Pine Valley and The Acropolis 29 – 30 April 2021

Posted on May 21, 2021 by Dave Noble

Roger and myself left the Narcissus area and started walking to Pine Valley. The valley us one of the most amazing and beautiful parts of the Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park. It is a very special place. The valley was carved out by glaciers in past ice ages and is now occupied by an incredible range of vegetation. The most common trees are the evergreen beech – Nothofagus cunninghamii. Towering above them are some huge Eucalypts. There are also native pines – King Billy and Celery Top Pines. As well there are the strange looking Pandannis (Richea pandanifolia). Further up the valley is the deciduous beech – Nothofagus gunnii. On the floor are some amazing fungi. The whole valley is surrounded by the rugged peaks of the Du Cane Range. It is one of my favourite places.

The way to Pine valley involves walking north along the Overland Track for an hour or so, then leaving it on a side track that crosses some buttongrass moors and then passes through forest as you enter the valley. In the centre of the valley in the refuge of Pine Valley Hut. This would be our base for the next few days. Continue reading →

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Near Narcissus 28 – 29 April 2021

Posted on May 21, 2021 by Dave Noble

I was on a walk with Roger to visit Pine Valley and the Labyrinth are of Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park. Because of Cod restrictions, we could not all up to Pine Valley on the same day as we arrived at Narcissus at the north end of Lake St Clair. So we stayed in the Narcissus Hut that night, but before that we went on a walk – along part of the Overland Track back towards Echo Point.

The weather was not real great, but it was ideal for fungi photography – nice soft even light. Continue reading →

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Tasmania – Fungi and Birds at Lake St Clair 17 – 28 April 2021

Posted on May 21, 2021 by Dave Noble

It was great to be in Tasmania again. I was on the first part of a visit to the state with good friend Roger. We had originally planned to visit last year for a bushwalk, but had to cancel because of Covid. We had made new plans after restrictions for interstate travel were lifted, and had timed our visit for the Tasmanian Fall – the changing of the leaves of the native deciduous tree – Nothofagus gunnii. I was also hoping some nice fungi would be out.

Mt Olympus

There were still some Covid restrictions in place. Some of the huts in the Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park need to be booked, and there are limits on the total number of people and the duration you can stay. Roger had been able to book three night at Pine Valley Hut and we had planned our trip around that. After flying down to Launceston, the next morning, we got picked up by a transport operator – Overland Track Transport  and went by minibus to Lake St Clair. We were dropped off at the Visitor Centre at Cynthia Bay and then after getting our National Park Passes, we enjoyed lunch at the cafe, and then checked in to our accomodation at the Drumlin Bunkroom at the nearby campground. Continue reading →

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Wolli Creek and Cooks River Walk – 25 April 2021

Posted on May 21, 2021 by Dave Noble

I decided to make a visit to my local area to look for fungi and birds. Not that much fungi was out – but I did better with the birds.

Golden Whistler

I started by catching a bus to Bexley North and then set off down the Two Valleys Track, and walked all the way to Tempe.  At one spot, I looked for an interesting polypore fungus – and found it was sill growing at the base of a tree – Continue reading →

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Birds and Fungi at Sydney Olympic Park – 24 April 2021

Posted on April 25, 2021 by Dave Noble

A small group from the Sydney Fungal Studies Group Inc were conducting a fungal survey at the Newington Armory area of Sydney Olympic Park. The survey would take a few hours in the morning, so I decided to make a full day – by taking an earl train to Concord West, then walking to the Armory slowly via the wetlands to see what birds were out. After the survey, I would return to Concord West but follow the foreshore for the first part.

So here are some birdsI saw walking to Newington Armory. Most were at the Waterbird Refuge at Bicentennial Park – Continue reading →

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Brownes Path and Blue Gum Forest – 22 April 2021

Posted on April 23, 2021 by Dave Noble

I was keen on doing a longer walk with a few hills, and so Bob and myself decide our walk this week would be along the Bald Head Ridge to Bennett Lookout, then a descent of Brownes Path to the Grose River. Next we would follow the track downstream to Blue Gum Forest, and walk back via Perrys Lookdown.

We had excellent walking weather – cool and sunny most of the day. Bob parked near Hat Hill and we were soon walking along the track towards Bald Head. Continue reading →

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Birds along the Cooks River and at Barton Park – 21 April 2021

Posted on April 21, 2021 by Dave Noble

I went for an afternoon bike ride along the Cooks River to Tempe, and then out to Barton Park – taking my camera to see what birds were out.

My first stop was the Boat Harbour. I soon spotted the resident Tawny Frogmouths – Continue reading →

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Birds at Nurragingy Reserve – 20 April 2021

Posted on April 21, 2021 by Dave Noble

Another nice day of bird photography. This time at Nurragingy Reserve at Doonside. When I arrived, things were very quiet. I looked for Kingfishers with no luck, checked out the ponds – nothing special, then did a walk around the perimeter fire trail without spotting anything much. And then things improved….

The first birds I saw when I arrived were a pair of Galahs – Continue reading →

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Birds at the Central Coast Wetlands – 19 April 2021

Posted on April 21, 2021 by Dave Noble

It had been a while since my last visit to the Central Coast Wetlands at the old Pioneer Dairy at Wyong. I travelled to Wyong by train and then walked the short distance to the Wetlands.

I first looked in the ponds to see what waterbird were present. Here are some of the waterbirds I saw throughout the day – Continue reading →

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Camping Weekend at Asgard Swamp 17 – 18 April 2021

Posted on April 21, 2021 by Dave Noble

We had a birthday to celebrate, and the campsite at Asgard Swamp had been chosen as a suitable venue. Its a short walk from the Victoria Falls Road at Mt Victoria and once there, its a great place to laze about, or to go on side trips.

I travelled to Mt Victoria with Valerie and Jenni, and we met up with Dave Oz at the carpark. We then set off on the short walk to the Asgard Swamp campsite. Continue reading →

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