Audley Walk – 21 August 2023

I again joined Brian Everingham, and party from the National Parks Association on a very pleasant day of walking in Royal National Park. We walked from the top of the hill, starting at the National Parks Office, and descended by the Bridle Track down to Audley, then returned to the top via the Honeymoon Track. The highlight of this walk was the number of different species of orchids we spotted.

In the party was Brian, Sue, Valerie, Deb, Ken, Neville, Vivienne and myself.

While we were waiting for the party to gather together, I photographed a few birds near the carpark –

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

Lewin’s Honeyeater

I had never been down the Bridle Track before. It is an interesting route and well worth having a look at. The track is no where near as well made as the more popular Honeymoon Track, and it does involve a rather dangerous road crossing.

We were investigating a small lookout off the track when we found our first orchid –

Caladenia alata

There where also a number of drilled holes in this rock ledge nearby.

Our second orchid – Thelymitra ixioides –

The Bridle Track at this section has well established edges –

Thelymitra ixioides

A native bee on Boronia sp. Perhaps Lassioglossum sp.

Introduced Honey Bee and a native bee –

Thelymitra ixioides

Caladenia catenata

The “road” section of the Bridle Track seems to end at this cutting.

And there is some good dry stone walling here –

We examined some overhangs for reptiles –

Below the cutting is a section of old stone steps.

At the bottom near the road are some water tanks. One is metal and this one is brick, and has sections –

Across the road is the old Post Office –

And below is Kangaroo Creek –

The first of our Greenhood Orchids – Pterostylis curta –

We had coffee at the visitor centre cafe and then had lunch at one of the picnic tables. We had spent too long on the orchids for us to do the Robertsons Knoll loop.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo