Nature at Hazelbrook 24 – 25 December 2025

Posted on January 4, 2026 by Dave Noble

I spent the Christmas period at my sister and brother in law’s place a Hazelbrook enjoying their hospitality. During my visit, I took a few photos, mainly of birds in their garden.

Here are some photos – Continue reading →

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Art Gallery of NSW – Mueck Exhibition – 18 December 2025

Posted on December 21, 2025 by Dave Noble

I joined Sue, Valerie and Hermoine in attending the very interesting exhibition of artworks by Australian artist Ron Mueck at the Art Gallery of NSW. Ron Mueck specialises in ultra realistic depictions of human subjects. However, the artworks are not life sized – being ether too small or too large.

Here are some of my photos of the artworks – Continue reading →

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Greenway Opening – 14 December 2025

Posted on December 21, 2025 by Dave Noble

I walked over to attend the opening of the Greenway Cycleway and Walkway at Johnston Park near the Arlington Light Rail Station. It was fantastic to see this project finally completed. Back in 2011, on this blog, I wrote about the campaign to complete the Greenway Cycleway. At that time, the NSW Government had made the decision to complete the light rail to Dulwich Hill, but not complete the Greenway Cycleway and Walkway. This was despite a large community campaign to complete it.

It would have made a lot more sense and been much cheaper to complete the Greenway at the same time as the light rail construction was  taking place, and completing it later has been quite expensive at around $57 million. But was in complete now, is probably a lot better than what was being thought of back in 2011.

The opening ceremony was very well attended, which shows the communities feeling about having this active transport project completed. Continue reading →

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Malabar Headland – 10 December 2025

Posted on December 13, 2025 by Dave Noble

Another excursion to Malabar Headland with Valerie and Sue. It had been a while since I had been to the headland and I was keen to see some Peregrine Falcon chicks. Our friend Alana, who lives near the Headland and often walks out during the day had reported seeing three Peregrine Falcons flying but had not been able to say whether they were juveniles or adults.

At the carpark, I bumped into Fred, another bird photographer who was just leaving. He confirmed that there were three Peregrine Falcon chicks.

Not far out along the track from Maroubra Beach, I spotted a Great Cormorant that had caught a nice fish. Continue reading →

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Back to the Sea Cliffs of Kurnell – 8 December 2025

Posted on December 12, 2025 by Dave Noble

A few weeks earlier, I had been on a visit to these sea cliffs with Sue and Valerie. We had been lucky, spotting an Osprey, a nesting pair of Kestrels and a family of Peregrine Falcons with three chicks almost at the point of fledging. So we were all keen to head back.

We had another great day.

No Osprey perched on the cliffs this time, but we did spot two of the Peregrine Falcon chicks – obviously fledglings. Continue reading →

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Blue Mountains Weekend 6 – 7 December 2025

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Dave Noble

I was heading up to a house warming party at Blackheath, with my friends John and Chuin Nee and there two boys, Jasper and Sebastian. It was a very hot day and we didn’t feel up to doing anything too hard, so on the way up we stopped at Reids Plateau at Katoomba. At the lookout – there is some shade in a man made cave.

On the way to the lookout, we saw this Crimson Rosella –

Continue reading →

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Kentlyn Basin Walk – Georges River – 4 December 2025

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Dave Noble

A hot day was forecast, and a short walk to a swimming hole seemed a good idea. Bob and Doug were keen on a walk, and I had suggested visiting the Basin on the Georges River at Kentlyn. None of us had been there, and as the Basin was supposed to be a great swimming spot, so it seemed a good place to visit.

Doug provided car, and he drove us to the carpark at the end of the Georges River Road. The carpark provides access to the Keith Longhurst Reserve which includes the Basin. The walk to the Basin is one of  number of walks in the Reserve. The Basin is only about 1 km from the carpark. It’s an easy walk, but the last part is steep. Continue reading →

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Birds at Wolli Creek – 2 December 2025

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Dave Noble

I went on a short visit to Wolli Creek to spend a few hours on bird photography. At first I heard lots of birds (mainly Bulbuls). But had few opportunities to photograph them.

I had heard a number of Superb Fairy-wrens near Paperbark Creek, but they remained mainly hidden in the vegetation. But when I walked down the track a bit, near the clearing, I heard a flock of Variegated Fairy-wrens. I waited with my camera ready to see if they would appear. They eventually did. Continue reading →

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Visit to Oatley Park – 1 December 2025

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Dave Noble

I joined Sue and Valerie for a very pleasant day at Oatley Park. The highlight was a nice picnic lunch. Thanks to Valerie for bringing extra food!

Here are some photos –

View from Websters Lookout – Continue reading →

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The Cockatoo Run – 23 November 2025

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Dave Noble

The Cockatoo Run is a heritage rail trip, that goes along a line that has been closed to normal passenger trains for thirty years. This is the line between Unanderra and Robertson. The Cockatoo Run trains leave from Central and go to Wollongong and then a bit further along the Illawarra Line to Unanderra and then go off on the line to Robertson and Moss Vale. And then later the train returns to Central along the same route.

To go on this heritage  train, which runs about once a month, you need to book well in advance as it’s very popular and fills up quickly. I booked for myself and also for Valerie and Sue.

We met up at Central, a bit before 9 am,  and then found the train was running about half an hour late. Here is the train coming in to platform 1 – Continue reading →

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