Wolli Creek Nature Walk – 22 November 2020

Posted on November 22, 2020 by Dave Noble

This was another local activity. Wolli Creek is the closest intact bushland remnant to where I live and I like to walk down the valley every few weeks. On this visit, I caught a bus to Bexley North and then set off down the Two Valleys Track.

I was mainly on the lookout for birds, but also orchids. Of the birds I have been looking for in the valley, one that has eluded me until now has been the Variegated Fairy-wren. I had seen plenty of the much more common Superb Fairy-wrens on my visits, and had heard that the Variegated species had been seen recently. So I had been on the lookout for it for at least a year. It was good to finally spot it this visit. Continue reading →

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Cooks River Birds – 21 November 2020

Posted on November 22, 2020 by Dave Noble

With so many interesting birds in my local area, I thought another visit to the Cooks River would be worthwhile. This time I travelled by bike between locations.

I started at the new bridge at Lang Street and cycled up to the Boat Harbour. When looking around for the Tawny Frogmouth family, I got swooped by a Butcherbird. They have been viscous in this area on previous years, and you need to be careful. Continue reading →

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Malabar Headland – 20 November 2020

Posted on November 22, 2020 by Dave Noble

Here are some photos from my latest trip to Malabar Headland National Park. Like my other recent trips, my main aim was to photograph the pair of juvenile Peregrine Falcons. But compared to the trips this one was relatively poor.

As the juvenile Falcons get bigger, they move around the headland and can be hard to locate. When they do fly, its only for about five minutes every hour, so you need to be in the right place and ready. On this visit, I saw one of the falcons fly into Dead Man’s Gulch – the dyke between Magic and Boora Points. When I arrived there, I spotted the adult Peregrine Falcon perched on a cliff. A little later I spotted the two juveniles. One was perched on the far side of the gulch, and the other was perched on my side, and eating a bird. Continue reading →

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Jugglers and Grand Canyons – 19 November 2020

Posted on November 22, 2020 by Dave Noble

It was nice to head up the mountains with Bob and visit some canyons. It hasn’t been that hot so far this season, so we decided on Jugglers Canyon and then Grand Canyon.

We headed up to Medlow Bath and out to near the airport. Then it was a short walk along the fire road and track to the start of Jugglers Canyon. We soon descended the short hand over hand drop, and then made our way to the first abseil. Bobset up the rope and started off down the short drop. Continue reading →

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Cooks River Bird Walk – 18 November 2020

Posted on November 21, 2020 by Dave Noble

I joined Valerie and Sue for a nice day out – walking along the Cooks River to look at the local birds.

A secondary reason was to check out the new foot-bridge (and cycleway bridge) that had just been opened at Lang Road. This bridge replaced an old rickety structure. Continue reading →

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Deer Pool and Little Marley Walk – 17 November 2020

Posted on November 21, 2020 by Dave Noble

This was a pleasant day out with the National Parks Association on a walk to the Deer Pool (and beyond) in Royal National Park.

The walk was led by Brian Everingham and joining him were Deb, Peter, Derek, Gary, Allen, Annette, Gavin and myself. Brian had thought that a lot of the Angophora hispida would be in flower, and if so, the flowers attract a lot of interesting beetles and other insects. We did see a lot of Angophora hispida, but not a lot of it was in flower. Continue reading →

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Back to the Peregrines at Malabar Headland – 16 November 2020

Posted on November 19, 2020 by Dave Noble

My previous trips had been very good for observing and photographing the interactions between the two Peregrine Falcon fledglings. These young birds grow up quickly, so I thought another trip may be worthwhile. It was!

On my walk out, I was saddened and angered to see a fair amount of rubbish that had been left by thoughtless visitors to the National Park. Perhaps left by people who are used to having their mummies clean up after them? Continue reading →

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Cooks River Tawny Frogmouth Update – 15 November 2020

Posted on November 19, 2020 by Dave Noble

On my way home form Nurragingy Reserve, I got off the train at Canterbury and walked home from there via the Cooks River. I had heard that the Tawny Frogmouth chicks at the Boat Harbour had fledged.

Sure enough, when I arrived, I found them well away from the nest. One of the chicks was high up the tree by itself and the other was sitting near its father. Continue reading →

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Birds at Nurragingy Reserve – 15 November 2020

Posted on November 19, 2020 by Dave Noble

My previous trip to Nurragingy Reserve had been quite good – the highlights seeing a Pacific Baza, an Azure Kingfisher and a pair of Sacred Kingfishers. So I returned with high expectations. But no Bazas or Azure Kingfishers this visit, but still I did see a lot  of other nice birds, including some Blue-faced Honeyeaters.

Here are some of the birds – Continue reading →

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Birds at Tempe and The Cooks River – 14 November 2020

Posted on November 18, 2020 by Dave Noble

I joined the Tempe Birdos for their monthly bird survey. After morning tea, I cycled home via the Cooks River, to check the status of the three nesting pairs of Tawny Frogmouths. And then later, made a late afternoon visit to the river.

At Tempe, I joined the group surveying at the Wetlands. The highlight was spotting a Rufous Fantail. One of the members, Melissa heard its call and then pointed it out to us. Its the first one I have seen in the Tempe area. Continue reading →

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