Birds at Tempe – 12 May 2018

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Dave Noble

I was originally planning to attend a field activity at Bola Creek in Royal National Park held by the Sydney Fungal Studies Group, but that event had been cancelled – due to forecast rain on the day, and also a very dry period of weather that would mean little fungi would be out. So I now had Saturday free – and was able to join the Tempe Birdos for their monthly bird count.

Golden Whistler

The group meets on the second Saturday of each month at the lower pool at the Tempe Wetlands at 7:30 am. Then the group splits not two – one half surveying the wetlands and the other surveying Tempe Reserve. We fish with morning tea at the Reserve.  Continue reading →

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Taronga Zoo – Visit on 11 May 2018

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Dave Noble

It had been a while since I had visited the zoo, and since the forecast was for it to be cold and windy, I thought the zoo could be a good venue.

Even on a windy day, parts of the zoo are quite sheltered, and there are indoor sections like the Nocturnal House. When I arrived, I started off at the Blue Mountains Bushwalk section. The Platypus was reasonably active –  Continue reading →

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Fungi at Sassafras Gully – 10 May 2018

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Dave Noble

After returning recently from Tasmania, I was keen to check out one of my local areas – Sassafras Gully, at Springwood for fungi. Coachwood Glen had been very dry the week before, and that is usually a much moister place being higher up the mountains and deep in a cool valley. But weather records indicated that Springwood had more rain than Blackheath – but this was back around the end of April.

As it turned out – the fungi was very poor. I looked carefully in places I knew from previous trips should be good – but found very little and what I did find was in poor condition. Here are a few more photos –  Continue reading →

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Out and About at Oatley Park – 9 May 2018

Posted on May 13, 2018 by Dave Noble

I spent and very pleasant day at Oatley Park with Digi Dave. We walked along many of the tracks at the park and spent most of our time photographing the birds. One highlight was spotting an Eastern Spinebill.

Eastern Spinebill

Here are some more photos –  Continue reading →

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Cooks River Birds – 6 May 2018

Posted on May 8, 2018 by Dave Noble

Another enjoyable day observing and photographing local birdlife. I cycled down to the Cooks River and then along to the Boat Harbour. Quite a few Cormorants were around, but I started watching a Striated Heron.

It seemed to be ready to pounce at a fish. So I too got ready with my camera. I was lucky to get a nice sequence of shots as it dived –  Continue reading →

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Birds at Bicentennial Park – 5 May 2018

Posted on May 8, 2018 by Dave Noble

I spent an interesting and enjoyable day at the wetlands at Bicentennial Park photographing the birds. Here are some of my photos.

I managed to get a good sequence of a pelican catching and swallowing a fish –  Continue reading →

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Coachwood Glen Fungi – 3 May 2018

Posted on May 8, 2018 by Dave Noble

After returning from the magnificent fungi that were out in Tasmania, I was keen to see some local fungi. I had been talking to Liz from the Sydney Fungal Studies Group Inc about a Blue Mountains trip, and we decided to have a look at Coachwood Glen. On the visit, we were joined by Gemma and Mark.

Coachwood Glen is at Blackheath on the road down to Megalong. On our visit – we found conditions very dry. I think the driest I have ever seen it. But we did manage to find sone interesting species. One was this which we think is a Gomphus – Continue reading →

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Tasmania – Fagus and Fungi Walk 18 – 29 April 2018

Posted on May 7, 2018 by Dave Noble

I was fortunate to enjoy a fine walk on the Central Plateau of Tasmania. The route was – Lake Bill, Lake Myrtle, Mt Rogoona, Lake Meston, Junction Lake, Cloister Lagoon, Chalice Lake, Cathedral Mountain, Mersey River, Overland Track, Windy Ridge, Pine Valley, Lake St Clair.

I had been staying for a few days at my sister and brother in law’s house at West Ulverstone and enjoying their hospitality. On my last evening there, Roger joined us. He had driven down from Sydney and taken his car to Tasmania on the ferry. He had planned a walk to Lake Bill and Cathedral Mountain – and I planned to join him for that part of the walk and then walk out via the Southern Reserve. For the first night of the trip – my sister, Alicson and brother in law, Shane joined us.

We drove to Lake Rowallan and then parked at the small carpark at the start of the Lake Bill Track. It was a beautiful fine day – a welcome change from some of the  weather I had experienced so far on my visit to Tasmania. Also – the forecast was pretty good for the next week. Continue reading →

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Tasmania – Out and About in the North West 14 – 17 April 2018

Posted on May 4, 2018 by Dave Noble

I had travelled to Tasmania to do a walk across the Central Plateau. Roger, a good friend was also on his way to Tasmania, taking his car across with him on the boat, and in a few days we would meet up and seat our walk. Before that I was visiting my sister and brother in law and staying at their house at West Ulverstone.

The weather, when I arrived was atrocious! Very cold and very windy – with some rain thrown in. Higher up in the mountains it was snowing. I spent the first day after I arrived indoors. In the late afternoon, in a break between the squalls – we walked down the drive and crossed the road to the seashore. The coast here is normally very protected – but today there were quite substantial waves. The geology and wildlife is interesting here – the coast is part of the Three Sisters – Goat Island Nature Reserve.  Continue reading →

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Long Reef and Curl Curl – 9 April 2018

Posted on April 12, 2018 by Dave Noble

I spent a very pleasant day wandering along the coast from Collaroy to Curl Curl. I was mainly interested to see what birds I could spot – and I did see a reasonable number.

I walked down Collaroy Beach and then out to Long Reef. Continue reading →

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