Flying duck and snake orchid walk on Murrua Side Trail: October 14 2026

A late start day after a late night. A cool start to the day too. Had in mind to do a train-bike-walk thing. Too cool for - took the car which also gave a chance to buy some heavy items - saves the long walk from shops. Drove up to North Turramurra side of Ku-ring Gai Chase NP - mission flying duck and snake orchids

First orchid up - onion orchid - microtits unifolia. In prior years the strimming work has kept this grass short. Not this year - free to grow

Three plants in shot

A fly in shot - probably too big to be a pollinator

Lots of these yellow flowers in the grass - maybe small St John's wort

Seeded sun orchid in the grass too - next year to see those flowering

Found one red bearded orchid - calochilus paludosus

Lots of patersonia iris flowering

Red spider grevillea

White kunzea - butterfly bush - kunzea ambigua. Looked that up to get the detailed ID

Lambertia formosa

Last of the drumsticks

Leptospermum flower

Got one shot of this butterfly hanging on a grass spike in the wind. Wind got too much and it fell off.

Good for the photographer - got a background and subject was not moving

Next of the seeded orchids - caladenia alata - fairy fingers in a known spot

Part one of the mission - a budding flying duck orchid

Did find one open in a known spot - the labellum is being held open by the twig. Orchid watcher knows to take photos before moving the twig

Moved the twig and the labellum did not trigger - that was a bonus

Disappointing part was a spot that would offer up half a dozen plants had only two with just one open. Walked around below the known sites - no signs - not even leaves

Walked back to the other known spot. Snake orchids are flowering and plants looking healthy

Cymbidium suave cluster

Close up

Plant is growing in a fork quite close to the ground

Close up

Only evidence of a flying duck orchid - one leaf - no spikes. This was a good spot

Skink sunning itself

A few growing up high

These are in holes formed when branches fell

Photos from the ground against the light - on tippy toes

The labellum detail on the top flower is worthy of study

Working with light

Lots of milk maids flowering

Dampiera purpurea

Seeded sun orchid on the track

Interesting and striking flower parts on the ground

Walked the main trail to check a fee spots - found only one more onion orchid also in a known spot

Hypericum flower with a weevil

Seeded red bearded orchid

Checked greenhood site - one bud still showing

Good walk - did shopping after

Did cook dinner - macaroni cheese
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Daily Activity,House Chores,Photowalking,Shopping

Height 183 cm		Weight 90 kg		Body Fat %
Waist cm		Thighs cm		Chest cm