Bilby Travels - Our Mountains Backyard

Day to day images around our street, our neighbourhood, Blackheath, the golf course and the Blue Mountains generally. Birds, landscapes, people, and more than a dog or two. Being in Blackheath, the weather always plays a part. Heatwaves, wind, storms, fog, mist and even snow. Although in summer 2019 unprecedented drought and bushfires combined to threaten our Mountains. Normally we love this place but the fires are testing our passion. After that came the floods and COVID. In June and August 2020, cold weather and snow added to the challenges. After our winter 2022, La Nina is forecast to bring more rain in Spring/Summer.

It's now Winter 2023, and I feel I have neglected updating this site. More importantly, I have neglected my photography. I intend to remedy that lapse and some local photos just posted. Also the wattle is out everywhere at the moment.

Summer 2023-24 was meant to be hot, scary hot, with El Nino back with vengeance. Well apart from some really hot and humid days, it didn't happen. The bushfire danger did not , thankfully, eventuate, We had rain, storms, fog and mist.

In December 2023, I launched a photobook "Blackheath Dogs-Where Do They Play." It was the photo story of our local Small Dogpark and how it developed into a popular community spot. View e-version here.

How often do we walk past a view and think there is "nothing to see here"?

In November 2026 some of our Upper Blue Mountains Camera Club members are exhibiting their work at a Community Photo Exhibition. Details on the poster below.

This November, the Upper Blue Mountains Camera Club invites you to slow down and change your perspective with their latest community exhibition at Little Village Cafe, North Katoomba. Running from November 3–28, the showcase features 48 stunning works by local photographers, spanning breathtaking landscapes, intimate portraits, birds and wildlife, urban street scenes, and striking abstracts. Most of these unique pieces on display are available for purchase, offering a wonderful way to support regional creators and bring a slice of the mountains into your home.

Many of the exhibitors will be making a donation towards Rotary’s Shelterbox program for flood relief in Nepal. www.shelterboxaustralia.org.au

The Little Village Café is more than just a gallery. Offering not only good food and coffee, the café and gallery is an important community meeting place and regularly host community events. Come for the art, stay for the community.

Photographers, whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned pro, our welcoming club is always looking for new members! Scan the QR code below or on our exhibition posters or visit www.upperbluemountainscameraclub.org to learn about our meetings and join the fun.

Gang-gang Cockatoos

Great Crested Grebes

Australasian Gannewts

White Waratah

Hartley Vale

Monarch Butterfly

Community DogPark searching for a suitable location

Mayfair Gardens

Gang gang Cockatoos at Blackheath

A group of about ten spent a few hours in my trees in January. Its only the third time in ten years or so, so very lucky,

Gang gang cockatoo

Gang-gang Cockatoos

Numbers have been declining for decades and they are now listed in the Endangered Category of the Threatened Species List. So very privileged to see this group of two families, each with a young one, in nearby Hazelbrook, in the Blue Mountains. I have been following this group for three months now although they seem to have moved on.

Blue Goat Race

Barb Driving

Lithgow ParkRun

Jasper Centennial Glen

Jasper Blackheath Golf Course

Jasper

Gracie and Jasper

Kangaroos Blackheath Golf Course

Jasper

Kangaroos BGC

Olympiian Rock

Paul's 80th

King Parrot

Rainbow Sprinkler on Golf Course

Yellow tailed Black Cockatoo

Red bellied Black Snake

The resident Great Egret at Wentworth Falls Lake

Over Christmas and New Year I housesit, or more accurately, petsit Milo and Bounty. Together with Jasper, we had a great experience.

Jasper and Bounty

Milo

Bounty

Bill and Barb

Killarney Heights

The photos below were taken late 2024 at the Campbell Rhododendron Gardens. What a wonderful asset these Gardens are for Blackheath. Not only for the exquisite gardens but the native wildlife.

Eastern Yellow Robin

Jasper

Golden Whistler

Jasper

Gardens in full bloom

Barb

Crested Pigeon

Striated Thornbill

Currawong

Grey Fantail

Kangaroo

Red-browed Finch

Some recent photos (below) taken on Upper Blue Mountains Camera Club (UBMCC) excursions to Blackheath and Mt Wilson

Breenhold Garden, Mt Wilson

Nooroo Garden, Mt Wilson

Silvereye

Blue Gum Swamp

Govetts Leap

Coachwood Glen

Red-browed Finch

White-faced Heron

Pied Cormorant

White-browed Scrubwren

Jasper and Bo

Willy Wagtail

Flame Robin

Eastern Yellow Robin

Great Egret - Wentworth Falls Lake

A handful of photos from around Blackheath Golf Course, Mount Blackheath, Rhodo Gardens and Wentworth Falls Lake over the past month.

Lake Waace

Silver Eye

Currawong-juvenile

Wattle

Australia Reed-warbler

King Parrot

Dandelion

Centennial Glen

Yellow-faced Honeyeater

Eastern Spinebill

Katoomba Creek

King Parrot

Jasper

Centennial Glen

Blackheath and Katoomba July, August 2023

Sacred Kingfisher

Rhodo Gardens Lake impression

Blackheath Rhodo Gardens never fails to impress.

