Newcastle Excursion – 1 January 2026

Posted on January 7, 2026 by Dave Noble

For the first day of the new year, I wen ton a train trip to Newcastle with Valerie and Sue. We had originally planned a more ambitious trip. Not as far, but one involving bus and ferry trips, as well as a train journey. But the forecast wind would not be that good for ferry travel and we decided to postpone that trip, and do a trip by train. Newcastle was our destination.

It turned out to be a wet and very windy day, so our choice proved to be a good one.

We caught a Mariyung Train from Central to Newcastle. Continue reading →

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More Wolli Creek Birds – 31 December 2025

Posted on January 7, 2026 by Dave Noble

I made another trip to visit some of the birds in Wolli Creek Regional Park.

Here are some photos – Continue reading →

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Nurragingy Reserve – 30 December 2025

Posted on January 4, 2026 by Dave Noble

I visited Nurragingy Reserve at Doonside with Valerie. We had quite a good day, but did not see as many birds as we were hoping.

Here are some photos –

Turtles

Continue reading →

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Wolli Creek Birds – 28 December 2025

Posted on January 4, 2026 by Dave Noble

I visited Wolli Creek Regional Park to photograph birds. I stayed mainly near the Bray Avenue Wetlands and Paperbark Creek.

I could hear quite a few birds around Paperbark Creek, but none came out of the scrub for photos, so I headed then to the Bray Avenue Wetlands. Again, I could hear the sounds of quite a few birds, and I eventually spotted a Sacred Kingfisher perched high in a tree. Continue reading →

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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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