Some birds of Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
Australian Magpies (Black-backed)
Two days after Christmas we had a family picnic in Lane Cove National Park in Sydney. This was also a family get together. Before lunch some of us went on a hike for one and a half hours. My son and I took our cameras, hoping to get some bird photos. It was hot and humid and in the middle of the day so we did not see all that many birds.
Some of the birds seen include Brown Thornbill, Pied Currawong, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Little Black Cormorant, Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Forest Raven, Superb Blue-wren, Crimson Rosella and Rainbow Lorikeets.
Laughing Kookaburra, Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
While eating our lunch – delicious Christmas lunch leftovers – a Laughing Kookaburra came to a nearby branch and watched proceedings closely. I guess he was waiting for us to be inattentive for a moment. I’ve known kookaburras to snatch food from one’s plate as they fly past during a moment’s inattentive on the part of humans.
Laughing Kookaburra, Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
This one, shown in the series of photos on this page, was obviously used to being fed by humans. He allowed me to approach to within two metres taking photos as I came.
Click on any photo to enlarge the image.
Laughing Kookaburra, Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
Lizards of Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
Eastern Water Dragon, Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
A few days after Christmas last year we had a family get together picnic while we were in Sydney. We all went to the Lane Cove National Park for lunch. While there we saw numerous Eastern Water Dragons moving around the picnic area. Some of them posed nicely for my camera. Two of them, one a baby, even came to visit my wife while she was sitting at a picnic table reading; they went between her feet.
Several of us went on a short hike through the park. We were lucky enough to see a large goanna crawling up a tree. It was hard to get a good photo as he kept much of the tree trunk between us and him. The photo below is the best I managed.
Goanna, Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
Picnic lunch at Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
Picnic spot in Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
After our walk through a part of the Lane Cove National Park in Sydney we joined the rest of the family for a picnic lunch. We were soaked through as a result of the walk, mostly due to the heat and humidity.
Lunch was mainly leftovers from our Christmas Day family lunch two days earlier. Christmas leftovers make an excellent basis for a picnic lunch. After our delicious meal we sat around chatting for a few hours.
Picnic spot in Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
A walk in Lane Cove National Park
Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
Several days after Christmas the family had another reunion, this time in the Lane Cove National Park. This park is about a ten minute drive from my son’s home in Artarmon, Sydney. we knew it would probably be somewhat busy because of the Christmas holiday break, so we went early. Before having lunch four of us went for an hour and a half walk through the park.
Members of my family going on a walk through Lane Cove National Park
It was quite hot and humid with no breeze, so in no time we were all soaked from the effort. My son and I had our cameras and we were on the lookout for interesting things to photograph, especially birds. I think I may have converted him to being a moderate birder after he was pleased to receive a bird field guide for Christmas. Perhaps “bird photographer” would be a better appellation.
Lane Cove National Park, Sydney