There is something pretty special when you can see this mob on the golf course just outside your back fence. February 2023.

Just when you think we're heading towards Spring, we cop a pretty impressive snow event overnight. Its sunny and cold and Blackheath is looking good.

Weather and winter meant no travel and fewer opportunities to get out birding. Concentrated on community projects with Rotary, kids sport and a few trail runs.

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo

Above, Bell Miner, famed for their clear bell-like calls, making his move at Penrith Weir. Below, also at Penrith Weir, are the Red-rumped Parrot. Look closely for the "red rump".

After about 4 months of rain our Blackheath is a different landscape from two years after the fires. Local spot Popes Glen is looking so good.

Govetts, glowing after the rain.

Waratah at Medlow Bath, near Grand Canyon

Satin Bowewrbird

Eastern Yellow Robin

Red Wattlebird

New Holland Honeyeater and Lewins Honeyeater

Satin Bowerbird

Golden Whistler

New Holland Honeyeater

Eastern Yellow Robin

Rufous Whistler

Grey Fantail

Satin Bowerbird

Reeds on Lake

Lillypads

Misty trees

Fantail

Misty Lake

Misty Trees

Misty Lake

Leaden Flycatcher, female

Grey Shrike-thrush

Sacred Kingfisher

White-necked Heron

Rufous Fantail

Satin Flycatcher

Brown Thornbill

Eastern Spinebill

White-necked Heron

Rhodo Gardens Blackheath September 2021 and January 2022

Tuckers Lookout, Medlow Bath

August 2021 Blackheath Golf Club

Scarlet Robin

Eastern Yellow Robin

Red-browed Treecreeper

Bush Track near Braeside

From Rigby Hill over the Grose

Bridal Veil Falls from Govetts

Brown snake on Grose River

Grose River at Pierce's Pass

Swimming Hole

Cumbungi (bullrushes) Wentworth Falls Lake

Blandfordia

Fringed Lily

Flannel Flower

Misty Forest at Blackheath

Variegated Fairy-wren

White Throated Scrubwren

Sallee at misty Govetts

Govetts

Blackheath GolfCourse

Full Moon

Megalong Valley near Dryridge Estate

Megalong Valley

Megalong Valley from Hargreaves LO

Grand Canyon

Allview Estate, Blackheath

Grose Valley, from Allview

Grand Canyon

Sal's NymphTree (Photo:SCHarman)

Hanging Rock Track

Braeside Track

Waterfall near Braeside

Sprouting Gum after fires

Grass Tree after fires

In December 2019 and January 2020, the Blue Mountains was under severe threat from widespread bushfires. Blackheath township dodged a bullet with minimal property damage and thankfully no one seriously injured. Many thanks to the RFS and other emergency workers for their brave deeds. However the surrounding bush and national parks were devastated, with the bush badly burned and animals, birds and insects all destroyed. Many species, already threatened, now will be struggling to survive in the longterm. It is a very sad time and requires some reflection how we got to this point, and resolve to do something to mitigate the impact and prevent a reoccurrence.

Magpie

Magpioes

Cockatoo

King Parrot

King Parrot eyeing off Crimson Rosella

Crimson Rosella

Some recent photos of common birds visiting our backyard.

Blackheath Oval June 2021

BGC June 2021

Bilby Push-Ups 2021

Charlie and Audrey June 2021

BGC June 2021

Blackheath Station June 2019

Blackheath Station

Lyn and Sallee

Blackheath Station June 2019

Ice on Plant June 2019

Snow in our Yard 2019

On 10th June 2021 we had snow all day. It was cold and bleak but it was exciting. People out and about, taboggans, snowmen and dogs. Two years earlier in June 2019 we had significant snow at Blackheath. It was cold and wet but very exciting.

A misty day in October 2019 on Blackheath Golf Course

Phantom Falls, Narrowneck, January 2019

Narrowneck, Katoomba

Blackheath Golf Course (BGC)

BGC

BGC

BGC

BGC

Summer and dogs, BGC

BGC

Kangaroo, BGC

Blackheath

Charlie, Audrey and Jack

Blue Tongue Lizard, near home

Currawong

Sunset Blackheath Golf Club

Dam Blackheath Golf Club

The Upper Blue Mountains and the adjacent Blackheath Golf Course, where we walk the dogs most nights, is more or less our backyard and warrants recognition. Mist, sunsets and kangaroos. Everyday is unique. Sometimes the mist rolls in and the effect is moodily beautiful.

October and November each year sees the native Waratahs blossom. They are a joy to see and sometimes seem incongrous to the Australian bush.

Braeside

Point Pilcher

Evans Lookout

On a recent camping trip to Capertee Valley, with our dogs. Charlie and Audrey were in sensory overload with all the smells and movement. Audrey in particular, from the safety of our car, was salivating at the mob of kangaroos quietly grazing.

Old Blast Furnace Lithgow

Hartley Village

Historic Hartley Village