Powerful Owl & Tawny Frogmouths, Sydney

As our week in Sydney drew to a close, one last visit to the Botanical Gardens was called for; not least because it was within fifteen minutes of our front door, set against a backdrop of the opera house and harbour, and had plenty of wildlife to enjoy.


But there was an ulterior motive, albeit perhaps a long shot. From internet sources I'd heard that two particularly dramatic species use the park for roosting, but are both apparently unpredictable, and most importantly insider knowledge is essential to have any hope of connecting. So it was a case of hoping we'd be lucky in finding a - the - park ranger who knew where to look.



By chance, he was not only on duty, but also knew exactly where both target species were presently roosting; and within a few minutes we were personally escorted to both. The Powerful Owl (below), although a huge beast by any standards, was well camouflaged in the canopy of a tall tree, of all places within a few paces of the busy main road around the perimeter; a beautiful bird, which even had the good grace to wake up briefly and fix us with a steely glare.


But then there were the Tawny Frogmouths. The ranger (we never got his name, but we owe him a drink next time we're in town) told us our luck was in, with two pairs roosting in the park, and both in good viewing spots. It turned out one pair in particular were absurdly accessible, snoozing in the lower reaches of a wide open, fairly small conifer, bang in the middle of the main picnic area.


Which is where we spent a good half-hour with these incredible birds, both dozing nonchalantly at eye-level, and as close as we could wish to get without touching them (which would've been easy, if we'd have been stupid enough - all these shots were taken by retreating several metres in order to get the birds in the frame).



Much larger than expected, with oversized heads, beautifully subtle plumage markings, wide, brightly-coloured gapes (as evidenced during regular yawns), penetrating vivid orange irides and a general appearance and demeanour reminiscent of Jim Henson's more outlandish puppetry, they were a perfect end to a wonderful week enjoying the wildlife of New South Wales.

Stilts & Fairy-wrens, Sydney 2011

Of the habitats in the aforementioned Sydney Park, the main lake - with a shallow, marshy edge - was the most productive, and allowed close-up views of these two particularly photogenic species. These three Black-winged Stilts dropped in during a heavy rainstorm and allowed very close approach, and the appropriately-named Superb Fairy-wrens were easily coaxed out of waterside vegetation with a little vocal encouragement.

Sydney, 17th August 2011

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

A bonus birding session in the Sydney area with Jason bunking off work and rocking up at the apartment around lunchtime - so a couple of hours of a fairly grim, dull and rainy afternoon with which to mop up, as it were, a few extras.


Spotted Doves


Striated Heron

Which, despite the crappy conditions, we managed with some success. First stop was Sydney Park, a landscaped municipal space near the airport with a couple of bird-friendly areas of habitat, the best of which being the marshy-edged lake. Other stops at urban wetlands and finally Botany Bay produced plenty to enjoy through the drizzle, including no less than six new species; nice work.


Australian Darters


Australian Grey Teal




An angry mob of Noisy Miners mugging a European Goldfinch - the latter an apparently established exotic in the Sydney area (although this was the only one we saw and it still came as a surprise) - which looked like it would end badly for the Goldfinch; however, over the course of several minutes, it gave as good as it got and escaped in one piece. The Miners resumed the fight, equally violently - with each other.


Eastern Cattle Egret


White-browed Scrubwren


Red Wattlebird

Megalong Valley, New South Wales - August 2011

Spotted Pardolate

For the second half of the day's birding we moved west into Megalong Valley - a beautiful mix of habitats including the crags and cliffs of the Blue Mountains, extensive mixed and deciduous woodland, rolling farmland (recalling, honestly, the Yorkshire Dales), and even lush, dark rainforest.


Yellow-rumped Thornbill


Plenty of relaxed birding and stops along deserted country roads and tracks, which produced (amongst many species) a further ten lifers - three soaring Wedge-tailed Eagles over the ridges, a secretive Yellow-faced Honeyeater, a patient Nankeen Kestrel on roadside wires, truly regal Australian King Parrots,



(note Jason's undeniably cool license plate)

ground-feeding Yellow-rumped Thornbills, psychedelically-painted Eastern Rosellas, oddly sizeable White-throated Treecreepers, a single Little Wattlebird, endearingly-named Jacky Winters and two-tone Eastern Yellow Robins.


Nankeen Kestrel


Little Wattlebird




(it's been years since we had one, but they follow you everywhere)


Eastern Yellow Robin


Eastern Spinebill

Thanks again to Jason - a great day and company in the field.


White-throated Treecreeper


Pacific Black Duck


the first Great Crested Grebe of the trip, provoking mild nostalgia for Blighty


Australasian Grebe


Jacky Winter (potentially Willy Wagtail's nemesis in an as-yet-unwritten children's book)


Little Black Cormorant pretending to be a duck