Mammatus Clouds Over the City – 2 January 2019

Posted on January 5, 2019 by Dave Noble

Recently there has been a fair bit of stormy weather – including afternoon thunderstorms, some with hail. These storms often build up over the Blue Mountains and then move towards the coast.

On the 2nd January, I had been watching the weather radar, and noticed some thunderstorms were currently over the Blue Mountains. I looked outside and saw that there was a good display of Mammatus Clouds overhead. I have these spectacular clouds before – and they are often associated with severe storms ( See here and here) Continue reading →

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Two Days of Canyoning – 31 December 2018 – 1 January 2019

Posted on January 2, 2019 by Dave Noble

This was a pleasant trip with two days of canyoning in the Blue Mountains. We experienced hot weather on both days – and the canyons provided an idea refuge from the heat. The plan was to visit The Grand Canyon at Blackheath, then a pub dinner, camp overnight, then Dalpura Canyon on the second day.

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon

A good way to end the year. This canyon is always nice to visit and easy to get to and from – so not too taxing on a hot day. Most of the party abseiled in at the top of the canyon, while four in the party entered from below. Continue reading →

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Taronga Zoo – 30 December 2018

Posted on January 2, 2019 by Dave Noble

I had not been to the Zoo for a while, and thought another visit would be a suitable place to visit on a hot day. But, visiting on a Sunday during School holidays was probably a mistake – the Zoo was very crowded – and I had to avoid certain sections.

This visit, I concentrated on the birds. This meant photographing them through the mesh of their cages in some cases. In other places you can avoid this – eg in he big walk through aviaries and at the bird show. I also found that certain animals had moved – the Lemurs were now in the Squirrel Monkey enclosure and the Squirrel Monkeys had moved to where the Alligator used to be.  Here are some Squirrel Monkeys –  Continue reading →

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Engadine Lagoon Walk – 29 December 2018

Posted on January 2, 2019 by Dave Noble

Very hot weather was forecast for the run up to the new year. I had been invited on a multiway walk, but thought it would be too hot for walking, so was stuck at home. But then Brian invited me to join him and others on his NPA walk to Engadine Lagoon.

This was a short walk from his house to a magnificent swimming hole on the Woronora River, a short way upstream from where it becomes tidal. The plan was to walk to the pool, have a swim and take a few photos and be back at his place by midday. Continue reading →

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Magpie Larks at the Botanic Gardens – 28 December 2018

Posted on January 2, 2019 by Dave Noble

I made another visit to the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens to see if I could locate the Powerful Owls once more. In this I failed despite a fair bit of looking. I then headed down to where on my previous visit I had seen a Magpie Lark sitting in a nest on a branch hanging over one of the duckponds.

I could see that there was at least one chick in the nest. The parents were still sitting in the nest – so I assume there are still eggs to hatch. One parent seemed to be sitting in the nest, while the other went off in search for food. They then seemed to swap duties. Here are some photos – Continue reading →

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Hazelbrook North Waterfall Loop – 25 December 2018

Posted on January 2, 2019 by Dave Noble

I was enjoying the hospitality of my sister and brother in law at Hazelbrook over the Christmas period, and on Christmas Day I went on the waterfall walk near their place. This takes you to three main waterfalls – Horseshoe, Oakland and Burgess Falls (and there are also some minor waterfalls – Fairy Falls, Glow Worm Nook Falls and Lena Falls).

Large Tongue Orchid

I started from the track on Oakland Road and soon arrived at Horseshoe Falls. From there, I continued on the lower track to Oakland Falls. The level on water in the creek was low. These waterfalls are best visited just after rain. However there were quite a few wildflowers were out and also some fungi.  Continue reading →

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Canyon Photography Weekend 22-23 December 2018

Posted on December 26, 2018 by Dave Noble

I headed up the mountains with Albert for a weekend of photography in some of the sandstone canyons. We first visited Rocky Creek Canyon, then went to The River Caves Canyon and finished with the Grand Canyon.

Rocky Creek Canyon

The weather was  fairly cool and partly cloudy. This meant low humidity – nice conditions for walking, but perhaps not the best for nice atmospheric photos in the canyons. The lighting turned out to reasonably soft, and if part of the canyon was burnt out by sunlight -then if we waited for cloud to pass over the Sun, then we would get softer lighting. But it would also mean less nice reflected light and virtually no sun-beams.  But it is always nice to get out and visit the canyons.

The Grand Canyon

As we left the car on both the days – the air temperature was only around 14°C, but the canyons themselves seemed no cooler than they would be on a much hotter day. Continue reading →

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Why Don’t We Do It In The Road Canyon – 20 December 2018

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Dave Noble

I was heading up the mountains with Bob for a day of canyoning. During the previous evening there had been some heavy rain in the mountains and we changed plans to visit Whungee Wheengee Canyon and instead do Why Don’t We Do It In The Road Canyon at Mt Wilson.

It was quiet when we left the Fire Station. The weather was warm and sunny. It later became very hot. On the track down to the canyon, we noticed fresh footprints, and encountered the other party at one of the early optional abseils. Continue reading →

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Nurragingy Reserve – 19 December 2018

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Dave Noble

I headed back out to Nurragingy Reserve at Doonside hoping to get more photos of the Sacred Kingfishers feeding their chick. However, when I arrived it was looking like the nest has now been vacated. I did not see any Kingfishers nearby.

Pacific Baza

I did see and hear some Sacred Kingfishers in the Reserve. Perhaps one of these is the fledgling?  Continue reading →

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Coastal Walking – Mona Vale to Narrabeen – 18 December 2018

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Dave Noble

I walked a short section of the Coastal Path in the Northern Beaches. I was mainly on the lookout for raptors. I caught a B-line bus to the terminus at Mona Vale, then walked out to the beach.

I scanned the beach and nearby headlands for birds, but there were not too many out. All I saw was a Cormorant and Silver Gulls. I therefore started walking south, along the beach and then over a slight headland and back down to Warriewood Beach.  Continue reading →

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