Birds at Bicentennial Park – 7 August 2021

Day 42 of lockdown. I had checked the limit of the area I could exercise in – my Local Government Area or within a 10 km radius. The western limit was Rookwood Necropolis, which I had already visited, and to the north west the limit was the Waterbird Refuge at Bicentennial Park (part of Sydney Olympic  Park). I could go as far as the bird hide, but not any further to the Shipwreck Lookout or to Wentworth Common.

So I cycled out along the Cooks River Cycleway to Homebush then along the cycleway into Sydney Olympic Park. On the way I stopped off at the Cooks River Boat Harbour and soon spotted the Tawny Frogmouths. They were in separate trees. Continue reading →

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Cooks River and Barton Park Birds – 6 August 2021

Day 41 of lockdown. My friend Valerie, that I have been exercising with during the lockdown, had seen  my photos of the birds at Barton Park, and had accepted an invitation to meet at the park and then walk around seeing what birds we could find.

I cycled to the park, and met Valerie there. We then spent about three hours walking around the large park. During the lockdown, I have visited Barton Park a lot – which is understandable being a good location for bird watching and it is also a nice bike ride to get there. This results in many similar photos – but the species I observe does change somewhat between visits. On my previous visit, I had seen large flocks of Nutmeg Mannikins and I had thought that there should also be the native Chestnut-breasted Mannikins around too. This time we saw a fair few Chestnut-breasted Mannikins in two places. Continue reading →

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Back to Sydney Park – 5 August 2021

Day 40 of lockdown. I decided for my exercise  for the day to ride in the afternoon to Sydney Park and back. Taking a bike rather than walking would allow me to check out some of the new cycleways. Also – it would give me another opportunity to photograph some of the birds at the park.

I was able to photograph a good variety of birds, including an elusive Lewin’s Rail. Here are some – Continue reading →

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Cooks River and Barton Park – A Windy Bike Ride! – 4 August 2021

Day 39 of lockdown. I set off down the Cooks River on my bike for an exercise ride to Barton Park and back. It was a windy day and this made riding hard and also a lot of the smaller birds were seeing to their shelter. Nevertheless, I still manage to spot some nice birds along the way.

Here are some. Continue reading →

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Birds at Sydney Park – 3 August 2021

Day 38 of lockdown. For my afternoon exercise, I walked to Sydney Park at St Peters and back. At the park, I looked around to see what birds where there.

I soon spotted the Black Swan family. Continue reading →

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Cooks River Tawny Frogmouths – 2 August 2021

Jennifer, a friend,  who lives near the Boat Harbour on the Cooks River, had taken a nice video of the resident Tawny Frogmouths perched near her house. I thought a visit to the Boat Harbour during the late afternoon could be nice for exercise and also to watch the Tawny Frogmouth as they awoke from their daily slumber.

I set off in the later afternoon, and walked down to the river and then proceeded upstream to near Younger Avenue. I soon spotted the roosting Tawny Frogmouths there – Continue reading →

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Cooks River and Barton Park Bike Ride – 2 August 2021

Day 37 of lockdown. My exercise was another bike ride down to Barton Park and back, and as usual I took my camera.

I expected to see some Sacred Kingfishers on my ride as the tide was low. Not far along the ride, just downstream from Illawarra Road, I spotted a Sacred Kingfisher. I stopped and took a few photos – Continue reading →

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Cooks River Birds – 1 August 2021

Day 36 of lockdown. Another exercise bike ride to the Cooks River. On this ride, I again went downstream and again looks our for Sacred Kingfishers.

I first stopped at Gough Whitlam Park where I saw a Sacred Kingfisher perched on a bush over the river. Continue reading →

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Cooks River and Barton Park Birds – 31 July 2021

Day 35 of lockdown. I decided to return to the Cooks River for a bike ride out to Barton Park and back.

It was another good morning, with a few stops along the way to photograph birds. Early on the ride, near Illawarra Road I spotted a Sacred Kingfisher. So I stopped and pulled out my camera. Continue reading →

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Stotts Reserve, Coolibah Reserve and Shephard Reserve – 30 July 2021

Day 34 of lockdown. This was a good opportunity to catch up with Valerie for some exercise walks and to visit three small reserves new to me.

We met up at Stotts Reserve at Bexley North. This is a small bushland remnant hidden in the middle of suburbia. Its entrance is through a small area along Slade Road. You need to look out for this sign – Continue reading →

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