Two friends, Dave Os and Don, had organised an easy bushwalk out along the fire trail that leaves Queens Road at Lawson. The plan was to walk out a few kilometres, then look for a campsite on a high point, then spend some time exploring the area. They were joined by Rik, Digi Dave and myself.
On the walk out, we were on the lookout for wildflowers and birds. Here are some birds we spotted –
White-throated Treecreeper
Tree Martin
White-browed Scrubwren
Crimson Rosella
And one of the wildflowers – Boronia ledifolia –
Thanks to Don for the id.
Not far out, we left the fire trail and climbed up onto a nearby hill. This was the last of a series of high points that start at Blue Mountain. The main fire trail skirts around the base of these high points. Dave Os called the set of high points Lawson Castle.
A short way up, we stopped for a break at an open rocky outcrop. Here we found a number of Aboriginal engravings.
The one above seems to be an Emu footprint. The one below looks more like a Kangaroo footprint.
And there were quite a few more Emu footprints –
We continued climbing a little further until we reached another open rock outcrop. Here there was plenty of room for us to camp. It was a nice spot. After a lunch break, we set off exploring. Rik and Dave Os went off in search of Aboriginal sites – they found three – a set of sharpening grooves and two cave art sites. I went back down to the fire road looking for more birds.
Striated Thornbill
Grey Fantail
Eastern Yellow Robin
New Holland Honeyeater
Tree Martin
That evening, we spent a very enjoyable time around the camp fire. It had been a long time since I had been on an overnight walk! I also took advantage of the clear sky to do some astrophotography – I will post the results separately.
The next morning, I was due to go on a daywalk with Enmoore and Wendy up at Medlow Bath. So I got up early and walked back to the barrier on Queens Road where Wendy picked my up. It was frosty. Here is one of the swamps –
And a few birds as I was walking out –
White-browed Scrubwren
Glossy Black Cockatoo
