ANPS drives no Fords. to Oallen

We had 2 Toyotas, 1 VW, 1 BMW and a Subaru.  Of course we did have a Ford (coincidentally , Alan of that ilk) as a passenger but he wasn't driven.

Whatever.

Our first stop was at the Cullulla Rd Quarry, primarily to check how the planted Pomaderris delicata is getting on.

My attention was grabbed by a flowering Kunzea ambigua which was very well infested by insects

 This one looks very like a member of the genus Asura (family Arctiidae - Tiger Moths)
Here is one of the struggling P delicata.  In birding terms, adding this specimen to a life list would be like ticking a Californian Condor in a zoo!
 On the other side of the road Helichrysum leucopsideum was definitely a wild plant.
 As were Dillwynia phylicoides ...
 ... and Coopernookia barbata
 These scale insects were enjoying themselves on Acacia terminalis (and with an infestation like this 'terminal' seemed appropriate).
 In the quarry a horny son of toil was firmly in control of his imagination as he used his back-hoe to shift some tree trunks around.  In this position I would definitely have needed an enhanced laundry allowance..
I was most sad that I missed photographing a later episode where he waded the machine into a big puddle and then hurled a scoop of water over the windscreen!

Our second stop was at the corner of Sandy Point and Oallen Ford Roads where the Hakea sericea had been in full bloom a week ago.  Alas most of theflowers had gone over.
 Leptospermum myrtifolium was still rather spiffy.
 We then crossed the road to the Chain of Ponds TSR.  This is one of the ponds.
 This plant (which Roger has identified as Myriophyllum sp) was growing in a dried out part of the pond, from whence I disturbed a Latham's snipe.
Moving on to our final stop at some Crown Land adjacent to the Shoalhaven at Oallen Ford there was a lot of Goodenia belledifolia in flower
Also quite a few specimens of Acacia uncinata (sensu latu) which still seems to be causing excitement amongst the taxonomists (in so far as they are able to display emotions) and is not currently officially recognised from this site.
This also has caused a few theses to be written but is now regarded by Plantnet as Coronidium oxylepis rather than Helichrysum collinum or Coronidium collinum.
 Our only orchid for the day was Microtis sp, of which several specimens were found.
 A Chocolate Lily that seems to have been renamed Dichopogon fimbriatus.
 Gompholobium ... minus!
 Hakea laevipes
 Lomatia ilicifolia
 A jewel spider, possibly Gasteracantha sp.
 Chrysolopus spectabilis also known as the Botany Bay weevil
 A White-eared Honeyeater.
 Two Common Bronzewings were spotted.  This was the male (note cream forehead)  ...
 .. and this the grey headed female.
The other interesting birds seen were a pair of Sacred Kingfishers which uttered a call I have been told is symptomatic of defending a nest site.  They didn't pose.

There was some evidence of the intellect of other visitors to the area.  Not only have they chopped off a tree, but the evidence remaining suggests they have limited skills in wielding a chopper!
 When we visited in 2012 I photographed a car submerged in a puddle ..
.. noting that 2 years previously its duco had still been evident.  I also said we could do a series of photos to show the vehicle's disintegration.  It now looks as though someone has run over it with a tank!
If we wait 2 more years before returning I suspect it will have been reduced to its component molecules

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