Leura Falls – Gwennies Grotto – Leura Forest – Federal Pass – Furber Steps – Prince Henry Cliff Walk – 26 June 2025

Posted on June 27, 2025 by Dave Noble

I was keen to visit an interesting nook part way down Leura Falls that I had read about in an essay by John Low in his book “Blue Mountains Byways”. The essay “A Secret Garden” is about a special place near the bottom of Bridal Veil Falls that was described in an early tourist guide as “Gwennies Grotto“. So I suggested a walk to Bob to visit the Grotto and some other nearby features.

It was quite cold when Bob parked at the top of the track, on Cliff Drive at Katoomba. Due to landslides and track work, a lot of the tracks were closed – including the Fern Bower Track and the Leura Cascades Track. Continue reading →

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Birds at Nurragingy Reserve – 23 June 2025

Posted on June 25, 2025 by Dave Noble

Sue joined me for a pleasant day spent at Nurragingy Reserve at Doonside. The weather was cool at first, but later developed into a very pleasant day, and it was warm in the sun. The birds however were fairly quiet.

Here are some we saw – Continue reading →

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More Raptors at Long Reef – 22 June 2025

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Dave Noble

Long Reef has been a very good venue recently for photographing Ospreys and sometimes Sea Eagles.

I arrived on the lookout around 11 am and soon walked down to the lower level. The tide was low, but now starting to go up. With binoculars, I spotted an Osprey perched on a tree on the north side of the headland. I walked towards it, and spotted a second Osprey perched a bit closer – Continue reading →

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Fungi at Bola Creek – 21 June 2025

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Dave Noble

I attended another fungi field study with the Sydney Fungal Studies Group. This one was at Bola Creek in Royal National Park. We had a large enthusiastic group in attendance and it included some  members of the Friends of Royal National Park.

Conditions were quite dry and not that much fungi was out, and a lot of what we found was not in good condition. But having a large group with a lot of people looking made it easier for some nice fungi to be spotted. Continue reading →

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Oatley Park Visit – 20 June 2025

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Dave Noble

I decided to visit Oatley Park and have a wander around to see what was out and about.

I first went to the Lime Kiln Bay Wetlands. There did not seem to be too many beds around. Continue reading →

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Amazing Aboriginal Art at Wilton, Cave Creek and a Historic Viaduct at Picton – 19 June 2025

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Dave Noble

Both Bob and myself were keen to look at an Aboriginal art cave in the Wilton area on the Southern Highlands.

The cave seems to lie on crown land, near a creek, but was not easy to reach. The first way we tried to walk there involved a lot of unexpected scrub, so we chose a slightly longer route that was was a lot more open. When we reached the cave, the art was truly amazing.

The cave has been relatively well known to non-aboriginals for a long time. It was archeologically described in the early 1960’s, and photos taken then, compared to now, seem to show little deterioration in the art. But the author of that report also mentions vandalism (graffiti) done in the 1930’s. Continue reading →

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Malabar Headland – 18 June 2025

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Dave Noble

After two recent quite good visits to the headland, I was keen to go again and hopefully see more of the Peregrine Falcons. However, as often happens, this trip turned out to be relatively quiet, with only a distant view of an Osprey and a very fleeting fly past by a Peregrine Falcon.

Sue also came along. After we met at Maroubra Beach, we spotted a pair of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos – Continue reading →

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Sassafras Gully Fungi – 16 June 2025

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Dave Noble

After two good fungi trips, I decided to visit Sassafras Gully at Springwood. Hopefully there would still be some good fungi out, and It would be good to see it before it dried out too much. I walked in via the track at the end of Sassafras Gully Road and continued to the Lagoon and Glenbrook Creek. I later returned via the same track.

I was a bit disappointed with what I ended up finding. In particular I did find any examples of certain waxcaps I had been hoping to see.

Hygrocybe sp.

Continue reading →

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Fungi at Ferndale Park and Blue Gum Reserve – 15 June 2025

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Dave Noble

I spent the day in Chatswood visiting two reserves, looking for and photographing fungi. The conditions were reasonable although starting to dry out.

Ferndale Park

Here is some of the fungi I found – Continue reading →

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Fungi at Coachwood Glen – 14 June 2025

Posted on June 23, 2025 by Dave Noble

I attended a field study with the Sydney Fungal Studies Group to Coachwood Glen near Blackheath. We found a good amount of fungi, although a lot of what was there was a bit old.

Here is a selection of what was found – Continue reading →

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