Muogamarra Orchids - limited open weekends : September 14 2024
We have a different day lined up. One of our Nature Reserves has a 5 weekends a year opening. Have to book - limited to 100 people to explore maybe 200 square kms of unspoiled bush - other than good walking paths. My wife went out early to vote and then we packed a lunch to spend the day. Got there not long after 11am
Waratahs flowering on the road in. Photo from the car window. Parked up and my wife and I walked the short loop up top
A few more waratahs - it is the state flower of New South Wales - and my wife loves them
Twining glycine
Nice light and angles for this one.
Drumsticks flower. My wife enjoyed the flowers - she does not get into the bush often
Hibertia flower
Not sure what this is called - looks like a starburst
Epacris
Pink grevillea with a bug. Bug is more in focus than the flower
I walked down the hill on the Deerubbin track hoping to find waxlip orchids
Kunzea just coming out for spring
Rocky plates on the cross track. These flat rocks have Aboriginal importance. They gathered here. No waxlips in the normal places on the edges
Walked down the Pears Bight track a bit. Was closed last time. This time they have slashed the edges - smashes the orchids. Did find this sun orchid hiding behind a rock - thelymitra ixioides
Across the way was this copper bearded orchid
Calochilus campestris side on
Up above was a big colony of sun orchids. No spots. Column looks like ixioides - purple tufts. Small chance this is a colony of thelymitra purpurata at the southern end of its range
For ID, plant is 45 cms tall with a narrow green leaf two thirds the length and a fee bracts up the spike.
Cluster of open flowers
Insect action
Same purple tufts
Not all with purple tufts but still no spots
Sydney boronia everywhere - the standard pink version
Sundew flower - smaller than a US penny
Wasp nest under cover
Grey spider greviilea
View from Peats Bight fire trail across to Trig Lookout - not walking there today
Context photo. Walk a km down the track. Slashing work wiped out any orchids next to track
Pea flower with attendant bug
More bug action - open wings helped for focus
Walked down the steep section to access the rainforest section - a few chiloglottis orchid leaves
Acianthus orchid leaves
Found one finger orchid open - looks like caladenia carnea
The curved in lobes suggest it might be caladenia fuscata
Distant view of the railway bridge crossing the Hawkesbury River
Fungal action
Surprised a small goanna up a tree - posed long enough
A waterfall of chiloglottis leaves where the water flows - no buds
The tiniest native violets I have seen - also with no purple colour
Headed back to the picnic area for my lunch. Lovely chat with people sharing our table. Too bad about the lady who lost her phone - in the long drop
Walked the top loop after lunch. Looking for finger orchids I saw last time
Copper bearded orchid standing tall - calochilus campestris
Side on
Found a leek orchid on the way back - not seen them here - tall leek orchid
Close up - a bit of a frill
Challenging photo work - flower is the length of a baby fingernail but half the width
Side on - prasophyllum elatum
Fab views of the Hawkesbury River looking north
Bearded orchid budding - one of 4
Muogamarra is known as a location for white boronia
This white flower had me interested - from the top looks like the upside down flower. That flower is pink - not this one. Turned it up and the shape is not the same - something new to me
One more tall leek orchid firming an S bend
Close up front on
Clustered view
Bearded orchid budding
Open flower photo did not work but this opener did
No doubt about this sun orchid - spots
Side on to see the column shape
Back to picnic spot for a shirt rest before heading home just as the mosquitos were getting active.
Tricky turn from the exit to the highway. Turned left to U-turn at the pie shop. Gave me a chance to check on donkey orchids I know flower there
There were a few open - golden donkey orchid
Diuris aurea
A cluster
Colour on this one is a bit different - more brown.
A good day out - not too warm - no breeze and a bunch of orchids
A few sun orchids budding - probably self pollinated
Dinner: Chicken cashew stir fry
<br/> _This report was published via Actifit app ([Android](https://bit.ly/actifit-app) | [iOS](https://bit.ly/actifit-ios)). Check out the original version [here on actifit.io](https://actifit.io/@carrinm/actifit-carrinm-20240915t131249997z)_ <br/> <br><img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmXv9QWiAYiLCSr3sKxVzUJVrgin3ZZWM2CExEo3fd5GUS/sep3.png"><br><table> <tr> <img src="https://actifit.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/ACTIVITYDATE.png"> </tr> <tr> <div class="text-center"><b>14/09/2024</b></div> </tr></table><table> <tr> <img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRgAoqi4vUVymaro8hXdRraNX6LHkXhMRBZxEo5vVWXDN/ACTIVITYCOUNT.png"> </tr> <tr> <div class="text-center"><b>16481</b></div> </tr></table><table> <tr> <img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmZ6ZT8VaEpaDzB16qZzK8omffbWUpEpe4BkJkMXmN3xrF/ACTIVITYTYPE.png"> </tr> <tr> <div class="text-center"><pre><b>Daily Activity, House Chores, Photowalking</b></div></pre></div> </tr></table>