Return of the whales

Rainbow Lorikeet

The weather has picked up over the last two weeks allowing us to get out and enjoy the great outdoors without freezing or getting wet. Last weekend was a long one for the Queen's Birthday and, while Emily went out shopping with her mother, I was able to head to the south edge of the city to look for one of the classic skulkers which is sighted now and again in a particular backwater off the Georges River. Having been reported for the first time since January in the mid-week I decided it was time to finally head down the M5 toll road and give it a go. A twitch is the only time that I'd ever consider paying a toll to drive on a road but when needs must...

Deepwater Park - Georges River

I was checking out the edges of one of the ponds when a large dark bird flushed and flew into the trees on the opposite side. A stretch of it's long yellow neck confirmed #466 Black Bittern before it shrunk into the foliage never to be seen again. Lucky!

Back to Cape Banks

Full breach!

Today we returned to Cape Banks in search of the whales and this time they didn't disappoint. Several pods swam by heading north and one group in particular decided to put on a spectacular show of breaching. The whales are most definitely back!

The Westpac rescue helicopter keeping us all safe

 

This and that

Cape Banks - Botany Bay

Well there's not been too much going on over the last few weeks. Winter is well and truly here so it's cold and dark early. The whales should be starting their migration north round about now but none showed up during a couple of hours at the coast on Saturday. We did see an Australian Fur Seal fishing off the rocks though which is a first for me. The winter migrant birds are all here now like the Double-banded Plover that I found while searching for the whales. It's unusual in that it must be one of the very few birds that migrates east to west rather than north south. Breeding on the South Island of NZ it spends it's winter over in Australia.

Australian Pelican

Double-banded Plover

Winter also means it's footie season so down to watch my Tigers the other weekend at Leichhardt Oval. Unfortunately time is running out for this historic little ground as money ruins everything once again. The greedy powers-that-be have decided that more money can be made from 25000 fans rattling around inside the 80000 capacity Olympic stadium than a sell-out 20000 at Leichhardt. Well I prefer a bit of atmosphere so I certainly won't be going to watch when they're forced to move. Sad times.

Leichhardt Oval

Winter walking in the Blue Mountains

So it's a case of heater on and blankets out at home and hopefully things will warm up again soon.

At home with the cat