SPOONBILLS OF AUSTRALIA

WHAT ARE SPOONBILLS?
Spoonbills are long-legged, wading birds, in the genus Platalea, family Threskiornithidae and order Ciconiiformes. They all have distinctive spoon-shaped bills, coloured yellowish, black or greyish. There are six species of spoonbill, with two species found in Australia. Both are native to Australia, and one is endemic to Australia as well.

Two royal spoonbills out at the Western Treatment Plant, where they are fairly common

A yellow-billed spoonbill, also at the Western Treatment Plant

ROYAL SPOONBILL Platalea regia
Also known as the black-billed spoonbill, this bird can be found in freshwater and saltwater wetlands in Australia, as well as parts of New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. It feeds on crustaceans, fish and small insects, which it catches by sweeping its bill from side to side in the water, while walking and kicking up debris and small animals. It senses these animals with its bill, then swallows them. These are large, white birds, with black, spoon-shaped bills. In breeding plumage long white plumes grow from the back of the royal spoonbills' head, and coloured patches appear on its face. The nest is an open platform of sticks, placed in a tree. Two or three eggs are laid.
YELLOW-BILLED SPOONBILL Platalea flavipes
The yellow-billed spoonbill is endemic to Australia, and can also be found in wetlands. It is a rare vagrant to New Zealand, Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. It grows to about 90 centimetres long, with a white body, pale yellow legs and a similarly coloured bill. Like all spoonbills, it has a bill shaped like a spoon. It is closely related to the roseate spoonbill, a species found in parts of North, Central and South America. Like the royal spoonbill, it feeds on crustaceans, fish and small insects by sweeping its bill from side to side. It also builds a platform of sticks for a nest, which has a hollowed center and is normally on the branches or fork of a tree. The tree often has a submerged base. Reedbeds are also sometimes used as nesting locations. The nests are often in colonies with Australian white ibises, straw-necked ibises, herons, egrets, cormorants and royal spoonbills. Two to four dull white eggs are laid.

TERNS (BUT NO WADERS) AT THE WESTERN TREATMENT PLANT

After reading a recent Birdline Vic report on broad-billed sandpipers, sharp-tailed sandpipers, red-necked stints, curlew sandpipers and a single marsh sandpiper all being reported from the WTP, I decided I would go there with my dad to go and check it out.
We drove down Point Wilson Road. Though there was less water around beside the road, I still managed to spot a white-necked heron on the side of the road. We tried Gate 5 but that was locked with some sort of new lock, so we decided to access the plant by another gate along Beach Road. We drove down Beach Road and I saw a dark-coloured bird on a fence post. It didn't seem to have any whitish markings on it, it was mostly black. It looked not unlike a brown falcon, except for the darker colour. Could it be a black falcon? I raised my camera and it flew away just before I could get a photo.   Throughout the area were many willie wagtails, and little ravens. 
Soon we got to the gate. We opened it and drove in, spotting hoary-headed grebes, black swans, purple swamphens, little black cormorants, Pacific black ducks and Eurasian coots until we stopped at a place where there were a few rocks out to sea. I saw four royal spoonbills feeding just off the beach. On the rocks was a white-faced heron, a pied oystercatcher, a little pied cormorant and several silvergulls, with more flying past in flocks. I looked a little closer at the rocks and saw several birds next to the silvergulls. I zoomed my camera in on them. They were . . .

Little terns!

Royal spoonbills. Note the distinctive black, spoon-shaped bill. The only other spoonbill commonly found in Australia has a yellow bill.

We drove further on, seeing welcome swallows flying in the air, as well as swamp harriers, whistling kites and brown falcons overhead. Eventually we got to the Bird Hide. We looked around at the many white-fronted chats around the hide, and heard the calls of superb fairy-wrens. We stepped into the hide, looked out of the window and saw . . .

No waders at all, except for a few pied oystercatchers. The only other things out there were silvergulls, crested terns and a black swan further out. 

