Tempe Bird Survey – 13 September 2025

Posted on September 17, 2025 by Dave Noble

I joined the Tempe Birdos for their monthly survey. This month I was in the group surveying Tempe Wetlands.

Here are some of the birds we saw – Continue reading →

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Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon and Macquarie Lighthouse – 12 September 2025

Posted on September 16, 2025 by Dave Noble

This was a very scenic day spent visiting two places in Sydney with outstanding views. First, I joined Valerie on a visit to the Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon, and then we caught a ferry to Watsons Bay, where we met Sue at The Grumpy Baker for lunch. Then we visited the nearby Macquarie Lighthouse.

I had visited the Harbour Bridge Pylon once before, when I was very young. I could recall it had a great lookout on top. Continue reading →

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Darwin Walk and Rocket Point and Lincolns Rock – Wentworth Falls – 11 September 2025

Posted on September 16, 2025 by Dave Noble

Bob and myself had earlier walked the then new Grand Clifftop Walk, but had been unable to complete the part of the walk along the Darwin Walk at Wentworth Falls as it was undergoing extensive track work. Well that work has just been completed, and I was keen to see what the upgraded track was like. So I suggested that walk to Bob, and we also had the extension to Rocket Point and Lincolns Rock if time allowed.

In the lead up, it had been quite wet, so it would be interesting to see how the new track work would cope. Well – it did cope very well. The track has been hardened with gravel and metal boardwalk, and also large rocks. Continue reading →

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Birds at Barton Park – 9 September 2025

Posted on September 16, 2025 by Dave Noble

After the Mudlarks Bird Survey, Valerie, who had also been on the survey, and myself travelled to Barton Park to wander around seeing what birds were there.

When we arrived, a Black-shouldered Kite landed on the sewer vent – Continue reading →

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Mudlarks – Cooks River Bird Survey – 9 September 2025

Posted on September 16, 2025 by Dave Noble

I attended the Mudlarks Bird Survey along the Cooks River. This month, the early morning survey went upstream from the Lang Street Bridge to the Boat Harbour, then to Cup and Saucer Creek Wetlands, and back on that side of the River.

Here are some photos –

Laughing Kookaburra

Little Pied Cormorant Continue reading →

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Visit to Taronga Zoo – 8 September 2025

Posted on September 10, 2025 by Dave Noble

My friend Sue was keen to visit Taronga Zoo, and I was able to join her. We had a very pleasant day wandering around the enclosures observing the animals.

Here is a selection of photos –

Squirrel Monkey

Rock Orchids Continue reading →

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Lunar Eclipse – 8 September 2025

Posted on September 10, 2025 by Dave Noble

Early in the morning, there was a Lunar Eclipse visible in Australia. I have photographed many of these over the years and they are not difficult – as the Moon even when eclipsed is easy to locate, and you don’t need a dark sky, but you do need a tripod and telephoto lens. This eclipse was taking place at an inconvenient time – from 3:30 am till about 5 am, so it would mean getting up in the middle of the night. But at that time, the Moon would be visible from my balcony and that was convenient. Also, it should mean that the eclipsed Moon would be quite red in colour – a so called “Blood Moon”.

Above photo taken at 4:19 am. 600 mm at f 5.6, 1/4 second, 3200 ISO.

I took a series of photos and later found some suffered a bit from clouds. Continue reading →

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Back to Long Reef – 7 September 2025

Posted on September 10, 2025 by Dave Noble

Another day at Long Reef, and different to some recent visits – a Nankeen Kestrel was around (and two of them briefly) as well as Osprey and a Sea Eagle.

When I arrived, I walked down to the lower level below the lookout. No Ospreys were about, but a Nankeen Kestrel was hunting nearby. Continue reading →

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Birds along the Cooks River and at Sydney Park – 6 September 2025

Posted on September 10, 2025 by Dave Noble

This a was a bit of a local day, staring off with a walk down the Cooks River from Illawarra Road to the Princes Highway, then a bus to Sydney Park.

Cooks River

Little Black Cormorant  Continue reading →

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Malabar Headland Visit – 5 September 2025

Posted on September 10, 2025 by Dave Noble

I decided to visit Malabar Headland while the weather was good.

I had a reasonable day, although it was very quiet for long periods. But at least in nice weather, it was pleasant to sit to on the cliffs enjoying the scenery.

When I first walked in, I soon spotted a single Peregrine Falcon perched on the cliffs near Boora Point. The photo below is telephoto and it is hard to spot the falcon – in the middle. That is one reason it is always worth taking binoculars on these trips. Continue reading →

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