In order to photograph the young Peregrine Falcons, you need to put in a fair bit of time after they fledge.
Sue was keen on another trip to the sea cliffs of the Northern Beaches and we had a very interesting and pleasant day.
Here are some photos – Continue reading
I was keen to try out the new Mariyung Trains now they have started running on the Blue Mountains line. So I caught one leaving Central at 8:56 and went as far as Hazelbrook, where I visited my sister and her husband, and then travelled back down on an old V Set train.
Here we are passing the old Crago Flour Mill at Newtown. The mill has been repurposed for housing. Continue reading
When there is a family of newly fledged Peregrine Falcons, it is worth several trips to visit them for photography, because as they get older, they fly further away from the nest area and can be hard to spot.
In this family, there are three chicks. They only learnt to fly about a week earlier.
On this visit, Sue came along.
Here is an adult, the mother of guard duty – Continue reading
I had not done that much walking in Bouddi National Park. I have done two walks to Maitland Bay (as far as I can recall). The most recent was ten years ago in 2015. On that trip, and the much earlier one, we had walked to the beach from the north. I was keen to see what the scenery was like on the walk from the south – from itty Beach to Maitland Bay. Bob also had not done very much walking in the Park, and he was happy with that choice.
A warm day was forecast, so rather than do a loop walk via the tops, we thought it more sensible to walk out and back the same way. Continue reading
A few days earlier, I had travelled to the Northern Beaches and spent the morning at the sea cliffs and then the afternoon at Long Reef. I thought after that trip, it would have been better to spend all the day at the sea cliffs. So I remedied that by a second visit just to the sea cliffs.
On the previous visit, I had observed one chick. I don’t know whether it could fly or not.
When I reached the right spot on the cliffs, I saw and adult Peregrine Falcon fly in – Continue reading
I joined the Mudlarks for their monthly survey along the Cooks River. In daylight saving time the group meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 am on the Lang Street Footbridge. This month the group surveyed downstream on the Wave Rock Circuit.
We saw a good number of species. Here are some – Continue reading
I spent a most amazing day out on the sea cliffs of Malabar Headland National Park with Sue, and later Alana. We witnessed a truly astonishing display of Nature in action. The weather was very pleasant. Not too hot and with a nice breeze. Although it later became quite windy.
Perhaps the most incredible thing we saw were two large pods of Humpback Whales cruising past, just below the cliffs. One pod seemed to be large adults racing each other near or on the surface. Incredible to witness so close. But we also saw a lot of Dolphins. I think at one time about 50 went past us. And although the Peregrine Falcons were not active most of the time, we did witness one attacking some Ravens.
Near the park gate, we could hear a Golden-headed Cisticola. We soon spotted it calling to stake out its territory. Continue reading
A warm day was forecast, so I decided to head to the Northern Beaches hoping that sea breezes would provide some cooling. I first visited the sea cliffs to look for Peregrine Falcons, then after that I visited Long Reef.
The first bird I spotted on the cliffs was a juvenile Peregrine Falcon. It seemed rather advanced, but I don’t know whether it could fly. It was on a ledge, not too far from a nesting site, so perhaps it managed to get there by hoping along ledges?
Some more photos – Continue reading
After the early Tempe Bird Survey, I went home for lunch, then I headed out to Sydney Park in the afternoon. It was nice to see a pair of Tawny Frogmouths. I also saw a Buff-banded Rail – but it was flying fast through vegetation.
Here is a selection of photos – Continue reading
I joined the Tempe Birdos for their monthly survey. After meeting at the lower pond at Tempe Wetlands, I joined the group that surveyed at Tempe Reserve.
The first few photos below were taken at the Wetlands before the groups separated.
Pacific Black Duck Continue reading