A pied oystercatcher feeding out in the water in front of the hide

A white-fronted chat in the area around the hide

A yellow-billed spoonbill, not at the hide

We decided to drive further on to Lake Borrie and the lagoon near Paradise Road, where a marsh sandpiper had been reported. We drove along, with a stop for a pair of yellow-billed spoonbills. We saw whistling kites, swamp harriers, white-fronted chats, crested pigeons, black-shouldered kites, Australian pelicans, purple swamphens and Pacific black ducks, but no sandpiper. We drove back home without seeing anything else.

BIRD LIST

1. Black Swan

2. Pacific Black Duck

3. Crested Pigeon

4. Hoary-Headed Grebe

5. Little Pied Cormorant

6. Little Black Cormorant

7. White-Faced Heron

8. White-Necked Heron

9. Eastern Great Egret

10. Yellow-Billed Spoonbill

11. Royal Spoonbill

12. Black-Shouldered Kite

13. Whistling Kite

14. Swamp Harrier

15. Brown Falcon

16. Black Falcon (?)

17. Purple Swamphen

18. Eurasian Coot

19. Pied Oystercatcher

20. Silvergull

21. Crested Tern

22. Little Tern

23. Galah

24. Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo (on freeway)

25. Superb Fairy-Wren (heard only)

26. White-Fronted Chat

27. Willie Wagtail

28. Little Raven

29. Australian Magpie

30. Welcome Swallow

ANOTHER TRIP TO THE WESTERN TREATMENT PLANT

Today we decided we would go birding at the Western Treatment Plant. Because my Dad was tired we got to the plant at about 10.00 am but still managed to see some birds.

We drove down Point Wilson Road, stopping to see one white-necked heron feeding with several white-faced herons along the road. Soon we got to Gate 5. We entered the gate, watching yellow-rumped thornbills, house sparrows, willie wagtails, magpie-larks, crested pigeons, Australian magpies, swamp harriers and hundreds of welcome swallows fly along the road as we opened and closed the gate to Lake Borrie. The lake seemed almost devoid of waterbirds, and we saw only a black swan, a hoary-headed grebe, an eastern great egret, three little black cormorants and two little pied cormorants. We quickly got to our destination, the bird hide looking over the mouth of the Little River. We looked through and saw . . .

A flock of red-capped plovers and red-necked stints!

There were several flocks of waders spread across the mudflats, and I made out a possible double-banded plover, as well as three bar-tailed godwits. Pied oystercatchers and silver gulls were perched further out, and an Australian pelican flew overhead. From the bushes superb fairy-wrens, white-fronted chats and white-browed scrubwrens called. I could just imagine this place in summer...

An adult red-capped plover, its red cap bright in the sun

An immature red-capped plover 

Red-necked stints, arguably Australia's commonest wader. The sunlight makes the second and third ones look not unlike sanderlings. These stints haven't migrated, instead staying the winter in Australia. Or they could be very, very early migrants. 

Another of Australia's commoner waders is the bar-tailed godwit. Here is a blurry picture of two, with two silvergulls behind them.

A flying Australian pelican. 

We drove further on, spotting Australian white ibises, purple swamphens and hoary-headed grebes, but not much else. We also saw a black-shouldered kite hovering over the grass and searching for prey. It dove down once, but then came back up with an empty stomach. It tried to catch its prey again but by then it had hidden, and the kite gave up, swooping away.

Hovering black-shouldered kite

I'm hungry!

Then we came to the Gate. As we were exiting the Western Treatment Plant we saw a raptor flying overhead, coming down to land on the fence post. We checked it carefully, because last time this happened it was a spotted harrier (see previous post). It wasn't a harrier this time, but it was . . .

A whistling kite.

