Seeking Out Australian Native Orchids #43

I have learned to scour the car park verges for orchids. Many a sighting happens right there. We moved the cars to the start of the Waterfall Walk and I was searching out the car park and found these ladies tresses

Austral Ladies Tresses - Spiranthes australis

Orchid spotting does involve walking and it pays to include some exploring. We made our way to the lookout that looks out from the escarpment - such great country

We also scrambled our way down the Gloucester river as it winds its ways through some narrow gorges.

We thought it might require some abseiling work but we found away to get a view of the falls which one cannot get from any of the tracks.

Orchid spotting in the rain forest was disappointing as it has been too dry a season. Next time perhaps.

We did then move the cars further down the hill for a walk up the track that goes to Careys Peak. We were not alone

Mountain Copperhead - Austrelaps ramsayi

Alpine Copperheads are extremely dangerous and capable of inflicting fatal bites, but they are not usually aggressive and bites are uncommon.

https://museumvictoria.com.au/discoverycentre/infosheets/snakes-found-in-victoria/alpine-or-highland-copperhead/

We walked for some time on what had been the old road going up to the old public access picnic area. The track was being steadily overgrown and was clearly not being maintained in the same way - meaning more competition for orchids - and we saw nothing. We did however find this greenhood on the way out (past the snake who was still cruising around in the same area)

Abrupt Greenhod - Pterostylis abrupta

I am thinking this is the correct ID as this version of the greenhood is found at altitude in New South Wales. The other possible ID is a ptersotylis decurva (Summer greenhood) which has a similar curve to the hood but it doe not have the brown coloured sepals (the two things sticking upwards on either side of the hood are green on a decurva). Context photo catches the afternoon sun quite well. Of note is the greenhoods seem to cope with competition - they are often found in grassy areas and under other plants.

Abrupt Greenhod - Pterostylis abrupta

Final photo for the day is a banksia flower catching the afternoon sun.

A great few days in the Gloucester Tops despite the scorching heat. When we got back to camp some 1,000 metres (3,000 feet) lower than we had been hiking the temperature was 37C (98F). We decided that we would leave next morning in case there was a bush fire coming through that could block our exit from the NP.

Note: Photos taken with Canon PowerShot G16 on February 10, 2017 in Gloucester Tops NP