A visit to a royal place
No Comments »11th October, 2007; Category: Trip reports
2007 New South Wales trip report #27
We left Artarmon a little later than we had planned. I was sad leaving our son and daughter in law; we see them so infrequently. We took the Harbour Tunnel and then the eastern distributor motorway, passed the airport and headed south towards Wollongong.
I didn’t take much notice of the birds along the way; I was too busy navigating for my wife who was driving. Being from a relatively small country town we are not used to driving in large cities like Sydney.
We turned off into the Royal National Park as planned. The last time we had visited this park was in 2000, and that visit was only for an hour or so. Again we were not able to stay very long. We drove into Audley and had morning tea in one of the many picnic areas by the Hacking River. I was soon adding a list of species to my bird note book. One of the first birds I heard was a Fan-tailed Cuckoo calling incessantly all through morning tea. I failed to catch sight of the bird in question. Sulphur-crested Cockatoos seemed to be everywhere, but not in huge numbers.
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
A number of Australian Wood Ducks and Pacific Black Ducks were either on the river or approaching us for some little scrap to eat. They were unlucky. Dusky Moorhens frolicked in the water and a lone Purple Swamphen was seen strutting around the picnic table of another group of visitors to the park. I heard a Willie Wagtail but didn’t see it; strange. Another bird heard but not seen was an Eastern Whipbird, once only metres from where we stood.
Royal National Park, south of Sydney
Along the river we saw both Little Pied and Little Black Cormorants resting on fallen branches over the water. Several Laughing Kookaburras were seen and heard in the picnic grounds but these were more polite and didn’t sit eyeing off our food like so many others of this species we had seen in recent days. Welcome Swallows were seen swooping low over the water in the river and then soaring high over the tall eucalypts.
Royal National Park, south of Sydney
Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
2 Comments »10th October, 2007; Category: Trip reports
2007 New South Wales trip report #27
One of our favourite places to visit in Sydney is the Royal Botanic Gardens right in the heart of the city. We caught the train from the nearby station and alighted at Circular Quay station. It is then only a short ten minute walk to the gardens.
On arrival we found a seat to use while eating our lunch. After lunch we spent the afternoon wandering the gardens. My wife was pleased to find a few Australian native plants in flower and these occupied her and her camera for quite a while.
White Ibis nesting, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
The bird life in the gardens is abundant in numbers without being over abundant in the number of species. Numerous White Ibis dominated the scene, many making quite a noise as the squabbled over nesting sites in the trees. Many were seen carrying nesting materials. Noisy Miners were also common and I think some were feeding young in the nest. I saw several Australian Magpies and Australian Ravens and one Pied Currawong. Welcome Swallows swooped over head while Rock Doves strutted amongst the crowds gathered to enjoy the gardens and the sunny weather.
In the middle of the park there are several shallow ponds. I saw several Little Black Cormorants there, as well as Pacific Black Ducks, several strange hybridized ducks, a number of Dusky Moorhens and several Silver Gulls over the adjacent bay. As we were leaving I saw a single Masked Lapwing.
Probably the highlight of the afternoon was the photos I was able to take of a Buff-banded Rail on one of the footpaths. This usually shy and secretive species has adapted well to the hoards of people who come through the park daily. It showed no nervousness as it wandered around my feet as I photographed it. Last year I was very upset that the batteries in my camera failed only minutes before seeing this species. Now I have several good shots of it.
Buff-banded Rail, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
The second highlight was seeing a small flock of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos feeding on the lawns. I was able to get good shots of this species as they wandered around only two metres from me. A group of German tourists ignored the signs encouraging people not to feed the birds. One paid the price and was bitten on the arm.
Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
On our return to the railway station via the Sydney Opera House precinct I was able to get some good shots of the setting sun lighting up both the opera house and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It was a pleasing conclusion to a relaxing holiday in this beautiful city.
