Wattamolla to Marley Walk – 14 November 2022

I joined Brian Everingham and others from the National Parks Association of NSW on a walk in Royal National Park. The plan was to start at Wattamolla and walk along the Coast Track to Little Marley Beach, and then walk back the same way.

In the party was Brian, Sue, Suzanne, Annyce, Vivian, Fiona and myself. We had a glorious day – the weather was great and we enjoyed a profusion of wild flowers.

Thanks to Brian for picking up Sue, Suzanne and myself from Engadine and doing us to Wattamolla. On the way, we stopped of at the Royal National Park office and looked for a Cymbidium suave Orchid that we had seen in flower about this time last year. Brian knew where it was and soon found it –

At the Wattamolla carpark, we could hear the call of an Olive-backed Oriole. I eventually spotted it –

And near the creek were the usual Eastern Water Dragons –

Wattamolla Falls (on Coote Creek) –

Note the tick or other parasite on the head of the Water Dragon below –

Callistemon sp.

Epacris longiflora

Brain spotted a nice cluster of Large Tongue Orchids – Cryptostylis subulata –

And we saw lots of Fringe Lilies – Thysanotus tuberosus

These flowers only appear for a single day. You can see other buds – perhaps they will rep the next day or the one after?

Flannel Flowers – Actinotus helianthi, often seem to have small insects on them.

Some of us could leap over Wattamolla Creek, and other could cross on boulders. Suzanne preferred to take off her shoes and socks –

Lobelia dentata

Another Large Tongue Orchid – Cryptostylis subulata –

Xyris sp.

Another orchid – Horned Orchid – Orthoceras strictum – 

And Christmas Bells – Blandfordia nobilis were out –

Coastal Heath

We arrived at the coastal cliffs. We examined the Aboriginal engravings and tried to work out what the various series of dots mean. They seem fairly abstract.

This is also a good place to observe Peregrine Falcons. But on our visit we could not see any. We did see signs of them – the tell take white poo mars left near their perches.

There are also many Aboriginal sharpening grooves nearby –

In the swamps on the clifftops were some carnivorous plants – Bladderworts – Ultricularia sp. –

The walk from here to Little Marley is great with the majestic cliffs and the wind eroded sandstone.

We had lunch in the shade under the Casuarinas at Little Marley.

I think this is a  Common Brown Butterfly – Heteronympha merope –

Then we started on the walk back.

Back in the heath – more amazing flowers.

Fringe Lily – Thysanotus tuberosus

Flying Duck Orchid – Caleana major

I think Brian is photographing the Flying Duck Orchid –

And one very abundant flower was Scaevola ramosissima. Here it is with smaller white flowers

This was a very enjoyable outing. Many thanks to Brian for organising.