Bob and myself decided to undertake a walk in Royal National Park – heading out from Wattamolla, along the Coast Track to Little Marley, then walking around the loop along the Little Marley fire road. We also did a side trip to the Deer Pool. I was keen to see the wild flowers along the coast, and also a nesting pair of Peregrine Falcons on the cliffs. We were also on the lookout for Aboriginal art sites.
As we set out from Wattamolla, we soon found a lot of wild flowers beside the track.
Milkmaids – Burchardia Umbellata –
The Grass Trees were particularly impressive –
And there were also a lot of Fringe Lilies – Thysanotus tuberosus out –
Here’re some Daisies –
When we arrived at the cliffs, I scanned them for Peregrine Falcons. I soon spotted one coming our way –
It circled around and went back to the south.
We then witnessed a great display by a pod of Humpback Whales.
In this area are a number of Aboriginal sites. Here is a set of sharpening grooves –
And there is also some art. A series of dot – pecked artworks.
Using binoculars, I spotted a very distant nesting Peregrine Falcon. Beside it were what looks like two balls of white fluff – the chicks.
We then continued along the clifftops. There is one section here that I particularly like – with the eroded sandstone being particularly striking.
I was shocked however to find some egregious vandalism had occurred. In the photo below – you can see a boulder reseting on the left side. This used to be accompanied by four other boulders. On previous occasions I had used these boulders as foreground objects in my photographic compositions. They were all beautifully eroded into interesting patterns. It looks like someone has trundled them off the cliffs. A great shame!
Nearby are a lot of Bladderworts – Ultricularia sp.
Sprengelia incarnata
Flannel Flowers –
And then an Echidna crossed in front of us –
We stopped briefly at the low headland just south of Little Marley –
And here is Little Marley Beach –
Epacris longiflora
Microtis sp. Orchid
And this Red-bellied Black Snake was right next to the track –
On the rock platforms near here are some amazing contorted sandstone –
Near the Little Marley Trail, we visited some open rocky areas looking for Aboriginal engravings. We had no luck, but we did find the remains of an old building – a fireplace and slab floor.
Epacris longiflora
New Holland Honeyeater
Awe heard the call of a Horsfield’s Bronze Cuckoo, and eventually spotted it –
We then the fire road and walked along the track to the Deer Pool. We found shady place here to have lunch.
Walking back around the fire road loop, we spotted a number of Beard Orchids – Calochilus sp.
We also investigated more rocky areas for art – but ad no success.
Back on the Coastal Track, we walked back to Wattamolla. It was still early, so we did the short loop walk to Providential Point.
Water Dragon
Flannel Flowers –
