Storm wave refracting around South Head
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 2500, 278mm, f/7.1 and 1/1000 SEC])

Storm waves at South Head - Sydney, NSW, July 2022

Jon Steinbeck July 25, 2022

The big storm waves had already passed but I was in Sydney on the morning of 6 July so I wanted to see what shots I could take of interesting waves. While the sea was calming down I thought that there was still drama in the surging water that would make heading out in the rain worthwhile. Even from sheltered Camp Cove I could see that there was white-capped water everywhere in the outer parts of Sydney Harbour. Walking along the well maintained footpath, then descended a slippery muddy track, I found a place just inside the base of South Head below Hornby Lighthouse. The storm-tossed sea was a greyish-green with waves dashing ashore every few seconds. I was reluctant to walk further around the rock platform because the only possible route took me across an area that was occasionally inundated by rushing waves. Despite not being in the best spot for the compositions I was thrilled to be watching the harbour waters contorting with the waves running across them. I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

Chestnut Teal male swimming on Sydney Harbour on Boxing Day morning
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 500, 286mm, f/8.0 and 1/500 SEC])

Ducks and other beautiful harbour wildlife - Sydney Harbour, December 2021

Jon Steinbeck January 1, 2022

Many decades ago I grew up in Sydney, where I spent a lot of time playing on and under the harbour, and ducks were not something that I remember in that body of water from my childhood. However, on Boxing Day 2021 I was on Sydney Harbour in my trusty Riot Brittany 16.5 blue kayak photographing an Australasian Darter on Shark Island’s rocks when I heard a long splash in the water behind me. In the initial milisecond after hearing the disturbance in the water my mind’s processing of that noise made me think it was a shark but when I quickly looked around I was relieved to see that a pair of Chestnut Teals had just skimmed to a landing on the surface behind my kayak. I was not really expecting to see teals on Sydney Harbour. As I wrote above, I had grown up around the harbour, where I had done a lot of paddling, snorkelling and scuba diving and I don’t recall seeing ducks on the harbour. Now I was back there on a vacation so I was surprised to see the Chestnut Teals calmly swimming past my kayak on the harbour. Those awesome birds were just one example of the natural beauty that can still be found around the busy shore of Sydney Harbour. While the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House are the world famous icons of the harbour city, I am glad that the wildlife is still there, surviving among the human activities in a busy harbour. While it was only a few days, I really enjoyed the short time back in Sydney, having an opportunity to kayak on and snorkel in Sydney Harbour. I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.

Common Stingaree under a rock ledge at Parsley Bay(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM [ISO 1600, 35mm, f/5.6 and 1/250 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port) — Common Stingaree under a rock ledge at Parsley Bay
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF16-35mm f/4L IS USM [ISO 1600, 35mm, f/5.6 and 1/250 SEC] in an Aquatech Elite II sport housing and PD-140 Lens Port)

First underwater photography and other shots around Sydney in April 2021

Jon Steinbeck April 11, 2021

Over a year previously, in March 2020, I purchased an Aquatech Elite II underwater housing for my Canon EOS 7D Mark II. I had been inspired to try underwater photography by looking at the amazing photos from under the sea and I really wanted to be able to take some shots myself. However, that was when COVID-19 really hit, and just like so many other people, I had to pause my plans. In December 2020, I thought that I would be able to finally use the kit during the Christmas holidays but a new COVID outbreak in Sydney meant we could not go there at that time. So, it was finally at Easter this year that we visited Sydney and while my family slept I headed down to one of my favourite harbour beaches, Parsley Bay, to take an initial foray into underwater photography. I sucked! However, I gained a lot of experience and I knew why people take the effort to shoot photographs underwater, there was so much to photograph. I was hooked and I am looking forward to taking more photographs so that I can hopefully improve. I realise that it will be a while before I am taking decent underwater photographs so to ensure that this post is not too disappointing I have also included below some aerial shots from Nielsen Park and as well as some shots from a garden in Sydney. I hope that you like the photographs below.

A Pied Cormorant sitting on a wharf pylon(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/10 and 1/500 SEC]) — A Pied Cormorant sitting on a wharf pylon
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/10 and 1/500 SEC])

Seabirds, New Holland Honeyeaters and wonderful shorelife - Photographing around Sydney in December 2019

Jon Steinbeck February 23, 2020

Being in Sydney over Christmas in 2019 was a chance to get away from the smoke in Canberra. It was also a great opportunity to photograph the shore life around the south-eastern side of Sydney Harbour, including the birdlife. Strangely, it was hard to find too much birdlife so I am not sure if the December weather patterns and bushfires had made it harder on Sydney birds than usual. However, I did enjoy photographing some Crested Terns and a Pied Cormorant, although they were at a distance from me so the shots are not the best. I also had the opportunity to do macro photography of some cool insects I found around the place. The weather was mostly pretty good with reasonable light, although there were some gusty winds at time. Still it was nice to enjoy the photographic opportunities I had. I hope you like the pictures below.

