With bushfires raging in the Blue Mountains it was not surprising that most canyons were closed. A warmed day was forecast, so Bob and myself decided to visit Dargans Creek Canyon, one of the few that was not closed.
On the way up, we visited Echo Point to look at the bushfire burning in the Jamison Valley. Here are some photos –
There was a Sky Crane and two smaller helicopters working on putting out the fire.
We then made our way to Dargan and parked near the railway line above the dam. We then walked down to the dam and along the creek to the canyon. It was pleasant to escape the heat in the cool dark canyon.
The dry air meant no beams of light. I had brought a tripod and set up for some photos along the constriction.
The canyon ends with a long swim into a large chamber. The water was very cold – probably due to the lack of relatively warmer rainwater that could flush out the canyon.
We then walked down the canyon a short way to the exit, and stopped for lunch. Then it was an easy climb out and a short walk to Bob’s car. One the way down the mountains, we stopped at Dargan to look at the enormous plumes of smoke coming from the Gospers Mountain Fire burning to the north. Awesome and sad.
Bob lives at Cheltenham, and as it was early, after a cuppa, we went down into the bush of Byles Creek near his place to look for Powerful Owls. I had seen one a few days before. This was one of two owlets, and their parents often perch nearby. The only Powerful Owl we saw, was a dead one – one of the owlets lying in the creekbed. I don’t know how it could have died. It does not look like a predator – as the bird was intact. Perhaps it had eaten prey that was poisoned (there has been a lot of 1080 used to control foxes in the valley), or perhaps due to the drought?
Bob later told one of his neighbours, Steve, about our find, and he is involved in the Powerful Owl Project. The body was retrieved the next morning and taken to Taronga Zoo for an autopsy. This was a sad end to the day. I had seen this owlet being fed by its parents and photographed it not long after it had fledged.
Every cloud has a silver lining. Next Autumn may be a good time to walk from canoe creek to Newnes now that all the scrub will be gone.
Not in volleys though! After a fire – you can impale your feet on the sharp stubble left from burnt bushes. They go right through a volley sole and into you feet.