The tranquil sea-side village of Patonga, sometimes written on early maps as "Betonga", meaning "oyster" in Aboriginal, is the most southerly beach on the Central Coast. Situated on the edge of recessed Brisk Bay.

We had rented a two bedroom house overlooking Patonga Creek to one side, the other side gave us views over Brisk Bay, Lion Island, and back towards  Barrenjoey Lighthouse. Slight drawback! If one has no rowing experience! The small dinghy, sand bars, and tide can create a problem.

Mornings started at 4.30am with checking camera equipment. Then a walk down the steps to the small beach that grows bigger as the tide goes out. Saturday morning saw me walking a few minutes along the foreshore that forms a small bay. At the furtherest point the beach turns to rocks, this is where I found the old tree that at some point had fallen over and managed to roll down the steep embankment to the waters edge.

Sunday, and the first sunrise for October, saw me at the bottom of the steps photographing the sunrise with dinghy in foreground. Monday morning I moved closer to the waters edge and photographed the rocks as my foreground subject.

The Kookaburra and friend were a regular sight! They knew the residents of the house next to us would throw out food, or they were waiting for the opportunity to help themselves from the BBQ.

There was a pair of Red Tailed Black Cockatoos that would sit in the sheoaks "Casuarina" trees behind the house. The one I photographed is a female by the yellow markings on the side of her head.

In all, not having the convenience of the car parked near the house, but across the other side of the creek! Not being able to row the dinghy in a straight line from point A to point B, but instead of navigating around a huge sand bar. I don't think we missed the car as we sat on the deck overlooking the water in any direction one cared to look.