I was keen on checking out the fungi at Bola Creek in Royal National Park. Recently the creek crossing has been upgraded and has just been reopened. That crossing is needed to access some very nice fungi habitat. Valerie and Sue were also keen, and we had a really great day.
The highlight of our visit, at least according to me, was finding a fair few fresh Parrot Waxcaps (Gliophorus psittacinus group). I had seen these at Bola Creek back in June 2022 (and they had been first seen a little earlier by Trevor and Kerry Millichamp). Despite a lot of looking over the years, and some seasons with no looking due to a flooded creek preventing crossing, this is the first time I have spotted them again. This is the third population of Parrot Waxcaps I have seen in the Greater Sydney Area – the others being Birdwood Gully at Springwood and a small area in Lane Cove National Park. Like the other locations these are very difficult to see – being small, quite dark, and blending in with the leaf litter, but they do appear in the same exact very small spot each season.
The other fungi was not that abundant, and it was quite dark under the canopy making it difficult to spot fungi.
Hygrocybe sp.
Porpolomopsis lewelliniae
Gloioxanthomyces chromolimoneus
Hygrocybe sp.
Gliophorus psittacinus group
We first spotted the two above. Then with some more looking we kept on spotting more and more nearby. The one on the left above was the largest, with the cap about 1.5 cm across. The others were all a lot smaller.
Gliophorus psittacinus group and Trichoglossum hirsutum
Gliophorus psittacinus group
Gliophorus psittacinus group and Trichoglossum hirsutum
I have speculated before if there is some association between the Parrot Waxcaps and the black Earth Tongues.
Trichoglossum hirsutum
Hygrocybe sp.
Porpolomopsis lewelliniae
Hygrocybe anomala
Plectania campylospora
Clavulinopsis amoena
Hygrocybe lilaceolamellata
Hygrocybe sp.
Gliophorus graminicolor
Plectania campylospora
Hygrocybe sp.
Hygrocybe pseudograminicolor
Hygrocybe sp.
Gliophorus graminicolor
And the new crossing of Bola Creek is very impressive and much needed. The old crossing was quite dangerous with sloping slipper rocks and large jumps needed sometimes.
Many thanks to Valerie and Sue for great company and helping with the spotting, and also to Valerie for driving down.