LIST OF BIRDS SEEN

1. Black Swan

2. Hoary-Headed Grebe

3. Crested Pigeon

4. Little Black Cormorant

5. Little Pied Cormorant

6. White-Faced Heron

7. White-Necked Heron

8. Eastern Great Egret

9. Australian White Ibis

10. Australian Pelican

11. Black-Shouldered Kite

12. Whistling Kite

13. Swamp Harrier

14. Red-Capped Plover

15. Double-Banded Plover

16. Pied Oystercatcher

17. Red-Necked Stint

18. Bar-Tailed Godwit

19. Silver Gull

20. Galah

21. Superb Fairy-Wren

22. White-Browed Scrubwren

23. Yellow-Rumped Thornbill

24. White-Fronted Chat

25. Magpie Lark

26. Willie Wagtail

27. Australian Magpie

28. Little Raven

29. Welcome Swallow

TOTAL SPECIES: 29

LIFERS: None

BIRDING INNER MELBOURNE

Many visitors to Melbourne may not have time to go far away from the inner city and surrounds, so here is a list of good birding spots that aren't too far from the inner city. I have noted the ones I have not visited yet.

A black-winged stilt at the first lake of Westgate Park

WESTGATE PARK
This park is next to the Westgate Bridge, and contains several lakes. Eurasian coots, dusky moorhens, purple swamphens, Pacific black ducks, black swans, Australasian grebes, hoary-headed grebes, chestnut teals, grey teals, black-winged stilts, eastern great egrets, royal spoonbills, hardheads and silver gulls are all fairly common in the lakes. Superb fairy-wrens, striated pardalotes, white-plumed honeyeaters, grey fantails, New Holland honeyeaters and similar may also be seen in the surrounding trees. There are other posts about this location on this blog.
STONY CREEK BACKWASH
On the other side of the Westgate Bridge, this small park contains a rare stand of white mangroves, as well as the shipwreck of a barge. Look for little black cormorants, eastern great egrets, silver gulls, great crested terns, little pied cormorants, chestnut teals, grey teals and Pacific black ducks in the backwash and flying overhead. There may also be New Holland honeyeaters in the mangroves.
MELBOURNE ZOO

A breeding plumage Nankeen night heron at Pelican Lake

The grounds of the Melbourne Zoo can be good for birds. The main spot is Pelican Lake, in the Asian Rainforest section of the zoo. Though the pelicans here are captive birds, wild Nankeen night herons and great cormorants are almost guaranteed here. Grey teals, chestnut teals, silver gulls, little pied cormorants and Pacific black ducks can also be seen. In the surrounding trees look for introduced song thrushes and common blackbirds on the ground. At certain spots in the zoo introduced Eurasian tree sparrows can also be seen. In the Australian Bush section look out for little wattlebirds, red wattlebirds, rainbow lorikeets, noisy miners and bell miners. Sometimes laughing kookaburras can be seen perched in the trees near the Bongo Exhibit. In bushy parts of the zoo look out for grey fantails, superb fairy-wrens, eastern spinebills, white-browed scrubwrens and silvereyes. There is also a colony of bell miners near the carpark. In winter trees around the zoo are full of rainbow lorikeets, little lorikeets and musk lorikeets. Swift parrots occasionally visit as well. Throughout the zoo look out for silver gulls, house sparrows, rainbow lorikeets, common mynas and spotted turtledoves. There are other posts about this location on this blog.

In Australia song thrushes can only be found in Victoria, where they have been introduced to Melbourne and the surrounding area

ROYAL PARK (not visited)
The park surrounding the Melbourne Zoo is also a good spot, but I cannot find much information on it so only some of the birds possible are listed here. The Trin-Warren Tam-Boore wetlands are home to various waterbirds including chestnut teals, hardheads, purple swamphens, dusky moorhens, Eurasian coots,  grey teals, Pacific black ducks, silver gulls and similar. Around the area look for Australian reed warblers and little grassbirds. A bushy area has been set up for the protection of White's Skinks, here various birds can be seen including grey fantails, little wattlebirds, crested pigeons, red wattlebirds, superb fairy-wrens, eastern spinebills, white-browed scrubwrens, red-rumped parrots, rainbow lorikeets, white-plumed honeyeaters, NEW Holland honeyeaters, noisy miners, eastern spinebills, spotted pardalotes, Willie wagtails, bell miners and silvereyes, among others. Further on are deeper ponds, where some different waterbirds can be seen. Sometimes raptors can be seen flying overhead.
MELBOURNE BOTANIC GARDENS

