Fungi at the Upper Natone Reserve – 21 July 2023

Posted on July 30, 2023 by Dave Noble

I was in Tasmania, on a family trip, accompanied by my sister and brother in law (who live in the Blue Mountains) and we were visiting our sister and brother in law, who live at West Ulverstone. I was fortunate to be able to fit in some fungi trips during my visit. This was the first – visiting the Upper Natone Reserve south of Burnie. On this visit I was joined by both of my sisters who did some great spotting.

I had been to the reserve on my previous visit to Tasmania. That was during May 2022, and then the fungi was generally a lot better.

Here is some of the fungi we saw – Continue reading →

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Barton Park Birds – 18 July 2023

Posted on July 19, 2023 by Dave Noble

I sent a few hours around the middle of the day at Barton Park looking for birds. It turned out to be a fairly quiet time. I did see a Brown Goshawk perched in a tree near the bend in the cycleway, but it didn’t stay around long enough for a photo.

Here are some of the birds I did see –

Pied Stilts at the Landing Lights Wetland –  Continue reading →

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Malabar Headland – 17 July 2023

Posted on July 19, 2023 by Dave Noble

I headed out to Maroubra to join Sue, and then we walked out onto Malabar Headland to hopefully observe the resident Peregrine Falcons. As days go, it started off very quiet, but the afternoon was very good.

As we walked out, we observed some of the smaller birds. Continue reading →

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Fungi at Mt Wilson – 15 July 2023

Posted on July 16, 2023 by Dave Noble

I took part in the fungi field study at the Waterfall Reserve at Mt Wilson conducted by the Sydney Fungal Studies Group Inc. Despite very dry conditions, we found some interesting fungi.

Most of the fungi we did find was on moist logs. The ground was very dry and despite a lot of looking we found very little fungi growing in soil. Continue reading →

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Bundeena to Marley Walk – 13 July 2023

Posted on July 16, 2023 by Dave Noble

Sue had suggested a walk in Royal National Park from Bundeena, down the Coastal Track to Marley and back. Fine weather was forecast, and it sounded like good idea.

We met on the train to Cronulla and were soon boarding the ferry to Bundeena. Continue reading →

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Birds at Barton Park – 12 July 2023

Posted on July 16, 2023 by Dave Noble

Another fairly short visit to Barton Park in the afternoon. This time it was relatively quiet – no raptors. But I did spot the Australian Spotted Crake – very briefly.

The Crake suddenly appeared and paused for a second and then ran quickly into cover. Continue reading →

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Greenway Bird Survey – 12 July 2023

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Dave Noble

The day before had been the Mudlarks Bird Survey on the Cooks River. This morning was the Greenway Bird Survey along the Hawthorne Canal. The group met at 7:30 am at Taverners Hill Light Rail Station.

The sun had just hit the trees opposite and this had brought out a flock of Spotted Pardalotes. It was special to watch these very small, but also very beautiful birds as they hunted for lerps on the leaves of the Eucalypts. Continue reading →

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Mudlarks Cooks River Bird Survey – 11 July 2023

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Dave Noble

I was able to take part in the early morning bird survey conducted by the Mudlarks along a section of the Cooks River. The area visited alternates each month, and this month the survey was upstream – from the Lang Street Bridge (meeting place 7:30 am during non daylight saving periods) – to the Boat Harbour, then across to the far side and up to the Cup and Saucer Creek Wetlands and then back on that side to the Lang Street Bridge – and finishing with morning tea at Ewen Park.

While the group was forming, some members had spotted a heron upstream on the mudflat. In the morning light, it looked like a Striated Heron, but a more careful look revealed it was a White-faced Heron – Continue reading →

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International Space Station – Moon Transit – 10 July 2023

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Dave Noble

While out on Malabar Headland, I was able to photograph a transit of the International Space Station and the Moon.

The series of white dots on the left of the Moon is the ISS. The above photo is a composite of ten of the photos I took. My camera was shooting at 30 frames per second. (1/2000 second, f 6.3, 500 ISO). Continue reading →

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Malabar Headland – 10 July 2023

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Dave Noble

It was time for another visit to Malabar Headland. Both Sue and Valerie were keen to join me. The weather forecast was good – a fine day with fresh westerly winds.

I travelled to Maroubra with Valerie, and we met up with Sue at Magic Point.

Walking out, we spotted some small birds. Continue reading →

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