June Meeting and Outing

Meeting:
Date: Friday, 1 June - For a change from speakers we will watch a DVD "The Ultimate Guide: Ants" which lasts 40 minutes and is fascinating.
When: 7.30pm, in the Judy Finlay Room, Cedar Centre, 
Where: 36 Baker St, Toowoomba.
Followed by light refreshments.                      Visitors welcome.


Outing:

Date: Sunday, 3 June, World Environment Day - Leader: Ben Gundry 
When: Meet at Neil St car park (opp the old police station) at 8.00 am to carpool.
Where: At Goombungee-Acland (100 km round trip)

Entering Goombungee from the south

OR

Meet at the Boodua Reserve at 8.45am. The turn-off is 8.4 km north of Kingsthorpe School, signposted as Boodua-Meringandan Road. Turn right and travel 1.3 km to see Boodua Reserve sign. We’ll be there for an hour, before moving on to Goombungee Showgrounds from 10.00 to 11.00am. N-E Downs Landcare is holding an Open Day, to include a weed identification stand, a free tree give-away and other stalls and activities. Morning tea will be here also.


Then it is about 20 km to Acland arriving around 11.30am. At Acland we will have a walk around the Park trees, and through “town” to the old colliery site, 500 metres away. Local resident, Glen Beutel, will join us for lunch, with his great photo boards which document the diversity of wildlife in Acland (an electric BBQ available). At 2.30pm or so we can move off towards home. There are two road verge locations nearby – the mugga ironbark avenue near Acland and the roadside scrub adjacent to the Lutheran Church at Evergreen, seven kilometres away. All walking is footpath or roadside verge. Wedgetail Ridge Winery is also on the way home!

McEwan State Forest, May 2012

After arriving at McEwan we studied the decaying horse drawn wood and cast iron farm machinery as Rod did a “Harry Butler” and found a Narrow-nosed Planigale, Planigale tenuirostris which became an instant film star. This is its eastern limit and Al explained the details of the male Planigale’s very active life cycle and female reproduction habits. A large Narrow-leaved Ironbark hosted several Spotted Pardalotes in brilliant yellow and red and we all enjoyed the spectacle, especially the tele-lensed equipped photographers.

Lesley & Al conferring on the bird list

The track led down the slope to the grassed paddocks with many small birds in the track-side bushes where several had colourful berries, Red-olive Plum Pittosporum phylliraeoides, White Myrtle Pittosporum rhombifolium and Orangebark Maytenus bilocularis.

Something has caught their eye,
Genevieve, Rod, Lesley & Susan.

Species Lists for McEwan SF - compiled from members’ &and visitors’ sightings

Birds: Crested Pigeon, Peaceful Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Collared Sparrowhawk, Lorikeet sp., Laughing Kookaburra, Speckled Warbler, Weebill, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Lewin's Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Striped Honeyeater, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Silvereye, Mistletoebird, Double-barred Finch.

Butterflies: Small Grass-yellow Eurema smilax, Black Jezebel Delias nigrina, Cabbage White Pieris rapae, Meadow Argus Junonia villida, Yellow Admiral Vanessa itea, Common Crow Euploea core, Lesser or Native Wanderer Danaus chrysippus, Wanderer or Monarch Danaus plexippus.

Moths: Ghost Moth sp (possibly Trictena atripalpis).

Odonata: Wandering Percher Diplacodes bipunctata, Australian Emperor Hemianax papuensis.

Spiders: Jewel Spider Austracantha minax, Golden Orb-Weaver Nephila edulis (dark brown joints).

Mammals: Narrow-nosed Planigale Planigale tenuirostris

Reptiles: Iridescent litter-skink Lygisaurus foliorum

South Burnett Camp

The annual camp which this year was based at the Bjelke-Petersen Dam Tourist & Recreation Park, was another great success. Thanks to Tricia (and husband) for their organization of a wide variety of activities. The weather wasn't as kind as it could have been, but no one was complaining.  

Natters camping at Bjelke-Petersen Dam

Birding in Wondai State Forest

We visited national parks, state forests, conservation reserves and wetlands. We had talks from local farmers and members of the South Burnett Field Naturalists who also lead a couple of our outings. 

We kayaked on the dam, birdwatched, examined dragonflies, photographed fungi, dined at a winery, checked out the local museums and heard all about fossils and duboisia (the South Burnett supplies the world with about 90% of this crop which is harvested for the pharmaceutically important  alkaloids the leaves contain.)

