Day 36 of lockdown. Another exercise bike ride to the Cooks River. On this ride, I again went downstream and again looks our for Sacred Kingfishers.
I first stopped at Gough Whitlam Park where I saw a Sacred Kingfisher perched on a bush over the river.
I tried to watch it from a better position, but it flew off upstream. I then continued riding to Waterworth Park.
Here is a Little Pied Cormorant flying past.
During the lockdown, I have seen a lot of people on the river in various craft. Here are two paddling up Wolli Creek –
Like the day before, I bumped into Michael, who was also on the lookout for Sacred Kingfishers. We headed back to Gough Whitlam Park and soon spotted one.
It soon caught a nice Mudcrabs –
It then flew off. I later saw one perched in the mangroves –
It didn’t stay for long. I rode back down to the junction to see if any where down there. No. I did spot this Australasian Darter –
Back at Gough Whitlam Park, Michael had spotted this Sacred Kingfisher –
It coughed up a pellet –
And straight after dived for a crab.
After that it flew away, so we turned our attention to the Billabong. A Great Egret was hunting for fish.
A Little Egret was watching nearby.
The Little Egret flew closer.
The Great Egret was doing well.
The Great Egret had caught two fish.
It could eat one of them.
The Egrets were joined by a White-faced Heron.
Then the Great Egret did an amazing vertical take-off.
It perched on a Casuarina while the Little Egret flew past.
Its perch was not very stable.
The Great Egret soon returned to the Billabong.
On the far side of the Billabong was a King Parrot –
Meanwhile the Great Egret was perched up high again and was trying to snap an insect –
Michael spotted this duck –
I thought it might be a female hardhead, but its bill is the wrong colour. Perhaps some type of domestic duck?
One the ride home, I didn’t spot any more Sacred Kingfishers, but did spot their bigger relative – a Laughing Kookaburra –
