I was able to get out and walk along a short section of the Cooks River – between Illawarra Rad and Gough Whitlam Park, to see what birds were about. It was fairly quiet – there were no cormorants or other large water birds. I think I spotted only one Moorhen. NO kingfishers. But there were some parrots feeding on grass seeds at Gough Whitlam Park.
This one has ambiguous colouring, but probably an Eastern Rosella rather than a Crimson Rosella. Possibly a hybrid –
I spent a very pleasant day with Sue and Valerie at the Australian Botanic Gardens at Mt Annan. Spring is a good time to see the magnificent flower display.
It was a Saturday and quite crowded when we parked at the car park at the visitor centre. This is close to where the main flower display is, and we later moved around much quieter parts. Continue reading
I joined Sue for a nice day out on Malabar Headland, where we were later joined by Valerie. We also met two other bird photographers we knew – Adam and Philip.
Our main aim was to see the resident Peregrine Falcons. but we were also pleased to see any other raptors that may be around. And we spotted a Black-shouldered Kite near the National Park entrance. Continue reading
Another day at Long Reef. This visit twas pretty average as visits there go. There were plenty of Osprey flying around, but for the most part they were not that active in diving for fish. It was high tide during my visit.
Here are some photos –
Ospreys
I was giving a talk on fungi to a group based at North Head, so after the Tempe Bird Survey I travelled into the city then caught a ferry to Manly, and then a bus to the Fairfax Lookout at North Head.
There are great views at the lookout and a nice circuit track. Continue reading
I joined the Tempe Birdos for their monthly survey. This month I was in the group surveying Tempe Wetlands.
Here are some of the birds we saw – Continue reading
This was a very scenic day spent visiting two places in Sydney with outstanding views. First, I joined Valerie on a visit to the Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon, and then we caught a ferry to Watsons Bay, where we met Sue at The Grumpy Baker for lunch. Then we visited the nearby Macquarie Lighthouse.
I had visited the Harbour Bridge Pylon once before, when I was very young. I could recall it had a great lookout on top. Continue reading
Bob and myself had earlier walked the then new Grand Clifftop Walk, but had been unable to complete the part of the walk along the Darwin Walk at Wentworth Falls as it was undergoing extensive track work. Well that work has just been completed, and I was keen to see what the upgraded track was like. So I suggested that walk to Bob, and we also had the extension to Rocket Point and Lincolns Rock if time allowed.
In the lead up, it had been quite wet, so it would be interesting to see how the new track work would cope. Well – it did cope very well. The track has been hardened with gravel and metal boardwalk, and also large rocks. Continue reading
After the Mudlarks Bird Survey, Valerie, who had also been on the survey, and myself travelled to Barton Park to wander around seeing what birds were there.
When we arrived, a Black-shouldered Kite landed on the sewer vent – Continue reading
I attended the Mudlarks Bird Survey along the Cooks River. This month, the early morning survey went upstream from the Lang Street Bridge to the Boat Harbour, then to Cup and Saucer Creek Wetlands, and back on that side of the River.
Here are some photos –
Laughing Kookaburra
Little Pied Cormorant Continue reading
