This was a pleasant day walk in Royal National Park. I travelled down with Sue on the train to Cronulla. Then we caught the ferry to Bundeena and were soon through the streets and on the Coastal Path.
The weather was fine, and t was hot enough not to want to do a longer walk. It is late in the season, but there were plenty of wild flowers to see along the way.
And we kept our eyes open for birds. Here is a New Holland Honeyeater –
Perhaps the most abundant flowers were those of Hakea sp. –
There were also plenty of Fringe Lilies –
Here is a White-browed Scrubwren –
There were lots of skinks out enjoying the warm sun.
In the swampy areas, we saw some Bladderworts – Ultricularia sp.
And here is a beetle –
We also saw a number of White-throated Needletails –
And near Marley Head, we saw a juvenile White-bellied Sea Eagle –
Marley Head was here we stopped for a break and snack.
Walking back to Bundeena, we saw more White-throated Needletails –
The White Slab (Wedding Cake Rock) –
A little north of the slab is a nice section of cliffs. It is worth spending some time here to look at the interesting rock patterns.
Here is a nice example of Liesegang Rings –
And this small tree is struggling on the wind exposed clifftops. The tree is surrounded by laterite.
More Liesegang Rings –
At one spot we stopped and looked and listened for Beautiful Firetails. Its a spot where I have seen them before a number of times. We had looked on the way down, and also on the way back – but had no luck. But 50 metres further along the track we spotted a pair eating the seeds from Casuarina fruit.
And then, two White-bellied Sea Eagles appeared –
One last Beautiful Firetail photo –
And a New Holland Honeyeater eating nectar –
We were back at Bundeena in time to have fish and chips while waiting for the ferry. Thanks to Sue for great company on the walk.