Ferntree Gully Reserve - Part One

Did I have a great getaway to Mudgee over several days, arriving home late today? It was super- fabulous, with the greatest comraderie happening, on a birding group 'camp' in the mid-western region of N.S.W. We'd meet at 8.30 a.m. each morning, filling cars, and our 'fearless leader' would escort the convoy to various pre-determined destinations. Morning-tea and lunch stops were most always sitting out in the bush somewhere, and another day, beside the upper end of Burrendong Dam.

To round each day off, we'd generally arrive back at the tourist-park late afternoon, just in time to squeeze in a quick shower, and meet again for Happy-Hour before cooking up on the bbq's at the camp-kitchen.

Some magical scenery, more so than bird photographs, will make it to blog posts coming up for a while. Isn't it always the way, much easier to get a scenic photograph, than it is to get a tiny bird on the move. Especially when they're way up high in the tree-tops, and hiding behind the foliage as they do. Why is it they're so camera-shy?

According to the visitors guide brochure, it should be noted that the Gully Walk, returning via the top track requires a reasonable level of fitness.  There is some scrambling over rocks and some steep ascents and descents on the steps leading into and out of the gully.  The total length of this walk is 2.5 km.

 

 

on the way down

 it was looking like a limbo move coming up, remember it, a little-bit-lower now?  You can see one of our group heading down just ahead.  We actually did manage to climb over though.

The special plant community is nurtured by a trust of nine persons appointed to administer this reserve.