[Birding-Aus] RFI Shanes Park, W Sydney?

[Tom and Mandy Wilson]

Hi all
I'm hoping I can get out and do some birding this week and I was planning on
heading for Castlereagh SF and that area to get some western Sydney species.
However, I have seen a number of interesting postings on Eremaea recently
about Shanes Park, posted by Edwin Vella. The most recent referred to Air
Services Land off Captain Cook Drive. Is this site generally accessible to
the birding public or is permission required? If it is accessible, where
does one go in?

Then a very specific question about the Owlet Nightjar, as this is a species
that I have never satisfactorily observed "at the hole" (not for want of
searching), so I was wondering if anyone would be able to give me directions
to this one?

I've tried to contact Edwin Vella directly but the email address that I had
for him bounced and I couldn't find any recent posts here that I could glean
an address from.

Cheers
Tom Wilson

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[Tom and Mandy Wilson]

Hi all
per my RFI on the above site, just thought I should post the response I got
on access from Edwin Vella (thanks Edwin) as follows: "The Air Services
land in Shanes Park is a declared heritage area and there are no fences to
prohibit access. Best approach is from Captain Cook Drive close to the
eastern end of the area."

I paid a visit last week and saw some good birds, including many (but not
all) of those mentioned in Edwin's Eremaea posts. Top spot for me was the
pair of Grey Goshawks doing an extended display flight (got a great idea of
the female vs. male size discrepancy), but a female Scarlet Robin, Speckled
Warblers and family parties of Buff Rumped Thornbills were all pretty good
too.