Lane Cove River Walk – Fungi and Birds – 9 February 2022

After the Greenway Bird Survey, I walked back to Lewisham Station and caught a train to Thornleigh. Then out to Thornleigh Oval where I set off along the Great North Walk track – down Lorna Pass to the Lane Cove River. My plan was to continue along the river to Browns Waterhole and then I would walk to Eastwood via Terrys Creek.

I was expecting some good fungi to be out, given the recent rain. I did find some nice species, but no great abundance of fungi. And on this trip – it was the birds that dominated my photos and time.

On the way down Lorna Pass, I spotted this old Bolete –

Once i arrived at the river, I looked around for coral fungi – but could not find any. On the far side, I saw some Xylaria sp, going on a log that I had seen it on in previous seasons.

But what donned on my walk along the river where the Rufous Fantails. I ow know their call, and when I heard it, I stopped and waited to see if they wold come closer. There were often pairs of them and some did come close.

This is the second one –

Lower down, a third one –

And I also spotted a Powerful Owl. It was roosting in a tree where I have seen one or a pair roosting before, but not for a fail while. So it was good to see one there again.

Rufous Fantail number 4 –

Am am not sure what this fungi is growing on a dirt bank –

And hiding in a tree above the track, a Brown Cuckoo-Dove –

And near Browns Waterhole, some Bonnet Orchids (Cryptostylis erecta)

And in the waterhole, a Turtle –

There is a picnic table, where I stopped for lunch, But first I had to shoo away this Water Dragon –

Now heading up Terrys Creek, some Calocera sp. fungi –

More Bonnet Orchids –

Then I headed off the main track to look for some fungi. Above, I spotted another roosting Powerful Owl –

And I was looking for this pink coral fungi. Perhaps Clavaria sp. It seems to be the same species as one found in Birdwood Gully at Springwood. In both places it is only found in a very small area.

Nearby, so jelly fungus (Tremella mesenterica) –

And some yellow coral fungi –

Further along, big cluster of these little brown muchrooms –

I spotted a lot of Brown Gerygones all along Terrys Creek –

And I spotted a White-throated Tree Creeper –

Nearby was an Eastern Yellow Robin –

As I continued I saw this nice patch of coral fungi  (Ramaria filicicola) – 

And here is a Lewin’s Honeyeater –

Russula sp.

And I was lucky to spot a third Powerful Owl.

Another Brown Gerygone –

This is a large Bolete –

White-browed Scrubwren

Cantherellus concinnus

This had been a very worthwhile walk with a lot to see.