CLICK HERE to see the photo album of this walk (as well as past walks).
Participants were obviously not put off by the
adverse weather reports nor the 13km distance, as
21 people checked in at Thornleigh Station for the
walk down Lane Cove Valley.
The weather forecast turned out to be wrong and the day was a brilliant
autumn blue. Jumpers and coats were shed early.
The highlights of the valley were the magnificent
Blackbutts on the slopes and the wide variety of
plant species seen as we passed from river
margins to dry upper slopes. Not a lot was in
flower, but there were some autumn greenhoods,
lots of white epacris and pink dog rose. There was
even a clump of the rare Melaleuca deanei,
typically not in flower.
There were a few sore feet
by the time we reached Lane Cove Park, but all
enjoyed the day and the companionship.
[Report by Alan Fairley, walk leader]
Free garden advice for new members
New members will be offered free garden advice and home visit to discuss how you can attract smaller birds back to your garden.
You will receive a selection of native plants to encourage local fauna to your garden and get you started on the wondrous field of native garden ecology and plant identification.
OFFS member Debbie Andrew took this shot of a colour banded Osprey while paddling on the Georges River. Debbie reports:
"It appears to have settled on the Georges River. I have seen it irregularly over the last year or so.
It was banded as a nestling on Ashby Island in the Clarence River on 24/10/05.
I have seen it in tussles with the local White Breasted Sea Eagle over fish.
It would be interesting if other people are seeing this bird around the waterways of the St George and Sutherland Shire.
Interestingly on the following Saturday at Towra Point Nature Reserve, Botany Bay we saw an unbanded Osprey so there are at least two Osprey around Botany Bay/Georges River.
It is seen in the second photo taken by fellow birdwatcher Vivian Johnstone.
Another friend sees an Osprey over Port Hacking and sometimes the coast of Royal NP.
I don't know how far these birds range and whether our Georges River bird would visit Port Hacking but it would be interesting if people could be on the lookout. We don't know the sex of these birds but if more Osprey are arriving here they might breed.
Active efforts to conserve Osprey on the North Coast may be increasing population numbers and we may be getting birds that are prepared to establish themselves here. Also the ceasing of commercial fishing in the Georges River and Botany Bay may have allowed fish numbers to increase and attract fish eating birds like the Osprey."
Osprey are a threatened species.This link identifies actions people can take to help conserve the Osprey.
ARCHIVE 2003-2005
The many stories and photos from previous years have been archived to a separate page.
> CLICK HERE to view.
