Birds at Rookwood Necropolis – 1 October 2024

I once again made a morning trip to Rookwood Necropolis to photograph birds. Last year, around this time, I made a number of trips there to photograph a nesting pair of Brown Goshawks and then later, their chicks. It was a very interesting experience. This season, I have made two earlier trips to the Necropolis, and on the first, I spotted a single Brown Goshawk, and on the second, I could hear one calling, but not see it. This visit, I did not see or hear one. Nor did I see any possible newly built nests.

But there were some other nice birds there. Not long after I arrived at the bushy part of the Necropolis – near Serpentine Creek, I spotted a large grown bird flying amongst the trees. Was it a Brown Goshawk? No, it turned out to be a pair of Channel-billed Cuckoos. Surprisingly they were not making their raucous call. They seemed to be on the lookout for Currawong nests, and the local Currawongs and Magpies were swopping down at them. Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Sydney | Tagged | Leave a comment

Photographing Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS – 1 October 2024

There was an opportunity to photograph the Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS in recent days. The comet was briefly visible in the eastern morning sky just before dawn. I had set my alarm for 4 am, but when I looked outside it was cloudy. The next morning was also forecast to be cloudy, so I didn’t even look outside. But on the first of October conditions were a lot better. I walked to nearby Marrickville Park, where I hoped I would get a good view of the sky near the eastern horizon. Would I be able to spot the comet in the light pollution of Sydney?

It was easy to spot the comet. I could not see it with the naked eye, but I could with binoculars. It also was visible in the screen on the back of the camera. The time was about 4:30 am. Continue reading

Posted in Astrophotography | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Peregrine Falcons on the Sea Cliffs – 30 September 2024

I travelled up to the Northern Beaches and walked out onto the sea cliffs to photograph a nesting pair of Peregrine Falcons.

I would appear that the Peregrine Falcon’s nesting is going well. We may see young in a few weeks. Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Sydney | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Cooks River Birds and Audrey’s Party – 29 September 2024

There was a party on at lunchtime at Steel Park on the Cooks River. I decided to walk down the River from Canterbury Road and photographed the birds I saw as I went.

And there were a number of Tawny Frogmouths, including some nesting –

And here is a Magpie Lark nest with chicks –  Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Sydney | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Greenway Bird Survey – 28 September 2024

It was time for the early morning bird survey along Dulwich Hill section of The Greenway.

Here are some of the birds we saw –

Rainbow Lorikeet

Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Sydney | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Malabar Headland 27 September 2024

I joined Valerie and Sue for a very nice day spent on Malabar Headland. We were fortunate to observe a great display of Nature – whales, orchids and Peregrine Falcons.

Walking out from Maroubra Beach, the Flannel Flowers were out – Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Bushwalking, Sydney, Wildflowers | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Lapstone Monocline Walk – 26 September 2024

Last week, on my walk with Bob, we had changed plans at last minute due to a total fire ban and the closure of tracks in Royal National Park. This week we decided to not do the Royal National Park walk due to forecast cool wet weather. Instead, we settled on a visit to the Lapstone Monocline and check out new work on the tracks and lookouts.

So Bob drove up to Glenbrook,and after a coffee stop, we parked at Knapsack Park, a large sports ground, and then were soon walking into Knapsack Reserve. Continue reading

Posted in Blue Mountains, Bushwalking | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Birds at Barton Park – 25 September 2024

I spent the morning at Barton Park photographing birds. Spring was certainly in the air, and a lot of birds were chirping, but a lot of them preferred to stay hidden in the vegetation.

Anyway, here are some photos, many are taken at Landing Lights Wetland – Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Sydney | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Wolli Creek Nature Walk – 24 September 2024

I spent a very pleasant morning walking down the Two Valleys Track from Bexley North downstream to Just past the rock climbing crag, then back to Earlwood shops for a bus home.

Here are some of the things I saw along the way – Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Bushwalking, Sydney, Wildflowers | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Cooks River Bird Walk – 23 September 2024

I sent a delightful day wandering along the Cooks River with Valerie and Sue. We were looking for Tawny Frogmouths and other birds. We started at the Lang Street Bridge, then walked upstream to Canterbury Road. Then we caught a bus to Dulwich Hill for a nice cafe lunch, then two more buses to Illawarra Road Bridge. Then we walked downstream to Gough Whitlam Park, then back upstream to Dulwich Hill Station.

It didn’t take long to find the first Tawny Frogmouth. We could only spot one. Perhaps its mate is nesting nearby? Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Sydney | Tagged , | Leave a comment