Watsons Bay to Dover Heights Walk – 19 September 2018

Posted on October 4, 2018 by Dave Noble

I caught a ferry to Watsons Bay and then walked the short distance to The Gap. My intention was to walk down the Coastal Path on the lookout for birds and finish off the walk at Dudley Page Reserve with some photos of the sun setting over the city buildings. This time of the year is one of two times during the year that this happens, and also during the past two years I had visited the same park for photography (see here and here).

I think I made the mistake this time of starting too early, or there was not enough to occupy my attention before the sun set. It was quite a hot day, and I ddi not want to wait a few hours for the sun to set when I had finished off the walk. So – a pleasant coastal walk, but no sunset photos. Continue reading →

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Wattamolla to Little Marley – 18 September 2018

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Dave Noble

This was a very pleasant day out in the bush in Royal National Park on a walk led by Brian Everingham for the National Parks Association of NSW. In the part, as well as Brian, there was Valerie, Sue B, Jung Soong, Esther, Ken, Derek, Eve, Erden, Sue W and myself.

We stared off from Wattamolla. Before the walk began there were a few photographic opportunities. Near the creek a few Water Dragons were enjoying some time in the Sun. Continue reading →

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More Birds from the Northern Beaches – 17 September 2018

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Dave Noble

This was another interesting and pleasant day spent in the Northern Beaches accompanied by Ken and John.

Walking past a rock pool we noticed a Little Pied Cormorant enjoying the sun and a White Faced Heron hunting for food. Continue reading →

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Out and About at Oatley Park – 14 September 2018

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Dave Noble

I spent an enjoyable day wandering around Oatley Park with Digi Dave. We photographed mainly birds and a few orchids.

We were on the lookout for a Osprey nest, that we heard could be seen from one of the lookouts. We eventually spotted it – it was quite distant. Continue reading →

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More Fun on Mt Banks – 13 September 2018

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Dave Noble

Bob was keen on another trip to Mt Banks to check out some of the ledges. The year before we had both traversed a ledge across the face of Mt Banks. That ledge followed a shale band called the Wentworth Falls Claystone. But neither of us had visited the Half-way Ledge on Mt Banks. This ledge is lower and follows the Mt York Claystone layer. Bob had found some information to access the ledge here on the Sydney Rockies website.

We set off from the Mt Banks carpark and straight away left the road and tracks and headed into the bush in the general direction the notes suggested. It was actually quite easy going. Not too scrubby and not too steep. At one point, we had to cross a small gully and it was not far past this that we started looking for the ramp described in the Rockies notes.  Continue reading →

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More Birds and Flowers at Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park – 12 September 2018

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Dave Noble

I spent another delightful day along the Chiltern Trail in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park photographing the birds and wildflowers. Here are some of the highlights of my visit.

First, some wildflowers –  Continue reading →

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Malabar Headland – Lizards, Birds and Whales – 11 September 2018

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Dave Noble

My previous trip to Malabar Headland National Park had been very interesting, and I was keen to return. This time I was joined by three more Nature photographers – Ken, John and Erden.

Walking from the bus stop to the start of the track, we noticed a lot of birds in the trees in the carpark. One was an Australian Figbird. Nice  to see. Continue reading →

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Cooks River Birds – 10 September 2018

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Dave Noble

I made a short trip to the Cooks River to look for local birdlife. I had been told by Steve in a blog comment that there was a tawny Frogmouth nest on the south side of the river at Earlwood, so that was where I headed first.

It did not take long to spot the nest – in a fork in a Casuarina tree near the path. One of the parents was sitting on the nest very quietly. I didn’t find the other parent roosting nearby. Continue reading →

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Ironpot Ridge Walk 8 – 9 September 2018

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Dave Noble

A friend, Dave Os had organised a walk from the Dunphy Campground in Megalong to Ironpot Ridge and the plan was to camp high near Ironmonger Hill. Joining him on the walk were Digi Dave, Keith and myself.

The first day of the weekend was a bit wet and misty. The precipitation was only light drizzle and with the mist it made conditions quite atmospheric. We left the campground and started walking. We could not help noticing all the Wallabies. Lots of them, and many of the females with joeys in their pouches. Continue reading →

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Storms and More at Malabar Headland National Park – 7 September 2018

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Dave Noble

I took another opportunity to visit Malabar Headland National Park and had a most interesting day.

I caught a bus to Maroubra Beach, and not far along the trail to the National Park I spotted a Laughing Kookaburra flying into a thicket of trees with something in its beak. After my recent observation of a Kookaburra with a lizard at Centennial Park, I thought this one may one too. I went into the thicket and soon spotted the bird perched in a tree. It did have a lizard. I found out later from reptile expert Ken Griffith that is was an Oak Skink, a species that you don’t see too much. Continue reading →

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