Coastal Walking – Cronulla and Cape Solander – 20 May 2015

Posted on May 23, 2015 by Dave Noble

I had a pleasant day wandering along the coast. I was on a trip with Digi Dave

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We had a lunch appointment in Cronulla, so before that we walked along the coast near Cronulla Beach towards Sandshoes Beach. Continue reading →

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Stinkhorns at the Park – 19 May 2015

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Dave Noble

On the way to the shops at Dulwich Hill I walk past a park and a while back a truckload or two of wood chips have been dumped at one corner. The nutrients from fresh wood chips are liked by stinkhorn fungi and it was nice to see a lot of “Sea Anemone” or “Starfish” Stinkhorns out the other day.

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These are Aseroë Rubra, and were the first fungi that were scientifically described in Australia (1805). Like all stinkhorns they have a nasty smell that attracts flies. The flies help spread to fungal spores. Continue reading →

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Florabella Pass – Pippas Pass Walk – 17 May 2015

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Dave Noble

Wendy had organised a nice walk in the Lower Blue Mountains from Warrimoo to Blaxland via Florabella Pass down to close to Glenbrook Creek and the climbing back out to Blackland via Pippas Pass.

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In the party was Wendy, Digi Dave, Rob, Chantel, John, Chuin Nee, Jasper, Martin, Steffy and myself. Continue reading →

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Mill Creek – Fungi and Orchids – 16 May 2015

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Dave Noble

This was another in a series of activities organised by the Sydney Fungal Studies Group Inc. This time the venue was Mill Creek on the Hawkesbury River. It is located a few kilometres downstream of Wisemans Ferry. At the creek is a camping and picnic area and a few tracks. We wandered up the track that follows the creek upstream through wet sclerophyll forest.

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At first it seemed that not too much fungi was out, but as we continued, and with a sizeable group of people looking we soon found plenty of fungi. Continue reading →

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More Fungi From Sassafras Gully – 15 May 2015

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Dave Noble

On my previous trip, a few days before, I and found lot of interesting fungi at Sassafras Gully and after a fairly poor trip to Bola Creek, I thought it may be worth heading back up the mountains for a more careful look at Sassafras Gully. It was certainly worthwhile.

Hygrocybe graminicolor

Hygrocybe graminicolor

This time I concentrated my efforts to finding fungi in a small area – along Sassafras Gully between the junction of the Victory Track and the track from Sassafras Gully Rd and the junction with Sassfras Gully Creek and Glenbrook Creek. I went in via the track from Sassafras Gully Rd and out via the Wiggins Track from Bee Farm Rd. So a short round trip – but I spent plenty of time looking for and photographing the fungi. Continue reading →

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Back to Bola Creek – a Look for Fungi – 13 May 2015

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Dave Noble

After finding some great fungi at Sassafras Gully the day before, I was keen to check out Bola Creek again. It is also a very good place to see colourful hygrocybes. I went there with Digi Dave. As it turned out, the day was fairly disappointing. I had thought that recent rain, falling while I was in Tasmania may have reinvigorated the fungi there, but it seems the rain came down in a big storm or two and brought the creek up in a flood that washed away developing fungi.

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We only found a few hygrocybes – and not really too much else. Continue reading →

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Colourful Fungi at Sassafras Gully – 12 May 2015

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Dave Noble

It had been about six weeks since I had visited Sassafras Gully at Springwood. It was time for a return visit. This year, Sassafras Gully has been a place I have regularly visited to check out the fungi growing there and it has been very interesting to see the changes.

Hygrocybe anomola var ianthinmarginata

Hygrocybe anomola var ianthinmarginata

The highlight of my visit this time was seeing a magnificent display of Hygrophoraceae. This family of fungi includes Hygrocybes – which are often particularly colourful. Some of the ones I found on the visit are quite rare and critically endangered and are thus protected species. Continue reading →

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Wolli Creek – Fungi Foray – 9 May 2015

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Dave Noble

Last Saturday, I joined members of the Sydney Fungal Studies Group Inc for a walk along part of Wolli Creek to look for fungi. on the activity we were joined by members of Wolli Creek Preservation Society. We split into three groups and visited different parts of Wolli Creek and then met up at Girrahween Park to see what the others groups had found.

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It was a very interesting day, even though not that much fungi was out. The week before had been quite dry. Continue reading →

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Tarkine in Motion – Sydney Exhibition

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Dave Noble

Earlier in the week I went along to the opening of the Tarkine in Motion Exhibition at the Salerno Gallery (70 Glebe Point Rd, Sydney). This was a great evening with a magnificent collection of photos on display. Guest speakers Costa Georgiadis and Simon Westerway both spoke very passionately about the beauty of the area and its power to move the emotions. They also emphasised the need for action if this area is going to be saved from destruction and despoliation. It was also great to meet Dan Broun, a bushwalking photographer from Tasmania and one of the key people behind Tarkine in Motion.

Photo by Dan Broun

Photo by Dan Broun

It is well worth seeing the exhibition while it is in Sydney. It runs till 24 May. After you are inspired by the photos please then see what you can do to help the campaign.

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Posted in Conservation, Tasmanian Wilderness, Wilderness Photography | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Central Plateau of Tasmania Walk – 23 April – 4 May 2015

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Dave Noble

This was planned to be another “Fagus and Fungi Walk” in the wilds of Tasmania. Last year, a little earlier in April than this trip, I visited Tasmania and completed the Overland Track with an extended visit to Pine Valley. On that occasion there was plenty of fungi out, but it was an unusually late season for the leaves of the fagus to change colour – the native deciduous beech (Northofagus gunnii). A rough rule of thumb is that the fagus is best around Anzac Day (25 April). This season, as it turned out – the fagus was early and we missed the best of the fagus in the high alpine areas.

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My last few trips to the Central Plateau have been solo trips or around 12 days duration. This time, Roger Lembit invited me to join him on his trip. He was planning to start at Higgs Track near Deloraine and finish at Lake St Clair. I and originally thought of doing a trip in the southern Reserve (Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park), but Roger’s trip sounded good and I welcomed his company. He also did not mind me having a few photo stops.

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Continue reading →

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