The Victory Track – Sassafras Gully – 2 April 2026

Posted on April 17, 2026 by Dave Noble

I joined Bob, Doug, Nipper and Airdrie on a very nice walk from Faulconbridge to Springwood via the Victory Track which takes you through the upper parts of Sassafras Gully. The others did a side trip up to Numantia Falls, while I spent time finding fungi to photograph.

The Victory Track has recently been reopened after suffering from major  storm damage a few years ago Its nice to walk this beautiful track again.

We caught the train to Faulconbridge and were soon on the track. A short way down, you encounter the Rocklily Cave. This was used by former owner of the land, Sir Henry Parkes, to host parties. It would have once had a picnic table or two. Continue reading →

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Cooks River Birds – 1 April 2026

Posted on April 12, 2026 by Dave Noble

I spent a very pleasant day, with Valerie and Sue wandering upstream along the Cooks River from Tempe to Canterbury. Along the way we spotted many nice birds. The highlight, perhaps, was spotting two Satin Bowerbirds.

Here are some of my photos, starting from near Tempe. Crossing over the river from Tempe Station, we spotted a juvenile Little Heron flying across the River. We later located it perched in the mangroves. Continue reading →

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Malabar Headland Visit – 31 March 2026

Posted on April 7, 2026 by Dave Noble

I met up with Sue at Maroubra Beach and then we headed out to spend most of the day out in Malabar Headland National Park.

Whenever we visit Malabar Headland, we hope to observe Peregrine Falcons, but it is best to go during the courting and breeding season.

On the walk out there were lots of New Holland Honeyeaters hunting for insects. Continue reading →

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Birdwood Gully Fungi and Orchids – 29 March 2026

Posted on April 7, 2026 by Dave Noble

I was headed up to Springwood to catch up with Wendy and Don. Our plan was to spend the morning visiting Birdwood Gully and then have lunch in the town.

Birdwood Gully was magnificent. Here is a selection of what we spotted – Continue reading →

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Wolli Creek Fungi – 28 March 2026

Posted on April 7, 2026 by Dave Noble

After the morning bird survey along the Greenway, I decided to visit Wolli Creek Regional Park in the afternoon to see what fungi was out. I walked along the Two Valleys Track between Bexley North and Turrella.

Lycoperdon perlatum

Tremella mesenterica Continue reading →

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Greenway Bird Survey – 28 March 2026

Posted on April 7, 2026 by Dave Noble

I took part in the survey along the Dulwich Hill section of The Greenway. The weather was cool, and perhaps due to that there was not that much birdlife about this time.

Here are some photos.

Rainbow Lorikeet

Continue reading →

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Historic Audley Horse Troughs Reinstated – 27 March 2026

Posted on April 6, 2026 by Dave Noble

Back in August 2026, Bob and myself had visited two historic horse troughs that had been removed from their original location in Royal National Park and dumped at the NPWS tip at Artillery Hill. We had hoped that heritage items like these troughs would have had had a better fate. But apparently due to lobbying by the Friends of Bills Horse Troughs, the National Parks and Wildlife Service had decided to place the two horse troughs at Allambie Flat at Audley. This they had done, and they were having a ceremony to mark their new home.

The first of the troughs is a Bills Horse Trough –

A professional stone mason had been employed to work on the troughs and he has done an amazing job, removing algae and repairing chips. Continue reading →

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Aboriginal Art Near Maroota – 26 March 2026

Posted on April 6, 2026 by Dave Noble

Bob, Doug and myself headed out to Maroota to look for some Aboriginal art sites we had recently heard about. On earlier trips we had visited several engravings sites in the Maroota area. This trip, we were hoping to find two cave art sites.

The first cave we visited was out along a ridge in what I think is now Maroota Nature Reserve. We followed a very overgrown fire road at first. Continue reading →

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More Raptors at Long Reef – 25 March 2026

Posted on April 4, 2026 by Dave Noble

I spent an enjoyable day at Long Reef, mainly photographing the Ospreys.

When I arrived, I looked down and spotted an Osprey in flight –

At the bottom on the beach, I spotted an Osprey perched – Continue reading →

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Fungi Along Magdala Creek – 24 March 2026

Posted on April 4, 2026 by Dave Noble

I spent a pleasant day in the Blue Mountains at Springwood with Sue and Valerie. We travelled up by train, and after a coffee stop, we headed down Magdala Creek via Fairy Dell. I was interested in seeing what fungi was out.

We did find a fair bit of interesting fungi, but the abundance was not huge. We walked down the valley and then came back the same way, except on the way out we exited via Lawson Lookout. Continue reading →

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