Bundeena Walk – 30 October 2023

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Dave Noble

I joined Brian Everingham and party from the National Parks Association of NSW for a walk in the Bundeena Area. The original plan was to walk from Bundeena to Marley along the Coast Track and back, but a total fire ban meant increased bushfire danger, so plans were modified – we only walked out to The Balconies and a bit to the south, and then later visited the wetland at Bonnie Vale. Despite the modified plans, it was a very pleasant day out.

In the party was Brian, Valerie, Sue, Derek, Tania and myself.

We set of along the track, and early on we spotted this large Wasp dealing with a large Huntsman Spider. Continue reading →

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Birds on the Richmond Lowlands – 29 October 2023

Posted on October 30, 2023 by Dave Noble

The day before on the Greenway Bird survey, I had mentioned to Valerie, that I was thinking of heading out to the Richmond Lowlands to see a rare bird – an Australian Painted-snipe. A pair had been spotted a week or so earlier on the lowlands, just north of Richmond, and it looked like one, the male, was still around and often seen by birdwatchers foraging near a laneway. Valerie was keen to see it, and offered to drive out.

We set off early in the morning and arrived at the lowlands around 8:30 am.

We soon found the right spot – there were about twenty other bird watchers and photographs gathered along the road. Friends Diana and Lennis were amongst them, and told us they had already seen and photographed the rare Painted-snipe. At present the bird was around – but was resting out of sight in tall grass next to a pool near the road. Continue reading →

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Northern Beaches Peregrines Again – 28 October 2023

Posted on October 30, 2023 by Dave Noble

To photograph juvenile Peregrine Falcons – you need to strike while the iron is hot. There is a brief window of time from when the young birds fledge till they become so good that they fly further and further away from the nest area – too far for it to be worthwhile trying to find them on the cliffs.

On these cliffs, the time, I think is almost over that you can easily find them and have a good chance to photograph them flying. Continue reading →

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Greenway Bird Survey – 28 October 2023

Posted on October 30, 2023 by Dave Noble

I took part in the local bird survey along the Dulwich Hill part of the Greenway. The group meets on the east side of Waratah Mills Light Rail Station at 7:30 am on the 4th Saturday of the month – and then slowly walks along the streets near the Greenway – on a loop that finished back at the station.

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

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Malabar Headland – 27 October 2023

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Dave Noble

I made another visit to the cliffs of malabar Headland to check on the breeding pair of Peregrine Falcons. This season, I have been puzzled by their behaviour. Had their nest been successful? Will there be checks this year? The birds seemed to be different to previous years in what they had been doing at this time of the year – when their chicks should have fledged or been close to fledging. I had seen no food being deliver to the ledge they had their scrape on in previous seasons. I thought they may have moved to a different location, and I now think is right and explains what I have been seeing, or rather, not seeing.

With early a rain, I delayed my departure, and arrived on the cliffs around 10:45 am. Dale, who I had met on these cliffs the week before was also there. He reported that he had seen no Peregrine Falcons so far. We then went for short walks in different directions to check parts of the cliffs, and we bother returned without seeing any Peregrines. Continue reading →

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Local Birds – Morton Park and The Cooks River – 26 October 2023

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Dave Noble

The day started off a bit wet and windy, but by afternoon I was keen to head out, and visited a few local spots to see what birds I could find.

I first walked to Morton Park on Canterbury Road. There has been a nesting pair of Tawny Frogmouths here in recent years. Would they be breeding again. Local birdwatcher, Michael had told me they were, and it didn’t take too long to spot a nest. But it was very high up in a tree and it was obscured by branches and foliage from most angles. This is the best I could do – Continue reading →

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Sculpture By The Sea – 25 October 2023

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Dave Noble

I decided to visit Sculpture By The Sea in the morning, and thought the best time to get interesting photos would be close to dawn. So, I got up early, at 4:15 am and caught a train at 4:41 am, then changed at Town Hall for a train to Bondi Junction. Once there, I had time to grab a coffee before the 381 bus to Tamarama. I arrived at the beach at 5:40 am – before the sun was due to rise at 6:03 am.

Once there, it was relatively quiet around there art installations. So I could move around and try to get good angles without having to wait for people to move. And there was a nice sunrise to experience. Continue reading →

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Wolli Creek Walk – 24 October 2023

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Dave Noble

I only had time for a short walk on this day, as I had spent a long time working at my computer processing photos of Peregrine Falcons from the day before. So I visited Wolli Creek Regional Park – and walked along the Two Valleys Track from Bexley North, through Bardwell Park, and down as far as the Flying Fox Camp, then returned to exit at Girrahween Park.

I would have liked to linger in a few places for longer. I heard plenty of birds on my walk, but I dint wait fro them to appear. At Paperbark Creek, I could hear the call of a Sacred Kingfisher. I sept a bit of time locating and photographing it. Continue reading →

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More Northern Beaches Peregrines – 23 October 2023

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Dave Noble

I made another visit to photograph the Peregrine Falcons on the clifftops of the Northern Beaches. Again – I was keen to photograph the aerial interactions of the juvenile birds. And this is a lot easier to do when the birds are newly fledged and don’t venture too far from their nest area.

Like my last visit, the juvenile Peregrine falcons were quite active, but there were also periods of time spent waiting for them to appear or to take-off and fly. So patience is required. And like last time – there were a number of other bird photographs on the cliffs. Continue reading →

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Goochs Crater Walk 21 – 22 October 2023

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Dave Noble

Martin had organised a walk to celebrate some birthdays, and he had chosen Goochs Crater as the destination. We all met at Bell and then proceeded along a ridge system towards the Wollangambe River.

At the start of the walk, we encountered a huge number of flowering Waratahs. Quite amazing to see. Continue reading →

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