White-winged Choughs

This was written after watching the antics of these birds at Bjelke-Petersen Dam.

Ode to a Dis-chuffed Chough

In Slater’s book we’re plainly seen

(On page three hundred and sixteen.)

This learned book refers to us,

Corcorax melanorhamphos.

To you we are the White-winged Chough,

And life is getting rather rough.

Our quiet life’s turned upside down,

Because a certain feathered clown,

Gymnorhina tibicen named.

This is the bird that can be blamed

For nervous tics and twisted necks,

And Choughs becoming nervous wrecks.

‘Tis to the Magpie I’ve referred.

Let me tell you, this rotten bird

Was put on Earth without a soul.

When we emerge, the dawn patrol

Swoops down on us with shrieks of glee

Upsetting all my friends ¾ and me.

For at the risk of sounding morbid

Why pick on a fellow corvid?

Pick on sparrows, pick on chats,

Or something really useful ¾ CATS!

The one thing I can’t understand. It’s

Why we let these bloody bandits

Treat us with this animus.

We’re just as big, there’s more of us.

Let’s band together, fight the sods,

Because I tell you – by the gods,

Tomorrow at the break of dawn

We’ll make them rue the day they’re born.

Defiantly sing our bold refrain.

Oh, Crikey! HERE THEY COME AGAIN!

                                      -         by John Ball

Picnicking in the rain at Gordonbrook

Species Reports 

The camp at Bjelke-Petersen Dam was a naturalist’s delight. You just have to look at the species lists below to see the variety of organisms we recorded. As a birder I was in seventh heaven, seeing birds I hadn't seen for quite a while. The lovely group of Wandering Whistling Duck at Gordonbrook Dam and the Black-eared Cuckoo that Tricia found at the caravan park were two that were highlights for me. Although the gentle Red-winged Parrots, the majestic White-bellied Sea-Eagles and active Varied Sitella were all as noteworthy. At Gordonbrook Dam we recorded an amazing 55 species in an afternoon despite showers of rain that had us all sheltering under the picnic shed. The small group of campers who went to the Wondai State Forest with Pam had a feast as well with Shining Bronze Cuckoo, Speckled Warbler and Painted Button-quail topping the bill. Lastly a couple of members stayed on for another day and went to Reinke Scrub. On the way back to camp, in the cotton fields in the Silverleaf district, a really great bonus – a Bustard! What a way to end a lovely few days in the South Burnett.

Birds – (Compiled from members' sightings by Lesley.) Total 128 species

Bjelke-Petersen Dam Caravan Park and surrounding inlets, 26° 18.343’ S, 151° 59.680’ E (within 500m for land birds). Brown Quail, Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal, Australasian Grebe, Common Bronzewing, Crested Pigeon, Bar-shouldered Dove, Tawny Frogmouth, Australasian Darter, Little Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Australian Pelican, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, White-faced Heron, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Whistling Kite, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Nankeen Kestrel, Australian Hobby, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Masked Lapwing, Caspian Tern, Galah, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, Australian King Parrot, Red-winged Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Pheasant Coucal, Black-eared Cuckoo, Southern Boobook, Laughing Kookaburra, Superb Fairy-wren, Variegated Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Weebill, White-throated Gerygone, Yellow Thornbill, Striated Pardalote, Noisy Miner, Brown Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Little Friarbird, Striped Honeyeater, Grey-crowned Babbler, Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike, Rufous Whistler, Olive-backed Oriole, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Restless Flycatcher, Magpie-lark, White-winged Chough, Apostlebird, Golden-headed Cisticola, Tawny

Grassbird, Welcome Swallow, Double-barred Finch. 68 species

Bjelke-Petersen Dam Day-use Area, 26 18.343' S, 151 59.680' E (within 500m). Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Grebe, Crested Pigeon, Australasian Darter, Little Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Masked Lapwing, Caspian Tern, Galah, Blue-winged Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, Variegated Fairy-wren, Noisy Miner, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Magpie-lark, Welcome Swallow. 21 species

Boat Mountain Conservation Park, 26 18.343' S, 151 59.680' E (picnic ground and walk up the mountain).

