snatcher

Ok here are a few more,have tried to name them but may well be wrong,feel free to jump in A crested pigeon I photographed at Ayres Rock http:// A bush turkey I photographed in the Daintree Rainforest http:// An egret I photographed at Griffiths Island http:// A Darter I photographed at Manly Dam http:// A groupe of Great Cormorants I photographed at Byron Bay http:// Will dig out a few different parrot photos next John

A great set of pictures there dirvin21,I will have to dig a few more out tonight. Actually will need a bit help on the id on a couple as a bit unsure John

Many thanks for that savit John

This was that turtle capture from Fairlight http:// I also love your wildlife. Reckon your kookaburras are beautiful birds but can be a bit noisy at times http:// Managed a couple of shots of this osprey seeing off a crow up at Byron Bay on our last trip. http:// http:// John

Are they mostly stingrays in the lagoon ? Caught one off Collaroy beach on our last trip. Basically will just fish the lagoon if the wife or grandsons want to fish,otherwise i will be trying beach and rock marks. Will be based at our daughters at Warriewoodso please feel free to recommend any local marks to try or drop me a pm. Cheers John

Have seen penguins 3 times in the water while fishing Little Manly Point Park. Even had one show interest in one of my lures once,quickly snatched the lure away from it though. I had just made the Manly paper a few days earlier by catching a turtle at Fairlight on rod and line. !!!! John

This was the entrance to the lagoon Dec 2016 http:// John

WOW great fish well done John

Its exactly the same in the UK - the sea takes no prisoners !!!!! John

Couple of swans and a pelican I photographed at Lakes Entrance. http:// John

An eye opener here !!!!http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3246954/Australia-fatal-shark-attacks-world-men-likely-die.html Been over to your great counry now on 5 trips. All I can do is relate my own experiances about sharks around Sydney. Back in 2012 fished Little Manly Point Park with me ozzie fisho mate Ollie. He was livebaiting and hooked into a big bronzie there. Managed one shot of it before it bit him off !!! http:// The same year we were fishing for kingies at 40 baskets and the boat next to us hooked a hammerhead. Later on the same trip was fishing off the shore at 40 baskets and a local told me that the day before an angler had caught a 7 foot shark off the shore there. On our next trip the wife and I were fishing at Davidson Park - a lovely setting and sharks were the last things on our minds. A lovely place to fish. Just by chance got talking to another angler there and he said that the day before he was in his kayak at the top of the creek and seen about 10 large bull sharks milling about there. http:// On our last trip over seen a large bronze triagular shaped shark fin just off Collaroy Beach. On a trip over to Watsons Bay talking to a local who said "a massive tiger shark has just swam past" They are about,stay safe folk John

Here in the UK I find "wind guru" about the most reliable weather site. Do any of you ozzie fishos use it ? https://www.windguru.cz/221 John

Here are a couple I photographed up the Hunter. First one is a blue faced honey eater. http:// Think this parrot is a galah ??? http:// John

Some great pictures their Neil,will dig some more of mine out John

Not really a wildlife photographer but have managed to snap a few birds on our trips to Australia. You have some very colourful ones too. Will add a couple now and will have to dig some more out First one a kookaburra I photographed when our daughter lived at Frenchs Forest,it came to pay us a visit. http:// This one I photographed on our last trip up at Byron Bay. An osprey seeing off a crow. http:// http:// Anyone else got any bird pictures they can add ? John

Great pictures,thanks for sharing John

Cheers Jim,as you probably know photography is one of my hobbies We fly to 2 oz 2 weeks tomorrow so would be nice to meet up with some of you fishos. Will be based at our daughters in MacPherson St,Warriewood. Anyone wnt to take this wrinkley auld pommy out on a fishing trip well up for that John

Many thanks for that info Roger. What you are saying is basically what we do. A very light rig with prawn or squid and a heavier livebaiting set up. I know that a few beasties do lurk in the lagoon. Was reading up that Father and son Shannon and Jake Garrod have had 2 big jewies out of there 15kg and 21kg. Also someone got a 78cm flathead. On our last trip over an angler also hooked a blue ringed octopus there !!!!! When the sea channel is open goodness knows what has swum into there Be with you all shortly,we are due to fly off from Newcastle International Airport 2 weeks tomorrow. John

