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><div class="text-center"><img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNp6YwAm2qwquALZw8PdcovDorwaBSFuxQ38TrYziGT6b/A-20.png"><a href="https://bit.ly/actifit-app"><img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQqfpSmcQtfrHAtzfBtVccXwUL9vKNgZJ2j93m8WNjizw/l5.png"></a><a href="https://bit.ly/actifit-ios"><img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbWy8KzKT1UvCvznUTaFPw6wBUcyLtBT5XL9wdbB7Hfmn/l6.png"></a></div>