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Visited: Winter
Recommendation: Probably not a destination on its own but a very pleasant walk and good opportunities for wildlife if you are in the area.
The Linden Observatory, also known as the Beames Observatory, is located in the lower Blue Mountains area of New South Wales, and its opening hours are typically event-based and geared towards astronomy enthusiasts. It is just off the Great Western Highway, near the village of Linden. While the observatory is listed as closed, you can park just outside and there is a bitumen walkway down to the pumping station.
The area is primarily covered in dry sclerophyll forest, which has a characteristic grey-green appearance. The tree canopy is dominated by various species of gum trees. The term 'sclerophyll' means hard-leaved, a feature that helps these plants survive in the nutrient-poor, sandy soils derived from the underlying sandstone and cope with the regular threat of bushfire. Below the canopy, you'll find a dense, scrubby understorey of woody shrubs, including Banksias, Wattles (Acacias), and various peas and heaths. In the Linden area, a rare and threatened species, Gordon's Wattle (Acacia gordonii), is found in the bushland.
The local bushland hides impressive geological features, such as King's Cave (also known as Bushranger's Cave) nearby, which is a massive sandstone overhang. This geology influences the soil, which is often shallow and low in nutrients, favouring the hardier sclerophyll plants. The terrain is hilly and deeply fissured by water erosion, leading to creeks and gullies.
The track is actually a fire trail and it is very pleasant to walk through with not many people around. All through the walk, Grey Fantails flitted in and out of the foliage as if curious. A Fan-tailed Cuckoo and a Shining Bronze Cuckoo were calling in the distance, but we went mid-morning so it was pretty quiet for the birds. In the warmer part of the day, we hoped to see some reptiles. Firstly, we started to see Jacky Dragons varying in sizes from very small to a couple of fairly large ones. They were mostly on the sides of the trail.
Jacky Dragon (Amphibolurus muricatus)
There were a few areas where we could explore some wide open rocky areas and it was a real treat to get my first Mountain Dragon. These colourful reptiles are found in a restricted and specific range in the cooler, elevated regions of south-eastern Australia. Perfect habitat is in the Blue Mountains.
Mountain Dragon (Rankinia diemensis)
It's only about a kilometre up to the water pumping station and there are fantastic views all the way around of the Blue Mountains Nature National Park. Close to the pumping station, there are a lot of scratchings look like they're done by Superb Lyrebirds.
Another really nice find was the Red-throated Skink, which is found throughout the Blue Mountains. If you look it up, the suitable habitat is described as 'drier, more open Eucalypt woodlands and heathlands found on the high sandstone ridges and plateaus'. Again, this area was perfect for it.
Red-throated Skink (Acritoscincus platynotus)
Probably the most exciting animal we found here was the Giant Spiny Crayfish. It is elusive, large, and highly sensitive to pollution, making a sighting a good sign of a healthy stream. They are more likely to be seen wandering in the creeks during the warmer months (late spring to early autumn) when they are more active and foraging. This made it more exciting to see it in winter.
To find them, look along the banks of the stream for burrow openings. These can be large and are often situated under rocks, logs, or in the bank itself, especially where the water is permanent. The burrows of large adults can be quite substantial.
Giant Spiny Crayfish (Euastacus spinifer)
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