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!
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.