Tomorrow we head off to the nation’s capital, Canberra.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Birding Bloopers #21
2007 New South Wales trip report #26
Middle Harbour, Sydney
On our short rest at Middle Harbour in Sydney (see yesterday’s post) we were admiring all the boats and yachts tied at anchor. My son asked what kind of bird was sitting on a nearby boat. At first it looked like the back of a White-faced Heron, but something was not quite right.
I moved around the bay a little and as the boat swung around with the shifting breeze I managed several full-face photos. Something that looks a little like a Great Horned Owl is not an expected bird to see in Sydney. After several great shots I realised it was plastic. It was obviously placed there to scare away the gulls, but the evidence suggested it was not doing its job very well.
Bird scarer on a boat, Middle Harbour, Sydney
For more funny birding bloopers go to my archives here.
Flat Rock Creeek to Middle Harbour, Sydney
2007 New South Wales trip report #25
While we were staying with our son in Sydney he decided to take an afternoon off from work (he works at home) and take us on a walk from Artarmon along Flat Rock Creek to Middle Harbour. This harbour is a small part of the greater Sydney Harbour.
The walking track took us through nearby suburbs and we enjoyed looking over people’s back fences into their gardens. The track also took us under several major roads and a freeway. Most of the first part was a sealed or concrete walking path shared with cyclists. This first part didn’t yield many interesting birds but it was a very enjoyable walk anyway.
Flat Rock Creek, Northbridge, Sydney
The track then changes to a narrow dirt track and plunges quickly 50 or 60 metres down into Flat Rock Creek. When we reached the creek bed the path then follows the creek along to the harbour. I was not surprised to see Laughing Kookaburras along this part, and observed on flying in a hollow. This could indicate nesting but the hollow was too far away over the creek to investigate further. Pied Currawongs were seen and heard frequently as were Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. Superb Fairy-wrens flitted in and out of the bushes along the path, but never stopping long enough for a photo.
At one stage I saw several Red-whiskered Bulbuls but couldn’t get a clear shot of one. I did manage to get a nice shot on the return walk. This was a new bird for the trip list and a nice one to see despite it being an introduced species. I’ve only ever seen it about three times in total.
Red-whiskered Bulbul
I was also delighted to see two Chestnut Teal, a male and a female, swimming in the creek which at that point seemed rather polluted. Nearby several Red-browed Finches caught our attention and White-browed Scrubwrens called from nearby bushes. Noisy Miners were everywhere and we heard several Striated Pardalotes, a Grey Butcherbird, several Australian Magpies and the occasional Australian Raven flew overhead.
I haven’t seen too many pigeons and doves in this part of Sydney, but on our walk I saw Crested Pigeons, Rock Doves and Spotted Turtledoves. Thankfully not too many Indian Mynas were seen in this part of the city. I saw no House Sparrows; they seem to be absent from around here. At the harbour we saw Welcome Swallows and Silver Gulls.
Rock Doves, Northbridge, Sydney
On the return walk I only added Common Koel to the list. As this was another “lifer” for the trip I was pleased. This species has just arrived from its spring migration south. The whole walk took just a few minutes short of four hours, the return part being largely uphill with some very steep parts. We were pleased that we achieved this as both of us are not as fit as we should be. Our son thought it was just a pleasant stroll, but then he walks the area nearly every day.
Birding at the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden
2007 New South Wales trip report #24
One of the places we planned to visit on our stay in Sydney was the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden. This garden is open to the public every day and is located next to the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in the northern parts of Sydney. We last visited this garden on a visit seven years ago and have fond memories of that visit.
Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Gardens
This time we were a little disappointed. Although it is early spring the wildflowers were not fully out so that was a shame. Perhaps we should have planned a later visit. The birding was also a little slow though I did get some good photos of two Laughing Kookaburras keeping an eye on our picnic lunch.
Laughing Kookaburras
Other good species included the Superb Fairy-wren. The brochure lists Variegated Fairy-wrens as present but I didn’t see any. I also had good views briefly of a Red-browed Finch but it didn’t sit long enough for a photo. Rainbow Lorikeets, Little and Red Wattlebirds were quite common throughout the garden.
Banksia flower
To check out the web page of the gardens, click here.