I spent a nice morning on a walk led by Gary Schoer for the National Parks Association of NSW around the Forest Path in Royal National Park. On the walk were people wth good knowledge of the history and natural history of the area,
Variegated Fairy-wren
While waiting for people to arrive at the carpark at the south end of Lady Carrington Drive, we wondered who Lady Carrington was. Quick googling revealed she was the wife of a Governor of NSW – Lord Carrington.
In the party as well as Gary were Valerie, Sue, Brian, Suzanne, Deb, John, Allen and myself. We set off down Lady Carrington Drive towards Bola Creek. Then once at the creek we walked along the Forest Path. Along the way were a number of interpretation signs. They had been written and organised by Gary many years earlier when he worked as an education officer at the park. But far better than the signs was having Gary on the walk to add his own interpretation, He told us may interesting things about the history and ecology.
Staghorn –
Ironbark –
Wahlenbergia sp. –
A few times when we looked up we could see some orchids attached to the trees. Cymbidium suave –
When we saw this vine climbing up the tree, Gary explained that it was an example of Thigmotaxis. The vine can sense the tree and grows more on the far side causing it to grow around the tree.
Some butterflies, identified by Brian Everingham.
Wonder Brown –
Male Common Brown –
Some of the early season fungi –
Cyptotrama asprata –
The nest two species are both bioluminescent. The first is Filoboletus manipularis –
And I was also very pleased to see the very tiny Mycena lazulina. In this area it grows on fallen Cabbage Palm fronds.
See an earlier post from 2019, where I show how it glows in the dark.
Here is Gary enjoying a bush seat.
And some of the birds we saw along the way.
Golden whistlers –
This one is perhaps a Bassian Thrush –
Black-faced Monarch –
Some more orchids, The Sydney Rock Orchid – Dendrobium speciosum–
And a Cabbage Palm –
We finished by lunchtime, and some of the part met at Audley to have lunch at the cafe. Thanks to Gary for organising the walk and to Valerie for a lift down and back.