Hoary-headed grebes are fairly common at the Botanic Gardens lake 

The lake in the middle of the gardens is home to little black cormorants, Nankeen night herons, Pacific black ducks, chestnut teals, dusky moorhens, black swans, silver gulls, purple swamphens, Eurasian coots, grey teals and hoary-headed grebes. Throughout the gardens look for brown thornbills, magpie-larks, Australian magpies, common blackbirds, little wattlebirds, red wattlebirds, bell miners, common mynas, little ravens and house sparrows. There are other posts about this location on this blog.  
YARRA BEND PARK (not visited)
This park near the city is a good site for tawny frogmouths and southern boobooks at night. Various bush birds and waterbirds can also be seen in the park and surrounds. Nankeen night herons, laughing kookaburras, grey butcherbirds, Australian magpies, spotted pardalotes, Australian wood ducks, Pacific black ducks, eastern rosellas, eastern spinebills, bell miners, white-plumed honeyeaters, New Holland honeyeaters, red wattlebirds, little wattlebirds, noisy miners, white-browed scrubwrens, brown thornbills, black-faced cuckooshrikes and grey shrike-thrushes are some of the birds other people have recorded.

The Australian reed warbler, also known as the Clamorous reed warbler, can sometimes be seen in reeds on Herring Island

HERRING ISLAND (not visited)
This small island is located in the Yarra Rver, about 3 kilometres from the city. You can only access the island by boat. Parks Victoria runs a boat across the river during summer. On the jetty you can see little pied cormorants, dusky moorhens, Australian reed warblers and Pacific black ducks. The first boat arrives at 11 am. Rainbow lorikeets, grey butcherbirds, red-rumped parrots, willie wagtails, superb fairy-wrens, welcome swallows, Australian magpies, noisy miners, white-plumed honeyeaters and brown goshawks are some birds other people have recorded on the island.
THE REST OF THE CITY
Throughout much of Melbourne house sparrows, feral pigeons, silver gulls and common mynas are abundant. Along the Yarra River silver gulls are the commonest birds, but I have also recorded little black cormorants (uncommon), little pied cormorants (uncommon), black swans (rare) and mallards (rare). 

MACROPODS I HAVE SEEN

I don't know much about mammals, but I have seen many of them since when I started birding. This post is about a certain type of mammal, the macropod. Macropods are a group of marsupials. They include pademelons, kangaroos, wallabies, bettongs and potoroos. All macropods belong to the suborder Macropodiformes, and there are several families in that order. From the primitive musky rat-kangaroo to the largest of the macropods, the red kangaroo, they show lots of diversity. Here are the macropods I have seen.
The agile wallaby Macropus agilis is the commonest wallaby in many parts of northern Australia. There are four subspecies, of which I have seen one. Subspecies agilis is found in the northern territory, subspecies jardinii is found in northern and eastern Queensland, subspecies nigrescens is found in the Kimberly region of Western Australia and finally subspecies papuanus is found in southern and southeastern Papua New Guinea, as well as a few neighbouring islands. I have seen an agile wallaby once before, when I went to Kakadu National Park (before I started this blog) but I do not currently have any photos of it.

WESTERN GREY KANGAROO (subspecies melanops)

The western grey kangaroo Macropus fuliginosus is one of the two species of grey kangaroo. It is very common and found in much of southern Australia, from western Victoria to southwestern Queensland, and then north to Shark Bay, as well as in the Murray-Darling Basin of New South Wales and Queensland. There are two subspecies, subspecies melanops in almost all of its range and subspecies fuliginosus on Kangaroo Island. This species of kangaroo is closely related to the eastern grey kangaroo. This is a rather large species of macropod.

