Brown Goshawks at Rookwood Necropolis – 12 December 2023

Posted on December 16, 2023 by Dave Noble

After the Mudlarks Bird Survey, Simin suggested a visit to Rookwood Necropolis to see the Brown Goshawk family. This sounded like a good idea.

On the walk in, we spotted a Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike with prey. Probably a cicada. Continue reading →

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

Mudlarks Bird Survey – 12 December 2023

Posted on December 16, 2023 by Dave Noble

I joined the Mudlarks for their monthly bird survey along the Cooks River. The group met up on the Lang Street Bridge at 7 am. This time the survey went downstream – to Wave Rock and back.

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

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

Visit to Killalea Regional Park – 11 December 2023

Posted on December 16, 2023 by Dave Noble

I joined Brian Everingham and party for a visit to Killalea Regional Park on the coast just south of Shellharbour. This was a trip with the National Parks Association of NSW. In the party was Brian, Sue, Valerie, Elaine and quite few members of the Illawarra Branch of the NPA.

After meeting up at the top car park, near the cafe, we set off first for “The Farm” a famous surfing beach. Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Bushwalking, Illawarra | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Back to the Northern Beaches – a Quiet Day – 10 December 2023

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Dave Noble

After a very hot day on Saturday, and with cooler weather on Sunday, I decided on another trip to to the sea cliffs of the Northern Beaches to see if the raptors were still active. Generally, they were not – and it turned out to be a relatively quiet day.

I made my way to the sea cliffs, and not long after I arrived, I spotted a Peregrine falcon flying in the distance. It was flying in the spot that I recently seen the family of Nankeen Kestrels. I made my way to that area. Continue reading →

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

Tempe Bird Survey – 9 December 2023

Posted on December 9, 2023 by Dave Noble

In the early morning, before it got really hot (it was forecast to reach 40°C later in the day), I joined the Tempe Birdos for their monthly bird survey. I was in the group surveying the wetlands.

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

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

Coastal Walking in Royal National Park – Burning Palms to Werrong Beach – 7 December 2023

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Dave Noble

I had had this walk on my “to do” list for a fair while. And had even set out to do it on solo walk back in 2016. So when Bob suggested it for our weekly bushwalk, I was quite keen. He had done that section of coast many years ago – back in the 1970’s I think, and had thought it worth doing again. On my 2016 attempt, I had started from Werrong Beach and got about 1/3 of the way perhaps to the Figure Eight Pool before I was turned back by big waves.

This trip, we started from Garawarra Farm, and walked down to Burning Palms, and then continued to the Figure Eight Pool. Next, we continued under the cliffs all the way to Werrong without any major difficulties.

Continue reading →

Posted in Bushwalking, Royal National Park, Wildflowers | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Back to the Brown Goshawks at Rookwood Necropolis – 6 December 2023

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Dave Noble

I made another trip to Rookwood, to photograph the Brown Goshawk family. I was hoping the newly fledged chicks would be more active, and hopefully get some flight shots, or shots of the parents bringing in food.

I had no trouble spotting the juvenile Brown Goshawks and at least one of their parents. They would often call out, and that made it much easier to locate them. Continue reading →

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

Wolli Creek Walk – 5 December 2023

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Dave Noble

A hot day was forecast. I was keen to get outdoors, but not keen to spend too long in the hot weather. So I decided to do short local walk along the Two Valleys Track – along Wolli Creek downstream from Bexley North and see how far I got before heading home.

In the end, I only walked to Girrahween Park at Earlwood. It was rather hot, and the birds were not that active.  Here are a few birds I did see – Continue reading →

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

Northern Beaches Raptors – 4 December 2023

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Dave Noble

I made another visit to the cliffs of the Northern Beaches to photograph again the family of Nankeen Kestrels I had seen on my previous visit, and also any Peregrine Falcons that may be nearby.

When I arrived on the cliffs, I first heard the call of a Peregrine Falcon, but could not spot any. I later observed one perched on a part of the cliffs that I could only see from a long way off.

I did see a White-bellied Sea Eagle fly past. It had a fish. Continue reading →

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

Birds at Nepean Weir – 3 December 2023

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Dave Noble

I travelled out to Penrith and visited the reserve at the Nepean Weir to photograph the birds there.

I was quite a hot day, so I only stayed till the early afternoon. Here are some of the birds I saw. Continue reading →

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