All about the birds

Four years ago I met Ricki in Central Park, New York. I was on my way to The Met, she was on her way to work. This was the line in my blog post from that day:

“What is that lady doing down by the Hans Christian Anderson statue? Let’s go find out. I now have a new friend, Ricky and will tell you about her tomorrow if all works out as planned.”

Then this is the fun we had the next day:
Rambling with Ricki
Fast forward to now and it's our turn to return the favour.

Day 1 - Arrival

Ricki writing the first bird in the book

After months of anticipation, there she is walking out into Sydney terminal. We quickly unite and whisk Ricki back home to recover from 24+ hours of flying. It's a beautiful day so let's start with some sunshine in the backyard. Whilst I make tea and toast, Stephen and Ricki are already spotting birds, first on the list is a crested pigeon sitting in a nest in our backyard, then some noisy miners drop by, then Rainbow Lorrikeets decide to show off. It's all happening before the toast is even cooked. Eventually, binoculars and camera are put down and some sustenance is consumed.

Kookaburra

Within a few minutes, Stephen and Ricki are getting restless again and decide to go on a short walk to the oval. I hope we see a kookaburra. So off we go with Rosco in tow to see what we can discover. Sulpher Crested Cockatoos are screeching overhead, a big bunch of silvereyes are darting in and out of a conifer with so much to see it takes nearly an hour to walk the 15 min trip to the local oval. Finally, we make it and the kookaburras are nowhere to be seen.

As always happens let's just go a little bit further, a plan is hatched to go up onto the top oval and over to some other trees to look for the kookaburras, and lo and behold there they are. A kookaburra flys off and Stephen then spots a koala sitting in a tree, what a find!

Koala

Lots of photos and chats we are all full of energy now and we go on around the oval, to the bush at the back. The wattle is flowering, the birds are singing and its a glorious introduction for Ricki to Australian nature and wildlife.

Lots of birds join in the fun, even a tiny Spotted Pardalote dashes right in front of us and we manage to track it down with the binos and identify positively.

Eventually, we make it back home, our usual 1-hour walk took 5 hours, even Rosco is flagging now.

Day 2 - The Australian Botanical Gardens

Black-winged Stilt

After much deliberation, we have decided to take Ricki to one of our favourite birding places The Australian Botanical Garden at Mt Annan. It's cold and cloudy but not raining, so starting at the lake we see lots of water birds.

Heading up to the hidden lake we find an assortment including one of my favourites a Royal Spoonbill. Eagle eyed Ricki spots some brownish bird along the lake edge that we can't make out, Stephen does the stealth thing and moves up closer hidden behind the trees for a photo. After much deliberation, we are delighted to have found something new for us, a Buff Banded Rail.

Ricki trying out Vegemite

Onwards we go parrots, lorikeets and finches all participate in the adventure and join in on the fun. Swallows dart around and just get me plain confused as to what one is what. Wallabies pop out under the grey skies so thats another first for Ricki. Eventually, it's time for a spot of lunch, a lovely picnic table by the main lake will do. Ricki does not know what treats we have in store for her, but she is game for anything local and quite keen. So let's bring out the distinctive yellow jar of Vegemite.

Ricki and Stephen at Connections Garden

Ricki is the first overseas tourist we have ever met that likes Vegemite, she creates an avocado and vegemite roll. Much to the delight of the butcher bird who bludges a little bit of lunch from everyone.

Time to move on an explore the connections garden and give Ricki a taste of the different terrains in Australia and some weird plants like kangaroo paws and the famous dinosaur plant, the Wollemi Pine. The signature spring paper daises are even out with some new bee sculptures.

It's raining quite a bit now and cold, so time to head for home. But the fun does not end there with 5 birding books, two apps and the help of the Australian Bird Identification group on Facebook we have a gleeful time identifying our two mystery birds (that Stephen thankfully caught on camera) and verifying our list for the day. Ricki is an expert at nutting out all the little details between resources and reality.

After a lovely dinner out (thanks, Ricki) we settle back at home to share some more Australian culture and watch the movie Red Dog. We know how to party.

Day 3 - South Coast

Kiama Coast Walk

Today lets venture further afield and head for the coast. Starting at Wollongong lighthouse we check out the beaches stretching down the coast and spot some seabirds. A few more spots along the coast, a few more birds and we make it to Lake Illawarra.

Driving along, STOP, screeeech, what? Correllas in the schoolyard! Reverse, Ricki is nearly out of the car before we even stop. They are long-bills. Tick. Another cool bird. Finally at our chosen spot on the lake and YES, the shoreline is packed with all kinds of birds. My favourite has to be the Eastern Curlew. This bird fly's thousands of miles from Russia each year to hang out in Australia for the summer. They have just arrived in time for Ricki's trip.

Walking along the edge of the lake we spot many birds, big and small. The biggest being our unique Black Swan.

Eastern Curlew, recently arrived from Russia

Day 4 - Sydney city

Happy tourists at the Sydney Opera House

It was time to head to the city and check out some tourist sites. First stop is Circular Quay and the walkway along the top for a good view of the harbour and the bridge. Selfie stick ready? Smile. Snap. Moving on, Opera House. Snap. It's really nippy in the city today, but that's not going to slow us down. Let's go right out to the end of the Opera House and see if the seal is there. Alas no seal today, around the other side we go and there is a darter hanging out on a pylon. Time to explore the Royal Botanical Gardens.

Royal Botanical Gardens 

The birds in here are so much tamer and Ricki is off getting shots of Kookaburras and other natives. Tucked into one of the small ponds Stephen finds a new bird, a chestnut teal. We drag Ricki away from the Rainbow Lorikeets looking cute in a tree hollow and that's another one for the list.

Exit through the gift shop and eventually its time to leave. Let's take the top exit and visit Trim. Ricki's cat at home would love to know his story.  Trim was an adventurous cat that accompanied Matthew Flinders on his journeys circumnavigating the world and exploring the coastline of Australia. He even stayed with Flinders whilst he was in captivity in Mauritius, alas that is where Trim met his end and was assumed to have been eaten by another prisoner.

Finally, it's time to wave goodbye, sob, sob. Till next time!

Ricki reviewing the final list

In summary, we found 78 bird species, spotted a koala in Campbelltown within hours of Ricki getting off the plane, took her the furthest south she has been in the world (Kiama just beating Buenos Aires) and got her addicted to Vegemite and avocado sandwiches. An amazing experience, all from a chance encounter!