SCOTTISH ROCK Traditional Cache
banksia777: I have decided not to replace this cache as it's within a national park. Thanks to all who have visited over the last 4 years.
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Difficulty:
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Size: 
(small)
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An easy cache at a viewpoint on the south-western end of Wentworth Falls.
It’s a short walk from the end of West Street but quite a lot of steps on route to get to GZ. The lookout is at a place called Edinburgh Castle Rock that has splendid views across to Kedumba Walls.
There are some cliffs around GZ, so take care!!!
The cache is a small 1lt clip-lock container placed well back from the edge. Please ensure that it’s well hidden after your find as this rocky area is visited by quite a lot of bushwalkers.
Also in this area you may see a ‘fly’ a special type known as ‘bird of paradise fly’ or ‘feathertail fly’ They are only to be seen in the month of May. I spotted quite a few on the day of placing this cache and managed to take a good picture of one, you need to be quick and patient as they are very small and flit about in the scrub!!!
A friend had told me about these insects and had an article that appeared in the Blue Mountains Conservation Society bulletin about them………….
In Search of the ‘Feathertail Fly’
On Thursday 18 May, the Interpretive bush-walking group went in search of the Feathertail Fly along the Nature Track at Wentworth Falls. This mysterious little creature has been seen by the group on several occasions over the years, at Pulpit Hill, Transit of Venus walk at Woodford and on the Nature Track, usually in or near heathland on the sunny ridge tops, and always during May.
In 1963 Isobel Bowden wrote a leaflet for the Nature Track, distributed by the Blue Mountains Conservation Society (then known as the Katoomba and District Wildlife Conservation Society). The leaflet, which won an award for environmental education, was available at the old Conservation Hut where Society volunteers operated a kiosk at weekends. NPWS has continued the tradition and we purchased a copy of its walking track and visitor guide “The Nature Track, Valley of the Waters” from the Conservation Hut for one of our walkers to read at the numbered markers along the way.
There are many highlights to this beautiful walk. On this day we had a leisurely morning tea on the edge of the cliff above a valley and watched flocks of honeyeaters passing by, on their northward migration. Some of our group get very excited about birds – there was even more excitement when Ron spotted an insect, its white feathery tail lit by the sunshine, flying over the valley. With eager anticipation we climbed up the stairs to Edinburgh Rock and there they were – just where some of us had seen them some years before – swarming above the heath.
Sue found a relative of the species in her insect book and on the internet and I emailed an enquiry to Search and Discover at the Australian Museum.
Here is an extract from their reply:
“Thanks for sending the photo of the unusual creature. We receive an inquiry about this insect every few years and they are usually reported from the Blue Mountains area. We will add your useful locality and date records to our files.
“The insect is usually called a Bird of Paradise Fly but I like your name for it. The ‘fly’ is actually a true bug, Ca l l i p a p p u s s p e c i e s (family - Margarodidae, superfamily Coccoidea, order Hemiptera).
“This colourful winged individual is a male; the females are wingless, look like larvae and are much larger (up to 40mm).”
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
irel pybfr gb n fznyy gerr…