Down Under Day 9, Whale Watching

Day nine of my trip and today I was going Whale Watching. I had bought my ticket before I left the UK with the hope of seeing some seabirds as well.
Our trip was booked for 1:15pm from circular quay in Sydney so we spent the morning around the Botanical Gardens and then had lunch in the New South Wales Art Gallery Cafe.
The boat was about half full I would guess and it didn't take long before we were out past the heads and heading out into the Tasman Sea. The months of June & July are the main migration times for Hump Backed Whales and this is the main route. The technique for finding Whales is simple, head out to sea, bob about for a bit, wait for them to surface and blow air and spray and then head in that direction. We didn't have to long to wait before the boat was speeding off after a sighting. It was quite choppy and I needed to hang on with one hand as we moved closer with my hand holding my camera in readiness. This is where I was incredibly lucky as 'our' Whale suddenly breached in front of the boat and I snapped my photo.

 This was the only time a Whale breached the surface and I had captured it. Comparing my photo with the official on board photographer later and we had almost identical shots, although his was taken from the lower deck.
We now had a period of waiting for the next Whales to show and I had time to seawatch. There were Fairy Prions flying around the boat, I had had distant views of these birds up in Newcastle at the weekend but these were flying very close, but so fast and presented a challenge to get a record shot. It was a case of click away and see then see what I had. Which is how I managed to get this very poor record shot.

Fairy Prion

There were also large numbers of Australian Gannets around too including a small group which had settled on the sea in front of our boat and others that were plunging into the sea to catch fish.

Australian Gannet

My main interest though were the 'Mollymawks'. There were several Black-Browed Albatross flying around the boat and although I had seen these distantly up the coast these were the first that I had seen 'up close'.
Again I was lucky to get a few record shots of which this was the best.

Black-Browed Albatross

Our focus was now back to the Whales as another 'pod' had moved into our area. This time there were two Humpbacks swimming close together and giving more prolonged views.

Soon it was time to head back into the calmer waters of Sydney Harbour and leave these leviathans to continue their journey north. It had been a memorable afternoon, not just for the Whales, but also for me and my great views of Albatross'

Heading Home

Down Under Days 6 to 8

Before I left the UK I had been in touch with www.birdingtours.com.au to arrange a couple of days birding with a guide. My contact was Phil Hansbro who had been very helpful in organising an itinerary that would maximise my chances of seeing as many species as possible.
So it was on the 21st of June that I caught the train from Sydney Central up to Newcastle and the Hunter Valley around 170k up the coast.

I broke my journey at Gosford to meet up with another of my cousins, Michelle who I hadn't seen since 1978. Michelle picked me up from the station and we went back to her place for a drink and a chat, with me picking up my first Galah's of the trip on the way and a splendid King Parrot in her garden.
After a catch up we then we then went for a drive up the coast to Tarrigle where a walk produced a very confiding Little Wattlebird and a single Australian Pelican.

Little Wattlebird

Australian Pelican

All too soon it was time for me to continue my journey and say goodbye to Michelle and her husband Robert. Michelle gave me a lift back to the station and I arrived in Newcastle around 7pm and caught a cab to my Motel.
The next morning I was up early at 5:30am and looking out of the window saw my guide for the day, Greg waiting outside. Greg turned out to be a very capable birder but also a very good botanist as well and spent the day sharing his extensive knowledge of the local environment.
We travelled through a variety of habitats and picked up some very good and unexpected birds, in particular the Australian Hobby which was according to Greg very unseasonal.

Australian Hobby

 It was a good day for raptors in general with Black Kite, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Collared Sparrowhawk and Whistling Kite all being seen.

Black Kite

White Bellied Sea Eagle

Whistling Kite

Greg also managed to track down a Satin Bowerbird and to find its remarkable nest as well

Satin Bowerbird's Bower

We ended the day with a 'mini' sea watch and my first ever views of Albatross's
The next morning it was up early yet again and my days birding with Phil Hansbro, or to give him his full title Professor Phil Hansbro, Dr of Microbiology at Newcastle University and a leader in the field of Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease. Phil is also one of the best birders in Australia and an Ex pat from Leeds.
We started with a visit to Kooragang Island in the middle of the Hunter River and very soon had seen Yellow Thornbill, Torresian Crow, Australian Black Shouldered Kite and Mangrove Gerygone.

Australian Black Shouldered Kite

 Today was another day with unseasonal bonuses like Pink-Eared Duck,Wandering Whistling Duck and Olive Backed Oriole.

