ANPS crosses the highway at Touga Rd

Despite a forecast of strong winds I left home on time, pausing briefly to snap some weird looking clouds (possibly related to the forecast).

Shortly thereafter 9 of us set out from Bungendore to meet a further two stalwarts (who have a residence out that way) at Touga Rd in Morton NP.  We started with morning tea at the junction of Highway 92  and Touga Rd.  However instead of turning left and going down Touga Rd we crossed the highway and went down a track which appears to exist to service a trunk powerline.

The most obvious flowering plants were members of the genus Banksia.  We started with B. ericifolia.

Some B. spinulosa soon followed.

The third species seen today was B. paludosa.

Looking closely at this specimen of B. paludosa shows globules of nectar: no wonder there were quite a few honeyeaters (including Bird of the Day, Crescent Honeyeater) in the area.

Quite a few specimens of Grevillea Baueri were seen near Touga Rd but this was the only flower approaching open-ness.

Acacia terminalis was the only floriferous representative of that genus.

Epacris calvertiana was encountered in a deep gully we visited on the way back after lunch.

There were many spent examples of Isopogon sp. but this Isopogon anethifolius was in flower.

The sole flowering bean was a Bossiaea ensata, looking lonely in the middle of the track.

A Ghost Moth was hanging off a twig.  As it seemed to wiggle its abdomen I rated it as unwell, but still alive.

The cliffs on the far side of the Endrick looked attractive.

This trash dumped about 500m down the track was not attractive, and explained why there was a gate on the track, but not why it was not closed and locked.

To finish on a happier note, as we approached Tarago on the way home the still-strong wind was causing the leaves on a grove of Eucalyptus pauciflora to flutter. They appeared to be reflective giving the very pretty effect of the trees being covered with fairy lights.