We were up a little late today and had a relaxing morning packing and even having breakfast at the hotel - bacon, eggs, sausage etc. Fantastic! After checking out we headed out of Noumea and back northwards to the airport. Checking in in good time we relaxed in the airport and boarded our flight to Sydney pretty much on time departing at 12:40 and landing at 15:50. After collecting our car we met up with Steve Anyon-Smith, our guide for the next day or so. I had last met Steve in Borneo while watching a Whitehead's Broadbill on Mount Kinabalu in Borneo so it was nice to catch up with him again. Steve was to be our guide for the remaining part of the evening and for the last morning in the Royal National Park to the south of Sydney tomorrow. Steve has an unrivalled knowledge of the birds in the Sydney area, and in particular the Royal National Park, and has a very Australian sense of humour. We spent the late afternoon birding in the suburbs of Sydney seeing a range of birds with the highlights being a roosting pair of
Powerful Owl, a roosting pair of
Tawny Frogmouth and
Satin Bowerbird. We headed to the park visitor centre close to Audley and walked the trail south from here on the west side of the river. After waiting in the park for the sun to drop watching
Chestnut Teal,
Brown Cuckoo Dove,
Australian King Parrot and
Scaly-breasted Lorikeet. Soon after sunset a
White-throated Nightjar showed and the night walk produced
Sugar Glider,
Brush-tailed Possum,
Red Fox (introduced pest species),
Tawny Frogmouth and the introduced
Rusa Deer. We returned to our hotel at around 22:30 and after faffing with bags etc for tomorrow we crashed for the night.
West coast of New Caledonia near to Noumea as we left the island
Powerful Owl - Sydney, Australia
Tawny Frogmouth - Sydney, Australia
Map of Royal National Park, Sydney is located to the north of Port
Hacking and the park is a short drive from the city
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo - Royal National Park, Sydney
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo - Royal National Park, Sydney
Little Pied Cormorant - Royal National Park, Sydney
Eastern Dwarf Tree-frog - Royal National Park, Sydney
Royal National Park, Sydney
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo selfie - Royal National Park, Sydney
Sugar Glider - Royal National Park, Sydney
Tawny Frogmouth - Royal National Park, Sydney
Links to other days of the trip