Pink Eared Duck (Fifth bird from the left)

Olive Backed Oriole

A visit to a local estuary gave my list a rapid increase with familiar species like Gull Billed Tern, Knot and Bar and Black Tailed Godwits plus new ticks like Black Necked Stilt,Pied Oystercatcher,Red Necked Avocet,Red Capped Plover, Red Necked Stint, Eastern Curlew, Grey Tailed Tatler and Pacific Golden Plover.

Red Necked Avocet

Red Capped Plover

We then moved inland again and after a sudden rainstorm when we took shelter in the car before we looked for Powerful Owl and Tawny Frogmouth. We dipped on both and it was to become one of my main birding disappointments that I didn't manage to connect with either species during my trip, despite several attempts to do so. Reason number one for a return visit !
Phil now took us down some pretty 'hairy' dirt tracks in his Toyota Corolla that thought it was a 4X4.

In some parts the car was almost at 45 degrees as we negotiated the ruts and puddles. It was worth it though for the stand out bird of the trip ! A superb male Eastern Spinebill, I'd seen the female the day before when out with Greg but the male was WOW what a bird !
Last bird of the day was a Jacky Winter, a bird Phil was keen for me to connect with. I ended the trip with over 140 species which Phil advised was very good given the time of year.

Striated Heron

White Necked Heron

Red Kneed Doterell

Caspian Tern

Magpie Geese

Wandering Whistling Ducks

Down Under

My first post for a couple of months, good reason though as I've been in Australia since the 16th June. Over the next few days I'll update with selected posts about my trip, with of course, the emphasis on Birds & Beer !
I left Heathrow as I say on the 16th June and arrived in Sydney on the 18th to a lovely sunny day but with the temperature around 18 degrees as its winter there at the moment. After meeting up with my cousin Barbara,with whom I was staying, we got a cab to Randwick where she lives just a 10 minute walk from Coogee Bay, a smaller and less crowded version of Bondi.
A quick shower and a change of clothes and we walked to the beach and a walk along the coast. I was already noticing all the different avifauna with Common Mynahs being very noticeable and Pied Currawongs giving their distinctive calls.

The coast walk at Coogee Bay

This was a lovely walk along a very picturesque section of coastline and I was already starting to see new and exotic species of birds as we walked along.

Male Superb Fairy Wren

As well as male and female Superb Fairy Wrens I also added Silver Gull,New Holland Honeyeater,Australian Magpie,Willie Wagtail,Red Collared Dove and Nankeen Kestral.
After a stop for a coffee on the way back we then got the bus into the city. We stopped at the Botanical Gardens and wandered about with me stopping every few minutes to tick off yet another new species. Barbara would soon get used to walking on her own talking to me as I stopped to peer into a tree or bush and got left behind. The Gardens are a great place to birdwatch.

Australian White Ibis

Masked Lapwing (Spur Winged Plover)

Sulpher Crested Cockatoo

We then headed off into the city and did the tourist stuff with pictures of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, It's amazing how many pictures you take of these iconic landmarks,from every conceivable viewpoint.

Such a tourist !

We now were feeling hungry so headed to the Rocks, the oldest part of the city to search out a pub I'd read about and wanted very much to visit.

No not this one !

We passed quite a few pubs that claim to be Sydney's oldest but I was heading for The Lord Nelson !

This One !

This is a great brew pub with a good selection of ales, although all served at sub zero temperatures as is the local custom. I went first for a Nelson's Blood, a great porter at 5%.

And then had an Trafalgar Pale Ale at 4.2%., As you can imagine after a 20 plus hour flight, a walk and two pints of ale I was starting to wilt a bit, so we headed back to Barbara's flat with me nodding off on the bus.

To be continued...........

The Musical Box

Last Saturday Andy J and I made our way 'over the border' to Cardiff to see the legendary Genesis guitarist and song writer Steve Hackett.
We left Tatworth at 1pm and after a two hour drive arrived at the Premier Inn in Barry. We dumped our bags and headed straight out again stopping at the Sir Samuel Romilly a large Wetherspoons pub opposite the station. We both went for a pint of Otleys O1, a very pale golden beer with a hoppy refreshing taste. Having 'wetted our whistle' we caught the next train to Cardiff Central.
First stop here was the Great Western, another Wetherspoons. This was very busy and with loud music playing was not our sort of venue. The selection of real ales was limited as well, but they did have a Kite Brewery ale, Cwrw Gorslas, which was a very good beer.
We didn't stay long though and moved onto a pub from the guide, The Cottage. This is one of the oldest pubs in Cardiff and is a typical town centre pub, long and narrow. Its also a Brain's tied pub and had the full range of their beers. They also had the FA Cup final on so we decided to stay here until the gig started.
I went first for a Dark, a classic mild at 3.5% with a bittersweet, mellow taste. Next up was a 'craft' beer from their craft brewery Dr Rudi at 4.2% and was a really good golden ale with NZ hops and a crisp fruit finish.Last up before we headed round the corner to the St Davids Hall was a Brain's Best at 4.2%, a traditional best bitter.
Then it was off to the gig, we arrived just in time to see Mr Hackett in the foyer signing merchandise.

