Jerrabomberra Wetlands, Canberra
Purple Swamphen
2007 Australian Capital Territory trip report #1
One of the places I wanted to visiting to go birding while in Canberra was the Jerrabomberra Wetlands near the centre of Canberra and adjacent to Lake Burley Griffin. I’d heard quite a bit about these wetlands from the internet chat group Canberra Birds.
We were able to spend about two hours at these wetlands and although the birding was quiet and a little slow, I was able to make a pleasing list of species. An Australian Magpie was feeding two young in a nest in the car-park and this was a good start to the morning. I grabbed a cuppa and headed off to the first bird hide. There are a number of good hides scattered around the ponds.
One of the first sightings was a Black Swan with two cygnets. Later I saw a Pacific Black Duck with about half a dozen ducklings in tow. I also saw plenty of Eurasian Coots, Purple Swamphens, Dusky Moorhens, and Grey Teal. A single pair of Chestnut Teal was also present. Incredibly, I saw my first White-faced Heron for the trip, although we think we’d seen one earlier in the trip, but I hadn’t recorded it.
I heard both a Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoo and a Laughing Kookaburra but failed to see either of them. Welcome Swallows swooped low over the water and a Clamorous Reedwarbler sang off and on from the reeds in the middle of the wetlands. As we left I stopped briefly at the Sewage Works on the opposite side of the road. Here I was able to add Australasian Grebe which looked as if it was in breeding plumage. I also added Blue-billed Duck on a tip-off from a local birder I met earlier at the wetlands. This latter is always a good species to add to a list, and it’s a lovely species to see anyway.
Jerrabomberra Wetlands, Canberra
Up into the mountains again
4 Comments »14th October, 2007; Category: Trip reports
2007 New South Wales trip report #31
After lunch we continued our drive through the Royal National Park south of Sydney. This drive took us through some beautiful forest areas as we continued to meander our way south towards the city of Wollongong. We didn’t stop along here and three are only a handful of parking spots anyway. Because the road was extremely windy and unfamiliar to us, and as it was now my turn to drive, the birding opportunities were very limited.
The obvious birds flying across in front of the car included Laughing Kookaburras and Pied Currawongs. Leaving the national park we took the road that hugs the coast. Here we drove through a series of small towns dotting the ocean front with some million dollar views along the way. At one stage to elevated road is actually a bridge over the ocean. This was done after landslides caused havoc a few years ago.
Near Woolongong, New South Wales
We skirted around the large city of Wollongong and headed further south, this time travelling on the motorway. I noticed a few Australian Magpies and Common Mynas, the occasional small flock of Galahs and pairs of Eastern and Crimson Rosellas if my memory is correct. I didn’t write them down because I was driving and my wife was busy navigating. (This was only the second time we’d ever been this way; the last time was over thirty years ago.)
We turned off the main road south along the coast and headed inland again. The road was relatively flat for the first fifteen kilometres or so before we climbed rapidly up the Illawarra escarpment. I estimate we went up over a thousand metres about ten kilometres. Whatever the figures it was very steep, twisty and very interesting. On some corners I had to change down to second gear; I was pleased I was not towing a caravan. Some longer trucks would have trouble actually getting around some corners, and there were signs warning about this difficulty.
As we topped the range the views back over the coast were spectacular. It was a pity we could not stop to enjoy another national park on our way up; time was getting away from us. The increased altitude soon dropped the temperature dramatically, and, combined with a cool change moving through, I donned my jumper at the next town we stopped in.
We headed down the main Sydney to Melbourne freeway and then on to Canberra and we were able to make good speed. We were aiming to reach Canberra before dark. Along this section my wife was driving and there was no navigating to attend to, so I was able to observe birds in the fading light. Just north of Canberra I saw three Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, a small family of White-winged Choughs, and more Magpies and Ravens.
I also saw a single White-necked Heron feeding by a creek in a nearby paddock. This is one species I rarely get to see and I don’t know why. It is relatively common, yet I’ve only seen it on a handful of occasions. In fact, I just checked my database – this was the second sighting in twenty years. I am obviously looking in the wrong places – or I don’t get out enough.
Near Woolongong, New South Wales
Lunch time by the beach
No Comments »13th October, 2007; Category: Flowers, Magpies and Currawongs, Thornbills, Trip reports
After our walk down Lady Carrington Drive we drove south through Royal National Park. This drive took us up to the top of the ranges in this part of the park. The change in vegetation over a very short distance was very interesting. From towering gum trees we suddenly found ourselves in gum trees not much more than head high with a very interesting under-story of low heath type plants. There were very few stopping points and my wife was disappointed we didn’t really have the time to spend exploring some of the walking tracks leading off the main road. We are already planning our next trip here.
Wattamoola, Royal National Park, Sydney
At one point along this road we took a detour to a locality known as Wattamoola. This road terminates at a picnic ground where we had a delightful lunch looking out over the beach below and the Pacific Ocean out to sea. I didn’t do much birding here but did check out the large number of Pied Currawongs fussing around in nearby bushes. There seemed to an unusual congregation of them, probably twenty or more and calling incessantly. I assume this could have been mating behaviour, but, being relatively unfamiliar with the species I’m not sure.
Wattamoola, Royal National Park, Sydney
Several Australian Magpies paraded the picnic grounds and about eight Silver Gulls were on the beach. No other water or sea birds were seen which is disappointing. I really haven’t concentrated on sea birds at all this trip because views of the sea have been very infrequent. As we left a Crested Pigeon flew past.
Black-backed Magpie, Royal National Park
On the road back out I did make a concession to my plant loving wife. We stopped in a safe roadside spot fro ten minutes to photograph some of the wildflowers. The only extra species added to this locality during the stop was a single New Holland Honeyeater.
Wildflowers at Royal National Park, Sydney
A highlight – and a low light
6 Comments »12th October, 2007; Category: Trip reports
2007 New South Wales trip report #29
Royal National Park, south of Sydney
After our morning tea sojourn in the Royal National Park south of Sydney we went for an hour walk along Lady Carrington Drive. This dirt track follows the Hacking River at about ten metres above the water level. We have fond memories of this walking trail from our last visit seven years ago. We were just wandering along the track and were being followed by a Superb Lyrebird. The experience was wonderful. Alas, today there was no Lyrebird. I understand that this spot is one of the more reliable places to see this beautiful species so close to the CBD (about an hour’s drive). That was the low light of the day.
Rock Warbler, Royal National Park, Sydney
A little further on I was delighted to see a Rock Warbler. I had only ever seen this bird once before – in almost the same position, certainly within a few metres. This was one species I hoped to pick up while in the park.
It is not a great photo. I was shooting towards the sun, in low light because of the shadows, too far for the flash and the bird kept moving. I’m amazed I got a photo at all!
Photo Gallery Update
No Comments »11th October, 2007; Category: Photos
Have you visited our Photo Gallery recently? (Note: the gallery is no longer available).
This morning the gallery passed the 800,000 views mark.
Why don’t you go and have a look?
My wife, son and I have posted over 1230 photos in a wide range of categories – birds, animals, scenery (Australia and overseas), flowers, travel and culture, architecture – go and have a look. There’s something for most people. The gallery is growing fast as we are adding new shots almost daily.
Most of the photos are mine but both my wife and son have contributed many too.
UPDATE: the photo gallery is no longer accessible to visitors. Sorry. It was getting too expensive to maintain.
Links:
White-Bellied Sea-Eagle