A quiet 3 months (Aug-Oct)

For a variety of reasons, mainly health related, this period was relatively quiet. Of course, preparations for our long-awaited driving trip to Tassie occupied much of our time too.

The selection below shows a variety of regular birds along several common areas we walk. "Regular" in terms of sightings they might be, but as usual, they also offer different appreciations of the capability and beauty of the birds.

First up I managed to frame this osprey alighting from the top of a riverside pine. More usually I photo these in static poses.

Next a youngish prancing plover (masked lapwing) just about to disappear into the shadow of a telegraph pole.

The next two photos show a rainbow lorikeet and a crested pigeon. The lorikeet is feasting on the nectar of the banksia flower while keeping a very keen eye on the photographer. The pigeon is in the same bush and roosting among the flowers to complement its wonderful plummage and also keeping an eye on the photographer.

Here is a pied cormorant basking on a boulder along the wall in the morning sun. The sheen on the wings and the black collar and head streak contrast strongly with the white neck and chest. The yellow beak is also a clear further contrast.

  

The same beauty of the soft pastel palette is perhaps even more apparent with this crested pigeon grazing on the grass among the clover, compared to the perch in the banksia shown above. Both have their own charm.

From pines, to banksia, to grass, to rocks, a plainer bare branch context against our wonderfully clear blue sky shows off the magnificent sounding (and looking) pied butcherbird. 

 

And a youngish magpie listening and feeling for any movement underground before it digs out the underground prey.

Showing off both the grass and rocky context is this white ibis preening its chest while balancing on a single leg ... such dexterity while ensuring they look their best 😁.

A pair of pacific black ducks by the edge of the lake enjoying some anonymity in the shadows.

The next two photos show a pair of welcome swallows enjoying the afternoon sun on their highwire perch. One caught at the beginning of a dive, and then in the second photo it has returned to the (deserved) admiration of its partner!

Another photo showing the acrobatic skills of the rainbow lorikeet.

Finally, just prior to our departure, a brush turkey decided he was going to build a nest in our front yard 😟. You can see in the first photo the spread of dirt behind the red flowers ... it had been moved there by the turkey from the nice clean path beside the birdbath. The next position was off to the left under a native magnolia tree ... the second photo shows to proud builder working the dirt & debris into position under the tree. On our return (mid-Nov) the nest is MUCH bigger and the yard much less tidy but boy, can these guys move a lot of material around in a short amount of time!

The road less travelled home (June)

We decided that our trip back from Sydney would take the road less travelled rather than simply follow the freeway as normal, or head back up the NE Highway (bit cold and potentially treacheous this time of year when not used to winter travel). While mostly about taking in the magnificent coastal scenery along our route, a few opportunities were taken to enjoy the birdlife.

This meant we followed the old Pacific Highway to Newcastle on our first day, ending up at Fern Bay, not far from Port Stephens and Fingal Bay. My wife wanted to explore those areas which her family had frequented for childhood holidays. The trip was very pleasant because there was very little traffic and a reduced speed limit most of the way, so it was easy to take in the scenery so often by-passed using the freeway.

After exploring that very picturesque but rapidly developing area, next day we headed to the other side of Port Stephens and stayed a night at Tea Gardens. The afternoon of our arrival we went for a short exploratory drive and came across quite the mix of water birds sharing the spoils of the shallows as the sun begun its evening descent. Pelicans, an egret, silvergulls, little black cormorants and a white-faced heron. Each seemed to get their share!

Next morning we headed off through Mungo Brush to Buladelah. Nice coastal rainforest and heathland then farmland. We intended to take the Lakes Way to Forster via Seal Rocks and Boomerang Beach, alas a bad car accident led traffic in both directions to be turned around. Still we made Forster for the night and enjoyed sunset and sunrise over the main beach and ocean pool from our seafront room.

Next day after a brief drive around we headed north to Black Head, by-passed Taree and then into Harrington and Crowdy Head. We took the dirt road through the Crowdy Bay National Park to Dunbogan, Laurieton and North Haven to stay the night - my turn to reminisce from our childhod holidays in that location. The stay was cool, and a visit up North Brother Mountain {Dooragan} lookout next morning a highlight.

We went for a walk out the Dunbogan sea wall on the cloudy and windy afternoon we arrived and were treated to the following three sightings.  First up a Brahmini kite hovering into the strong wind.

Next, this young darter was (it turned out!) straining on a boulder, and the second photo captures the "surprise" as it examines what it had just excreted - "did I really just do that?" And they say photos never lie!

The final treat for this little excursion was a pair of sooty oystercatchers flying in for a rest and brief explore on the boulders down near the water edge. That water offers a nice backdrop to the birds on the boulder and serves to highlight the striking red/orange of their beaks and eye ring. Like the "plain" white of the cockatoo in the previous post, the "plain" black is very dressed up with that red/orange and the pink of the legs.

From here we headed further north via Port Macquarie and a drive through Limeburners Creek National Park to Crescent Head and on to South West Rocks for our final night before heading home. Both final days were simply fantastic weather and we were treated along the way to many whale sightings at stunning coastal locations. Have to include these two shots for some substantiation of the claims - SW Rocks beach lookig to Trial Bay and a pod of whales heading north from the Smokey Cape Lighthouse.

