While coming back from Mt Wilson, I got a call from Michael, a local birder, alterting me to the presence of a Powerful Owl that was roosting along the Cooks River. So when I got home, I grabbed my bird camera and set off to see if I could spot it. Michael had given very precise direction to where it was, and I soon spotted it.
It was being harassed by Noisy Miners, as often happens with owls and other large birds. But the Powerful Owl seemed to ignore them, and consequently, it was also awake and alert – so nice for photos.
A number of people walking the track noticed it, including a group of kids on bikes. They all seemed very respectful to the birds, and admired it.
Here is one of the Noisy Miners –
A Golden-Orb Spider –
I continued walking down the river path. There were plenty of Little Pied Cormorants perched in the mangroves –
And the Gough Whitlam Park Tawny Frogmouths were in the same perch I had seen them on previous recent visits.
Waling back upstream –
And the Powl was asleep –
I do not expect the Powl to remain in the same tree for long. A friend had a look the next day, and could not spot it, so it has probably left the area.
Many thanks to Michael for the tip off.