This was another hot day. I spent the morning and early afternoon at Bicentennial Park (and Sydney Olympic Park) photographing the birds before it got too hot.
It was quite smokey, which didn’t help with photography. Photos are a bit washed out. I started at the Wetland Pools, then walked out to the Shipwreck Lookout, then to Wentworth Common and the Brickpit, then back along the Wetland Pools and finished at Lake Belvedere, where I had lunch. Continue reading
I joined a National Parks Association walk led by Brian Everingham from Bundeena along the Coastal Track to Marley Head and back. It was a walk with plenty of time for photography and the plan was to get back by lunchtime.
As well as Brian and myself, there was Sue B, Sue W, Ken, John, Allen and Gary in the party. Most of us carried cameras. Continue reading
It had been a while since I had visited the Lane Cove River and its tributaries. My friend Bob, who lives at Cheltenham had recently spotted the two juvenile Powerful Owls, so they would be certainly worth looking for. His neighbour, Steve, who keeps track of the Powerful Owls in that area had spotted 8 of them recently.
So the plan was to catch a train to Cheltenham, then walk down the track down Devlins Creek, then along the Land Cove River to Browns Waterhole and then to Eastwood Via Terrys Creek. It turned out to be an excellent day with lots of birds and orchids observed. Continue reading
I had been to lunch at Bardwell Park. It was too early to head home, so I made my way along the Two Valleys Track down Wolli Creek towards Turrella and Tempe.
At and near Girrahween Park I spotted at least four clusters of Hyacinth Orchids (Dipodium variegatum). Continue reading
After the incredible display of flying, put on by the Peregrine falcons and Sea Eagles that I had had the privilege of observing on my previous visit, I was keen on a repeat performance. However, this visit turned out a lot quieter. It was a hot day, with almost no wind and the birds were not keen to fly.
Golden-headed Cisticola
It was fairly quiet as I walked out to Boora Point. Continue reading
Bob suggested a visit to this canyon. A warm day was forecast, and this was one that did not involve too much bushwalking to get to and from.
Some history. I was on the trip that made the first descent of Whungee Wheengee Canyon. On that trip – an overnight canyoning trip with SUBW from Mt Wilson to visit the upper and lower constrictions of Yarramun Creek were Tony Norman, Airdrie Long, Brad Phillips, Michael Doherty and myself. After camping in Yarramun Creek, at the end of the lower constriction, we discussed options for the route back to Mt Wilson. Most of the party decided to head back via Whungee Wheengee Creek, but Michael Doherty and myself were not keen on doing the long swims in Wollangambe Canyon so we decided to head back via a route much closer to a known pass on the southern side. Continue reading
My previous visit to Nurragingy Reseve had been very fruitful – with lots of nice birds to photograph. I was keen to return and check the progress of the Azure Kingfishers, to see if their young had fledged.
Rufous Fantail
When I arrived I went to where I had seen the pair of Azure Kingfishers on my previous visit. All was quiet this time – no sign of them. So decided to do a walk around the perimeter fire trail. On this circuit, I spotted some nice birds. First a Black-faced Cuckooshrike – Continue reading
I made a second visit to Nepean Weir to photograph the birdlife. Like the first trip, I was looking for Painted Honeyeaters – but had no luck observing any. It was also a hot day, and I left just after lunch.
White-winged Triller
One of the birds I had seen in abundance on the first trip were Dusky Woodswallows. There were plenty this trip too – including a pair feeding young chicks. Continue reading
This was another outstanding day of bird photography in Malabar Headland National Park. I was fortunate to observe some amazing displays of flying from the juvenile Peregrine Falcons. Later they were joined by a pair of Sea Eagles. Incredible to watch.
On the way out, I stopped to photograph a Golden-headed Cisticola makings its call to stake out its territory. Continue reading
In the morning, I had joined the local bird group for a survey along the Greenway. Later in the day, I cycled down to the Cooks River to check the status of the Tawny Frogmouths and then continued on to Landing Lights Wetland at Barton Park.
The nesting pair of Tawny Frogmouths on the Cooks River near Younger St seem unchanged. One is still sitting on the nest and the other was perched nearby. No signs of any chicks that have hatched that I could see – although they may have been hidden under the adult. Last year the pair exhibited the same thing – without any young hatching. Continue reading
