Yarramundi Reserve - Re-visited

South Side Lagoon

After lunch today we drove down to Yarramundi Reserve again.  We decided to do the short walk around the Southern Lagoon that we did not do three weeks' ago.  It was slightly overcast as we set off along the path through the Woods, but the sun soon came out and it became quite warm as we continued on our way.  This short walk soon petered out!   We came to a Notice announcing it was  private property and we were not allowed beyond the fence.  This was disappointing, as we were hoping to continue further.  Reluctantly, we turned around and walked back to the starting point and then walked a short distance along the longer track, that we did the other day.  We saw many different birds and had a great time trying to capture them on our cameras.  The little woodland birds were so quick, but we were happy to see a new bird for us, the Red-browed Finch.

Looking down the Nepean River from the confluence at Yarramundi Reserve.  Three Rivers meet at the Reserve.  The Grose River, the Hawkesbury River and the Nepean River.  

Here's the beginning of the walk through the Woods beside the Lagoon on the South side of Yarramundi Reserve.  It looked so promising at the start and the Woods looked dark and mysterious!  We saw some people fishing along the banks of the Lagoon.

 An old abandoned boat, looking the worse for wear, by the bank of the Lagoon.  I wonder what stories it could tell!  Who would leave a boat to rot by the river?

Here is one of the Red-browed Finch that we saw flitting through the undergrowth and on the path.  There were several of these birds, but they were so quick and hard to capture. The Red-browed Finch is most easily recognised by its bright redeyebrow, rump and beak, on an otherwise green and grey bird. Upperparts are olive green with grey underneath.

An Australian White Ibis on the banks of the River.  It was nice to see the Ibis in his natural environment and not scavenging around a rubbish bin in a suburban park!  They are called "bin chickens" in the city, where they are known for their scavenging habits.  They are great survivors and, as their natural Wetlands are slowly being denuded, they have acclimatised themselves to city living!

Our walk today was fairly short, but it was good to be out in the fresh air and enjoying the natural world.

Auburn - continued

Cherry Blossom Festival - continued

We spent a pleasant morning wandering around the Gardens.  While we were in the Japanese Garden, we saw several Peacocks strutting around and fanning out their magnificent tails.  I was thrilled to see these fantastic, colourful birds. We then made our way to a billabong, where we sat down on a park bench and watched the waterbirds gathered on a little island in the middle of the water.  By now it was after midday and we were beginning to feel hungry, so we made our way to the food stalls and bought some Japanese takeaway and then a cup of tea at another stall and sat down by the Pool of Reflection to have our lunch.

A beautiful Peacock strutting along the path, happy to mingle with the visitors.  These birds add an exotic touch to the Gardens.  The male Peacocks use their tails to perform mating rituals and courtship displays.

A Japanese Teahouse by the side of the Lake and jutting out over the water.  There were lots of little porthole windows where you could peek through and get a good view of the ducks and geese on the water.  The Teahouse made a nice little garden room with benches along the sides where you could rest or have a picnic.

A Dusky Moorhen walking around on the little island in the middle of the billabong.  There were lots of birds around the billabong and also up in the air and in the trees around the water.

Here is part of the waterfall at the far end of the Lake in the Japanese Garden.  We stood on a little decorative bridge, in front of the waterfall  and watched the water cascading down under the bridge and into the Lake. 

There were plenty of food stalls, selling mostly Japanese takeaway food.  We chose some delicious krispy chicken on satay sticks and also some prawn and vegetable gyozas.  There was also a kiosk selling tea and coffee.

After our lunch, we decided to catch the bus back to the station as the weather was becoming cold and a strong wind was blowing.  We were glad we had been able to attend the Cherry Blossom Festival and found it most entertaining.  The bus trip to and from the station was also interesting as we were able to see all the places that were so familiar to us after living for 28 years in Auburn.  It has certainly changed a lot since we left 17 years ago.

Auburn

Auburn Cherry Blossom Festival

Yesterday on 22nd August, 2019 we caught the train down to Auburn and then boarded a bus bound for the Auburn Botanical Gardens for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.  It was nice to be back in familiar territory, as we once lived in Auburn and remember when the Gardens were first opened  on the site of an old rubbish disposal area.  The Gardens have come a long way since those first days and the trees are now all well established and it is a particularly peaceful and  inviting place to be.  However, at this time of year when the Cherry Blossom Festival is on, it is overrun with visitors and we decided that next time we visit we will choose a quieter time when not so many people are crowded on the pathways.  It was nice to see the Cherry Blossoms in full bloom, such a magnificent sight.

The Auburn Botanic Gardens were established in 1977 and covers an area of 9.7 hectares.  There are two lakes, a waterfall and bridges.  Duck River winds through the Gardens.  Some of the paths are narrow and it was a bit hard to manoeuvre with so many people on the path yesterday. 

