Mollymook News
editor Ken Banks
Bird Life in the Mollymook Milton Ulladulla and surrounding areas
The Mollymook, Milton Ulladulla, Narrawallee and adjoining national parks abound with some magnificent bird life.
The Shoalhaven Council and BirdLife Shoalhaven have combined to produce a beautiful brochure called “Shoalhaven Bird Walks”. The ‘Birdlife’ brochure can be picked up at the Ulladulla Visitor Centre – or downloaded for viewing by clicking on this link – Shoalhaven Bird Walks.
I wish to credit Charles Dove for his help in getting me started in the photography of ‘Bird Life’.
****************************
White Faced Heron perched on the rooftop
The ‘Bird Life’ captured in these following images were taken primarily in the south Mollymook Beach area. Viz. The Mollymook Surf Club, the Mollymook Golf club and course, the Mollymook Bogey Hole, the Mollymook Beach Waterfront apartments and surrounding area.
(Click on images to enlarge)
****************************
Black Glossy Cockatoo female
The ‘Bird Life’ captured in these images were taken primarily in the Warden Head area and a lesser few at the Ulladulla Harbour and Foreshore area’s. Easy walking along the ‘Warden Head Cultural Tracks’ with an array of local coastal bird life enjoyed on the south side of Warden Head lighthouse. Very scenic area for bird watching and in addition you can enjoy dolphins on the eastern sea-board side and whales during their migrating season. As you edge your way south along these cultural tracks and head slightly to the west, you get magnificent views of Pigeon House mountain in the distance and surf board riders to the south.
(Click on the following images to enlarge)
****************************
Little Wattlebirds at Narrawallee Beach
The ‘Bird Life’ captured in these images were taken at Narrawallee Inlet and Narrawallee Beach. Easy walking in both beach and Inlet areas with an array of local coastal bird life.
(Click on images to enlarge)
****************************
Milton Rural Bird Life: Satin Bowerbird, Female
“Birds are widely recognised as good indicators of environmental health. A farm with a rich diversity of birds will also have a relatively high diversity of trees, shrubs, mammals, reptiles, frogs and invertebrates – and is also a guide to the overall property condition and sustainability of its agricultural practices” writes Ben Humphries the Southern NSW Woodland Bird Project Officer, Birdlife Australia.
The following are a sample of the images taken in October 2020 over a three-day period (each a brief session) with permission of the owner of this property that adjoins the NSW coastal village of Milton. They are testimony to the beauty, life and health of this rural area.
(Click on images to enlarge)
.
.
Silvereye, one of the bird varieties on the Florance Head walk.
Yellow Faced Honey eater, another of the many bird varieties
.
Things to do visiting Mollymook Milton Ulladulla, a beautiful bush walk to Florance Head. A relatively easy flat walk of 8.5kms (return) say allow 2hr 45min (return) Enjoy some lovely flora and fauna along the way and some very active bird life for some beautiful photography. The highlight is at the end with majestic views over Pigeon House Mountain and the Budawang Mountains.
We reminisced on this ‘Florance Head’ bush walk of the bygone years when Bobby White would arrange our bush walks that included the Castle, Mount Bushwalker, Yadbora, Shallow Crossing, Ulladulla to Batemans Bay to name a few. He would share his decades of National Parks knowledge explaining and naming the different flora and bird life, he would even take a ‘Billy’ and boil some real bush tea. So on this occasion we took a book with directions and descriptions of the flora and fauna.
Directions: 8.5kms north of the Milton Post Office, turn left off the highway at Porters Creek Dam. Drive up onto an unsealed road for 10kms, reaching a T section. Turn left and continue for another 2.6kms, where you will reach a fork lreft to a parking bay. (If you get to the dam, you have gone too far)
.