This morning (25th September 2005), I paid a visit
to see the pair of Ospreys nesting beside Narabeen Lakes (approx. 10-15
km north of Sydney CBD). The nest was easily located on top of a Norfolk Island
pine, with one bird sitting low in the nest and the other bird perched just outside
it. I saw the later bird fly low and drop beside the lagoon (next to the beach)
to collect more nesting material and then drop it on the nest (which was when I
first noticed the other bird on the nest). As I watching the Ospreys, I was
entertained by a close Little Egret in hunting mode which was almost like some
sort of dancing.
I also paid a short visit to the nearby Warriewood Wetlands
where I saw Bar-shouldered Dove, 3 Sacred Kingfishers, several
Olive-backed Orioles, a female Leaden Flycatcher, White-throated Gerygones and a pair of Tawny Grassbirds.
I also heard what may have also been a Forest Kingfisher which is bird rarely
seen in Sydney. I thought
I would have had the opportunity to see that bird as it called from one of the
trees (a tree..eee..eee” call) very close to where I was standing
but it had some how snuck away. I have only seen one Forest Kingfisher in Sydney and in the
winter.
Irrawong Reserve, next door to the wetlands also produced 2
Dollarbirds, Brown Cuckoo-dove and a Swamp Harrier displaying a calling high
above in the air with its “keow” calls and beautiful semi-acrobatic
displays (the third time I have seen them displaying and each time initially first
noticed by their soft calls high in the air). There were also a few
unidentified birds heard running through the tangled vegetation in the
undergrowth of the Swamp Mahogany Forest here, and I
can imagine they were Lewin’s Rails just getting out of my way (I have
heard several and glimpsed one in this place before)
A beautiful 3 hours in Sydney’s Northern
Beaches.
Edwin Vella
