The Powerful Owl Hunt

I am in Port Macquarie at present on contract. And in my down-time am getting out and exploring this remarkable location. There are so many different habitats here. I wandered through six in one day without even leaving town. One location is the Sea Acres Rainforest Centre and Boardwalk which is in Sea Acres National Park and managed by the NSW National Parks. https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/visitor-centres/sea-acres-rainforest-centre. The park encompasses and extends from the coast through a remnant of subtropical rainforest that was originally privately owned. The owners recognised it for its beauty and importance and subsequently saved it for future generations - (thank you from me).

The boardwalk itself costs $9.00 for adults however you can buy an annual pass for $30.00 and return as many times as you wish. I bought the latter and in the past seven weeks have lost count of the number of times i have visited, walked and eaten there. On my first visit I was told there were powerful owls in residence. I was so excited, this would be my first owl photograph to be captured in the wild and whats more they were rearing two chicks this year. So mission accepted to find and photograph ... 

Day 1: November 1st - Was told the owls were between markers 40-50. So I managed to find lace monitors - mating, spectacled monarchs nest building, a green catbird and some land mullets. Needless to say, I was pretty stoked and happy to return home with my prizes - but no owls.

Lace Monitors getting up close and personal

Green Catbird

Land Mullet

Spectacled Monarch

There are volunteer guides who will wander through the forest with you sharing their extensive knowledge and passion for the area. They are all so very kind and friendly and what's more, interested in your finds for the day. One lady (Roz) has created a photographic catalogue of all the plants with their identifying leaves, flowers and fruit; birds; mammals; reptiles and some insects. - What a labour of love and such dedication to an area. She is working on getting it published and I wish her all the best. 

Day 2: November 3rd - I am back two days later and the powerful owl hunt continues as I return for another few circuits of the 1.3km track. This time it is native bees, paper wasps, black faced monarchs and some Lewin's honeyeaters - no owl

Black-Faced Monarch

Day 3: November 4th - Wompoo fruit dove fighting with regent bowerbirds over territory and food; more land mullets and eastern yellow robins.

Wompoo Fruit Dove

Eastern Yellow Robin

Day 4: November 6th - Determined to get value for money out of my pass and enjoy these surrounds. Today's finds: Yellow throated scrubwren and nest; Golden whistlers; spectacled monarchs have finished nest building and this time I managed to track down the elusive Eastern Whipbird which incidentally whilst supposed to be a ground dweller was found in the canopy teasing me. - No owls

Golden Whistler

Eastern Whipbird

Day 5: November 9th - Back again - the owls have been sighted. So off I go for another circuit. Today it is the turn of Brown Gerygones; Yellow-Throated Scrubwrens; Large-Billed Scrubwrens; A Black-Faced Monarch and the Grey Fantail. Hmmm these owls are trickier than I thought

Brown Gerygone

Day 6: November 12th - Once more back on the hunt for the great powerful owl. Yes they have been seen and this time with a Ring-Tailed Possum ("You should have been here yesterday"). So I do the rounds - looking for four owls that are 60-65cm who are reportedly "difficult to detect on their daylight roost except for their use of limbs that, although shaded by a dense overhead canopy, are usually clear of concealing low foliage". - Alright, lets have another look and be more systematic in the search...

Today's tally: The stumpy-tailed female lace-monitor basking in the sun at marker 16; black-faced Monarch; more Eastern Yellow Robins marker 80; Brown Thornbill; Golden Whistler (m) and (f); Active Spectacled Monarch nests at markers 138 and 209; White-Throated Tree-Creeper; Yellow-Throated Scrubwren; Green Catbird; Large-Billed Scrubwren; Oh and did I mention a rogue honey bee nest at marker 175 along with a Crested Shrike-Tit feeding a juvenile bird

White-Throated Tree-Creeper

Crested Shrike-Tit (juv)

Crested Shrike-Tit

Day 7: November 17th - After a morning out on the Hastings River exploring I came back to sea Acres for lunch and a walk. Ever hopeful of finding the owls. Today's big news was that a diamond python had been spotted basking in the sun at marker 129-130. Now after the encounter I had with a snake a few years ago I was more than a little nervous heading down there alone (half expecting to find it at eye level). I checked out the known roosts for the owls on the way through with no luck.  Eventually found the python - it was so well camouflaged in the light of the rainforest. Then went on to check all the nests that I had found along the way to make sure they were still intact and active. The spectacled monarchs sent up their warning as I came near - not the best way to avoid attack by predators surely? Today's hotspot at 209 gave me Eastern Yellow Robins; the Monarchs and Golden Whistlers again.

Diamond Python

Day 8: November 18th: Yielding the usual suspects which by now have chicks and are fighting off Kookaburras who are eyeing off the nestlings as entree. 

Every time I enter the forest there is another story unfolding; another drama and I notice more of the beauty in the minuté. The fungi that the Land Mullets feed upon; The new leaves that lack chlorophyl and have protective mechanisms to make their tender young shoots less appealing to the herbivores. But no owls - "this morning they were at Marker 81 with a fruit bat".

Day 9: November 19th: Another walk after work for the sheer enjoyment of this place. The Kookaburras and Spectacled monarchs are battling it out. With the little fellas desperately trying to save their young. Putting their own lives at risk by dive bombing the Kooka and trying to move it on. As I walked I thought about the ever elusive owls and have made a plan. I am going to be here at opening time .. the first though the door. No distractions, no early disturbances .... 

Yellow-Throated Scrubwren

Day 10: November 20th: I had decided that despite what everyone had told me about the owls only being sighted at certain places (they are birds after all, free and able to be anywhere) to search the whole walkway. I entered quietly, systematically, stealthily; First reward at marker 17 was an Australian Logrunner - great start to the day; 

Australian Logrunner

I moved down through the boardwalk - found the kookaburra and spectacled monarch still fighting it out; whilst watching them for a while I heard a heavy disturbance in the the undergrowth. I paused, still, quiet, watching and into view came the shy swamp wallaby. It pauses, sees me. I don't move, watching it through my lens, I shoot and capture it. 

Swamp Wallaby

I pause as it moves under the board walk and waiting for it to emerge the other side to continue my study of it. In the light I notice bird droppings on the boardwalk - alot of bird droppings on the boardwalk. I look up - the swamp wallaby is forgotten .... Two gorgeous juvenile powerful owls are staring down at me at marker 94. Perplexed by this early morning visitor. I tremble as I try to take some photos of them. So excited that I finally found them - gotcha!! 

Powerful Owl 1

Powerful Owl 2

I finish my walk - check out my other nests and markers of interest. What a day and what great news, they are still around in the park to be found this year.