We enjoy a leisurely breakfast with brother Geoff and Robyn before heading down to Dwellingup Cemetery to pay our respects to our dearly departed family. In the parking area alongside the cemetery, we find some banded greenhoods. Appears to be two species. The very tall specimen appears to be the Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata), whilst the dark brown coloured one is likely the Cupped banded greenhood (Pterostylis concava). The cupped lateral sepals I feel assist with this identification.
Moving on towards Quindanning we pull into the Quindanning Forest on the Pinjarra-Williams Road and have a quick look in the bush. As we are still within the Jarrah Forest, albeit the eastern boundary, we find the same two species of greenhoods. Some of the brown coloured may be another species but I will leave the positive ID to another day. Posting on iNaturalist for assistance.
Again, we move on, but we decide not to go as far as Williams. Instead, we turn south down the Williams-Darkan road and make our next stop at Culbin Nature Reserve. This reserve appears to contain the original Culbin school reserve which is recorded as being 5 acres. A plaque has been erected confirming the previous existence of the school. We decide to check out the reserve in the fairly cleared areas and find more Banded greenhoods (P. vittata). We were just about to resign ourselves to the fact that greenhoods will be all we find today, when we stumble across some recognisable Hare orchids (Leporella fimbriata) still in flower. Small mercies!!
Further along the Willams-Darkan Road we pull over at a gravelly area with large gum trees in the hope this change in habitat will provide something different for the day. Not to be, only a sole specimen was found of the Cupped banded greenhood. Pics taken for recording purposes.
We make it to Darkan and have a quick look around. Nothing much here so onwards we go. South of Darkan we pull into Towerringing Lake which has an amazing private campground/caravan park on the lakes edge. Maybe for another time. We grab a snack from our supplies as we plan on getting lunch at the Kojonup Country Kitchen. We enjoy a toasted sandwich each before the final leg of today’s drive, to Albany. Here we check into our accommodation and decide to have dinner at restaurant recommended by our B&B host. The Chanya Thai is a nice hidden gem down at the harbour below Stirling Terrace. Here Deb enjoyed a beautiful Prawn dish, and I had a nice Thai curry. A great way to end a long but enjoyable day.
Towerringing Lake day use area Beautiful prawn dish
Well after enjoying our 2nd night at the Stirling Range Retreat, we pack up and head out on our exploration of the Stirling Range National Park. We plan on taking the Stirling Range Drive to Red Gum Pass Road, then north to Salt River Road. Then heading east to Formby Road South where we will head north to Gnowangerup. Obviously we plan on making numerous stops to explore for orchids and to enjoy the wonderful outdoors.
First up we head into Bluff Knoll Road to check out the orchids in one further location. Maybe we will find something different without the threat of rain hanging over our heads. Not surprisingly, the orchids found were the same as the ones found yesterday, but photos were taken again of course.
Nearly 10am, so we make tracks toward our next location. On Stirling Range Drive, we make a split second decision to pull over on the side of the road. We manage to find a few orchids on the side of the road.
We jump back in the Triton. We move a few hundred metres down the road. We stop at a spot that had seen a bushfire sometime in the last year. Let us see if this has triggered orchids to grow for us to find.
Now it nearly 11am so onward we travel, with our next stop being Talyuberlup Picnic Area. First, we check the picnic area side of the road. Then, we head up the Talyuberlup Peak trail a wee bit. Finally, we scramble back to the Triton. As we had hoped, orchids are found.
Spent – Cyrtostylis sp.?? snail orchid (Pterostylis sp.)Little pink fairy (Caladenia reptans subsp. reptans) Jug orchid (Pterostylis recurva)?? donkey orchid (Diuris sp.)Talyuberlup Picnic Area & Trail Head
Time to consider lunch, so we move onward to White Gum Flat picnic area. We have a bite to eat and then go exploring the nearby area. We don’t venture to far before we find orchids. This time round we actually cross the road and find further orchids including new ones for the day. Turns out the King spider orchid is a new species for us, so that was an exciting find.
Still more of this National Park to check out so onward we go. At the intersection of Red Gum Pass Road, we turn left and check out some locations along the roadside. We found a few orchids including some new ones for the day.
We now head north along Red Gum Pass Road. We make a quick stop into the picnic area, where we find a few orchids. Then, we move further north to another roadside location where orchids are located as well.
We eventually reach Salt River Road and turn right. We soon pull over at Salt Lake Nature Reserve to explore. After a quick check, we do not locate much. So, we move on to Camel Lake Nature Reserve. We make a roadside stop along the way. At this final stop, we are lucky to find some new orchid species for the day. We also find previously discovered ones. We took photos of all the orchids found at the locations. This was done to record their discovery near the northern boundary of the National Park.
Wowsers, they were amazing first time locations for orchids. 13 possible species and 1 hybrid found, however we must move on as it’s past 4.30pm and we still have nearly 50kms to our planned destination. We arrive at Chirelillup Nature Reserve. We set up camp. Whilst Deb lights the campfire, I have a very quick scout around in the waning sunlight.
Cowslip orchids, Green spider orchid and DaisiesCampsite at Chirelillup Nature ReserveChirelillup Nature Reserve
