Trevor's Birding

Some birds of the Australian Reptile Park

No Comments »20th July, 2014; Category: Animals, Parrots and Lorikeets, Zoos

Rainbow Lorikeet

During our visit to the Australian Reptile Park near Gosford, NSW last Sunday, we heard a very entertaining talk about reptiles given by one of the keepers. All through the talk I kept an eye out for any birds flying overhead or perched on nearby branches, such as the Rainbow Lorikeet shown above. This species of lorikeet was probably the most common bird in and around the park, their constant screeching giving a noisy background for all the talks. Another common species was the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, also very raucous all around the park.

Featured in the presentation was the keeper’s pet alligator, Rosie, shown below. Rosie was well trained and very well behaved. Another animal shown by this keeper was the Lace Monitor, also shown below. The markings on the monitor, a large Australian lizard, are quite remarkable. The Lace Monitor, often called a goanna, is the second largest lizard in Australia. On one occasion I have seen this species in the bushland not far from my son’s home in inner North Shore Sydney.

Rosie the alligator

Lace Monitor

A family visit to the Australian Reptile Park

No Comments »19th July, 2014; Category: Animals, Ducks Geese and Swans, Zoos

Inside the entrance of the Reptile Park

Last Sunday we went on a family outing to the Australian Reptile Park near Gosford on the central NSW coast. Before going I thought that this was my first visit, but over lunch my son informed me that he could remember going there as a child. How the memory fades at this time of life.

Our grandchildren were particularly keen to go, having visited on other occasions in recent years. It was a fine treat for the last day of the school holidays. We arrived mid-morning in time for an informative talk about turtles and tortoises, including the Galapagos Tortoise shown below.

Just to keep faith with my bird loving readers I’ve also included a photo of a Cape Barren Goose below. This individual, the only one in the park, is a long way from its normal home. It is a resident of the park. In fact, it is more of a pet than an exhibit.

Galapagos Tortoise

Cape Barren Goose

Some birds of Long Reef Point NSW

No Comments »18th July, 2014; Category: Gulls and Terns, Seabirds, Shorebirds

Long Reef Point near Dee Why, Sydney

A few days ago my wife and I spent a little while at Long Reef Point at Dee Why, a suburb of Sydney. This spot is known for its sea-birds, but at this time of the year only a few resident species can usually be found. Most of the waders have long since flown to warmer climes in the northern hemisphere.

The only water birds I was able to identify with my binoculars and the zoom on my camera were as follows:

Little Pied Cormorant
Little Pied Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Silver Gull
Crested Tern
Sooty Oystercatcher (see photo below)
Australian Pelican
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper

That’s not a great list by anyone’s estimation, but about the best I could do in the short time I had. Other birds seen in the vicinity, including the adjacent golf course, were:

Willie Wagtail
Common Myna (see yesterday’s post)
Variegated Fairy-wren (see post from 2 days ago)
Australian Raven
Welcome Swallow
Masked Lapwing
Spotted Turtledove
Noisy Miner
Rainbow Lorikeet
Red Wattlebird
Little Wattlebird
Grey Butcherbird

Again – not a great list but about what I expected for this time of the year, and for the weather conditions which were dull and overcast.

Next time we visit family in the summer months I must take out time from looking after the grandchildren and visit this spot again.

Long Reef Point near Dee Why, Sydney

Sooty Oystercatchers, Long Reef Point near Dee Why, Sydney

This is not a minor threat

4 Comments »17th July, 2014; Category: Bird Behaviour, Nests

Common Myna

Yesterday I wrote about a pleasant time my wife and I had visiting Long Reef Point north-east of Sydney CBD. One small, disturbing element of our visit was the number of Common Myna birds in the locality. This introduced pest species is quite a threat to our native bird species, competing directly with them for nesting sites and food. Many people are also annoyed by their strident calls.

The particular individual shown in today’s sequence of photos seems to have taken a dislike to me – or my camera – and appears to be advancing towards me in a threatening way. I am pleased that it caused me no harm and left my camera intact.

Common Myna

A flash of colour on a dull winter’s day

No Comments »16th July, 2014; Category: Bird Behaviour, Great Birding Moments, Photos, Wrens

Male Variegated Fairy-wren

My wife and I are currently visiting family in Sydney. Yesterday we were free from helping out with the grandchildren for a few hours, so we packed a picnic lunch and headed out to a few potential birding spots.

One of the places I was keen to revisit after many years was Long Reef Point next to the Long Reef Golf Course, Dee Why north-east of Sydney CBD.

It was a cool, dull, overcast day and the birding was quite slow. Despite this I made quite a nice little list of local resident birds but few photos. While there I realised it was the wrong time of year. Most of the migrant wading birds had long flown north to Asia for our winter. Wise birds.

During our visit, my wife and I sat quietly on a rock at the top of the point reaching out to sea from the mainland. Watching the waves come in can be very good for the soul, and very relaxing. We were pleased that it was a calm day; on windy days one could easily get blown off the cliff onto the beach or rocks below.

As we sat quietly a family of Variegated fairy-wrens came to visit within a few metres of where we sat. Despite the fact that wrens move incredibly quickly, I was able to get several good shots, shown on today’s post. The one below of female is quite delightful. It looks for all the world like she is scolding us for intruding on their territory.

Female Variegated Fairy-wren

Male Variegated Fairy-wren