After the Greenway Bird Survey, I joined Valerie, who had also been on the survey on an excursion to the Blackbutt Track at H V Evatt Park and later Oatley Park. On the way, we picked up Sue.
We had an interesting time. At H V Evatt Park, I photographed some Welcome Swallows whizzing around hunting for insects.
Then we wet off down the Blackbutt Track. I was keen to spot an Owlet Nightjar – and we looked carefully at all the hollows we could spot with binoculars. But we had no luck this visit.
This hollow was occupied by a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo –
And the Wattle was beautiful –
At one stage a White-bellied Sea Eagle flew past. I was too slow to get a photo. We went back to see if had perched nearby, but could not spot it. Then a Peregrine Falcon circled overhead – but again it was too quick for me to get a photo out of the gap between the trees.
On the way back we spotted this Golden Whistler –
At Oatley Park, the local cycle club was racing, and some of he roads were closed. So we did the loop walk around Lime Kiln Bay. Lots of orchids were out –
Caladenia picta
I spotted this small patch of Hydnum repandum –
Caladenia picta
Some Nodding Greenhood Orchids were out – Pterostylis nutans –
Pixie Cap Orchid – Acianthus fornicatus –
Nodding Greenhood Orchid – Pterostylis nutans
And some Australasian Grebes were in one of the ponds –
Then we spotted a Powerful Owl perched in a tree. This was the highlight of our visit.
Nearby was a tree with a nice hollow. Perhaps the owl was on guard duty, and the other of the pair was in the hollow sitting on eggs?
Grey Butcherbird
Many thanks to Sue and Valerie for great company on the day, and also to Valerie for the lift down and back.