Video - An introduction to the natural history of Parsley Bay (the first video I have made)

Jon Steinbeck December 31, 2019

Parsley Bay is a wonderful little inlet that I loved visiting as a child. Over Christmas 2019 I was in Sydney so early on the morning of Boxing Day, 26 December, I went for a snorkel in the bay. On a whim, I took my GoPro5 with the idea that I may want to film while I was snorkelling so I could make a movie later on. This video was my first attempt at making a movie and I really enjoyed the experience. Somewhat ironically, given the focus of this website, the film was not about birds nor about Canberra. With any luck, the next video will be in line with the content of this site. I hope you like the video I have posted at YouTube. I have pasted the description below.

“Parsley Bay is a wonderful little inlet on the southern side of Sydney Harbour in Australia. It is a special place to visit if you are interested in marine life as it has a rich biodiversity in a shallow safe environment. This very amateur video shows some of the marine life to be found in Parsley Bay as well as a little bit about the natural environ. It is not professional but hopefully it will provide some entertainment and some information.

I made this video, my first ever, on a whim when I decided to go snorkelling in the bay on Boxing Day, 2019. The visit was only about 30 minutes and at about 6 o’clock in the morning, hence why the lighting is a bit dark. I filmed it on a GoPro 5 then edited the footage using iMovie but only had a cheap quality microphone so the voiceover may sound a bit poor. Please do not expect too much but hopefully you will enjoy it.”

A Silver Gull on oyster-covered rocks probably hoping for some easy food(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/60 SEC]) — A Silver Gull on oyster-covered rocks probably hoping for some easy food
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/60 SEC])

An immature White-bellied Sea Eagle soaring over a city and macro sea-shore photography - Photographing at Parsley Bay, Sydney on Saturday, 10 August 2019

Jon Steinbeck August 13, 2019

Parsley Bay seemed like a good choice on a blustery winter Saturday morning for trying to take photographs. I suspected I would be challenged to find birdlife but I was hoping to do some macro photography along the rocks beside the bay. Unfortunately, I almost let one of my best opportunities pass me by when I saw a white bird high in the sky, soaring above Rose Bay. I incorrectly assumed it to be a pelican, only later in reviewing the photographs did I realise it was a White-bellied Sea Eagle. Despite the cold wind, which felt as biting as a Canberra wind, I enjoyed the opportunity to get out taking pictures. Later that day, we drove back to Canberra but stopped into Berrima for lunch. Despite the cold, windy day, because the light was good I decided to use the opportunity to take a few more photographs. Although there are not many bird photographs below, I hope you like the photos I do have.

A Crested Tern looking for food in the rough water(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/1000 SEC]) — A Crested Tern looking for food in the rough water
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/1000 SEC])

Little Wattlebird swings with the wind while a Crested Tern flies against the wind - Photographing at the Royal National Park on Saturday, 13 July 2019

Jon Steinbeck July 19, 2019

The Royal National Park, just south of Sydney is the oldest national park in Australian and the second oldest national park in the world behind Yellowstone National Park in the US. My son and I had been planning to visit the park so we could walk the trail to the Figure 8 Pools. The day of our visit was one of the windiest days in Sydney. The sky was reasonably clear but the wind was blustering through the area. At one stage on the rock platform, I almost felt I was going to be blown over by the wind. When we were able to get out of the wind the weather was actually very nice. Despite the gusting conditions I was able to see some birds. The strong wind made it challenging to take photographs as I was always being buffeted, hence why I have a number of iPhone shots below. The photographs are not the best but it was a very beautiful day. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.

A curious Australian Pelican that swam past me, probably hoping for a feed(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/7.1 and 1/400 SEC]) — A curious Australian Pelican that swam past me, probably hoping for a feed
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/7.1 and 1/400 SEC])

An inquisitive Pelican as well as a feeding White-faced Heron on an interesting rocky shore - Photography at Nielsen Park Reserve on Saturday, 13 April 2019

Jon Steinbeck April 18, 2019

The Australian Pelican is a beautiful bird, with one of the largest bills in the world. They are reasonably common in Sydney Harbour but I was not expecting one to swim past me while I was spending an early Saturday morning photographing at Nielsen Park. I had gone with the intent to photograph Bottle and Glass Rocks, with the subsequent plan to see what other subjects were on the rocks. I had just found my location for my composition of the rocks when a pelican landed on the water. It completed distracted me from my landscape shots but it was so worth it. Indeed, the whole morning was just one enjoyable opportunity after another. Whether I was photographing a bird or seeing a shot in a cluster of Little Blue Periwinkles it was just a beautiful way to welcome Saturday. I hope you like the shots below.