EASTERN GREY KANGAROO

The eastern grey kangaroo Macropus giganteus is found in southern and eastern Australia, as well as Tasmania, and is the second largest living marsupial in Australia. Though the red kangaroo is better known, this is the kangaroo most often encountered in Australia due to its adaptability. In Victoria it is the commonest and most widespread of the three species of kangaroo. This was the first of the two species of grey kangaroo to be discovered, and for a while the western grey kangaroo was considered the same as this species.

WHIPTAIL WALLABY

The whiptail wallaby Macropus parryi, also known as the pretty-faced wallaby, can be found in eastern Australia from Grafton in New South Wales to Cooktown in Queensland (at least, that is where it is commonest). In the right places it is very common. The area around Lamington National Park is one of these places, and if you are there at the right time you will almost certainly see at least one as you are driving along the road. This species of wallaby can be found in grasslands and woodlands, particularly on hills or slopes. It mostly grazes to get its food. It is a sociable animal that can sometimes come together in groups of up to 50 wallabies.

RED-NECKED WALLABY

The red-necked wallaby Macropus rufogriseus is a medium-sized wallaby fairly common in temperate eastern Australia, including Tasmania. There is also a small colony of escaped animals on the island of Inchconnachan in Scotland, and some have been introduced to parts of New Zealand. There are two subspecies. Subspecies rufogriseus is found only in Tasmania, and is called Bennett's wallaby, and subspecies banksianus is found on the mainland. In Tasmania and coastal Queensland their numbers have expanded. They are mainly solitary but will gather together where or when there is an abundance of resources. They are mainly crepuscular, coming out mostly during dawn and dusk and staying in or near vegetation for the middle of the day.
The red kangaroo Macropus rufus is the largest of Australia's native mammals, and the largest marsupial that is not extinct. Males have short, red-brown fur, while females are blue-grey. The red kangaroo is found mostly in inland Australia, and is mostly crepuscular, resting in the shade for most of the day. Adult red kangaroos currently have no real predators, with their powerful kicks and blows that can break human bones, but when thylacines weren't extinct they killed and ate kangaroos. However, dingoes and eagles will kill and eat joeys they can get to. They are excellent swimmers and often flee into waterways if threatened. If pursued they sometimes use their forepaws to drown predators by holding them underwater. They live in groups of two to four members. I have seen the red kangaroo in inland New South Wales, near Mildura, while on a trip with my cousins who live there.
The red-legged pademelon Thylogale stigmatica is a small macropod found in northeastern Australia and New Guinea. It is normally solitary, but sometimes groups together when feeding. There are four subspecies. Subspecies wilcoxi is in southern Queensland and New South Wales, stigmatica in the Cairns region, coxenii in the Cape York Peninsula and orimo in New Guinea. This shy creature feeds mostly on fallen fruit, leaves and grasses. Lamington National Park in southeastern Queensland is probably the best place to see this, and it is where I saw it (though I only got glimpses of animals dashing into the undergrowth).

RED-NECKED PADEMELON

The red-necked pademelon Thylogale thetis is another small species of macropod that is closely related to the red-legged pademelon, though it is much less shy. In many places it is mainly nocturnal, hiding in the forests by day and grazing on grasslands in the dusk, night and early morning. In the early morning at O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park these pademelons can be seen feeding on the lawns.

SWAMP WALLABY

The swamp wallaby Wallabia bicolor is a small wallaby that can be found in much of eastern Australia, including Victoria. It is also known as the black wallaby. It is one of the three macropods found in the Greater Melbourne area (along with long-nosed potoroos and eastern grey kangaroos). I have seen these wallabies at many places. Phillip Island can be a very reliable place to see these if you are at the right part of the island. Apparently they can also be found at Brimbank Park, though I have not seen one there yet. They are the only species in the genus Wallabia.  The photo above was taken at Serendip Sanctuary.
Those are the macropods I have seen.

