Hyden – the return

 

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago we’d gone to Hyden. We’ve been plenty of times before and I have written about those visits here, here and here. Wave Rock doesn’t hold much interest in itself – its just a big rock shaped like a wave. What is more interesting is the nature around the rock. When the winter rains come an incredible amount of water runs off the rock and this means there is a lot of vegetation that has become home to animals around the base. Not far from the rock and the vegetation gives out and you can see a salt plain with Lake Magic. This too is great place for observing animals and seeing wildflowers.

Unfortunately we’d had our beautiful weather on the drive down and the rain really set in – so much so that my walk along the base of Wave Rock, out to Lake Magic and then back via Wave Rock Airport and the Wildlife Park was in danger of becoming an aquatic walk. Thankfully I was dressed for the occasion and swathed in Gore Tex. My Olympus EM 1 mk ii is very well sealed against the elements as are the lenses. Despite my careful preparation the subject matter – orchids and birds – didn’t want to oblige. Regardless of the weather that the walk was really enjoyable.

 

Hairy Stemmed Snail Orchid by Paul Amyes on 500px.com

Hairy stemmed snail orchid, Pterostylis sp. ‘hairy’. Hyden, Western Australia.

 

Dark Banded Greenhood by Paul Amyes on 500px.com

Dark banded greenhood, Pterostylis sanguinea. Hyden, Western Australia.

 

Blue Fairy Orchid by Paul Amyes on 500px.com

Blue beard or blue fairy orchid (Pheladenia deformis). Hyden, Western Australia.

 

Hairy Stemmed Snail Orchid by Paul Amyes on 500px.com

Hairy stemmed snail orchid, Pterostylis sp. ‘hairy’. Hyden, Western Australia.

 

Koolbort by Paul Amyes on 500px.com

Singing Honeyeater, Gavicalis virescens. Hyden, Western Australia.

 

 

Cataby Peregrination

 

Cataby 170Km north of Perth in Western Australia could hardly be called the epicentre of the universe. There’s a titanium mine to the north and a mineral sands operation just south. There is the Cataby Important Bird Area just 2Km outside the settlement. None of these were the reason for my visit. I was there to explore the scrubland that runs along side the Brand Highway looking for orchids, in particular the Arrowsmith Pansy – insert politically incorrect joke here. I must say that when I first pulled up I didn’t expect to find much. The low lying scrub was difficult to walk in and it was very difficult to see the smaller plants. Here’s what I found.

 

Arrowsmith Pansy Orchid by Paul Amyes on 500px.com

Arrowsmith Pansy Orchid, Diuris sp ‘Arrowsmith’. Cataby, Western Australia.

 

Autumn Leek Orchid, by Paul Amyes on 500px.com

Autumn Leek Orchid, Prasophyllum parvifolium. Cataby, Western Australia.

 

Winter Donkey Orchid by Paul Amyes on 500px.com

Winter Donkey Orchid, Diuris brumalis. Cataby, Western Australia.

 

Hairy-stemmed Snail Orchid by Paul Amyes on 500px.com

Hairy stemmed snail orchid,Pterostylis sp. ‘hairy’. Cataby, Western Australia.

 

Northern Banded Greenhood by Paul Amyes on 500px.com

Northern Banded Greenhood, Pterostylis sp ‘Dongara’. Cataby, Western Australia.

 

 

Fantastic Spring Show

According to those that know it has been an amazing spring here in the Avon Valley. We’ve had rainfall that hasn’t been seen for decades and we’ve had a flush of wildflowers that hasn’t been equalled for fifty years. It has been frustrating as I’ve only managed to get out and photograph the orchids three times, but when I did get out it was beyond superlatives. Here are the highlights.

 

Dark Banded Greenhood by Paul Amyes on 500px.com
Pterostylis sanguinea, or , , Mount Observation, Western Australia. Canon EOS 6d, Sigma 105mm f2.8 macro lens and Canon 430 EX Speedlite. Exposure: AE priority 1/50th sec, f16, ISO 3200 with -1 stop exposure compensation.

 

Hairy-stemmed Snail Orchid by Paul Amyes on 500px.com
The Hairy-stemmed Snail Orchid (Pterostylis nana) most common and widespread of the Pterostylis species in Western Australia. Mt. Observation, Western Australia. Canon EOS 6d with Sigma 105mm f2.8 macro lens and Canon 430EX Speedlite. Exposure: Aperture priority with -1 stop exposure compensation 1/100th sec, f8 at ISO 400.

 

Wallflower Orchid by Paul Amyes on 500px.com
The wallflower orchid, aka the common donkey orchid (diuris corymbosa) lives up to it’s name and is commonly found in the south-west of Western Australia. Mount Observation, Western Australia. Canon EOS 6d with Sigma 105mm f2.8 macro lens and Canon 430 EX Speedlite. Exposure: aperture priority mode with -5 stops exposure compensation, high-speed flash sync 1/2000, f11 at ISO 200.

 

White Spider Orchid by Paul Amyes on 500px.com
White Spider Orchid (Caladenia longicaudia). Mokine, Western Australia. Olympus OMD EM-10 with Olympus m.Zuiko 60mm f2.8 macro and Metz ring flash. Exposure: ƒ/16.0 , 1/80s, at ISO 800, manual mode with -2 stops exposure.

 

Purple Enamel Orchid by Paul Amyes on 500px.com
Easily recognisable the Purple Enamel Orchid has glossy purple flowers which fade and become pink with age. Mokine, Western Australia. Olympus OMD EM-10 with Olympus m.Zuiko 60mm f2.8 macro lens and Metz ring flash.

 

Dancing Spider Orchid by Paul Amyes on 500px.com
The dancing spider orchid (Caladenia discoidea) is also known as the antelope orchid and the bee orchid. Mokine, Western Australia. Olympus OMD EM10 with Olympus m.Zuiko 60mm f2.8 macro lens, & Metz ring flash. Exposure:

 

Lemon Scented Sun Orchid by Paul Amyes on 500px.com
The lemon scented sun orchid, also known as the vanilla orchid,(Thelymitra antennifera) is named after its strong lemon scent. Mokine, Western Australia. Olympus OMD EM-10 with Olympus m.Zuiko 60mm f2.8 macro and Metz ring flash. Exposure: 1/160th sec, f8 ISO 200.

 

Blue China Orchid by Paul Amyes on 500px.com
Recognised by its intense blue colour, the Blue China Orchid is like the Thelymitra species in that it is heat sensitive and the flowers close at night on overcast days. Mokine, Western Australia. Olympus OMD EM-10 with Olympus M.Zuiko 60mm F2.8 Macro lens and Metz mecablitz 15 MS-1 ring flash. Exposure: manual mode, 1/100th sec, f8 at ISO 200.

 

Fringed Mantis Orchid by Paul Amyes on 500px.com
The Fringed Mantis Orchid (Caladenia falcata) is also known as the green spider orchid. Mokine, Western Australia. Olympus OMD EM-10 with Olympus m.Zuiko 60mm f2.8 macro lens and Metz ring flash.

 

Custard Orchid by Paul Amyes on 500px.com
Custard orchid (Thelymitra villas), York, Western Australia. Olympus OMD EM-10 with Olympus M.Zuiko 60mm F2.8 Macro lens. Exposure: AE priority 1/320th sec, f8 at ISO 200.

Clicking on an image will take you through to my online gallery.