Cannot get much further from birds in Canberra to a Variegated Shore Crab in Sydney Harbour

Photographing at Parsley Bay Reserve, Sydney, on Boxing Day, 26 December 2018 - Eastern Water Dragon posed for me and some crabs gave me good shots

Jon Steinbeck February 13, 2019

I always think Parsley Bay Reserve is one of those under-appreciated places. It has a family friendly beach with a shallow sandy bottom that extends far out into the bay. It also has interesting animals running around it. When I used to scuba dive I always looked forward to diving in Parsley Bay as I would always see something interesting. As a child I loved walking thought the bush at the back of the reserve. I recall one night coming down to collect tadpoles in a pond, high up toward the back of the reserve, when a largish eel made an appearance, possibly attracted by my net disturbing the water like a struggling morsel of food. The place has always held a fondness for me, so I was really happy to wander around the park with my camera on Boxing Day 2018. Although I was happy to photograph a currawong at its nest and to see a cormorant, I was even more excited to photograph a water dragon and some crabs, two animals I had been hoping to photograph that day. I hope you enjoy the pictures below.

One person’s multi-million dollar swimming pool, is another bird’s water bowl

Photographing around the Vaucluse foreshore in Sydney on Christmas Day 2018 - Watching ravens enjoy seafood and a cockatoo enjoy a drink from a multi-million dollar swimming pool

Jon Steinbeck February 10, 2019

Sydney has a wonderful harbour and a great way to see it is along the Vaucluse foreshore walk. This walk is a well maintained trail that goes from Nielsen Park to the Hermitage Foreshore Reserve in the shadows of the atmospheric Rose Bay Convent. Low tide is a great time to walk along the route, as the rocks are exposed meaning you can drop down from the path to follow right beside the water. As always Mum had out done herself with Christmas lunch so I really felt the need to go for a walk. I grabbed my camera, as I figured I would see what I could find while I walked. I am so glad I did as I enjoyed the subjects I came across. I expected the walk to be relatively quiet because it was Christmas Day, however, it appeared backpackers have extended their Christmas on the sea beaches to these harbour spots as well. There were three separate parties of young people enjoying the day with a wealth of accents audible as I walked past. They were in high spirits but keeping their parties ordered with very little litter. One group was very well prepared with a generator powering a DJ table as well as a refrigerator. Despite the noise there were still a number of birds around. It was all just part of the rich tapestry of a Christmas in Sydney. I hope you enjoy the pictures in this post.

Photographing around Nielsen Park and Vaucluse House on Saturday, 15 December 2018 - Sooty Oystercatchers in Sydney

Jon Steinbeck December 19, 2018

I was back in Sydney for a brief stay but I did have time to head out to Nielsen Park and then Vaucluse House to see what birds I could find on an overcast Sydney Saturday morning. While the lighting was not great I was really happy to photograph my first Sooty Oystercatchers, and in Sydney Harbour, amazing! Seeing them made me really happy as they are such beautiful birds even though they are simply coloured and they are also so distinct, you cannot confuse them for other birds. I saw some other very typical birds for the area and I practiced some macro photography with an orb weaver. All said, a really great morning for a day which looked so challenging from a photographic perspective. I hope you enjoy the photographs.

Two juvenile Grey Butcherbirds on a branch with one looking unimpressed with the noise

Photographing at Nielsen Park, Sydney on Saturday, 1 December 2018 - Unique sight and sound of Channel-billed Cuckoos

Jon Steinbeck December 6, 2018

Nielsen Park is on the southside of Sydney Harbour, towards the entrance. It is a lovely, little jewel of green tucked away in the affluent suburb of Vaucluse where remnant and regrowth bush comes down to the shores of one of the most beautiful harbours in the world. This was my first birding trip to this part of the Sydney Harbour National Park. I was not disappointed with the trip, which turned into a bit of cuckoo appreciation day, as I saw two species. I also enjoyed seeing, as well as listening to, the juvenile Grey Butcherbirds make their melodious call. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Lorikeets in Sydney on Sunday, 8 July 2018

Jon Steinbeck July 22, 2018

I know these shots are not great. I hesitated to post them but eventually I decided to upload them as they do show the beautiful colours of the Rainbow Lorikeet, even if the sharpness of the image is lacking. These are such lovely birds that are so entertaining to watch. I was in Sydney over the weekend so I took my camera hoping to get a photograph of some birdlife. I was out early on Sunday morning and I was only able to snap these birds when they were almost backlit. While the photos are not great, I did enjoy seeing these birds. They are so agile crawling over plants to get at the nectar, they are also accomplished flyers with their loud cries alerting you to their imminent arrival. I observed two pairs come along at different times to feed on this Banksia tree. There were more pairs flying around the eastern suburbs neighbourhood of Sydney I was in at the time but they appeared to be flying to other food sources. A Noisey Miner did land on a tree nearby but did not make any effort to interfere with the feeding birds.