Hi All,

My wife and I are planning a trip to Sydney over the weekend of the 11th and 12th of December, and thus I would be grateful if somebody could advise on a few good places to visit, with the intent of photographing species that I wouldn't otherwise encounter in and around the Melbourne region. Thus far I have penned in the Ourimbah RTA Reserve for Regent Bowerbirds, Green Catbirds, Yellow-throated Scrubwrens and Black-faced Monarchs, however I am very keen to find and photograph Dollarbirds and Variegated Fairywrens also.

Cheers,
Rob.

hi Rob, would you be wiling to share how your trip went? I live in sydney myself and am looking for some new places to try out.

i've heard good things about the Royal National ParkRoyal National Park but not sure where to start being such a huge park.

Hi Desmond,

Sure thing!
I found Centennial Park to be a terrific place, albeit either earlier on or later in the evening once the picnicking crowds have departed. I managed good shots of a variety of birds, and also a number of Channel-billed cuckoos were sighted as they were being harassed by mobs of Noisy Miners. I was surprised by the large numbers of Flying Foxes and the ease of getting good shots of them also! We also spent some time at Bicentennial Park too, however, we did not have much luck there at all. Pedestrians and cyclists were about in large numbers and made opportunities rather difficult. I did however head out on my own to the Ourimbah RTA Reserve where my target species were Catbirds, Variegated Fairywrens and Yellow-throated scrubwrens, and although I managed to hear catbirds, I did not manage any shots. I did however get acceptable shots of the latter two and also saw think I saw a Grey Goshawk up in the tree canopies. The conditions were very dark and rain forest like in appearance, and thus getting shots was very challenging (hand held) with slow shutter speeds.

I will definitely return to Ourimbah RTA Reserve again when next in and around Sydney visiting family.

Cheers,
Rob.