Wendy had organised a weekend in the Blue Mountains. We spent the first day on a nature walk along the ridge from Hat Hill to Bald Head at Blackheath. Hat Hill is just off Hat Hill Road, which is the road that goes to Perrys Lookdown. There is a track that goes up to the summit of Hat Hill and then continues all the way to Bald Head.
In the party, as well as Wendy and myself, there was Digi Dave, Don and Frances.
An amazing number of wildflowers were out. We were treated to a magnificent spectacle.
Not far from the start of the track were lot of Spotted Sun Orchids. We would find many more all along the walk.
Also of interest, was a lot of flowers in a small area that had attracted small beetles.
We could not help noticing a few groups of Waratahs, but hiding beneath them, Wendy spotted some flying duck orchids. These are very interesting. On the way back, while taking some photographs of them, we noticed that the “head” of one of them suddenly snapped down into the “body”. This is a mechanism, like that of the trigger plant that has evolved to aid the orchid’s fertilisation. The orchid has a structure that mimics a female sawfly, this attracts a male sawfly, which attempts to mate. The “ducks head” then snaps down trapping the sawfly for a while. The mechanism seems to reset in an hour or so.
Out on Bald Head – there was an amazing profusion of wildflowers. We spent a fair while taking photos. There are also excellent views of the Grose Gorge and its impressive flanking cliffs.
On the walk back, Wendy spotted some more orchids – different ones – a group of Beard Orchids.
More photos are online on my website here.