Thanks for that good info Short,most appreciated. Its where we took the grandkids on our last trip and they loved it. Catching a few tiddlers made their day and they were telling all their friends. Small bream and puffer fish. It was virtually a bite every cast. My main fishing will be done on the beach and elsewhere. Here are a few pictures from Narrabeen Lagoon from last year http:// http:// http:// http:// http:// The wife and I fishing the top lagoon http:// http:// John

Although we have a house here in Whitley Bay we also have a static caravan on the Mull of Galloway on the south western tip of Scotland. Its on the edge of the village of Drummore and has a westerly aspect overlooking Luce Bay. Being happily retired we spend large chunks of the UK summer there as its a lovely part of Scotland and the fishing is quite good. We do not escape the occasion severe weather event here either. In October 2014 we were hit there by the tail end of Hurricane Gonzales. I took the picture from our caravan veranda. Pleased to say our caravan is well chained down into huge blocks of concrete Normally Luce Bay is more tranquil than this !!!! John

Whitley Bay sea temperatures peak in the range 13 to 17°C (55 to 63°F) on around the 13th of August and are at their coldest on about the 21st of February, in the range 4 to 8°C (39 to 46°F). Most of us pomms have a crazy streak in us. By tradition here in Whitley Bay a lot of us have a traditional New Years Day swim in the sea. Snow or ice on the beach will not stop us http:// This is Cullercoats Bay on a more tranquil day. http:// http:// A Whitley Bay sunrise at low water http:// John

On our last trip to oz we were staying at Collaroy and just missed that easterly storm that damaged the Collaroy Beach Club and some coastal properties around there. Loved that balcony at the club overlooking the beach. Is it open for business again. Due back in 3 weeks time so will be gracing its doors again. Just had a storm surge here in the UK 13 Jan 2017. Unfortunately the spring tide coincided with a strong northerly blow which resulted in a fierce "storm surge". It only affected the east coast of England with sea defences being overtopped in a few places. As far as I can tell there was no loss of life on this occasion. It was an awesome event to witness. Will add a couple of photos I took at Whitley Bay and cullercoats here on the north east coast of England. http:// http:// http:// http:// John

Due back in oz for another 3 month trip in a few weeks time. Just wondered if the lagoon was still open to the sea and if its fishing ok ? On our last visit I fished it with the wife a few times and it was very easy relaxed fishing. Nothing big but very relaxing. We fished that deepish bit where they have the Sunday market. Will be staying at our daughters in MacPherson Street,Warriewood. Any local fishos want to take this old pommy out for a fishing session well up for it John

Will certainly pass on your regards Frank. You went out of your way to help me,you are a top bloke. I remember the first time we met up at Diggers RSL,Freshwater. Its well appreciated,you went that extra mile to help a fisho from the UK. Loved our camping trip up to Lake St Clair,how many times was I called a pommy bar steward ? A great bunch of blokes. You also helped me nail that elusive flathead down at Bermagui. Another great trip. Looking forward to wetting a line with you on our next trip,we arrive 06 Feb so not long to go. Hank also went that extra mile for me on our first trip out in 2008. On that first trip Kingyfisher(Chris Tyler ?) also took me under his wing - sadly no longer with us. He was a top bloke and a top angler. He even took me "poaching" early one morning at the Opera Bar. We managed about 20 mins fishing before security asked us to leave Also NeilM who is on this forum also took me out a few times. As did "No Idea" who took me out on a couple of trips,its a pity I have lost contact with him. He hooked into a decent sized bronzie when we fished at Little Manly Point Park. Managed one shot of the shark before it bit him off. This was Ollie with the shark on. Does anyone know him ? He was living in the Fairlight area back in 2012 The shark went mental and made a few leaps out of the water !!! That was the year I made thye Manly paper A couple of days after the turtle capture had a penguin follow one of my lures in !!!!!! All I can say is that all of you ozzie fishos I have met so far are top blokes,looking forward to fishing with you all again. John

Have managed a couple of lightening photos on my Australian trips. Unsure if I have posted these up before as I am on that many angling and photographic forums !!!! Will post them anyway. The first one I took at Freshwater when our daughter lived there. http:// These next ones I took at Colleroy. Just managed to get a few shots in before the monsoon hit. http:// http:// http:// John