This was another enjoyable day out in the bush at Royal National Park with friends – Valerie, Sue, Deb, Brian and Faye. It was hot weather so the walk was not energetic – we walked from the south end of lady Carrington Drive to the Palona Cave, then back down and up Lady Carrington Drive a short way to Palona Creek picnic area for lunch, and then back to the start.
The Palona Cave is a sandstone overhang that features some interesting limestone formations. These have formed from calcite that has precipitated out of the sandstone.
In the giant Turpentine Tree below, you can see an orchid growing on it. Cymbidium suave.
Lady Carrington Drive is easy and enjoyable to walk. We were on the lookout for birds and wild flowers as usual.
On the track up to the Palona Cave we spotted this Wonga Pigeon –
And there was a small mount of fungi out, such as this bolete (Boletellus deceptivus) –
And a lot of Christmas Bush in flower –
On then way we spotted a few Bonnet Orchids (Cryptosylis erecta) –
At the cave there is a nice cascade as Palona Creek cuts through the layer of sandstone.
And here are some of the formations.
On the walk back we spotted some more orchids. Here is a Cymbidium suave. They typically flower around October.
And a Hyacinth Orchid (Dipodium variegatum) –
Here is a Large-billed Scrubwren –
And a White-browed Scrubwren –
There was also a pair of Rufous Fantails. Here is one of them –
A nice day out in beautiful country.