Blue Mountain Walk, and a visit to Deanei Reserve – 13 August 2020

Posted on August 17, 2020 by Dave Noble

This was a pleasant day of bushwalking with Bob in the Blue Mountains. Not long before I had been on an overnight camping trip to Lawson Castle. On the trip we had found some Aboriginal engravings, and two of the party – Rik and Dave Os, also found some cave art and sharpening grooves. I was keen to go back and see if the whole of the castle from Blue Mountain to where we had camped had more Aboriginal sites. We didn’t expect that to take too long as it is not far, so after that we planned to walk out to a more remote rock platform that I had observed on online air photos. It too may have some art.

Aboriginal art

So we headed in Bob’s car for Lawson and soon were at the barrier on the fire road that extend north from Queens Road. We then climbed Blue Mountain. This did not take very long – only a few minutes. It has a trig, but the views are a bit filtered by vegetation. Continue reading →

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Wattamolla to Marley Walk – 12 August 2020

Posted on August 17, 2020 by Dave Noble

Another pleasant walk with the National Parks Association of NSW led by Brian Everingham. This time we started out from Wattamolla and walked north along the Coastal Track, then tuned off along the fire road that goes to Marley between the two beaches. We then walked back to Wattamolla via the Coastal Track.

We met at the carpark at Wattamolla. in the party were Brian, Faye, Valerie, Sue, Derek, Helen, Angela, Graham, Peter, Ross, Ada, HL and myself. Continue reading →

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Malabar Headland – 11 August 2020

Posted on August 16, 2020 by Dave Noble

After the Mudlarks Bird Survey, I met up with Jo, Chris and Pat from the Greenway Bird Group and we headed to Maroubra Beach to visit Malabar Headland National Park. I had told Jo and Chris about the pair of Peregrine Falcons that are nesting on the headland, and they, and Pat were keen to see them.

We walked out onto the headland. Not far out, we spotted our first raptor – a Nankeen Kestrel perched on a pole in the Rifle Range. Continue reading →

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Mudlarks Bird Survey – 11 August 2020

Posted on August 16, 2020 by Dave Noble

I was able to join the Mudlarks – the Cooks River Bird Group for the monthly survey. The group meets at the Lang Road bridge at 7:30 am during winter, and on this month we surveyed the area downstream.

We found a good selection of birds, and 32 differs species were recorded. Here are some of them – Continue reading →

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Back to the Central Coast Wetlands – 9 August 2020

Posted on August 10, 2020 by Dave Noble

Showers were forecast for this day, but I was keen to get outdoors. So I carefully checked  various weather forecasts. I often use the Norwegian Weather Forecast – as you can get hour by hour forecasts for specific locations such as towns or lakes etc (For anywhere in the world), and have found it reasonable accurate. It looked like the rain would arrive at the Central Coast town of Wyong later than it would arrive in Sydney, so I headed to the Central Coast Wetlands.

Southern Emu-wren

I arrived at the Wetlands a little after 9 am and stayed till around 2 pm and enjoyed fine weather the whole time. During my visit, I periodically checked the rain radar and could see a large storm over southern Sydney quite early on. It was slowly moving North.  Continue reading →

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Birds at Tempe – 8 August 2020

Posted on August 8, 2020 by Dave Noble

I was able to join the Tempe Birdos for their monthly bird survey. This time I joined the group surveying the wetlands. It was fairly quiet bird wise. There were few waterbirds and waders and we didn’t spot any honeyeaters.

There was a large flock of Silvereyes. Here is one – Continue reading →

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Fungi and Birds in Royal National Park – 6 August 2020

Posted on August 8, 2020 by Dave Noble

It was pleasant to join Digi Dave for a day of photography in Royal National Park. We started off at Bola Creek looking to see what fungi was out, and were prepared to spend the day there if the fungi was good. But we found little, and what we did find was dry and poor quality. So we left before lunch and then spent the rest fo the day at Audley photographing birds.

Here is some of the fungi that we found at Bola Creek – Continue reading →

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Warrangarree Drive Reserve Walk – 5 August 2020

Posted on August 8, 2020 by Dave Noble

This was a half day walk to a new area. It was organised by Brian Everingham for the National Parks Association of NSW. Warrangarree Drive Reserve is a council bushland reserve on the Woronora Plateau. It stretches from the top of the plateau down to the Woronora River.

In the party were Brian, Deb, John, Jeffrey, Sophie, Ross, Ada, Claire, Sue, Annette and myself. This was a pleasant excursion. We first descended on steep firetrail to the river. Then we followed a dark upstream to an old campsite. Along the way there was aa lot to see and appreciate.

Continue reading →

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Birds at Emu Green – 4 August 2020

Posted on August 8, 2020 by Dave Noble

I had not been to this birding site before. It is at Emu Plains, and lies between the Nepean River and the foot of the Blue Mountains. I walked there from Emu Plains Station – about a 20 minute walk. I found it a nice place to wander around and there were a range of birds to be seen.

Emu Green itself is a small park. Next to it is a lane that goes for about 1 km to the Nepean River. On one side is an open field that is part of a Prison Farm. At the end of the lane, on the left is a field used by the Penrith Electric Model Aircraft Club. While I was there, they were flying planes in the morning – and the places were remarkable quiet and didn’t seem to bother any nearby birds. Continue reading →

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Lane Cove River Birds – 3 August 2020

Posted on August 7, 2020 by Dave Noble

Like previous recent trips, where I have photographed the fungi at Chatswood, I have spent the afternoon nearby on the Lane Cove River photographing some of the birds. In particular, I wanted to photograph the nesting pair of Ospreys.

It turned out to be fairly quiet visit. One the walk down the river, I photographed this Laughing Kookaburra at the Golf Course – Continue reading →

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