La Perouse – Cape Banks Walk – 3 April 2023

Posted on April 6, 2023 by Dave Noble

This was a very pleasant walk with the National Parks Association of NSW, led by Brian Everingham. The plan was to meet at La Perouse, and then walk to the nearby Congwong Beach, and then to Henry Head and Cape Banks. From there head north to the old cemetery and then along a road to the Jennifer Street Boardwalk to see a patch of Eastern Suburbs Banksia Ecological Community, and then back to the start.

Thanks to Valerie and Deb for al lift to La Perouse. While we gathering, I headed down to the waterfront to photograph some birds. Continue reading →

Posted in Bushwalking | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Fungi at Mt Wilson – 1 April 2023

Posted on April 6, 2023 by Dave Noble

I joined the Sydney Fungal Studies Group for their fungal survey at the Waterfall Reserve at Mt Wilson. we met at the Reserve just before 10 am and were soon looking for fungi along the track. We had 17 people in attendance and with so many keen eyes we spotted a reasonable amount of interesting fungi.

Here is selection of what we spotted – Continue reading →

Posted in Blue Mountains | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Sydney Park Birds – 31 March 2023

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Dave Noble

I had been on a great walk down the Cooks River in the morning, and as it was a nice day, I headed out to Sydney Park in the afternoon. I was hoping for another good bird photography session like I had had two afternoons before.

This session turned out to be much quieter – I spotted no Rails and no Dollarbird. Insead it was the Australasian Grebes that wanted to pose for photos. Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Sydney | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Cooks River Bird Walk – 31 March 2023

Posted on April 2, 2023 by Dave Noble

I had suggested to Valerie and Sue that we do a walk along the Cooks River to keep tabs with the bird life. So we met at Valerie’s place and were soon walking to the river. Our first stop off was the Dibble Street Waterhole.

On recent visit to the waterhole, I had not seen too many birds, so it was a very pleasant surprise to see a Sacred Kingfisher sitting on a post just in the water. It was enjoying the sun. Continue reading →

Posted in Sydney | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Narrabeen Lagoon Walk – 30 March 2023

Posted on April 2, 2023 by Dave Noble

Last week Bob and myself had walked around the Manly Dam circuit track. I suggested that it would be logical to do the Narrabeen Lagoon walk next. It is a walk I had never done.

I met Bob at Gordon Station, and he drove to Narrabeen and parked in a back street just north of the Lagoon. We were soon on our way.

We followed a good path in an anticlockwise direction around the Lagoon. Continue reading →

Posted in Sydney | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Birds at Sydney Park – 29 March 2023

Posted on April 2, 2023 by Dave Noble

I had planned to join Sue for a morning visit to Sydney Park to walk around and look for birds. But it was raining, and the rain looked like it was going to continue, so we called off our visit. But later in the afternoon, the weather improved markedly, so I made a visit by myself. And it turned out to be a very worthwhile visit.

Lewin’s Rail

The first birds I photographed were some of the Australasian Grebes – Continue reading →

Posted in Sydney | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Nurragingy Reserve – 28 March 2023

Posted on April 2, 2023 by Dave Noble

I had been keen to to visit Nurragingy Reserve at Doonside again. My last visit, about a month before, had been very rewarding – with nice observations of an Azure Kingfisher and other nice birds. This visit turned out to be very quiet bird wise – but I did see some interesting fungi.

Perhaps the most interesting fungi I observed on my visit was two species of Birds Nest Fungi.

This one is Cyathus stercoreus. The edges of the cups are smooth. In the photo below, you can see all three stages. The cup with its brown lid on, one with the white membrane under the lid exposed and three with membranes gone showing the “birds nests” and their “eggs” Continue reading →

Posted in Birds | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Milsons Point to Waverton Walk – 27 March 2023

Posted on April 2, 2023 by Dave Noble

This was essentially the repeat of a walk I had been on back in 2019. Like that one, this one was led by Brian Everingham for the National Parks Association of NSW. Both walks were both interesting and enjoyable with a mixture of great scenery, history and Nature.

In the party this time, as well as Brian were – Valerie, Sue, Suzanne, Lydia, Judith, Kye, Jennifer, Graeme and Jenny, Chris and Mary, and myself. Continue reading →

Posted in Aboriginal Sites, Sydney | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Mason Park Wetlands – 26 March 2023

Posted on March 29, 2023 by Dave Noble

This was my fourth visit to these wetlands in recent weeks, and it was another attempt to see the Australian Spotted Crake. This time I was finally successful.

My photos however are all quite poor. It was a small bird and a long way off. I watched it for about ten minutes on the far side of the pond as it foraged along the shore. But I was happy to finally observe this reclusive bird.  Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Sydney | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Greenway Bird Survey – 25 March 2023

Posted on March 25, 2023 by Dave Noble

I took part in the early morning bird survey along the Waratah Mills section of The Greenway. The group meets on the fourth Saturday of the month at 7:30 am on the east side of Waratah Mills Light Rail Station.

Leaden Flycatcher

While the group was forming, we were being serenaded by the call of a Grey Butcherbird – Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Sydney | Tagged , , | Leave a comment