unknown raptor

This morning perched on the dead tree my end - size- about 40 cm; colour: very dark all over, nor specific head markings, front seemed rather mottled dark and light grey, type - I's say falcon; - I was about 50 meters or so away, not a long look, the bird was harassed by another small bird so flew off, glided liesurely pace down at tree-top height - maybe brown falcon?; none of the usual raptors sighted here. 9.00 am 28-2-2009

Fox cubs 7-2-09

Two fox cubs and adult out playing in open area my end of FOM 6.30 am this morning I saw them before they saw me so a brief time to observe them unobserved. Lots of rabbits in this area for them.

Noisey miners on grasstree flower early this morning 7-2-09

Today Friday 6-2-09

Lots of spotted pardalottes near my end. Eastern Robin close to me around the path. Grey Thrike-thrush in distance. Lots of lorikeet activity over the last week or so - maybe because of blossoms on tree tops. Very dry- paths covered in dead leaves. Dollarbird chasing mudlark - dollarbirds very active lately - four of five of them. Had a good look at a white browed scrubwren today in mangrove shoots - mostly only fleeting glimpses but this was good. otherwise all the usual - a few people walking their dogs in FOM.

WOW Today I saw-- Wed 4-2-09 7-9 am

Today has a good look at two black-faced monarchs over near Pittwater Rd end at base of climb down. wonderfull, great view
aslo: saw two fox cubs playing together and an adult foc at the open area near my end. 7.30 am. saw an adult ofx the other day too - also ran into each other on the track.

{
}

Possum woken hasselled by noisey miners on my early morning walk today 25-1-09

Lots of Grasstrees in Field of Mars in flower now 24-1-09

My Field of Mars (plus Sugarloaf Point area) Birdlist

I have detailed notes on these sightings if you want more info.

1 Pacific Black Duck
2 Chestnut Teal
3 Pied Cormorant
4 Little Pied Cormorant
5 Little Black Cormorant
6 Australian Pelican
7 White-faced Heron
8 Striated Heron
9 Nankeen Night Heron
10 Australian White Ibis
11 Royal Spoonbill
12 Black-shouldered Kite
13 Grey Goshawk
14 Collared Sparrowhawk
15 Peregrine Falcon
16 Dusky Moorhen
17 Purple Swamphen
18 Masked Lapwing
19 Silver Gull
20 White-Headed Pigeon
21 Spotted Turtle-Dove
22 Crested Pigeon
23 Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo
24 Galah
25 Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
26 Rainbow Lorikeet
27 Australian King-Parrot
28 Crimson Rosella
29 Eastern Rosella
30 Pallid Cuckoo
31 Fan-tailed Cuckoo
32 Common Koel
33 Channel-billed Cuckoo
34 Powerful Owl
35 Tawny Frogmouth
36 Sacred Kingfisher
37 Laughing Kookaburra
38 Dollarbird
39 White-throated Treecreeper
40 Superb Fairy-wren
41 Variegated Fairy-wren
42 Spotted Pardalote
43 White-browed Scrubwren
44 Brown Thornbill
45 Yellow Thornbill
46 Red Wattlebird
47 Little Wattlebird
48 Noisy Miner
49 New Holland Honeyeater
50 White-cheeked Honeyeater
51 Eastern Spinebill
52 Scarlet Honeyeater
53 Rose Robin
54 Eastern Yellow Robin
55 Golden Whistler
56 Rufous Whistler
57 Grey Thrike-Thrush
58 Black-faced Monarch
59 Eastern Whipbird
60 Magpie-Lark
61 Willie Wagtail
62 Grey Fantail
63 Rufous Fantail
64 Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike
65 Olive-backed Oriole
66 Grey Butcherbird
67 Australian Magpie
68 Pied Currawong
69 Spangled Drongo
70 Australian Raven
71 Red-browed Finch
72 Welcome Swallow
73 Fairy Martin
74 Red-whiskered Bulbul
75 Red-browed Finch
76 Silvereye

Google Earth Image showing Field of Mars Wildlife Refuge Area

PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES IN FOM

Field of Mars Wildlife Refuge NEW sign as of 4-12-2007

Delighted to see this new sign. Sets out clearly what activities are prohibited.

Field of Mars Wildlife Refuge