Hi all
I visited 3 sites on Sydney's Northern beaches this morning (10 Sept) - Deep
Creek Reserve on the north western shore of Narrabeen Lake (7:30-9am),
Warriewood Wetlands/Irrawong Reserve (9:30-11:30) and Long Reef (12-1).
There was some warm sunshine but also some cloud and spotty rain when I was
at Warriewood, but by the time I'd got to Long Reef the clouds had gone and
the sun was out again. Highlights for me:
Deep Creek
2 (maybe 3) Brush Bronzewings were seen on the track that leads away from
the footbridge and the creek on the other side to the dog training oval.
Great views as they pottered about like little clockwork toys and the best
views I have ever had of them. Around the oval itself was a big flock (60+)
or Red Browed Finches. I've never seen a flock that big before. They kept
sweeping onto the grass and back into the trees and I think that a very high
up Sparrowhawk was what was spooking them. There were 2 very vocal Fan
Tailed Cuckoos, Golden Whistlers and Olive Orioles called loudly and several
parties of Variegated Wrens, with the males looking very bright in the
morning sunshine.
Warriewood/Irrawong
A Lewins Rail called strongly for 2 or 3 minutes from deep cover near the
1st little footbridge in Irrawong Reserve. It did the 2 calls at the end of
the BOCA CD (funny sort of quack, horse gallop) as well as a collection of
clicks and whistles. There were 2 Topknot Pigeons feeding in a tree near
the Cabbage Tree Palm junction in Irrawong and a Bassian Thrush just before
I got to that section too. As I was watching the thrush a small bird
rocketed out from by my knees - I was standing next to a Spotted Pardalote's
nest burrow, so I quickly moved on. Got a great view of the female - I
never realised until this view (about 2 metres) that her head spots are
yellow not white. There was a single Brown Pigeon up near the waterfall. I
crossed over the stream to see if the Powerful Owls were in residence, but
no sign of any recently occupied trees, although yesterday's rain could have
washed the evidence away.
In the Warriewood section there was a Tawny Grassbird, at least 2 Purple
Swamphen families with very small chicks.
The Eastern Whipbirds very busy and vocal and doing their normal arboreal
tactics as well - there was a pair calling about 20 metres above my head at
one point. Both Golden and Rufous Whistlers were seen, plus another Fan
Tailed Cuckoo and more Orioles.
There's a lot more water in the wetland than I have seen recently, but I
suspect some more will be required to kill off the trees that have sprouted
in the recent drier period. I had a good look for Lathams Snipe in the wet
grass, but perhaps a bit early? There does seem to be some good mud exposed
as well, so a visit in the quiet of early morning or evening may produce
some crakes.
At the water treatment ponds in the housing estate behind Warriewood
(Shearwater Close) there was a Clamorous Reed Warbler scratching out its
call and a Royal Spoonbill feeding. A Brown Goshawk passed over while I was
there.
Long Reef
The tide was almost low enough to allow me to get to the reef, but a party
of school students on a field trip had already got there so I kept my shoes
dry on the beach. There was a large group of Red Necked Stints (40 or so),
some Ruddy Turnstones and a Grey Tailed Tattler and the usual collection of
loafing terns, gulls and cormorants. Offshore there were several groups of
dark shearwaters feeding on something, but the work ups were just a bit too
far out to allow me to work out if they were Wedge Tailed or Short Tailed.
Plenty of Fluttering types in with them too and Gannets above.
The local Kestrel was busy hunting, but was interrupted by both Magpies and
Ravens
Cheers
Tom Wilson
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