I spent a very pleasant day at Nurragingy Reserve at Doonside with Valerie and Sue. It was mostly fine during our visit – except for a storm during the morning.
It was relatively quiet when we arrived. We looked along the ponds for Kingfishers but had no luck spotting any.
We did see some Water Dragons –
And the Tawny Frogmouths were in their usual spot.
Here is a Superb Fairy-wren –
And a White-faced Heron was hunting in the ornamental ponds.
We did spot a few stinkhorns. Pseudocolus fusiformis –
We then headed to the coffee cart. While having our coffees ,we spotted a pair of Great Egrets perched in a tree overlooking the main pond.
We then went on another wander along the ponds.
Water Dragon
Puffballs – Scleroderma cepa
We then headed out along the perimeter fire trail.
White-winged Choughs
Amanita sp.
Amanita sp.
Golden Whistler
Spotted Pardalote
Grey Fantail
Amanita sp.
It was then that the storm arrived. We had heavy rain for about 20 minutes. We quickly headed to cover.
A bit later, wanting along one of the ponds, we spotted an Azure Kingfisher.
The Kingfisher then flew off down the pond.
Back at the ornamental ponds, the Great Egrets were now down from the tree.
And there was also a Great Cormorant –
And a Royal Spoonbill –
We had another look for Kingfishers, but no luck. We did spot another Water Dragon however.
Here is Eastern Creek after the storm –
In an area of wood chipped mulch, we spotted some Birds Nest Fungi.
This is the fluted species – Cyathus striatus
And the species with the smooth “nests” – Cyathus stercoreus
Little Black Cormorant
Australian White Ibis
And the Great Egrets again –
More stinkhorns.
Lysurus mokusin –
Most of these had been damaged by the storm. Phallus rubicundus –
And nearby were a third species of Birds Nest Fungus. This one is really tiny compared to the other two we had seen earlier. Note that the “eggs” are light coloured.
Crucibulum laeve
And here is a very dense fairy ring of Collybia kurara –
And another stinkhorn – Pseudocolus fusiformis
It had been a very worthwhile and interesting visit. Seeing the Azure Kingfisher was the highlight, even if it only stayed around for a few minutes. It was also good to see three species of Stinkhorn and Birds Nest Fungi.
Many thanks to Valerie for driving out and back.