Spring is such a great time for enjoying nature. The bird action is at it’s peak, with plenty of song, chatter, nest building and territorial warfare happening. New ‘migratory’ birds such as waders are arriving along the coast from the northern hemisphere and there is lots of movement of other ‘land’ bird species returning here to breed from other parts of Australia. The wetlands are pumping, the bush and heath is alive with blossom and the sky is full of invertebrate action—its feast time for birds and much energy is used and replenished—making it a great time for bird watching. So download the new bird species list and brochure (see below) and get connected with nature and our wonderful bird life—you will be surprised what you might see and hear like Olive Whistlers and Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoos.

I learnt a lesson in observing nature over the past week—don’t always take for granted what you see at first glance and look a little closer at the scenario in front of you. I had a couple of quite interesting experiences while photographing birds around the area. The first was taking shots of some colourful Eastern Rosella near one of the nesting boxes in the central creek line habitat at The Cape, and the second, while taking photographs of beautiful Double-banded Plovers at a local Hooded Plover breeding site. On both occasions, I was so focussed on getting a half decent image that I missed something special that I didn’t notice until I was processing the photos later.

Cape Chatter is back after a very relaxing winter hibernation and is ready to get back into the action of The Cape’s natural world as spring fast approaches (if it hasn’t already arrived!). This edition (No. 96 would you believe), we look back at the last 12 months of species activity and observations and ponder what may lay ahead. Thank you to all those who keenly provide me with their observations – these are really important, so keep them coming. And to those who voluntarily look out for our precious creatures and spend invaluable time monitoring, rescuing and treating our local wildlife – on behalf of the animals – thank you and keep up the great work. To The Cape Development Team, thank you for the great work in building this emerging natural environment for the benefit of the animals and us humans!  Enjoy the read and pictures.

The wintry weather has meant not many days out with the camera and wandering the area for interesting wildlife happenings. The main highlight has been the activity of a pair of Black-shouldered Kite working The Cape, and their interactions with the local Galah flock and several other bird species. Given the lack of photographic opportunities this past week, I have delved into my library of photos to focus this issue on Raptors at The Cape, sharing some of the interesting encounters I have been able to photograph since arriving in August 2019. Cape Chatter is taking a winter break and will return in early August. Thank you for your support and feedback during the year so far.

The Cape’s wetlands, ponds and creek line are pumping at the moment providing wonderful habitats for all sorts of animals. I find these places very peaceful, engaging, and great spots to contemplate and connect with nature. Sometimes you see interesting species, odd animal behaviours and even have a little chuckle when creatures do something unexpected while going about their daily lives. So different to our human world! In this issue, Cape Chatter takes a wander around our ‘moving’ waterways to see what is happening.

The weather has been pretty bleak since last Chatter (No. 92), but occasionally ‘little ray(s) of sunshine come into our world’ [Axiom, 1970] and brighten up the day. The sun is getting lower in the sky making the golden hours for photography ideal, if and when the sun breaks through. With a few openings in the clouds, I wasn’t disappointed when a pair of Chestnut Teal  tolerated my persistence in the east-west chain of ponds to get some nice images of their beautiful plumage in some rare, nice light.

A small colony of koala reside around the Cape Paterson area, occasionally wandering into the environs of The Cape. Recent DNA testing of their poo has revealed the small population is the uncommon Strzelecki Koala, a genetically healthy sub-species of the genome. Cape Chatter Issue 92 looks at what these findings mean, and the measures being taken to help this species into the future. The plight of the local Common Wombat population is becoming a concern … but you can help by being observant … see how!  And we look at how the developing bio-diverse habitat within The Cape and work by residents and the developer is helping some of our threatened bird species.

This issue of Cape Chatter highlights a new snake species identified in The Cape, a Coastal Wattle that is providing an endless source of energy to our small birds and invertebrates, and the world of local rodents— there have been plenty of sightings of them over recent weeks.

An amazing Aurora Australis, a new secretive waterfowl in the wetlands, Flame Robins and hundreds of Grey Fantails ‘dancing in the air’ were highlights over the past week or so – nature just keeps getting better at The Cape!

There is something about this time of the year which I love … the loud sound of the waves cracking on the nearby surf beaches at night and the stunning ‘book-end’ landscape colours as the sun rises and falls—vibrant colours splashing across the waters and skies. Along with some rain, a bit of green has emerged after the dry summer invigorating the vegetation, the frogs are croaking, the insects are declining in numbers and the birds are on the move. April is a time of change—but nature still delivers in all its glory!