Not that long ago I had visited the Sealife Aquarium at Darling Harbour in Sydney and had been impressed with what you could see. I was talking about it to John and he thought it would be a good venue to take his two young sons, Jasper and Sebastian. I was happy to join them.
Its a very good place for young children to observe a lot of sea creatures first hand. We spent about three hours at Sealife. One my last visit I had missed a few things that I was glad I saw this time – Continue reading
It had been a while since I had walked down the track along Wolli Creek, so I thought it would be a nice place for a half day walk to what was out.
I caught the train to Bexley North and then started down the two Valleys Track. Along the way, I heard a lot of birds, but it was a harder job trying to see and photograph them. I did not have much luck until I reached the open grassy area not far down the track. Here I saw some small birds in the grass. I though they may be Little Grassbirds , but a friend, Emma Spencer thought they may have been Australasian Pipits (Anthus novaeseelandiae) – Continue reading
Chuin Nee had invited me to join her and her young son Jasper on a bike ride along the Cooks River Cycleway. We rode from Dulwich Hill to the river and then along to Tempe.
We then crossed the Princess Highway and went into Tempe Reserve and crossed the Alexandria Canal and joined the cycleway past the airport, where we did some place spotting. We also observed a distant bird of prey, circling around looking for prey above the container depot near the airport. Continue reading
This was a pleasant day cycling along the Cooks River Cycleway from near Cup and Saucer Creek to the Tempe Wetlands photographing the birdlife.
I spotted two sets of nesting Tawny Frogmouths – one near the Boat Harbour and one near the Dog Area upstream. There should be some chicks to see soon. Continue reading
This was a very pleasant afternoon spent wandering around Barton Park and the Landing Lights Wetland with Digi Dave photographing the birdlife.
Here are some more photos – Continue reading
This was my first time walking all the way along the Coastal Track in Royal National Park as a daytrip. Royal is such as beautiful national park that it is worth spending more time there if you can. As a daywalk, its not too hard. There are a few hills, but none of them are too big and most of the way you follow a very good track.
I did the walk, with Bob. We caught the 8:30 am ferry from Cronulla to Bundeena and so started walking about 9 am. We finished at Otford in time (just) for the 4:19 train back to the city. My phone GPS measured the distance from Bundeena Wharf to Otford Station as 28 km. We didn’t walk fast, but we did walk at a steady pace without too many breaks. I had time to take a few photos – but really just snaps rather than waiting for good conditions or taking time to improve composition. And – not many photos of the abundant birds. Continue reading
Since my last visit to the Zoo, I had heard of a new baby Gorilla. Time to go along and see if it was on display to the public.
I started my visit with a walk through the Blue Mountains section – and again I found that one of the Platypus’s there was quite active, and as long as you were patient, then a bit of waiting would be rewarded when it surfaced in the pool. So – not too hard to see, but still hard to photograph. It only surfaces for a short while – and then splashes around a bit, and the pool is quite dark and gloomy, so not the best for photography. Continue reading
The Field of mars Reserve is another bushland remnant in Sydney and one that I had not visited before. Before starting my walk through the Reserve I downloaded two maps – one here (from the City of Ryde Council)and the other here (from The Ryde – Hunters Hill Flora and Fauna Preservation Society).
I caught a bus from Sydney Town Hall to the western entrance of the reserve (a 506 bus, to the corner of Higginbottom and Cressy Roads). I then started walking down the Kunzea Track which I followed through attractive forest until it became boardwalk near the Education Centre. Continue reading
Roughly a year ago, I had visited Dudley Page Reserve for some sunset photography and that had been worthwhile. It was the right time of the year for the unto set behind the buildings of the city. So, I thought it may be worth another visit.
This time, I also visited South Head and The Gap. I caught a ferry from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay. From the wharf, it a short walk to The Gap and a slightly longer one to South Head. Continue reading
Les Southwell recently died in the mountains of Victoria doing something he loved. He was 88. He was reportedly a very fit and well equiped bushwalker and cross country skier.
Talking to Les Southwell at the Labyrinth, April 2008. Photo by John Robens.
I knew Les as a wilderness photographer. His images of South West Tasmania taken during the 1970’s inspired many of my generation of bushwalkers to also become conservationists and join the fight to save the remaining wilderness in SW Tasmania from destruction. Continue reading
