Our first stop was West Head Lookout where we had great views across Pittwater to Palm Beach P1450556
Bird trip to West Head, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase, National Park 28/11/2015
Ku-ring-gai NP to The Basin Track & Palm Beach Ferry Trip Report
Saturday 28 November 2015
Birder: Christina Port
Our first stop was West Head Lookout where we had great views across Pittwater to Palm Beach. We also had a Peregrine Falcon that looped around more then once and we watched as it had an encounter with a Channel-billed Cuckoo. The Cuckoo survived to tell its tale loudly and eventually the Peregrine flew out of sight. A Whistling Kite was soaring around too, giving quite spectacular views while flying below us showing its plumage from a very different angle. Another highlight here was a Green Tree Snake, a non-venomous beauty seen quite close.
GoldenWhistler - 1
Golden Whistler by Christina Port
From here we walked through spectacular Sydney Red Gums to the Resolute Picnic Area. We had Brown Thornbills, Little Wattlebirds and an elusive Rufous Fantail to accompany us. Olive-backed Oriole and Grey Butcherbird called but were too far back to see.
A very welcome morning tea was then enjoyed by all. A Brush-turkey wanted an invite but Janene had him under control. We had a good look at him tending his mound before we left.
GreenTreeSnake - 1
Green Tree Snake by Leo Skowronek
We headed down the Basin track enjoying the constant calling of Rufous Whistlers. New Holland Honeyeaters and White-eared Honeyeater were also seen. Variegated Fairy-wrens were difficult but we finally had fleeting views as they called and mostly stayed in the dense brush. A Pheasant Coucal called and stayed hidden. We also had a family of Grey Shrike-thrush further down that gave good views. A Swamp Wallaby posed well too. We reached the bottom where we found a picnic table with a view to sit and eat our lunch overlooking Pittwater, with Australian Wood Ducks, Noisy Miners, Laughing Kookaburras and Silver Gulls to watch as we ate. We also discovered in a fenced-off area a nesting Masked Lapwing. A White-bellied Sea-Eagle was seen briefly by some as we prepared to board the ferry.
Our trip across to Palm Beach added Pied and Little Pied Cormorants to our growing total. We met up with Janene and headed to our last stop for the day Irrawong Reserve at Warriewood.
A Dollarbird stopped us in our tracks then in the Reserve we found Golden Whistlers feeding young, Grey Fantails, Brown Gerygones and an Eastern Spinebill. Further along, a Sacred Kingfisher called and flew, a Red-whiskered Bulbul posed, and high up we saw White-throated Needle-tails. Varied Sittellas in a group were feeding and changing trees and an Eastern Yellow Robin was seen briefly.
At the waterfall the scope was on a beautifully posed sunbathing Eastern Water Dragon. We headed out towards the road where we found another Brush Turkey and mound. We had great views of the male using his claws to get material for his mound! Our final bird of the day was an obliging Lewins Honeyeater, before we all boarded the bus and headed for home.
A very enjoyable day with great company and birds to delight.
by Christina Port guiding for FTB.
Our first stop was West Head Lookout where we had great views across Pittwater to Palm Beach P1450556
Bird trip to West Head, Ku-Ring-Gai Chase, National Park 28/11/2015
Ku-ring-gai NP to The Basin Track & Palm Beach Ferry Trip Report
Saturday 28 November 2015
Birder: Christina Port
Our first stop was West Head Lookout where we had great views across Pittwater to Palm Beach. We also had a Peregrine Falcon that looped around more then once and we watched as it had an encounter with a Channel-billed Cuckoo. The Cuckoo survived to tell its tale loudly and eventually the Peregrine flew out of sight. A Whistling Kite was soaring around too, giving quite spectacular views while flying below us showing its plumage from a very different angle. Another highlight here was a Green Tree Snake, a non-venomous beauty seen quite close.
GoldenWhistler - 1
Golden Whistler by Christina Port
From here we walked through spectacular Sydney Red Gums to the Resolute Picnic Area. We had Brown Thornbills, Little Wattlebirds and an elusive Rufous Fantail to accompany us. Olive-backed Oriole and Grey Butcherbird called but were too far back to see.
A very welcome morning tea was then enjoyed by all. A Brush-turkey wanted an invite but Janene had him under control. We had a good look at him tending his mound before we left.
GreenTreeSnake - 1
Green Tree Snake by Leo Skowronek
We headed down the Basin track enjoying the constant calling of Rufous Whistlers. New Holland Honeyeaters and White-eared Honeyeater were also seen. Variegated Fairy-wrens were difficult but we finally had fleeting views as they called and mostly stayed in the dense brush. A Pheasant Coucal called and stayed hidden. We also had a family of Grey Shrike-thrush further down that gave good views. A Swamp Wallaby posed well too. We reached the bottom where we found a picnic table with a view to sit and eat our lunch overlooking Pittwater, with Australian Wood Ducks, Noisy Miners, Laughing Kookaburras and Silver Gulls to watch as we ate. We also discovered in a fenced-off area a nesting Masked Lapwing. A White-bellied Sea-Eagle was seen briefly by some as we prepared to board the ferry.
Our trip across to Palm Beach added Pied and Little Pied Cormorants to our growing total. We met up with Janene and headed to our last stop for the day Irrawong Reserve at Warriewood.
A Dollarbird stopped us in our tracks then in the Reserve we found Golden Whistlers feeding young, Grey Fantails, Brown Gerygones and an Eastern Spinebill. Further along, a Sacred Kingfisher called and flew, a Red-whiskered Bulbul posed, and high up we saw White-throated Needle-tails. Varied Sittellas in a group were feeding and changing trees and an Eastern Yellow Robin was seen briefly.
At the waterfall the scope was on a beautifully posed sunbathing Eastern Water Dragon. We headed out towards the road where we found another Brush Turkey and mound. We had great views of the male using his claws to get material for his mound! Our final bird of the day was an obliging Lewins Honeyeater, before we all boarded the bus and headed for home.
A very enjoyable day with great company and birds to delight.
by Christina Port guiding for FTB.