Flying Duck Orchids in Berowra Valley NP : October 25 2024

Been thinking about riding out to find flying duck orchids for a few days. I have a spot that works well. Headed to train station - missed the train I wanted. Not a problem and catch the next one and ride back from there

Not hard having to sit and do nothing for 12 minutes on a nice sunny day

4 kms ride to access Berowra Valley Regional Park for a good 3 km walk along the Great North Walk. Cicada husk is a lot smaller than I have seen

Red spider grevillea is first flower of the day - maybe a theme emerging

Grey spider grevillea might confirm the the theme

Took a few side tracks off the Great North Walk - mostly they are tracks created by mountain bikers in lockdown. Never good for orchids. Leptospermum squarrosum

No shortage of hibbertia - experiment I'm light and half shade. Light won

Lots of patersonia iris - a paler version than normal

Narrow leafed hemigenia just emerging

Sandstone gullies are the go here - looking west to Galston

Portrait view to get some tree framing - love the clouds

First orchid find - a seeded bearded orchid

Drumsticks flower still going - no weevils

Slender rice flower - a lot open

Pink grevillea

Dampiera - probably purpurea - not my expertise - a lot of purple in the bush

Found the Great North Walk again - view to Cowan side

Sandstone cliffs

Double header fringed lilly

Trigger flower makes the photo challenge for the day - pink grabs the light

Somehow took a heap of side tracks before getting back to Great North Walk. Lockdown resulted in a lot of new MTB tracks - never found an orchid on those

Did finally find a flying duck orchid on parts of the track I would have found if I had not strayed off the normal track. Light was hard work for photos

Experience got the photo - move the angle around to get the tree behind helping with focus

Found one on the other side of the track - got my own background banksia leaf working without triggering the labellum

Chose to ride back down the railway line as I missed the first train. Rode over a few patches of broken glass. Checked the tyres to find front tyre has lots of bald spots. Not keen to ride on those - picked a station to get train home

Train to B - ride - walk - ride - train from A. No flats

Dinner: Pizza = no need to shop on the way home

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Cycling, Daily Activity, House Chores, Photowalking