The gig started at 7.30pm with a support act Anne-Marie Helder, who gave us three or four of her own compositions before the main event got under way at 8pm.

The band launched straight into a great rendition of Watcher of the Skies before giving us a two hour tour of Genesis memory lane greats like Supper's Ready, Dancing with the Moonlight Knight, The Chamber of 32 Doors, The Lamia, Eleventh Earl of Mar amongst others with The Musical Box getting a mid concert standing ovation, before a rousing encore of Firth of Fifth and Los Endos.
I know I say it all the time, but this was one of the best gig's I've ever been to.
The walk back to the Station was an eye-opener, a bit like Beirut with Police, Ambulances and guys with blood running down their faces.
Back home on the Sunday and one of the first things I did was to book to see the show again in Bristol in October. Cant get enough of a good thing.

Hestercombe

Yesterday afternoon Miriam I and I went over to Hestercombe, just outside of Taunton for a walk around the extensive gardens.
It was a lovely spring afternoon and we enjoyed wandering around somewhere we had not visited before. There were quite a few Butterflies on the wing with Orange Tips and Small Blues flitting about the slopes by the pond.

Whilst there I had my first Raven of the year fly over and managed to get some resonable photos of this Grey Wagtail as it collected insects.

Grey Wagtail Monticilla cinerea

Grey Wagtail Monticilla cinerea

Catching Up

Last weekend Miriam and I went with our friends Sheila and Alan to see Think Floyd, a very good tribute band at Seaton Town Hall. We have seen them many times and they were on good form again as they went through a great set of Pink Floyd numbers including all of Dark Side of the Moon,which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
On the Sunday we picked up She and Alan after lunch and made our way over to Ham Wall RSPB Reserve. This is a very wheelchair friendly reserve with disabled parking right by the first viewing platform. AS we were driving slowly along the track I noticed our friends Sharon & Steve ahead of us and after a quick chat we went on to park up and let them catch up with us.
I was good to see them again as we had not seen them for a few weeks. After a quick chat we got down to some birding and It wasn't long before Steve had found the Garganey that I was hoping was still around.

Distant View of Male Garganey Anus querquedula

We then walked onto the second viewing platform in the hope that the long staying Pied Billed Grebe would put in an appearance, but it was not to be. We did however see the two Wood Sandpipers and have flyover Marsh Harrier and Bittern and I managed to add some summer migrants to my list with Willow Warbler,Swift,House Martin and Reed Warbler.
I started to get very cold so around 4:30 pm we made our goodbyes and headed for home after what had been a very enjoyable afternoon out.

Tuckers Maltings

My first post for a few weeks as my 24/7 carer duties take up so much time and don't allow me many opportunities to get out much anyway.
I did though manage to get to the 21st Tuckers Maltings Beer Fest on the 20th of April with most of the usual suspects, my brother and sister in law taking on my carers duties for the day.
We arrived in Newton Abbot on a sunny morning at 10:30am and made our way straight for the The Richard Hopkins,a large Wetherspoons in the middle of town for the traditional breakfast start to the day.
I passed on the food as I had eaten a large breakfast before leaving home so went straight for my first beer of the day, Riptide from the Conwy Brewery, a really crisp black IPA at 4.3%.
We then moved onto the 'fest at the Malting and after collecting our glasses( a rather chunky tankard style glass) headed for the beers. As in previous years all attempts to make sure that all the beers were available on the last day had failed and many of the ales were not on offer.
The Champion beer was though and I went straight for Hunters 'Royal Hunt', a strong amber beer at 5.5% but with a smooth taste. The rest of the day was made up of seeing what beers were left and choosing that way. Although the full range was not available I did enjoy all the beers I tried and in particular The Bristol Beer Factory's 'Bitter Kiwi' a fantastic crisp NZ pale ale at 5.0%. How this didn't win any awards escapes me !
We left the 'fest around 4.30pm and made our way back to the station, stopping for a pint of Amy's Ale from Teignworthy on the way before arriving back in Axminster around 7pm and calling into the Axminster Inn for a Palmers 200 to end the day.