After the Greenway Bird Survey, I travelled to Sydney Park where I met up with Sue. I wanted to show her the Pacific Baza but despite a lot of looking, and listening, we could not find it. So we then travelled down to Barton Park to see what birds were there. We had a very pleasant day out.
Here is a selection of photos from each of the parks. Continue reading
Photographically this survey was somewhat limited in scope. The cold winter weather resulted in not much bird activity. The highlight however were watching a flock of Spotted Pardalotes at Taverners Hill Light Rail Station, who were in warm sunlight.
We heard quite a few birds bit did not see too many other birds along the Greenway as we walked towards Hawthorne – except for Noisy Miners, Common Mynas and Magpies. Continue reading
After the Mudlarks Bird Survey, I was keen to check out the Wolli Creek area to see if any fungi was out. I was joined by Valerie.
We travelled by bus to Bardwell Park and then set off down the Two Valley Track. The fungi turned out to be very poor. The ground was perhaps still too waterlogged. We did however see a lot of orchids. All Greenhood Orchids of two species. Continue reading
Early in the morning, I joined the Mudlarks, surveying the birdlife along the Cooks River. The group met on the Lang Street Bridge at 7:30, and then we proceeded upstream.
Here are some of the birds we saw – Continue reading
I spent most of the day at the Northern Beaches trying to keep out of the rain. I was after photos of raptors.
I started off at Rat Park where I had a look to see if the Osprey were at their nest. I saw no sign of them. I did see, briefly, a Nankeen Kestrel. Continue reading
This was a cold, wet and very windy day. But it is easy to get talked into an outing to photograph birds. I had been talking to Micheal and he was keen on a trip to Malabar Headland. It was one of the rare Sundays the east side of the National Park was open, and with the prospect of a shooting festival all the next week, it sounded like a good plan to join him. But the weather had different ideas.
Earlier in the morning, looking at the weather radar, it looks like a band of rain was about to pass over. So we set off for Malabar. At the carpark, it was quite windy and a bit wet. But the rain soon eased. So we set off for Boora Point. When we got there, there was no sign of the Peregrine Falcons, and it also seemed to be far too windy for them to perch in their usual spots on the cliffs. But a short time later, we spotted one flying off and heading west along the cliffs. Continue reading
This was a full day of bird photography. I started off with the Tempe Birdos at their monthly survey. Then I walked down to Barton Park and enjoyed a few hours there.
At Tempe, I joined the group surveying the wetlands. Being early it was quite cold and not that many birds were active at first. Continue reading
It was nice to spend a day out on Malabar Headland again. This time I was with Valerie and Sue. We were looking for Peregrine Falcons and Whales. Well – we did not see any whales at all, but we did see two Peregrines.
It was sunny weather, but very windy. It was a cold wind coming from the south. This resulted in big seas, and that was probably why we didn’t see any whales. Continue reading
Bob had never been to Oatley Park, and I had suggested a visit there, and we thought we could combine it with looking for Aboriginal art sites. Digi Dave had shown me an art site on a previous visit – a small cave with some charcoal drawings. It seemed likely that there could be more art scattered throughout the park.
Lime Kiln Bay is on the west side of Oatley Park and that name comes from the early colonial activity that took place there – making lime, an ingredient of cement used for building work. But the lime would be made from shells – and that in turn suggests middens. And that means Aboriginal occupation sites. Continue reading
After break at home due to bad weather and other commitments, I was keen to head outside. Perhaps too keen – as the weather was not that good. I first visited Sydney Park – where I spent most of my time photographing the Pacific Baza. Then I had lunch and headed to Barton Park. But while I was there – it was raining most of the time – so I left for home early.
The Pacific Baza at Sydney Park was easy to find. I walked around a bit and listened for Noisy Miners. When I could hear some in a confrontation, I walked closer, and when I saw Merril, another bird photographer I knew I was getting close. It rained lightly on an off for the next hour or so while I was following the Baza as it hunted in the trees. Continue reading
