Duesbury Beach, Dalmeny, NSW south coast
No Comments »25th February, 2009; Category: Trip reports
Duesbury Beach, Dalmeny, south coast of NSW
After leaving Bateman’s Bay on our holiday last month we travelled down along the south coast of New South Wales. I navigated us along the coast rather than following the main highway south. I was hoping to get some good views of the coast and also find some useful birding spots.
Duesbury Beach, Dalmeny, south coast of NSW
After only a short drive we came to a lovely beach called Duesbury Beach at the small town of Dalmeny. There were a few people swimming and surfing or walking on the beach, but very few birds.
Duesbury Beach, Dalmeny, south coast of NSW
In fact, we were there for only a few minutes and I made only a short lists of birds: Black Swans and Masked Lapwing on or near a lagoon in the town, several Silver Gulls patrolling the beach, several Australian Magpies in gardens and some Welcome Swallows in several parts of the locality. Not an impressive list, but made up for by the beautiful spot. We then drove on along the coast line.
Click on the photos to enlarge the image.
Duesbury Beach, Dalmeny, south coast of NSW
Duesbury Beach, Dalmeny, south coast of NSW
Sydney Fish Markets
1 Comment »25th January, 2009; Category: Gulls and Terns
A Silver Gull eyeing off our lunch
During our stay in Sydney over last Christmas and New Year we went on various excursions around the city. Our son and daughter in law suggested that we have lunch at the Sydney Fish Markets. We were willing to see these markets, a place we had not previously visited on trips to Sydney.
After catching the train into the city we caught the tram to the markets. We wandered around the various markets jostling with the many hundreds of other people with the same idea. Sydney between Christmas and New Year can be very busy. We eventually decided on a place to order lunch. The ladies lined up for about an hour to get our lunch while my son and I “hovered” near a table where the people had almost finished eating. The many picnic tables were not coping with the huge crowds of visitors. Eventually our tactic paid off, just minutes before our food was ready.
Picnic area of the Sydney Fish Markets
While we were waiting and during our delicious seafood meal I was on the lookout for any birds. The most obvious were the Silver Gulls keeping an eye on our lunch. Strutting along between the rows of tables were several White Ibises, also on the lookout for a free meal. Several Australian Pelicans waited patiently in the water nearby while Rainbow Lorikeets darted overhead. There were quite a few Common Mynas, Noisy Miners and Rock Doves in the area, and several Pied Cormorants drying their feathers on a boat in the harbour.
Silver Gull at the Sydney Fish Markets
Birding on Sydney Harbour
No Comments »9th January, 2009; Category: Gulls and Terns
Sydney Harbour
When we were in Sydney last month visiting family for Christmas, one of the things I wanted to do was to take a ferry trip on Sydney Harbour. Last time we were here we didn’t get to go on the harbour. The main objective of the ferry ride was to see the beautiful harbour and the magnificent scenery around it. Birding was secondary.
Silver Gull
We took the ferry to Manly where we alighted for a walk to the beach. We also indulged in a delicious icecream before heading home again. I was more intent in getting some good photos of the harbour rather than watching birds. I definitely saw plenty of Silver Gulls. They seem to be plentiful here. I also saw several terns but without my binoculars it was hard to tell the species. Several cormorants were seen at a distance too great to positively ID and I’m sure I missed many others on the journey.
Sydney Harbour
On a visit in 2000 I was walking along the foreshore near Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair and was surprised – and delighted – to observe a Fairy Penguin (Little Penguin) swimming in the shallow water. Later I found out that they are a breeding species in the harbour. No penguins on this trip however.
While birding from one of the ferries that ply these waters daily could be done with some success, my experience on this occasion was disappointing. Of more value, I suspect, would be to visit a series of key spots around the harbour. A static position may be far more effective rather than a moving platform. Just a thought.
Birds in the Sydney CBD
6 Comments »6th January, 2009; Category: General
The Rocks area, Sydney
While on our recent holiday in Sydney we went into the CBD on several occasions. One of those occasions was to visit the markets in The Rocks area.
My prime reason for going there was as a tourist, not as a birder. Not matter where I go I have to see what birds are around. That’s just me. I simply cannot ignore the birds. (I’ve even been known to keep a tally of birds seen through the windows at church! Go figure.)
The Rocks area is in the heart of the Sydney CBD, an area rich in history with most buildings being of some historic value. It attracts hoards of tourists and local visitors on a daily basis. Despite the numbers of humans, the bird population flourishes.
Rock Doves (Feral Pigeons) are everywhere. They thrive on food scraps from careless people dropping parts of their lunch in the many eateries in the area. I noticed that some are reluctant to even get out of the way as I walked along.
Silver Gulls likewise are in great numbers and also thrive on human food. Circular Quay with its hundreds of thousands of travellers daily on the ferries on Sydney Harbour is only a few steps away.
Pied Currawongs are also present in the treed areas within The Rocks. This is a species that has adapted to an urban environment and also feeds on human throwaways.
The introduced Common Myna (see photo below) is another species that has become a pest in urban zones and can be found in large numbers throughout Sydney.
Common Myna
Birding in the heart of Melbourne
2 Comments »22nd December, 2007; Category: Trip reports
Melbourne CBD
2007 Victorian birding trip report #12
On the Sunday we drove into Melbourne CBD. We attended a photographic exhibition which was very interesting. It featured the photographs of one of our more prominent politicians, Senator Bob Brown. Most of the photos had an environmental theme which is not surprising because he is a member of the Greens Party here in Australia.
After lunch we went wandering around the Queen Victoria Markets, an eclectic collection of stalls selling everything from vegetables to paintings to handbags to a wild collection of tourist knick-knacks. I wasn’t going to buy anything but I found some lovely fridge magnets featuring Australian birds. At five for ten dollars I just couldn’t leave them there. They will join my growing collection on my filing cabinet at home.
I wasn’t taking all that much notice of the birds in the city centre. I did notice plenty of House Sparrows, Rock Doves, a few Common Mynas and the occasional Australian Raven. Mind you – I didn’t go in to the city to watch birds – they were a bonus. Oh, I forgot the Silver Gulls. The port facilities are not all that far from the markets, and I guess they are attracted to the junk food left lying around.
Silver Gull
On the way in I had good views of three Wedge-tailed Eagles hanging on the breeze near the Melbourne International Airport. A small population has lived in that area for many years. The most common bird on the road to the city was the introduced pest species, the Common Myna. Which reminds me; I still do not have any photos of this species. I don’t think I’ll bother.