Set out below are some photos from around various locations near SW Rocks - the birds in each are identified under the photos. This is a location we are returning to for a more extensive stay and explore in early August - here's hoping the weather is still as spectacular!

Pacific black duck

Pelicans (and chestnut teal butts)

Chestnut teals foraging

Chestnut teals resting on the bank

Young black-winged stilt foraging

Black-winged stilt pair in disagreement

Same pair foraging after resolution

The ubiquitous white ibis

Young pied butcherbird

Pair of crested pigeons seeking seed

Pied butcherbird in full voice

A stopover at Goonoo Goonoo Station (Nov)

This is a long post in terms of photos included because it was a special couple of days.

We decided to take our time on the return journey after dropping our UK friends off. First night was at the Entrance. Next morning over breakfast, right beside the entrance to Tuggerah Lake, I spotted these galahs nestled in a palm. The one at the top was the only one I saw ... I did not notice the one lower left until I posted this photo here! A fitting way (as it turned out) for this journey to begin, as much I had not seen before was revealed.

We drove up the New Engalnd Highway after detouring through Cessnock and Pokolbin enjoying the sight of some grand Hunter Valley wine estates. We had booked the night at Goonoo Goonoo Station just south of Tamworth, based on strong recommendations from two sets of friends. Their recommendations proved to be sound, and we were not disappointed. 

Here is the view across the Station from the "village" to the Shearer's Quarters (it is the small shed, not the very large one) where our room awaited.

Soon after settling in, I spotted this sulphur-crested cockatoo in a large gum just outside our Quarters (and it turned out, just outside it's quarters too!).

We had a fantastic dinner in their restaurant, the Glasshouse, constructed between the old shearing shed and woolstore. Here is the view, as well as another of some views through the village - just to provide some context of the beauty and serenity of the environment during our visit. A credit to their staff.

Hopefully that sets the scene for the good fortune that followed by being able to savour so many new bird sightings for me ...

On my first wander, I could hear a cacophony coming from a large red bottle-brush tree. As I approached, not just the competing bird noises became evident but also the constant movement in competition for nectar by a variety of birds. As it turned out, the first one I noticed was an old favourite from my coastal meanderings, the noisy friarbird.

Next, however was a delightful new find for me - the musk lorikeet. Once again I can only marvel at the raucous palette nature conjours for our delight. Like other lorikeets they are boisterous and aggressive, acrobatic and ever so gorgeous with the striking blue and red head markings contrasting with the more familiar green and yellow body plumage. Such a delight - and as normal with new sightings, I have included quite a few (because I just kept taking photos!). Enjoy!

When I turned around to keep wandering, I noticed movement on a grassy area off to the south. Here was another new sighting. Two adults and two young red-rumped parrots. The turquoise tones of the adult are fantastic and the "red-rump" is clear from photos of the rear view. Like other grass parrots I have experienced, they blend in so well despite this palette being much darker than other parrots I have seen.

Returning to the Quarters to get ready for dinner, this pair of galahs were playing around their hollow and the late afernoon light and cloudy sky provided a fitting backdrop. The contrast of the live branches and leaves just behind the dead branches with the hollows is also striking.

Next morning I could not resist another wander around the property. I retraced the path taken the previous evening to the restaurant. I was rewarded, not with any new birds but two lovely sightings of familier ones in very different settings than I am used to. First a crested pigeon cooing atop a shed ridge-capping; then, an eastern rosella guarding the entrance to it's hollow.

Lured once again by the cacophony in the same red bottle-brush I headed off to see what might be there this morning. Along the way I noticed a small flock of swallows on the ridge-capping being overseen by a magpie atop one of the chimneys.

In the red bottle-brush I spotted this little honeyeater. Initially I thought it to be a brown honeyeater, but on closer inspection the little white spot behind the eye is not present. Searching my bird guide I believe it may be a white-plumed honeyeater (in which case it is yet another new sighting). I will claim it, despite none of the photos offering a clear pose to check, but the two included do show the delightful tones and acrobatic abilities.

And of course, driving the cacophony were the musk lorikeets!

Wending my way back to the Quarters to ready ourselves for departure, there remained a few more treats for me. First up this magnificent pair of eastern rosellas showed off their mating abilities in full view - how fortunate was I to witness this. Not hard to tell which one is the male (just look how vibrant the plumage is)!

Next up was this nankeen kestrel scanning the paddocks from on high in search of any prey lurking in the grasses. Among this sequence I spotted a small roaming flock of common starlings preening on a nearby yard fence.

Finally for our visit to the Station, here is a sequnce of the red rumped parrot parent and the young ones - grazing and having a drink at the trough. Ah, life on the farm! 

What a privilege this visit has afforded.

Our next night was in Tenterfield and after brunch and a wander around town, we followed the advice of a shop-owner and headed off to admire the view from Mount Mackenzie lookout. Quite the panorama and certainly worth the detour.

While we were there, a familiar nearby chirp of a rosella led me back along the road a little way. Up in the gum I was rewarded with my first clear sighting & photo opportunity of the crimson rosella - and what a sighting it was! A young one pleading with mum for lunch. I share here three different "pleads" and three different regurgitations rewarding the persistence of the young one. 

What a way to end this post.