Sydney Great Steam Train Expo 2011
Sydney Great Steam Train Expo, Central Station
Sydney Great Steam Train Expo, Central Station
Sydney Great Steam Train Expo 2011
Sydney Great Steam Train Expo, Central Station
On the first weekend of our stay in Sydney earlier this year our daughter in law arranged for tickets to the Sydney Great Steam Train Expo. Apart from being able to look through some very historic carriages our tickets included a 75 minute steam train ride through the suburbs of Sydney. It was a wonderful trip and enjoyed by all the family, especially my 2.5 year old grandson. (He plays almost daily with his own train set.)
Over the coming week or so I will be showing the photos taken that morning. I won’t bore you with my writing; I’ll just let you enjoy the photos.
Sydney Great Steam Train Expo, Central Station
Central Station, Sydney
Java Sparrows, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Java Sparrow, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
The Java Sparrow (also called Java Finch or Java Rice Finch) is native to the Indonesian Islands, including Java and Bali. It is a seed eater and is commonly found in grain farming areas such as rice fields. It can become a pest to farmers in some areas.
This beautiful little finch is also a common cage bird around the world.
The birds in these photos were taken in a walk-through aviary at Taronga Zoo in Sydney.
Java Sparrow, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Java Sparrow, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Fishing Cat, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Fishing Cat, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Until my visit to Taronga Zoo in Sydney last year, I didn’t know that the Fishing Cat existed. It is native to south east Asian countries. Its preferred habitat includes wetlands, rivers, creeks and swamps. It has slightly webbed feet which enable it to be an excellent swimmer. This helps it to catch fish and birds.
In its range it is endangered because its habitat is being used for farming and fishing.
It is quite a bit larger than a domestic cat.
Fishing Cat, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Bleeding Heart Pigeon, Taronga Zoo Sydney
Bleeding Heart Pigeon, Taronga Zoo, Sydney
I took these photos of a Bleeding Heart Pigeon in a walk through aviary in Taronga Zoo, Sydney. This bird is quite an arresting species with its bright red colour on the front looking very much like it has been wounded in some way. They are a species kept commonly in aviaries here in Australia and many zoos have a small collection of them as well.
Bleeding Heart Pigeons are from the Philippine Islands and are a member of the dove and pigeon family of birds. Pigeons and doves drink in a unique way in the bird kingdom. Most birds fill their beaks and tilt their head bad allowing water to dribble down the throat. Pigeons and doves on the other hand are able to suck water up through their beaks.
Bleeding Heart Pigeons eat fruit, berries, seeds and insects. It is a bird of the lower levels of the forests.
Further reading:
- Bleeding Heart Pigeons – information from the Honolulu Zoo website.
Bleeding Heart Pigeon, Taronga Zoo, Sydney