Long Reef Birds – 8 December 2024

Another day spent on Long Reef. Actually, I had visited Long Reef two days earlier, but had been greeted by a thick sea fog. I had waited to see if it cleared, but it didn’t, so I headed home early. This visit was a lot more fruitful. As well as photographing the Ospreys, I also photographed a rare visitor to Sydney – a Beach Stone-curlew.

Here are how things panned out.

When I arrived, around 10:30 am. I didn’t see any flying birds from the lookout. Descending down the steps, with binoculars, I spotted an Osprey perched on one of the trees on the northside of the headland. I walked over towards it. Continue reading

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Dargans Creek and Cicada Canyons – 5 December 2024

Bob and myself were keen on some more canyoning, and the weather forecast was not too bad, so we set off up the Mountains with the plan on first visiting Dargans Creek Canyon at Clarence, and then, if time permitted we planned to visit the small Cicada Canyon near Lithgow.

Dargans Creek Canyon

This canyon is very good value as the canyon is easy to get into and back out of. So a good ratio of value to effort. Continue reading

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Birds at Sydney Park – 4 December 2024

Another quite hot day. I ventured out and spent an hour or so at Sydney Park before it got too warm.

Here are some birds I saw – Continue reading

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Malabar Headland – 2 December 2024

The Peregrine Falcon season at Malabar Headland has been a frustrating one this season. On our previous visit, it looked like things may have been looking up, with possible late season nesting. Both adult Peregrine Falcons were perched near the nesting area for long periods, leaving only for some hunting. So, Valerie, Sue and myself made another visit – but this time, we only spotted a single adult Peregrine Falcon for a short time, just after we arrived.  It soon flew off, and we didn’t see it or any others while we were there.

On the way out, we did see a number of Jacky Dragons. Continue reading

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Coast Walking – Scarborough to Bulli – 29 November 2024

Bob had suggested this walk, and it sounded like a good one to do on a wet day with low tide. We traveled down to Scarborough by train, and there met up with Doug. The plan was to walk along the coast south to at least Thirroul. Bob had read about this walk in a new small booklet on Northern Illawarra Beach Walking by Geoff Whale.

We then walked north along Lawrence Hargrave Drive to Clifton to Moronga Park. Continue reading

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Cooks River Birds – 26 November 2024

It was the first a series of very hot days, but I was keen to venture outdoors, so I did short local walk along the Cooks River between Wardell Road and Canterbury Road.

I first went to the cricket nets and looked for the Tawny Frogmouths. I only found the one on a nest – Continue reading

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Raptors in Royal – 25 November 2024

I was keen on a walk to the sea cliffs in Royal National Park to see how a breeding pair of Peregrine Falcons were going. Valerie and her great niece Izzy joined me. We had a very enjoyable walk.

We didn’t see the breeding pair of Peregrine Falcons but we did see their new juveniles. Three in total. And we also saw three White-bellied Sea Eagles. Continue reading

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Northern Beaches Birds – 24 November 2024

I had heard recently of a family of Barking Owls that had been seen roosting near Narrabeen Lagoon. So, I thought it may be worthwhile heading up that way to see if I could find them. Any spare time afterwards, I could use at Long Reef photographing the local Ospreys.

So I caught a bus to Dee Why and then changed to a local bus and got off near Narrabeen Lagoon, and headed to Jamieson Park on the south side of the lagoon, which seemed a good place to start (Barking Owls had recently been recorded there on the eBird site). Continue reading

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Greenway Bird Survey – 23 November 2024

It was time for the survey along the Dulwich Hill section of The Greenway. I joined the group outside Waratah Mills Light Rail Station at 7:30 am.

Here are some of the birds we observed – Continue reading

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Malabar Headland – 22 November 2024

I joined Sue and Valerie for a visit to Malabar Headland, and at last it looked like things may be picking up as far as the pair of Peregrine Falcons are going.

Before we had reached the National Park entrance near Maroubra Beach, we spotted a raptor. It was a Swamp HarrierContinue reading

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