Two more walks

 The first walk was from the Davis Beach carpark to Betka and back along the Chip Track.  The main objective of this walk was to find and photograph a former albatross on the dunes about 550 m from the steps.  Details of that are in the linked post: here is a teaser of the beak!

Albatross ID always seems to provoke debate but juvenile Shy Albatross seems to be a reasonable favourite at present.

The area opposite the Betka Construction Site (formerly known as Betka Picnic Area) ropes have been put in place to protect the Hooded Plovers who have set up a nest there.  Checking eBird data for East Gippsland as a whole in the past the first reports of a bird occupying a nest have been in October.  Looking from the dunes a sitting bird was easily seen.

The Leptospermum laevigatum was in full flower as we walked back through the dunes..

The previous species formed a backdrop to Leucpogon parviflorus, also in full flush.

This form of Pigface is Carpobrotus rossii, with triangular section leaves.

Some leaves and buds which I expect (from past seasons) to turn into Caladenia tentaculata under shrubbery where the track turns up into the dunes. 

Caladenia tentaculata on a dune close to the small bridge.

Caladenia latifolia in the dunes

On the 3rd we went for a walk up the Narrows.  Quite a good diversity of nature around and some of the mass flowerings were spectacular.  Here is our route: the numbers get explained later.

Pandora pandorea (Wonga Vine) was in many paces in large clumps.  I have never seem this so prolifically.

One of many clumps of Indigophera australis.

Clematis aristata heads for the sky!

An unidentified member of the Fabaceae is swamped by Hardenbergia violacea.

A more typical clump of Hardenbergia.

This spider - probably a Huntsman from the family Sparassidae - dropped out of a tree.  A falling rather than Jumping spider.

After seeing a flash of bright blue we were able to get excellent views of this Azure Kingfisher close to point 2 in the map.

The rest of the photos are sundry orchids seen along the walk.  Pterostylis pedunculata (Maroonhood) was near point 2.

Unknown orchid - possibly spider orchid.  Several of these on top of the bank at point 2

Pterostylis curta (point 1) the flower ..

.. and the rosette.

Pterostylis nutans (also point 1) flower ...

.. and leaves.

Diuris pardina (point 3 just above track).

All in all, 2 very pleasant walks.