Mt Colah Donkey Orchids Ride : September 25 2024

Got a few days of rain forecast for the next few days. That had me moving out the house to get a train - ride - walk in. Mt wife headed into the city to get chores done.

Was sitting on the train debating which station to get out for my planned walk. Train guy came through the carriage - this train is not going on - walk across the platform he says. Train left before we got there. Rode the bike from there instead to the national park - kunzea flower where I stopped the bike

Copper bearded orchid - calochilus campestris - right there too.

Stepped back view showing the seeded capsule below and the buds above

Moved the bike up a little to access the track on the other side of the road. Found the bearded orchid I saw budding last time open there - red bearded orchid - calochilus paludosus.

Have walked this track a lot and know where to look - budding large tongue orchid

A cluster of leaves with a few spikes - cryptostylis subulata

Main mission of the day was to see the donkey orchids open - they were open

Side on view - diuris aurea

A bit more colouring on this one. Last year there were just a few flowers - active this year

A cluster of two plants with a few flowers open each

Stages of opening

Plant stands about a foot high

Photo to show the bud forming above

Patersonia iris

Leptospermum squarrosum

Orange pea flower

Fungal action

Hibertia flower - for reference ID purposes

Pink grevillea

Grey spider grevillea

Lambertia formosa

Christmas starburst - my name

Walked a long way down the end of Chase Trail - no flying ducks - did find one bearded orchid growing in the track

Yep - on stony ground right in the track

Lots and lots of milkmaids flowering - umbrellata burchardia

A somewhat stunted bearded orchid not yet budding but with bracts fully developed and tight together

Two tier pea flower - flowers are tiny

Lots of dampiera flowering - took a few photos to see if they were all the same

The centre of the flower is a bit different

Found a few diuris on the way back - 24 on one side and only 3 on the other

Pea flower still going - the only one of this type left

Did stop for one patersonia iris photo - a bug present

Went down Kalkari Track to see if there were sun orchids - saw on seeded and that was it - no photo good enough. Did find a few more bearded orchids

Calochilus paludosus

And one more bearded orchid

Same as the first one today. Two eyes looking back and a plate at the top of the labellum - calochilus campestris

Cycled back to the station I got off at - Hornsby - T marks the spot. Chose the go back by train rather than do hills and traffic.

Dinner: My wife bought butter chicken on the way home. Had that with rice. Nice to have time off cooking

Trade action: Staying quiet with cash raised last week. Bought UROY.
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Cycling, Daily Activity, House Chores, Photowalking