With more recent rain, I thought it worth another trip to Wolli Creek. On this trip I looked for fungi between Bexley North and Turrella along the Two Valleys Track.
A fair bit was out, although it seems to be still too early in the season for waxcaps and the more colourful coral fungi. Continue reading
With a lot of recent rain, fungi has been popping up in many places. I often go to the Cooks River for recreational cycling and also bird observing, but this time I thought I would go for a walk along part of the river and look for fungi.
Near Ewan Park – I have often seen a lot of stinkhorns emerging just after rain, so that was where I started. There were dozens of these stinkhorns – Phallus rubundicus. A lot of them had been washed out a bit by the rain, but others were quite fresh. One was being grazed on by a slug. Continue reading
On this day I travelled by train to Leura, and then walked won the Mall to the turn off to Lyrebird Dell. At the time, it was quite misty with on and off light rain. Once on the walking track down to the Dell, it was quite eerie and beautiful in the forest with the mist.
Lyrebird Dell Falls
The waterfall at Lyrebird Dell was flowing nicely and I stopped an took a few photos. Continue reading
I caught an early train to Blackheath. My goal was to walk down to the bottom of Govetts Leap and then around the Rodriguez Pass circuit via Junction Rock and back up to Evans Lookout and back to Blackheath.
When I arrived at Blackheath at 8:30 I noticed that it had been quite wet. I was also greeted by light rain. I walked from the station down to Govetts Leap Lookout and sought refuge for a while in one of the shelter sheds. It was wet and foggy and I could not see a view, let along any of the waterfalls. I continued down the track to the base of Govetts Leap. On the descent, it did clear and I was able to get some photos of Govetts Leap. The flow was quite high, which made for spectacular photos of the waterfall, but it could present problems lower down with all the creek crossings needed for my intended walk. Continue reading
There had been a lot of recent rain, and with an adverse forecast I had not ventured out for a while. But wiht a short bear in the weather I headed off to my local area – Wolli Creek, to look for fungi.
I found a reasonable amount out. It is still early in the fungi season, and perhaps the most interesting species are not out yet, but there is a still a lot to look out for. Continue reading
I did my usual walk down the Lane Cove Valley from Thornleigh to Porters Creek looking for fungi. This time there was a fair bit out.
Its a fair area to explore and there is a range of landscapes – small rainforest pockets, drier areas etc. So you need to keep your eyes open the whole way. Continue reading
The second place we visited on the trip with Wendy were the two mesas of Mt Airly and Mt Genowlan. These were parts of the Gardens of Stone Stage 2 Proposal but are now incorporated into the Mugii Murum-Ban State Conservation Area. The Proposal was to have Mt Airly as a conservation area and have Mt Genowlan added to the adjoining Gardens of Stone National Park.
The only time I had visited the area before was to attend a bushwalking friend’s wedding. The ceremony was in the bush, at what is now the Airly Gap Camping Area. There were some bush activities, but I was ill at the time with flu and spent the time sleeping in my tent. So I was keen to have a look at the area. Continue reading
Wendy had planned a trip to parts of the Blue Mountains. She wanted to visit the Mt Airly – Mt Genowlan area and also Dunns Swamp. She invited me to join her which I was happy to do. The weather forecast was not that great for the first day or so, so on the way up, we decided to visit Dunns Swamp first.
On the way north, we stopped just before Capertee at the Pearson Lookout. This provides sweeping views of the Capertee Valley.
We next turned off at Rylstone, and headed east to Olinda and then to Dunns Swamp which is also known by its aboriginal name of Gungaddy. Its a beautiful area that was for a long time the water supply for the Kandos Cemment Works (now closed). The “swamp” being formed by a dam. It is now part of Wollemi National Park. At certain times of the year such as Easter and school holidays it can become very crowded out with campers. Mid week turned out to be a good time to visit. There were not too many other campers there. Continue reading
This was an activity of the National Parks Association of NSW and led by Brian Everingham. On the trip it was very good to have along quite a few experts in the area – the tracks around the lagoon and its history, the local vegetation and various issues.
We spent a very pleasant half day wandering along a loop track around one side of the lagoon. The bush is largely weed free and in good condition. Local friends of the area have often removed rubbish and discouraged antisocial activity. Continue reading
This was a pleasant and quite fruitful walk down Sassafras Gully looking for fungi and slime moulds.
I started down the track from Sassafras Gully Road and continued down to the Lagoon at the junction with Glenbrook Creek, then downstream to the junction with Magdala Creek and up that to Fairy Dell and Springwood shops. Continue reading
