KONDALILLA FALLS CALLS...

An outing to Kondalilla Falls with family on Friday was enjoyable, if a little tiring and in the end very damp. We didn't see the main Falls as the track to the bottom is temporarily closed due to a rock fall.

These first two photos are the first of the smaller falls you come to as you follow the track. We've had a bit of rain so they're flowing well.

Some of the pretty flowers we saw along the way.

This dragonfly was so vibrant I had to take its photo.

Quite a few trees were down, whether due to inclement weather or purposefully cut I don't know.

Up, up, up to the clouds.

Moss and lichen cover most rocks.

Gorgeous views of the Obi Valley from the lookout.

Not as much fungus around as I'd thought there'd be.

This pool was entertaining several swimmers, including a topless female when we came back around.

Below the pool I believe this leads to the main falls we couldn't see, apparently 80m high. Of course, if one goes down, one has come back up!

Some handy railings along the sometimes narrow paths.

This little eastern waterdragon blocked our way up wanting his photo taken. I heard birds but didn't see any. Too high up.

It was a cloudy morning and the heavens opened just as we were about to head up to the carpark so had to wait undercover for a few minutes. We arrived at the Kondalilla Restaurant above the carpark quite bedraggled but staff were very helpful, bringing towels and insisting we were fine to dine.  Highly recommended and we'll return for more delicious, well-priced meals.

This leech almost ruined my day! It must have dropped down the back of my vest during the walk and had been feeding on me while we walked. I didn't feel it at all, even after I wondered why I had blood on the hand. We found it still on my vest which I'd taken off when we sat down. 

MARY CAIRNCROSS RESERVE VISIT...

Recently, I returned to Mary Cairncross Reserve very early in the morning with a friend. The idea being there'd be fewer people around to spoil shots. 

This is the view from the Cafe there where we had a much-needed coffee at the end of our visit. By then the light was better but not by much. It was very gloomy along the paths although I managed a few decent snaps of some of the wildlife. I promised myself I'd go back when the weather is sunnier. It's worth the visit.

A little juvenile scarlet honeyeater enjoying the pink evodia at the entrance to the Reserve. His head will be bright red when he matures.

These Wonga vines have a strong visual impact. Nature's sculpture. The vine below has had to be strapped up as it had fallen across the path.

One of the pathways showing various fig trees along the way.

I spotted this galah high up in a dead tree. It spotted me too.

This tiny critter is an antechinus of some sort.

These are brown gerygones and were a "first for me". Tiny little birds.

Another first was this russett-tailed thrush. Its camouflage is so good I was focussing on clumps of leaves at one stage instead of the bird. It certainly has picked up a good breakfast.

Of course, due to the nature of the rainforest and the recent wet weather, lots of fungus was spotted.

A little grey fantail was flitting around with several others.

We saw a few pademelons and initially thought this one was ill but when it heard noises would raise its head and then go back to sleep. Cute little things.

There was a shallow pond on the grounds full of dark tadpoles but these two caught our attention.

Rufous fantails are notoriously hard to photograph in low light because they rarely sit still but here we had a captive audience as they were sitting on a nest. I couldn't get a decent shot of one of the many yellow-throated scrubwrens, just too quick.  Next time!