The Gardens have been beautifully landscaped and it is an oasis of both man-made and natural beauty in the middle of suburban Sydney.

 A view of the Lake in the Japanese Garden.  The Garden features traditional Japanese landscaping with beautiful decorative red bridges, ornamental trees and flowers.  The Lake has ducks, Geese and Koi carp.

 Lots of people looking at the row of Cherry Blossom trees through the Japanese archway.  It was Seniors Day and there were lots of older people on the paths with walking aids, wheelchairs and walking frames!

Some of the beautiful Cherry Blossoms, giving a magnificent display along the pathway.  In Japanese culture, the Cherry Blossom symbolises the fragility of life and its beauty.

There are a range of activities and entertainment in the Gardens throughout the nine days of the Festival, including demonstrations of Ikebana (flower arranging) Kendo (Martial Arts), various musical performances including Koto and Taiko drumming and also examples of the fashion subculture Cosplay.

Yarramundi Reserve - continued

North and South sides

We walked for quite a long way on the Southern side of the Reserve but, as Ken was getting tired, we decided to turn around and head back.  It was also lunch time and we were hungry.  The path is very good, except for the beginning where the ground is covered with pebbles.  When we returned to the entrance, we took a little path to the right and explored this for a little way.  It seems to run alongside the Southern Lagoon and we shall come back and explore this at a later date.  We then walked back to the car and drove the short distance to the Northern side of the Reserve.  We enjoyed a picnic lunch in one of the picnic sheds beside the river.  We took a short walk after lunch to explore a little of the Northern side, but as we were quite tired by now, we decided to drive back home.

I'm not sure whether this gate is ever used, or if it is just decoration.  However, it looked rather cute along the path.  There was a gatepost on the other side, so maybe it is used when needed to block access to the path.

There were lots of black swans on the Southern Lagoon.  It must have been their lunch time, because they were all busy dipping their heads under the water and I was lucky to get these three on a break in their feeding.

A fork in the road. I have been wanting a picture for the cover page of my song  "A Fork in the Road".  This will be ideal!  "Along the dusty road I walked, until I came to where it forked and, undecided I stood there, to contemplate both ways with care".  The idea for the lyrics is based on the poem by Robert Frost "The Road Not Taken".

The sandy beach beside the Northern side of the tidal Grose River.  This is a popular spot for families on weekends during the summer, as kiddies can enjoy paddling and swimming in the river.  It is also a dog-off-leash area and dogs are permitted to play and swim in the river.

This is the sign at the entrance to the Northern side of Yarramundi Reserve.  There are picnic facilities in this area, a toilet block and a sandy beach beside the river.  The river is quite shallow in places and it is possible to walk across to the other side and into Navua Reserve at Grose Wold.

Yarramundi Reserve

Where the Rivers Meet

Today we took a little trip down the bends of Hawkesbury Road and along Springwood Road to the Southern section of Yarramundi Reserve at the confluence of the Grose and Hawkesbury-Nepean Rivers.  This is one of our favourite places and it was nice to get out and enjoy a bit of fresh air and sunshine, as Ken has been quite ill with the 'flu and felt like a little excursion to cheer him up.  We took a picnic lunch, which we enjoyed after our walk along the river path by the Southern Lagoon.

Here is part of the river on the Southern side of the Reserve.  Due to the abundance of native wildlife within the Reserve, the Southern portion is managed as a Conservation Zone and Wildlife Refuge.

There were Pelicans cruising along the river, as well as Black Swans and Ducks and Herons.

We saw some people riding their horses along the river path.  They stopped to say "G'day!".  We saw them later, on their return and they told us to look out for the bats!

 Looking across the Southern Lagoon towards the Blue Mountains.   Our home is perched along the top of Winmalee Ridge.  I like to think it is somewhere within the range of this view!

Here is the colony of  Grey-headed Flying Fox, which our horse-riding friends told us about.  Evidently they periodically visit this Reserve and are well known for their wide ranging foraging habits.  They feed on the fruit, nectar and blossom of eucalypts and rainforest plants.  Due to habitat clearing, they are listed as a vulnerable species under the Threatened Species Conservation Act.

 




Birdwatchers can view a variety of woodland and wetland birds within the reserve. Over 93 different species have been recorded, including Ducks, Herons, Eagles, Doves, Parrots, Wrens, Honeyeaters and Finches. The reserve is also very popular for fishing, with at least 14 species of fish known to live in the area, though not all of them are suitable for fishing. You may find Bass, Catfish, Eels, Mullet and Gudgeons in these waters, as well as exotic fish such as Carp and Goldfish also occur here.