Brown Cuckoo-Dove, White-browed Scrubwren, Lewin's Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Grey Shrike-thrush, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Torresian Crow. 8 species

Jack Smith Scrub, 26 18.343' S, 151 59.680' E. Brown Quail, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Galah, Pheasant Coucal, Brown Gerygone, Lewin's Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Varied Triller, Golden Whistler, Grey Fantail, Torresian Crow, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye. 16 species

Reinke Scrub Conservation Park, Proston, 500m radius of 26° 10.924’ S, 151° 35.120’ E. Eastern Whipbird, Varied Triller, Golden Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Spangled Drongo, Rufous Fantail, Torresian Crow, Eastern Yellow Robin, Mistletoebird. 9 species

Wooroolin Wetlands, Wooroolin, 26° 24.420 S, 151°49.222’ E (around the circumference of the lagoon).

Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Hardhead (White-eyed Duck), Australasian Grebe, Crested Pigeon, Australasian Darter, Little Pied Cormorant, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Black-shouldered Kite, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Nankeen Kestrel, Purple Swamphen, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Red-winged Parrot (heard), Pale-headed Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, Variegated Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, White-throated Gerygone, Striated Pardalote, Lewin's Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Striped

Honeyeater, Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Australasian Figbird, Olive-backed Oriole, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Leaden Flycatcher, Restless Flycatcher, Magpie-lark, Tawny Grassbird, Double-barred Finch. 43 species

On the viewing platform at Gordonbrook

Gordonbrook Dam, 26° 26.878’ S 151° 45.224’ E (coordinates on the bird hide, but sighting are from the picnic area along the walk to Water-dragon Inlet). 

Indian Peafowl (four seen around the bird hide), Magpie Goose, Wandering Whistling-Duck, Black Swan, Radjah Shelduck, Australian Wood Duck, Australasian Shoveler, Grey Teal, Hardhead (White-eyed Duck), Australasian Grebe, Crested Pigeon, Bar-shouldered Dove, Australasian Darter, Little Pied Cormorant, Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Australian Pelican, White-necked Heron, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, White-faced Heron, Little Egret, Osprey, Black-shouldered Kite, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Whistling Kite, Purple Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Black-fronted Dotterel, Masked Lapwing, Comb-crested Jacana, Whiskered Tern, Caspian Tern, Galah, Cockatiel, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Australian King Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Laughing Kookaburra, Superb Fairy-wren, Variegated Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, White-throated Gerygone, Noisy Miner, Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Magpie-lark, Welcome Swallow. 55 species

Silverleaf Weir, Murgon, 26° 9.955 S, 151° 48.858’ E. Australian Wood Duck, Little Pied Cormorant, Great Egret, Nankeen Kestrel, Eurasian Coot, Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Galah, Pheasant Coucal, Azure Kingfisher, Laughing Kookaburra, Noisy Miner, Brown Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Little Friarbird, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Restless Flycatcher, Magpie-lark, Welcome Swallow, Mistletoebird, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin. 22 species

Wondai State Forest, 26° 21.0’ S, 151° 51.859‘ E (within 300m of this point). Common Bronzewing, Peaceful Dove, Painted Button-quail, Little Lorikeet, Pale-headed Rosella, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Speckled Warbler, Weebill, White-throated Gerygone, Yellow Thornbill, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Striated Pardalote, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, White-throated Honeyeater, Striped Honeyeater (heard), Varied Sitella, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Jacky Winter, Mistletoebird, Double-barred Finch. 25 species

Miscellaneous extras, between Boat Mountain in the north to Gordonbrook Dam in the south, Reinke Scrub in the west to Burnett Highway to the east. 

Cattle Egret, Australian White Ibis, Straw-necked Ibis, Royal Spoonbill, Pacific Baza, LLittle Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Common Starling, Common Myna, Zebra Finch, House Sparrow. 11 species

Butterflies – Total 23 species

Bjelke-Petersen Dam Caravan Park, 26° 18.343’ S, 151° 59.680’ E (within 500m).

Pale Triangle Graphium eurypylus, White Migrant Catopsilia pyranthe, Small Grass-yellow Eurema smilax, Large Grassyellow Eurema hecabe, Scarlet Jezebel Delias argenthona, Yellow or Common Albatross Appias paulina, Glasswing Acraea andromacha, Meadow Argus Junonia villida, Wanderer or Monarch Danaus plexippus, Small Green-banded Blue

Psychonotis caelius. 10 species

Bjelke-Petersen Dam Day-use Area, 26 18.343' S, 151 59.680' E (within 500m).