STARLINGS OF AUSTRALIA

Australia has exactly 4 species of starling resident in its territories. 2 of these are introduced, 1 of them can only be found regularly in the Torres Strait Islands and 1 is native to mainland Australia. There were once 3 species of starling native to Australia, but one of them is now extinct.
NATIVE SPECIES

METALLIC STARLING (with nests)

METALLIC STARLING 

The metallic starling Aplonis metallica is a species of starling native to northeastern Australia, as well as New Guinea and several nearby islands. The adult has black plumage that is glossed with green, as well as a long tail and bright red eyes with black pupils. Immatures have pale underparts, with dark streaking. These birds are highly social, even when they are not breeding. They build large, globular nests, in dense colonies in large rainforest trees. Many fledged juveniles can be seen with adults in these colonies. In Australia the metallic starling can be found only along the northeast coast of Queensland, from Mackay to the tip of Cape York, however it is common only north of Ingham. It is mostly a summer migrant that arrives in August and September. Most leave by April, though a few stay and overwinter. I have seen these birds in the Daintree Forest.
The singing starling Aplonis cantoroides is a species of starling that can be found in New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, Admiralty Islands and Solomon Islands, as well as several nearby islands. They look very similar to the metallic starling, but have shorter, square tails and thicker bills. They inhabit forest edges, cultivated areas with trees, urban areas, coconut groves and gardens. Their call is a repeated, high-pitched whistle. In Australia the singing starling can be found only on the islands of Boigu and Saibai in the Torres Strait. On Boigu there is a small colony of them. As of now, I have not seen one of these birds.
The tasman starling Aplonis fusca is a species of starling that was once found only on Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. There were two subspecies. The Norfolk starling Aplonis fusca fusca was found on Norfolk Island, and the Lord Howe starling Aplonis fusca hulliana was found on Lord Howe Island. It was a mostly greyish-brown bird, with whitish undertail converts. Males had a glossy green head and throat. Their bills were black and their eyes orange-red. Females were similar, but with a duller greenish gloss, a grey throat and pale brownish flanks. Lord Howe starlings were much browner and more greyish. Both subspecies are now extinct. Black rats caused the Lord Howe starling to die off, and probably are also what killed the Norfolk starling.
INTRODUCED SPECIES

COMMON MYNA (subspecies tristis)

COMMON STARLING (subspecies vulgaris?)

The common myna Acridotheres tristis is a species of starling that has been introduced to many parts of the world. In Australia it is hated, despised and considered a major pest, gaining the nickname 'flying cane toad'. It is one of the three birds listed on the world's top 100 worst invasive species, along with the red-vented bulbul and common starling. It won an award for being the 'Worst Pest of Australia' and has been considered 'The Most Important Pest/Problem for Australia'. There are two subspecies. Subspecies tristis is found almost throughout the myna's range, while subspecies melanosternus is endemic to Sri Lanka. Melanosternus birds are darker, with a larger yellow cheek-patch. Its eggs are coloured blue.
The common starling Sturnus vulgaris is a medium-sized bird, with glossy black plumage. In winter this is speckled with white. Immatures are pale brown. There are several subspecies. This rather noisy bird is one of the three birds in the top 100 worst invasive species (see above for the rest). Its song is a wide variety of melodic and mechanical noises, and the male sings more than the female. These highly gregarious birds are even more gregarious in autumn and winter, when they form huge flocks in some parts of the world, in which there can sometimes be more than a million starlings. They eat mainly insects, but will also take grains, seeds, fruits, food scraps, nectar, frogs and lizards, being very omnivorous. The Azores subspecies of the common starling will also eat the eggs of the Roseate tern, which is why many people are considering culling them before the terns return to their breeding colonies.
VAGRANTS
Several other species of starling have popped up as vagrants in Australia. These include chestnut-cheeked starlings, rose-coloured starlings and purple-backed starlings. These are not regular visitors to Australia, they are simply very rare vagrants. As of 2011 there were three species of vagrant starling in Australia, not counting the singing starling which is sometimes regarded as a vagrant.

