I was keen to get out for some exercise, and wanted to do a walk with less people than I had encountered the day before along the Cooks River. So I decided to catch a train to Thornleigh and walk down the Lane Cove River to Browns Waterhole, then walk up Terrys Creek to Eastwood. This turned out to be quite good – there were very few people on the trains, I could avoid busy interchanges, and although there were a lot of people walking along the tracks of the Lane Cove River, it was never really crowded.
I also took my camera, and look out for birds, orchids and fungi. I was pleased to spot a Powerful Owl roosting in a tree above the track, in a place I have seen them before.
Another bird was this Golden Whistler –
And now for some fungi. Here is a selection from the first part of the trip down to Browns Waterhole.
At one spot, not far upstream of the junction with Devlins Creek, I was looking for these small white fungi – Rimbachia cf. bryophila.
Last year, I had spotted these in that location, and also found some interesting Ascomycetes. Sure enough I found them again. They are Helvella fibrosa ( = Helvella chinensis)
At Browns Waterhole, I didn’t start walking up the Terry Creek track straight away. Instead, I continued on along the Great North Walk track to check out if the status of some other interesting fungi.
I was pleased to see some Trumpet Fungi out close to where I had seen them before.
And then, nearby, I located some more of what I think is Hydnellum fraudulentum. This is a rare blue spine fungus. Two small new ones had appeared. They only had faint signs of the spines.
And it was interesting to observe the one I had seen on my previous trip was a lot larger and had lost its blue colour.
Nearby was another interesting fungus. Perhaps a type of Thelophora –
Now for a few plants –
Along Terrys Creek, I found a fair bit of fungi out. Here is a selection –
The next three photos show species of Lactarius.
And this polypore growing close to the base of an Angophora costata. I think it may be Phaeolus schweinitzii –
I am not sure what these grey fungi are –
And near the end of the track –
The last two photos show a weeping polypore at the base of an Angophora costata. I am not sure if it is possibly Inonotus albertinii or Pseudoinonotus dryadeus.