Yesterday, we walked to the Heathcote-Graytown National Park, crossing this bridge first and peering over the edge, as you do, before taking the next turn left.

We’ve had more rain and the McIvor Creek is running fast. And noisy.

The poplars have nearly lost their leaves. Unlike the elms, insects haven’t ravaged these.

It was a beaut blue sky yesterday, and no wind. Soon we were on Forest Drive.

Lots of photos again for my Wednesday Walk post, so see you on the other side – should you have time to dawdle with me.   🙂

The undergrowth is chock full of these most unattractive bushes.  They’re flowering, and the air is heavily spiced with their fluffy flowers.

 

I spot a flash of gold and hope I’m looking at one of those yellow-tufted honeyeaters.

It is a yellow-tufted honeyeater!

Down the road a bit more and we decide to go off to the left, the actual National Park is on the right hand side of the road. Most of the land this side is private or part of the creek reserve. There are a couple of tanks and the foundations of a ruin in this unfenced bit. So we went that way.

Spotted the yellow-tufted honeyeater again. I think it was following me.

(I’d not long wiped an inadvertent fingerprint from the UV filter – the lens need a professional clean, methinks.) Next, another golden bird, but is it the same one. I don’t think it is, for it seems to have a black chest bar. Can it be a Golden Whistler, I muse.

I hurried to catch up to Mr R. who was halfway down the track to the creek. On the way past, I wondered how long since this place was a home.

I stopped to take photos of some other birds, but a great cloud of mosquitoes attacked my face. I caught up with Mr. R. down at the water. You can’t cross here, unless there’s a drought. Isn’t it gorgeous. I’m dying to see what flowers those bulb things put up. I thought they might be gladiola, but I reckon that’s a bit fanciful. Still, time will tell. We reckoned we’d get a buzz if we put the kayaks in here! Bit shallow though, with snags and rocks.

We got sick of the mozzies so headed back up the track.

A glimpse of a crimson rosella.

We had a wander around, looking at the mine shafts, being mindful, of course. I imagined this place covered with gold miners, in the olden days when this was part of the McIvor Diggings. Gold is still mined, commercially, not far from here. Most of these shafts have been filled in.

I helped myself to a bit of a daisy bush, which I didn’t photograph. If it’s a native plant, then oops, but I’m pretty sure it was a domestic daisy. I might be wrong. We headed towards home. And I was too slow to photograph several kangaroos crossing the road ahead of us. I did get some photos of this gray bird. Grey shrike-thrush? Grey? Gray? Bugger.

And then this golden/gray bird briefly lands right near me.  I haven’t looked it up yet.

A flock of Firetails frolick on the roadside, but flee, leaving me with a single picture.

A split-second later, I see a damp bird preening itself, and it turns out to be a Silvereye. I have lots of pics, but will share just the one here today.

And then just before Forest Drive meets the main road, I’m blessed with a flycatcher, the Grey Fantail.

What a walk! I couldn’t stop grinning.

All up, we covered nearly 3 kms. Thanks for walking with me. Take care.

🙂