Birds at Barton Park – 23 January 2025

Posted on February 1, 2025 by Dave Noble

I went on a morning trip to Barton Park to photograph what birds I could find.

When I arrived at Landing Lights Wetland, I was surprised to see a fair number of Egrets and Spoonbills. Continue reading →

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Raptors at Long Reef – 21 January 2025

Posted on February 1, 2025 by Dave Noble

I thought it was about time for another visit to Long Reef on the Northern Beaches. My main aim was to photograph raptors.

I did quite well, spotting a number of Ospreys and a pair of Nankeen Kestrels.

When I arrived at the lookout on the headland, I looked down and spotted an Osprey hunting for fish. As soon as I pointed my camera towards it, it dived for a fish. I was too late and only photographed the splash – Continue reading →

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Birdwood Gully Walk – 20 January 2025

Posted on February 1, 2025 by Dave Noble

I was keen to head to Birdwood Gully at Springwood to see if any early season fungi was out due to recent rain. I persuaded Valerie and Sue to join me. We travelled up to Springwood by train and after a cafe stop, we were soon o the track down into the gully from Boland Avenue.

As it turned out, the fungi was very poor. This is the only one I photographed –

Cyptotrama asprata

And here is a slime mould – Continue reading →

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Photographing Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) – 19 January 2025

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Dave Noble

I was keen to observe and photograph Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS).  But there were challenges. Would I be able to see it in the light pollution of Sydney, and would the weather cooperate? The comet had survived its close pass around the Sun, and was now an early evening object. It was still close to the Sun and was visible just after sunset.

I headed to Dulwich Hill Station, where I can get a good view to the west, just after sunset, but it was quite cloudy. But it was clear toward the western horizon.

I took a series of photos and thought I had been unsuccessful. But when i got home and looked at the photos on the computer, I saw  that I had managed to photograph the comet – just before a big bank of clouds rolled in. Continue reading →

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Nurragingy Reserve – 19 January 2025

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Dave Noble

I had intended to visit Rookwood, but on the train, the weather looked good enough for a longer and more remote  trip, so I made a visit to Nurragingy Reserve at Doonside, and despite some bad weather, I was fortunate to spot some nice birds.

When I arrived, I heard the call of a Sacred Kingfisher, and soon spotted the bird – Continue reading →

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Some Fungi in Wolli Creek Regional Park – 18 January 2025

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Dave Noble

I had originally travelled up to Chatswood in the morning, with the intention of visiting Ferndale Park to see if any fungi was out, but as soon as I arrived, it started raining. The rain looked like it had set in, so I got back in the metro and headed back home. Later in the afternoon, the rain eased, so I went to Wolli Creek Regional Park at Earlwood. I found a small amount of fungi out. But I didn’t travel very far along the track – it was still too wet.

Xylaria sp.

Postia sp. Continue reading →

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Fred Caterson Reserve – 16 January 2025

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Dave Noble

Sue, Valerie and myself had thought about heading up to Springwood for a walk down Birdwood Gully to look for fungi and birds, but two factors made this a poor option – a train strike and rain. So as an alternative, I suggested travelling via the metro to Castle Hill and visiting the Fred Caterson Reserve. It looks like it was short walk from Hills Showground Station.

In the circumstances, this was a good plan. When we got off the metro, it was raining, so we walked to the Castle Hill Tavern and had a pleasant pub lunch. By the time we finished, the rain had stopped, so we walked down to Cattai Creek and into the Fred Caterson Reserve.The reserve is named after a former politician. Continue reading →

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Sydney Park Birds – 15 January 2025

Posted on January 29, 2025 by Dave Noble

I made a visit to Sydney Park to see what birds were around.

Here are some that I saw – Continue reading →

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Mudlarks Cooks River Bird Survey – 14 January 2025

Posted on January 28, 2025 by Dave Noble

I joined the Mudlarks for their monthly bird survey along the Cooks River. This month the survey was the upstream loop from the Lang St Bridge.

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

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Cape Baily Walk – 13 January 2025

Posted on January 22, 2025 by Dave Noble

Valerie, Sue and myself had been planning a walk, and due to a number of factors we decided to visit the cliffs at Kurnell in Kamay Botany Bay National Park.

We had been out on these cliffs in October last year – and that walk had been a great trip with a number of raptors seen (Nankeen Kestrels, A Sea Eagle, A Peregrine Falcon and a Black-shouldered Kite), a great view of some dolphins, and a magnificent display of Flannel Flowers. Continue reading →

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