I went to Waterfal today and walked the track to Lake Toolooma and Kingfisher Pool (no kingfishers) and down to Heathcote National Park and Heathcote creek, then back up to Waterfall. I spent a little time with this fellow who seemed quite friendly. Saw plenty of other nice birds one I posted in the ID section.
Nice photo of a beautiful bird, looks like you had a good day.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Beautiful Richard.They look a lot like the Helmeted Honeyeater. How common are they where you are? How many km did you walk?
M-L
Lovely shot, I like the shade of leaves on the plummage
Dont take life too seriously, it never ends well
Wow! How yellow is he?!!!
M-L. I live in the city. The only honey eaters I see where I live is an occasional wattlebird and noisy mynahs. I travel to spots every weekend unless it is pouring and then I scout new places to go. On this occasion I traveled about 50km south of where I live (by train) and walked about 9-10km through bush all up. I saw this little guy just before Kingfisher pools about 4.5km from Waterfall station (if you go via Warabin St entrance to Bullwarring track) If you go via the Coutts Trail around Lake Tooloola (the way I went) it is a bit longer but worth it. Both Rockwarblers and the Tufted honeyeaters in one day. Now I do feel priveleged.
M-L the fairy wrens are huge at Waterfall compared to the ones I usually see, they would be 1.5 times the size of the ones around Sydney proper and they are only just getting colour.
Gorgeous little birds! :)
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Richard. The photo of the wren is beautiful
My husband and I almost never stay home on weekends. Although we love our garden. You always think the grass is greener and the birds are bigger on the other side of the fence
We love bush walking.
M-L
No really, the fairy wrens were huge... almost the same size as the whitebrowed scrubwrens that were feeding at the same time.
I had to go to Centennial park today to check that my mind wasn't playing tricks. Check out the wee, tiny scabby lookin' city one compared to the robust, long tailed epitome of Wren-ness from Waterfall.
Are the varigated a larger species? as I have one pic with a trace of red on the wing and black and turquoise on the head.
Lovely pictures of the honeyeaters, they are striking birds.
We you able to get into the caverns by Kingfisher Pools or were they still underwater?
I don't go into caverns being a bit claustrophobic. Especially if they are semi submerged or submersible and I didn't really notice any special caverns. There were plenty of overhangs and rock formations around that whole area which were attractive. I must admit my main focus was birds (being slightly obsessed) but the bushland, creeks and flowering natives are quite beautiful. The bushland I grew up in were North of the harbour and mainly Blue gum forests. Although I have spent a bit of time in the Helensburgh/waterfall area it is a nice change being a different type. Tons of Gymea lillies everywhere.
Ok thanks. I visited the area for a Duke of Edinburgh hike a few years ago, but at the time I wasn't really into birding, so I can't tell you if I saw anything (and, 20 teenagers would have really scared any wildlife away). But we did climb down into these caverns to the south (I think, I'd have to go back again, I lost my photos) of the pools (so I think that means that they were on a rock shelf) in the river bed. At the time, it was still the tail-end of the drought, so there wasn't too much water in the creek so we could still (barely) get into them, but apparently they have been submerged for the past few years.
If you are claustrophobic, you would have hated these; you had to sort of crouch down and shuffle along whilst avoiding the cascades of water coming through the roof whilst not fall in to the stream running along the bottom of the cave.
The track continues from Kingfisher Pools to Heathcote; its not that exciting after the pools, just a slog through prickly bushes until you reach Battery Causeway. Frequently Kingfisher Pools is used as a overnight point on this one, or you can combine it with stuff in the RNP and go from Heathcote to Heathcote.
http://www.wildwalks.com/bushwalking-and-hiking-in-nsw/heathcote-national-park/heathcote-to-waterfall-overnight-walk.html
If you wanted another couple of walks in the area, you can get off at Waterfall Stn and do this one:
http://www.wildwalks.com/bushwalking-and-hiking-in-nsw/royal-national-park/couranga.html
It was a rather nice walk (and had some friendly skinks), but I can't vouch for the wildflowers, as I went at the wrong time of year for that.
Also there is the Karloo track which leaves from Heathcote Stn:
http://www.wildwalks.com/bushwalking-and-hiking-in-nsw/royal-national-park/karloo-track.html
This one is nice, if you continue onwards you will eventually reach Uloola Falls, which was a pretty enough waterfall. If you continue along the firetrail from there, eventually you'll end up at Waterfall Station (this one takes about 5hrs to do to go from Hcote to Waterfall). Although, from memory, the track is a bit indistinct just after Uloola Falls (I got lost, although that might have been because I was busy talking at the time).
I was going to go all the way to Heathcote past Battery Causeway etc but flipped a coin and turned off at the Waterfall exit which added a bit extra but I came across the giant Fairy Wrens as well as some white browed scrubwrens there so I was happy.
I plan on visiting a lot more of those walks down there. I have done the coast walk from Otford down to Werrong a great number of times as we used to camp and surf down there when we were young'uns. Have also taken the track to Era/ Burning Palms. I will probably do one (or more) of the National Park ones next weekend. I was very close to venturing over to the cast side of the track after finishing as it was only about 2.30...but the days are short and the light looked weak so I decided to do it another time.
Love that YT Honeyeater, i have not got one yet. I think i should give the raptors a break this weekend and go look for some.
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