Back to Long Reef – 5 December 2021

Posted on December 10, 2021 by Dave Noble

After a very good trip two days earlier, I though I would again visit Long Reef. So back on the B-line Bus to Dee Why and a change to the 199 Bus to the golf course, and then the short walk out to the peninsula. I arrived about 11 am.

Like some of my previous visits the weather was not the best. It constantly looked like it was about to rain. And as often happens the day started off fairly quiet with not many birds present. The tide was too high to venture out on the headland and it was also quite windy – a strong breeze coming from the south-east. Continue reading →

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Sydney Olympic Park – 4 December 2021

Posted on December 10, 2021 by Dave Noble

I spent a nice afternoon out at Sydney Olympic Park. I first visited the Waterbird Refuge in Bicentennial Park and then went to Wentworth Common and the Brickpit Ring and then went back the same way.

Australian Shelducks

I saw a lot of nice birds. Here are some – Continue reading →

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Long Reef – 3 December 2021

Posted on December 8, 2021 by Dave Noble

I had spent the previous day at Malabar Headland, and that had been very good for bird photography, so I thought I would follow it up on another of Sydney’s headlands – Long Reef. It too turned out to be a very good day. I saw a Peregrine falcon, two Kestrels and three Ospreys. The Ospreys provided the best photo opportunities.

When I arrived, things were quiet. I walked down onto the headland rock platform and could see an Osprey  through binoculars. It was perched in a tree on the north side. I walked over towards it. Continue reading →

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Malabar Headland – 2 December 2021

Posted on December 8, 2021 by Dave Noble

My previous visit to Malabar Headland had been quite disappointing in terms of seeing the resident Peregrine Falcons. I have been watching this breeding pair now for four seasons and the number of chicks they have had that have fledged each season has been 1, 3, 2 and now 1 this year. I have found that multiple chicks have been a lot better for photography because the chicks seem to fly together not far from the nest area. With only one chick, a parent seems to take the chick to more remote places to tech it how to hunt, so visits can be a bit hit or miss. This visit turned out to be relatively good.

On the walk in, I stopped to photograph a Rufous Whistler – Continue reading →

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More Birds – Barton Park and The Cooks River – 1 December 2021

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Dave Noble

Barton Park was a good venue for some bird photography.

Here are some of the birds I saw, mainly at the Landing Lights Wetland – Continue reading →

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Some Birds at Sydney Park – 1 December 2021

Posted on December 7, 2021 by Dave Noble

I had a busy first day of Summer, visiting Sydney Park and then Barton Park and later walking home via the Cooks River. I will keep this post for Sydney Park only. I had some good photographic opportunities with the birds there.

Australian Reed Warbler

Here are some of the birds I saw – Continue reading →

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Long Reef Birds – 30 November 2021

Posted on December 6, 2021 by Dave Noble

I spent another part day at Long Reef photographing birds there. The weather was not the best, with some light showers, and then when heaver rain came, I left in the early afternoon.

I timed my visit for low tide – and this would allow me to look for migratory birds on the rock platform. When I arrived, I scanned the platform with binoculars and spotted an Osprey perched on a rock. It seemed to be eating a fish. I approached and paused about 20 metres away to take some photos. I did not want to disturb the bird in its feeding. Continue reading →

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Oatley Park – 29 November 2021

Posted on December 6, 2021 by Dave Noble

This visit to Oatley Park was organised and led by Gary Schoer for the National Parks Association of NSW. We spent a very pleasant time wandering around parts of the park in the morning, then headed to the Oatley Hotel for lunch. After lunch a few of us returned to the park for a visit to the lookouts.

Oatley Park is a very good bushland remnant in Sydney and isa good place to see birds and wild flowers. The group started off  at the Lime Kiln Bay Wetlands. We first looked for and found some of the resident Water Dragons. Continue reading →

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Nurragingy Reserve – 28 November 2021

Posted on December 6, 2021 by Dave Noble

I spent a nice day visiting Nurragingy Reserve at Doonside.

Eastern Spinebill

Compared to some of my other visits to this reserve, this one was relatively quiet. I like to see the resident Kingfishers, particularly the Azure Kingfishers, but on this visit I did not spot any. I did see one Sacred Kingfisher, and that was only for a short time. Continue reading →

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Birds at Sydney Olympic Park – 27 November 2021

Posted on November 30, 2021 by Dave Noble

I didn’t expect to go out again after the Greenway Bird Survey in the morning as the weather forecast was not good. On the survey we had experienced light rain – and that does not help bird photography. The light is poor and a lot less birds are around. But sitting at home, it seemed that the weather was improving, so I had an early lunch and caught a train to Concord West and was soon in The Bicentennial Park part of Sydney Olympic Park.

I had quite a good afternoon. I visited the Waterbird Refuge at Bicentennial Park and  then went to the nearby Wentworth Common, and had a quick trip to the Brickpit, and then headed back the same way. Continue reading →

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