I decided to make a visit to Oatley Park – partly to photograph any birds I could find, and also to look for flowering orchids.
I did find both birds and orchids. The highlight was observing a family of Tawny Frogmouths.
I walked to the park from Oatley Station, and entered at the top near the sporting field. I then walked down one of the tracks that eventually led to Frog Hollow.
I spotted this Grey Butcherbird early on –
And there were lots of Flannel Flowers out –
I could hear the call of a Sacred Kingfisher, and I eventually spotted it –
I also came across a new and probably unauthorised mountain bike trail. It looked like a lot of vegetation had been destroyed in its construction.
I spotted a pair of Rainbow Lorikeets. One was almost inside hollow. It disappeared out of sight, and then the second one joined it in the hollow. It did not look like a very big hollow!
Down near Lime Kiln Bay Wetlands I came across this Brown Thornbill –
And a Laughing Kookaburra.
Near the Wetlands, I often see Water Dragons. On this visit I seemed to see a lot of them.
White-browed Scrubwren
And some more Water Dragons –
One of the ponds had a family of Pacific Black Ducks –
I then set off along the tracks on the west side of the Bay. Here is a male Variegated Fairy-wren –
This female seems to have a Halloween outfit –
I think this is a Brown Gerygone –
There is one spot where I often see Flying Duck Orchids (Caleana major) out at this time of the year. This visit I could only find one –
But back in Oatley Park, near the footbridge over Lime Kiln Bay, I found a lot of Hyacinth Orchids.
Blotched Hyacinth Orchid – Dipodium variegatum
Hyacinth Orchid – Dipodium punctatum
I then walked up the road towards the lookouts. On the way up, I was looking out for Tawny Frogmouths, but I would have missed spotting them, except, as I was walking, one flew in front of me across the road. I was being harassed by some Noisy Miners. As soon as it crossed the road, it landed on a branch and then froze into a “bit of wood” pose. The Noisy Miners flew around very confused, and soon left. The Tawny Frogmouth relaxed its stiff pose a bit .
Then I looked across to the other side of the road, and saw the rest of the family. Another adult and two chicks. The adult that flew across the road must have been drawing the Noisy Miners from the chicks.
One of the chicks was wide awake –
Back to the first adult –
And back to the chick. It was very quirky.
The first adult was now watching it.
And this is the adult still near the chicks.
The chick was still quite active –
The adult that had flown across the road looked like it might fly back. I was ready with my camera to try and get a flight shot.
But it didn’t fly back while I was there.
The second chick, that was perched a little higher then woke up –
I then left the road and started walking along the track around the point. At one spot I found some more orchids.
Bonnet Orchid – Cryptostylis erecta
The sky was starting to get very black. It looked like storm was approaching. I checked the rain radar – and a huge storm was coming my way. But slowly. I walked back along the track and then walked up to one of the picnic tables under cover to have lunch.
I spouted more Blotched Hyacinth Orchids – Dipodium variegatum
After using a tap to refill my water bottle, I noticed a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo having a drink – from the very shallow water on the concrete. I turned on the tap a bit more to give the thirsty bird a better chance.
Then it was brisk walk back to the station and a train home. I just made it home before the storm hit.