Park entrance. In the party was Brian, Valerie, Deb, Vivianne, Suzanne and myself. Because of the wind, we decided to walk in the sheltered forest first. So we parked near the Visitor Centre and walked around the loop of the Banks-Solander Track.

While we were getting ready to set off, a Channel-billed Cuckoo flew overhead.

Early on the walk, we heard the calls of Variegated Fairy-wrens. And one appeared –

Thanks to Brian for the id of this butterfly. A Variable Sword Grass Brown – Tisophone abeona –

These are tracks made by termites –

And perhaps an Orb spider –

Blueberry Ash – Eleocarpus reticulatus

Hybanthus monopetalus –

Bronze Flat – Netrocoryne repanda–

This species of moth is unusual for resting with its wings flat.

Common Blue Butterfly –

Tiger Moth, Perhaps Amata sp.

Native Olives

Dragonfly

This Variegated Fairy-wren has caught a Lacewing –

It had been pleasant walking in the forest. We then drove up to the Cape Solander Whale watching area. Brian was to check on progress on the new carpark and whale watching platforms.

Next – was a drive out along Joseph Banks Road to Potter Point, when we walked down past Doughboy Head to The Boat Harbour and back. It was far too windy to proceed onto the rock platform.

The Boat Harbour –

Here is a white man’s midden –

We then drove back towards Cronulla. We stopped of at the Woolooware Waders Lagoon. It was again, far too windy for may birds to be around.

Our last stop, was a place new to me – the wetlands along Greenhills Street. These are artificial wetlands – formed in water retention ponds, and they seem to attract a good range of birdlife. We could hear quite a few Reed Warblers, but they were too hard to photograph. Here are some other birds –

Hardhead

Little Black Cormorant

Dusky Moorhen with chicks

Great Egret

Eurasian Coot with chicks

Hardhead with chicks