Lockleys Pylon and Blue Gum Forest – Photographic Trip – 21-23 June 2017

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Dave Noble

This was a very pleasant photographic trip with David Hufton to two places where we wanted to photograph – Lockleys Pylon, overlooking the Grose Valley and  then Blue Gum Forest.

We walked out to the Pylon, in the afternoon of the first day. This takes about an hour from the carpark on the Mt Hay Road. At the pylon, we chose two of the small campcaves to spend the night. There are four of these small caves on the east side of the pylon and they provide good shelter. One or two of them have had camp fires, but on the heath of the Pylon, firewood is scarce and it is better here to use a fuel stove (and you need one for camping at Acacia Flat near Blue Gum Forest anyway).  Continue reading →

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More Fungi and Orchids – Lane Cove Valley – 20 June 2017

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Dave Noble

I went on the walk down the Lane Cove Valley from Thornleigh to Macquarie Park along mainly the Great North Walk track. I was looking for fungi and found a fair bit out and I also found a lot of orchids out in flower.

Here are some more of the orchids –  Continue reading →

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Wolli Creek – Fungi, Orchids and Reptiles – 19 June 2017

Posted on July 4, 2017 by Dave Noble

This was a pleasant walk from Bexley North to Tempe along Wolli Creek via the Two Valleys Track. On this trip it was good to see a fair number of waxcaps starting to come out. I was also surprised to see a few reptiles out – in the middle of winter!

On previous trips along the track, I had seen two snakes – both Red-bellied Black Snakes – on the section of track between Bexley North and Bardwell Park. But I had missed being able to photograph the snakes. This time I was lucky. I know now where one of these snakes lives, so each time I go past that area I have my camera ready. And I spotted the snake basking in the sun. I was able to get a few photos before it slithered away. Continue reading →

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Goochs Crater Walk – 17-18 June 2017

Posted on July 3, 2017 by Dave Noble

I joined a large group that headed up to Goochs Crater in the Wollangambe Wilderness to celebrate two birthdays. This was a very pleasant weekend.

I headed up early, on the Friday afternoon with Digi Dave, and at dusk we went to Sublime Point lookout at Leura to photograph the sunset. It was not very impressive being quite overcast. We later camped at Perrys Lookdown. Continue reading →

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Fungi in the Lane Cove and Chatswood Area – 15 June 2017

Posted on July 3, 2017 by Dave Noble

I had a very pleasant day in the Lane Cove areas looking for and photographing fungi. I started the day at a site near Lane Cove and found a reasonable amount of fungi out, including quite a few waxcaps.

Hygrocybe apricosa

Here are more photos from the site – Continue reading →

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Bola Creek Fungi – 14 June 2017

Posted on June 29, 2017 by Dave Noble

I spent a very pleasant day with Digi Dave looking for and photographing fungi at Bola Creek in Royal National Park.

Hygrocybe aurantipes

At this time of the fungi season, the cool weather brings out the colourful waxcaps – and this was certainly the case at Bola Creek. Here are some of the waxcaps that we saw –  Continue reading →

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Sassafras Gully – Fungi and Orchids – 13 June 2017

Posted on June 27, 2017 by Dave Noble

Another pleasant trip to Sassafras Gully at Springwood to check out the fungi after some recent rain. This time quite a few waxcaps were out.

As usual, I started from the track at Sassafras Gully Road and then walked down to Glenbrook Creek and exited via the track up Magdala Creek and Fairy Dell. Continue reading →

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Three Days in the Blue Rocks 10 – 12 June 2017

Posted on June 25, 2017 by Dave Noble

The June long weekend is always a good time for bushwalking. Usually fine and cool weather which makes it a good time for high camps. However this year the weather forecast was not the best…. rain was forecast for the whole weekend – for most bushwalking areas near Sydney.

Some of us were keen to get away, no matter what the forecast was, so a walk was organised. Well somewhat organised. We had planned the transport and where to meet at the start, but not actually a destination. It was not until Saturday morning, after looking at the latest forecasts and at some maps that we decided to head to the Blue Rocks Area. We could do a nice loop walk around part of the Capertee Valley – and be able to camp in a cave on the first night. Continue reading →

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Wolli Creek – Fungi and Orchids – 9 June 2017

Posted on June 25, 2017 by Dave Noble

This was another trip down the two Valleys Track from Bexley North to Tempe to survey what fungi was out. There was not a real lot of fungi out, but it was good to see some waxcaps making their appearance. There were also quite a few Greenhood Orchids out – all along the track in various places.

Humidicutis viridimagentea

The highlight was finding a rare waxcap – Humidicutis viridimagentea. Nearby were some green waxcaps – Gliophorus graminicolor. Here are some more photos from the walk –  Continue reading →

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Tahmoor Gorge and The Mermaids Pool – 8 June 2017

Posted on June 20, 2017 by Dave Noble

I headed down to the Bargo River with Digi Dave for some photography of The Tahmoor Gorge and the Mermaids Pool.

The Bargo River was up a little due to the recent rain – but not that high. Certainly not as high as I expected. We walked down from the carpark to the See Through Pool and continued on to the Mermaids Pool. Continue reading →

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