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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Nature at Oatley Park – 17 December 2018

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Dave Noble

Oatley Park is always worth a visit. There always seems to be a lot to see and photograph there. On this visit I observed quite a few different species of orchid, and lots of lizards and birds.

Slender Beard Orchid (Calochilus gracimillus)

I walked to the park from Mortdale Station, and first visited the track on the western side of Lime Kiln Bay. I was on the lookout for birds, but instead encountered quite a number of orchids.  Continue reading →

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SUBW Christmas Walk to the Coxs River 15-16 December 2018

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Dave Noble

It was time for the annual Sydney University Bushwalkers Christmas Walk to the Coxs River. I met up with Roger, and we walked down to the campsite earlier then the main party.

The walk down was hot and we were looking forward to cooling off in the river. On the way, Roger, a botanist, was keen to look for some rainforest plants that he had seen many years earlier. So we made a short side excursion to look for them.  Continue reading →

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Carnivorous Plants at the Botanic Gardens – 14 December 2018

Posted on December 21, 2018 by Dave Noble

I had heard that the special Carnivorous Plants Display at the Calyx at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney was worth a visit. So I decided to see it. It was quite amazing and well worth it. It has free entry.

There was an incredible display of these amazing plants. It included over twenty species of Venus Fly Traps, a wide range of Pitcher Plants, Bladderworts and Sundews. Here are some of my photos –  Continue reading →

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Western Creek Walk – 13 December 2018

Posted on December 14, 2018 by Dave Noble

I had suggested this walk to Bob a while back. I had thought about some o f the other tributaries of Glenbrook Creek – such as Kanuka Brook and Magdala Creek – they both have waterfalls along their length. So I thought it likely that Western Creek could have a waterfall or two. It seems to be a seldom visited creek.

Small Waterfall in Western Creek

Perhaps in the past, when St Helena was weed free and a frequently used camp sight, some visitors may have walked down the exit creek from the crater and walked down Western Creek to Glenbrook Creek. I thought that may not be the best way to go now due to the weeds in the crater. Particularly Blackberries.  Continue reading →

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