More Hygrocybes from the Lane Cove Area – 12 June 2015

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Dave Noble

After Sassafras Gully, my next fungi trip was to the Lane Cove area again to see how things were going there.

Hygrocybe erythrocrenata

Hygrocybe erythrocrenata

I found a lot of fresh fungi out, and I was also very fortunate to bump into Ray and Elma Kearney doing a fungi survey. They took time out to show me some of the interesting hygrocybes that were out and also explained what species they were. I say “explained” rather than “told” because with hygrocybes and red hygrocybes in particular, it is very difficult to identify them. You need to carefully look at the colour of the caps, how rough the caps are, how vicid, the gill shape and colour, the edge or the cap, the shape and colours of the stipe etc. A lot of features can give you some pointers. However, you also need to be aware that a particular fungi will change both shape and colour as it ages or dries out. Continue reading →

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More Fungi from Sassafras Gully – 11 June 2015

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Dave Noble

After a recent trip down Sassafras Gully, I was keen to return to see how the fungi was going. I had found some strange fungi on the last trip and I was interested to see if any more was out.

SG11Jun15-17

I set off down the track from Sassafras Gully Road and soon arrived in the rainforest section of the creek. A lot of the fungi I had seen on the last trip had deteriorated – it had dried out and was falling to bits. I still found a few interesting ones but not as good as previously. So I continued on past the junction with Glenbrook Creek and went out via Magdala Creek. Continue reading →

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Mt Solitary and Kedumba Valley Walk – 6 – 8 June 2015

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Dave Noble

The original plan for the June Long Weekend was to head out to the Gardens of Stone. However, some of the other people on the walk got sick at the last minute, so I had to change plans. On the Friday night I caught a train up to Katoomba and then walked out to Cliff Drive and camped out on Malatia Head.

MSKJun15-9

My plan was to get up early and take some dawn photos and then head down Furber Stairs and walk around to the Ruined Castle via the Federal Pass Track and then climb onto Mt Solitary and camp at Chinamans Gully. On the second day, I would continue along Mt Solitary, drop down off the Col and then head down to the Kedumba Campground and spend Sunday night there. On the last day I would walk out via Kedumba Pass. Continue reading →

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More Lane Cove Fungi – 5 June 2015

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Dave Noble

I went back to the Lane Cove Valley area to see how the fungi was going and to take photos.

Hygrocybe taekeri

Hygrocybe taekeri

Here is my latest set of photos – Continue reading →

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Bola Creek – Fungi Update – 4 June 2015

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Dave Noble

Digi Dave and myself went back to Bola Creek in Royal National Park for some more fungi photography. After finding a lot of good fungi out in Sassafras Gully the day before I was hopeful that Bola Creek would also be good. I was hoping that recent cold weather would have brought out the colourful Hygrocybes.

BC4Jun15-8

But, the very heavy rainstorms in Autumn seem to have scoured out the creek banks a bit, and since then it has been fairly dry, so things were not as good as they could have been. I had to hunt around very carefully to find fresh fungi. Continue reading →

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More Colourful Fungi at Sassafras Gully – 3 June 2015

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Dave Noble

I returned to visit Sassafras Gully at Springwood again. Despite fairly dry weather a lot of fungi was out – and it was very nice fungi too. Very colourful.

SG3Jun15-4

Some of the fungi that I spotted are perhaps new species or variants. Here is a selection of photos – Continue reading →

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Lane Cove Valley Walk – 1 June 2015

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Dave Noble

After seeing a fantastic display of fungi out at Lane Cove Bushland Park, I though it may be worthwhile doing a walk through part of Lane Cove Valley between Thornleigh and Porters Creek Bridge. This was a station to station walk and was largely a repeat of my walk from 16 April 2015. Most of this walk passes through Lane Cove National Park. It is easy to organise a walk like this from Thornleigh Station to Macquarie Park Station. The track, most of it being part of the Great North Walk is well signposted.

LCNP1Jun15-5

How was the fungi? Not the colourful display from my visit the day before to the much, much smaller Lane Cove Bushland Park, but enough was out to make the trip interesting and worthwhile. Also – it is a nice walk, mostly through forest with the sounds of abundant birds. The walk is a mixture of track and fire trail. Continue reading →

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Vivid Light Festival – Visit 3 – 31 May 2015

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Dave Noble

After photographing the fungi at Lane Cove, I headed back to the city to join my friends John and Chuin Nee and their young son, Jasper for a visit to Vivid. On a Sunday night – it was very crowded and it was hard to stay together as a group.

V31May15-1

Vivid is a great festival – and offers a lot to see and experience for all age groups. Continue reading →

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More Fungi From Lane Cove – 31 May 2015

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Dave Noble

I went back to the Lane Cove area for another visit to see if any more fungi was out. It was well worth going back there – even though there had not been much rain between my visits. A lot more fungi was out and it was very impressive too.

LCBP31May15-6

A lot of the colourful fungi is very small and most visitors probably walk past without noticing anything. To see the fungi there, you need to be a good observer and you also need to be very careful you do not damage the fungi. Visitors are strongly advised to keep to the formed pathways. Continue reading →

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Wolli Creek – Fungi Walk – 30 May 2015

Posted on May 31, 2015 by Dave Noble

I went for a walk today along the bushland area of Wolli Creek to see what fungi may be out. I started from Bexley North Station and walked down the Twin Valleys Track all the way to the junction with the Cooks River, then caught the train home from Tempe Station.

WCF30May15-5

It was a pleasant ramble. Last year, I usually found the most fungi in the upper part of the creek – between Bexley North and Bardwell Park. This visit – most of that section was lacking in fungi. Nor could I find any Hygrocybe austropratenis growing in a site near Girrahween Park that I and seen on previous visits. But lower down the creek, things improved. Continue reading →

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