Historic Audley Horse Troughs Reinstated – 27 March 2026

Posted on April 6, 2026 by Dave Noble

Back in August 2026, Bob and myself had visited two historic horse troughs that had been removed from their original location in Royal National Park and dumped at the NPWS tip at Artillery Hill. We had hoped that heritage items like these troughs would have had had a better fate. But apparently due to lobbying by the Friends of Bills Horse Troughs, the National Parks and Wildlife Service had decided to place the two horse troughs at Allambie Flat at Audley. This they had done, and they were having a ceremony to mark their new home.

The first of the troughs is a Bills Horse Trough –

A professional stone mason had been employed to work on the troughs and he has done an amazing job, removing algae and repairing chips. Continue reading →

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Aboriginal Art Near Maroota – 26 March 2026

Posted on April 6, 2026 by Dave Noble

Bob, Doug and myself headed out to Maroota to look for some Aboriginal art sites we had recently heard about. On earlier trips we had visited several engravings sites in the Maroota area. This trip, we were hoping to find two cave art sites.

The first cave we visited was out along a ridge in what I think is now Maroota Nature Reserve. We followed a very overgrown fire road at first. Continue reading →

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More Raptors at Long Reef – 25 March 2026

Posted on April 4, 2026 by Dave Noble

I spent an enjoyable day at Long Reef, mainly photographing the Ospreys.

When I arrived, I looked down and spotted an Osprey in flight –

At the bottom on the beach, I spotted an Osprey perched – Continue reading →

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Fungi Along Magdala Creek – 24 March 2026

Posted on April 4, 2026 by Dave Noble

I spent a pleasant day in the Blue Mountains at Springwood with Sue and Valerie. We travelled up by train, and after a coffee stop, we headed down Magdala Creek via Fairy Dell. I was interested in seeing what fungi was out.

We did find a fair bit of interesting fungi, but the abundance was not huge. We walked down the valley and then came back the same way, except on the way out we exited via Lawson Lookout. Continue reading →

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Birds and Fungi at Nurragingy Reserve – 23 March 2026

Posted on April 3, 2026 by Dave Noble

I spent a very pleasant day at Nurragingy Reserve at Doonside with Valerie and Sue. It was mostly fine during our visit – except for a storm during the morning.

It was relatively quiet when we arrived. We looked along the ponds for Kingfishers but had no luck spotting any.

We did see some Water Dragons – Continue reading →

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Fungi at Wolli Creek – 21 March 2026

Posted on April 1, 2026 by Dave Noble

I attended the field study of the Sydney Fungal Studies Group held at Wolli Creek Regional Park. The group met at Girrahween Park and then proceeded downstream along the track seeing what fungi was out.

Here is a selection of of what we found –

Inocybe sp.

Amanita farinacea Continue reading →

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Fungi at Ferndale Park – 20 March 2026

Posted on April 1, 2026 by Dave Noble

I decided to visit Chatswood to see what fungi was out in Ferndale Park.

I think I expected more fungi to be out than I found, but at least there was some. Continue reading →

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Aboriginal Engraving Sites Near Kariong – 19 March 2026

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Dave Noble

A lot of Aboriginal rock art is very difficult to discern in normal conditions. It helps to have a low light source – eg early morning or late afternoon sunlight (and some people use artificial light sources held at a low angler at night). Another aid is for the rock to be wet. On this trip, we didn’t have low light, but we did have wet rock. Perhaps a bit too wet! We had quite bit of rain during our visit.

We headed up to Kariong, near Gosford on the Central Coast. In the party, as well as myself, were Bob, Doug, Nipper and Airdrie. Continue reading →

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Watsons Bay to Dover Heights Walk – 17 March 2026

Posted on March 22, 2026 by Dave Noble

I suggested walk to Sue – from Watsons Bay to The Gap and then walking along the Coastal Path south and then seeing how far we would get.

I met Sue, and her friend Neville at Circular Quay and caught a ferry to Watsons Bay, and were soon at The Gap. Continue reading →

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A Bit Dry at Bola Creek – 16 March 2026

Posted on March 22, 2026 by Dave Noble

I had suggested a trip to visit Bola Creek in Royal National Park to see what fungi was out to Valerie and Sue. Valerie was happy to drive down, so we set off. But it turned out to be quite dry and what fungi we spotted was old.

Walking down Lady Carrington Drive, we were on the lookout for orchids, and we spotted some – Continue reading →

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