A TRIP TO THE BLUE MOUNTAINS DAY 3: THE JENOLAN CAVES AND LYREBIRDS

It was our last day in the mountains, so we woke up early. We had heard of a colony of lyrebirds that lived near the hotel and wished to go on a track where you could see them. So at 6:30 we woke up and walked along to the track.
It took us about an hour to finish the track. It lead through eucalypt forest and rainforest where brown thornbills, crimson rosellas, red wattlebirds and Eastern yellow robins were abundant. Less common were lyrebirds, and we couldn't see a single one. Then, as we were walking back along the track, my dad yelled out "Chanith, there's a lyrebird!" The superb lyrebird, a lifer, darted into the bush too quickly to get a photo. It didn't matter, we would soon get another chance.

These eastern yellow robins were everywhere

After eating a buffet breakfast we left the hotel, driving to the Jenolan Caves. These caves were not only beautiful, they were surrounded by trails good for 'spotting shy native wildlife', and they were a home of eastern bentwing and eastern horseshoe bats. A great photo opportunity. It took us a while, but eventually we got to the caves. We passed through a majestic cave with a road in the middle of it. In this trails were all around, heading to the different caves. We drove over to the carpark, around which there were many pied currawongs. We walked past a picnic ground and there, in the bush, was a female superb lyrebird!

My first photo of a superb lyrebird, and my second sighting

After that we went down to the village and bought some maltesers before going on our first cave tour, the Lucas Cave tour. It was beautiful! Calcite stalagtites, columns and stalagmites were everywhere in this amazing limestone cave! We even saw the perfectly blue-green waters of the underground River Styx, named after the river of the underworld in Greek mythology, at one point. These photos really do not capture the wonder.

The broken column, the most photographed feature in the Jenolan Caves

This gooey mass of white is actually a bunch of wet calcite crystals

These strange formations are known as shawls, or cave bacon. That brown material is actually calcite, it is just covered by a lot of mud and dirt

After the hour and a half-long tour we stopped back at the village and ate lunch at the bistro. Outside the bistro I spotted very tame crimson rosellas and pied currawongs which came up to scavenge on scraps left under the tables. Less tame were some superb fairy-wrens hopping about in the bush.

A crimson rosella having lunch under a chair

After this my sister and I went on the kids tour, while my parents went on a tour of the Imperial Cave. The kids tour first passed through Chiffley Cave, where we were trying to see eastern bentwing bats. However, we did not manage to see them. Instead, we saw some more calcite formations, some springtails on a fallen stalagtite and the skeleton of a dead bat which had been covered by crystal.

This poor little bentwing bat was flying through the cave when it hit calcite. Over the years crystal grew over its skeleton and it can now be seen stuck to the wall of the cave

Some dry calcite formations. Formations like this are very common in the Jenolan Caves

After that we went further on into Imperial Cave and saw the beauty of the River Styx. Apparently no cave fish live in this river, though the occasional short-finned eel visits (the river is connected to a blue lake on the surface). 

The perfectly blue-green waters of the River Styx

The reason this light looks so old fashioned is because it was placed in the early 1900s. 

After exploring part of the Imperial Cave and seeing a few fossils we then headed up to the surface to the perfectly blue lake the River Styx flows into, and where a lot of Sydney's drinking water comes from. This can often be a great place to see platypus, but someone was throwing rocks into the water and so we didn't see anything. I did, however, hear brown thornbills near the lake. There were no waterbirds on the lake. After that we drove back to Sydney and the airport, stopping to see a pair of red-necked wallabies that were next to the road.

A red-necked wallaby, one of the three commonest/most noticeable macropods in the Blue Mountains (red-necked wallaby, swamp wallaby, eastern grey kangaroo). Brush-tailed rock wallabies used to be on that list but now there are only about 15 left in the mountains.