Birds at Tempe and the Cooks River – 12 January 2019

Posted on January 16, 2019 by Dave Noble

In the early morning I joined the Tempe Birdos for their monthly bird survey at Tempe Wetland. It was fairly quiet at the Wetland, not too many birds were observed.

Australasian Grebe on nest

Some of what we saw included –  Continue reading →

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Nature at Wolli Creek – 11 January 2019

Posted on January 16, 2019 by Dave Noble

I spent an interesting afternoon, accompanied by Digi Dave along the lower part of Wolli Creek. We walked along the bank of the creek from its junction with the Cooks River to Turrella Reserve.

At the start, we walked along the new riverside path that goes around the back of the velodrome.  Continue reading →

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A Short But Sweet Canyon – 10 January 2019

Posted on January 13, 2019 by Dave Noble

This was an interesting day spent canyoning in the Wollangambe Wilderness with Bob. Many years ago (about 20?) I had been on a canyoning trip where we had started down a very good looking canyon and then been hit with a sudden thunderstorm. None of the party had been down this canyon before, and even though we thought the constricted section would be short, we thought it wise to retreat and try and climb out of the canyon and get away from the creek. This we had done with some difficulty, and after spending some time sheltering in an overhang we then walked back the way we had come.

A few months later, I had returned to that creek with a different party, and this time we ventured through the canyon successfully. I remember the constricted section as being very impressive, but it was unfortunately also quite short. I had talked about returning to that creek with Bob, and he told me that he recalled visiting the same creek back many years before my trips (early 1980’s) – but he didn’t seem to remember any spectacular sections of canyon.  Continue reading →

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Sassafras Gully Walk – 9 January 2019

Posted on January 13, 2019 by Dave Noble

This was a very pleasant walk led by Brian Everingham for the National Parks Association of NSW. The plan was to walk from Faulconbridge to Springwood via the Victory Track, then along the Sassafras Gully Track to Glenbrook Creek, then to Springwood via Magdala Creek and Fairy Dell.

Clarinda Falls

A hot day was forecast, but there would be good swimming opportunities. In the party were Brian, Sue, Margaret, Paul, Esther, Helen, Diane and myself. we met at Faulconbridge Station and soon set off down the Victory Track. We could hear the loud calls of a multitude of cicadas – the sound of the summer. Continue reading →

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Dover Heights to Watsons Bay – 8 January 2019

Posted on January 12, 2019 by Dave Noble

I had visited the Tempe Wetlands in the morning, and later in the afternoon, was sitting at my computer, and watching the weather radar page. It showed a large thunderstorm was approaching the city. I thought that Gap Bluff at Watsons Bay could be a good place to obese the storm if it came over. I also used the photographers ephemeris  and it showed that the Sun would set over the city buildings.

So later in the afternoon (around 4:30 pm), I set of for Bondi Junction, then caught a 380 bus to near Rodney Reserve. I first looked for Peregrine Falcons – without any luck. I continued on to Dudley Page Reserve. This provides good views of the city. The storm did seem to be approaching, but didn’t seem too impressive.  Continue reading →

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Birds at Tempe – 8 January 2019

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Dave Noble

I spent an interesting two hours wandering around the Tempe Wetlands and the Tempe Reserve photographing birdlife.

Brown Goshawk

One  of  the more interesting encounters at the Wetlands was observing a Red Wattlebird eating a cicada it had caught – Continue reading →

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Fungi in Sassafras Gully – 7 January 2019

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Dave Noble

I thought that it may be worthwhile ding a walk down Sassafras Gully at Springwood to see if any fungi was out. There had been some recent rain, and the Springwood area seemed to have received a fair amount. However, on my visit, it rained lightly most of the time – which did make photography difficult.

I started down the track at the end of Sassafras Gully Road, and walked down to the Victory Track junction then continued to not far past the junction with the Wiggins Track. I then walked back out, the same way, stopping for lunch under an overhang on the way up to Sassafras Gully Road. Continue reading →

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Wollangambe Canyon – 6 January 2019

Posted on January 8, 2019 by Dave Noble

I spent a very pleasant day photographing Wollangmabe Canyon. I was on a trip with Albert. The trip was supposed to be more of a social trip rather than a photographic one, but an adverse weather forecast resulted in the others dropping out – which left Albert and myself. This would allow us plenty of time to stop for photos along the way without holding others up.

We visited the “Tourist Section” of the canyon. During the day, it was misty higher on Mt Wilson and there was a bit of drizzle on and off. It was also cool. But, the canyon was very pleasant. The water was not cold. The lighting was soft – nice for photography. Continue reading →

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Kiama Road Trip – 4 January 2019

Posted on January 5, 2019 by Dave Noble

Digi Dave invited me to join him on a trip to Kiama. He was heading down to pick up some gear at a friends place, but this would not take long and there could be some good photo spots to visit on the way down or back.

He picked me up near Heathcote Station as we continued onto the M1. However, the road was blocked near Figtree due to, what we found out later, a petrol tanker that had caught on fire. Google Maps came to our aid and guided us around the closed motorway. We then decided to head out to Hill 60 at Port Kembla – a nice lookout.  Continue reading →

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Hole in the Wall Canyon – 3 January 2019

Posted on January 5, 2019 by Dave Noble

This was a very pleasant day spent with Bob Sault in the Wollangambe Wilderness visiting Hole in the Wall Canyon and the North Branch of Bungleboori Creek.

We set off from the carpark on the track that goes along the Waratah Ridge and after abut 80 minutes arrived at the start of the canyon. The upper constriction was soon entered.  Continue reading →

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