Fungi at Bola Creek – 15 March 2025

Posted on March 16, 2025 by Dave Noble

I attended the fungal survey with the Sydney Fungal Studies Group Inc held at Bola Creek in Royal National Park. As usual, for the Bola Creek surveys, we had members of the Friends of Royal attend.

Spider infected with a Cordyceps like fungus

There has been some recent rainfall, but not enough for really good fungal fruiting. And the weather on the day of our visit, and during the lead up had been very hot for the time of the year.

But with a keen group, we did find some interesting fungi. Continue reading →

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Why Don’t We Do It In The Road Canyon – 14 March 2025

Posted on March 16, 2025 by Dave Noble

Bob suggested visiting Why Don’t We Do It In The Road Canyon at Mt Wilson as this weeks trip. A very hot day was forecast – so it would be nice to be in a canyon, and one that did not involve too much walking.

Some history of this canyon.

We often visited the lower section of the canyon on trips down Wollangambe Canyon in the 1970’s. We would park our lilos at the junction and walk and scramble upstream about 50 m and enter a very dark cave full of glow worms. But we never went upstream from there, although it is not very difficult to climb on ledges and over a chockstone to above the last abseil. Continue reading →

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Mudlarks Cooks River Bird Survey, and More Cooks River Birds – 13 March 2025

Posted on March 16, 2025 by Dave Noble

The Mudlarks Cooks River Bird Survey was planned originally for the previous Tuesday, but wet weather saw it postponed to this Thursday. It was warm and muggy, but a lot better than the weather earlier.

This month, the survey was along the upstream loop, from the Lang Street Bridge to the Boat Harbour, then across to Cup and Saucer Creek and returning on that side.

Early on we observed a large flock of Little Corellas – Continue reading →

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Historic Horse Trough at Camperdown – 12 March 2025

Posted on March 16, 2025 by Dave Noble

I had some spear time while in Newtown, and decided to visit the horse trough in Camperdown Park. I had seen it before, but had not realised it was a horse trough, since the actual trough part of it had been filled in with concrete.

The historic horse trough is now marked as the “Sullivan RSPCA Memorial”. As well as the horse trough, at each end are smaller troughs for dogs. Continue reading →

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Greenway Bird Survey – 12 March 2025

Posted on March 12, 2025 by Dave Noble

I took part in the early morning bird survey along the Hawthorne Canal section of The Greenway.

At Taverners Hill Light Rail Station we noticed a flock of White-throated Needletails (A type of Swift) flying high overhead. Continue reading →

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Curra Moors Walk – 10 March 2025

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Dave Noble

I joined Brian Everingham and party for a very nice bushwalking trip in the Curra Moors of Royal National Park. Brian led the walk for the National Parks Association of NSW. The Curra Moors Track was closed for maintenance, so we walked down the fire road, all the way to Eagle Rock, and then returned back the same way.

In the party, as well as Brian, there was Sue, Helen, Derek, Judith, Vivienne, Elaine, Stephanie and myself.

While waiting for the group to all arrive, I photographed some of the local New Holland Honeyeaters hunting for insects – Continue reading →

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Wolli Creek – A Few Birds – 9 March 2025

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Dave Noble

I was intending to do a substantial walk along Wolli Creek from Bexley North to at least Turella Reserve, but the weather was not the best – light rain, and very poor light for bird photography. And the rain kept many of the birds quiet.

In the end, I only walked down to Girrahween Park, and then caught a bus home. Naturally, whenI got home, the Sun came out and the weather was a lot better.

Here are some of the birds I did see –

White-browed Scrubwrens

Continue reading →

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Tempe and Cooks River Birds – 8 March 2025

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Dave Noble

I took part in the Tempe Birdos’ survey in the early morning. This month, I joined the group surveying Tempe Reserve. After the survey, I walked par two the way home along the Cooks River and photographed a few more birds.

Walking to Tempe Wetlands, when I went past Ikea, I spotted some stinkhorns growing in the wood chips near the bus stop. Phallus rubicundus – Continue reading →

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Heritage Walk in the Lane Cove Valley – 7 March 2025

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Dave Noble

I joined Bob and Douglas for a very interesting walk in the upper parts of the Lane Cove Valley looking for two Aboriginal art sites.

We set off from Cheltenham and followed a track at first. Then we left the track and crossed a shallow valley. The first site we were looking for was an occupation cave with some ochre art. Continue reading →

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Birds at Sydney Park – 5 March 2025

Posted on March 6, 2025 by Dave Noble

I spent an interesting and enjoyable morning at Sydney Park with Sue and Valerie, wandering around looking for birds, with a nice coffee break at the nearby Bearded Barista.

The most interesting birds we saw was one of the first we spotted – a Buff-banded Rail, sitting on top of a grass hummock at the top pond.

Continue reading →

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