Chequered Swallowtail Papilio demoleus, Large Grass-yellow Eurema hecabe, Meadow Argus Junonia villida, Lesser or Native Wanderer Danaus chrysippus, Wanderer or Monarch Danaus plexippus. 5 species

Boat Mountain Conservation Park, 26 18.343' S, 151 59.680' E (picnic ground and walk up the mountain).   Small Grass-yellow Eurema smilax. 1 species

Jack Smith Scrub, 26 18.343' S, 151 59.680' E. Tailed Emperor Polyura sempronius, Scarlet Jezebel Delias argenthona.   2 species

Reinke Scrub Conservation Park, Proston, 500m radius of 26° 10.924’ S, 151° 35.120’ E. Dingy Skipper Toxidia peron, Chequered Swallowtail Papilio demoleus, Small Grass-yellow Eurema smilax, Caper White Belenois java, Southern Pearl White Elodina anguilpennis, Dusky Knight Ypthima arctous, Brown Ringlet Hypocysta metirius, Tailed

Emperor Polyura sempronius, Glasswing Acraea andromacha, Meadow Argus Junonia villida, White-banded Plane Phaedyma shepherdi, Lesser or Native Wanderer Danaus chrysippus, Wanderer or Monarch Danaus plexippus, Small Green-banded Blue Psychonotis caelius, Common Grass Blue Zizina labradus labradus. 15 species

Gordonbrook Dam, 26° 26.878’ S 151° 45.224’ E (coordinates on the bird hide, but sighting are from the picnic area

along the walk to Water-dragon Inlet.) Pale Triangle Graphium eurypylus, Chequered Swallowtail Papilio demoleus, Scarlet Jezebel Delias argenthona, Cabbage White Pieris rapae, Evening Brown Melanitis leda, Orange Ringlet Hypocysta adiante, Lesser or Native Wanderer Danaus chrysippus. 7 species

Wondai State Forest, 26° 21.0’ S, 151° 51.859‘ E (within 300m of this point). Small Grass-yellow Eurema smilax, Black Jezebel Delias nigrina, Glasswing Acraea andromacha, Lesser or Native Wanderer Danaus chrysippus. 4 species

Miscellaneous extras, between Boat Mountain in the north to Gordonbrook Dam in the south, Reinke Scrub in the west to Burnett Highway to the east. Orchard Swallowtail Papilio aegeus. 1 species

Mammals – Total 7 species

Bjelke-Petersen Dam Caravan Park, 26° 18.343’ S, 151° 59.680’ E (within 500m). Red-necked Wallaby Macropus rufogriseus, Sugar Glider Petaurus breviceps, Common Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecular (seen by Von of Woop Woop Wildlife Rescue Inc), Pteropus sp. 4 species

Miscellaneous extras, between Boat Mountain in the north to Gordonbrook Dam in the south, Reinke Scrub in the west to Burnett Highway to the east. Brown Hare Lepus capensis, Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus, Whiptail Wallaby Macropus parryi. 3 species

Reptiles – Total 3 species

Bjelke-Petersen Dam Caravan Park, 26° 18.343’ S, 151° 59.680’ E (within 500m). Bearded Dragon Pogona barbata, Asian House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus. 2 species

Gordonbrook Dam, 26° 26.878’ S 151° 45.224’ E (coordinates on the bird hide, but sighting is from the walking track at Water-dragon Inlet). Eastern Water Dragon Intellagama lesueurii. 1 species

Amphibians – Total 6 species (Compiled by Barry) Members reported seeing or hearing the following. Striped Marshfrog, Limnodynastes peronii; Common Green Treefrog, Litoria caerulea; Emerald Spotted Treefrog, Litoria peronii; Stony Creek Frog, Litoria wilcoxii; Cane Toad, Rhinella marina.

But what can one say about the Eastern Sedgefrog, Litoria fallax? It was certainly seen at the dam but had hitched a ride down on one of the vans.

Odonata (dragons and damsels) – Total 7 species (Compiled by Barry)

Mid-April is already late season for the Odonata so that coupled with the showery weather was enough to seriously reduce activity.

Wooroolin Wetlands: Wandering Percher, Diplacodes bipunctata; Blue Skimmer, Orthetrum caledonicum; Blackheaded Skimmer, Crocothemis nigrifrons; Common Bluetail, Ischnura heterosticta. All these were found on the road-side verges near the wetland.

Gordonbrook Dam: Three damsels were seen laying eggs in slits they make in the floating vegetation. The Common Bluetail, Ischnura heterosticta; Red and Blue Damsel, Xanthagrion erythroneurum; and the spectacular Gold-fronted Riverdamsel, Pseudagrion aureofrons.

Both the Blue Skimmer and the Black-headed Skimmer were competing for control of the edges.

Fungi list for Bjelke Petersen Dam camp, including all areas visited (Compiled by Glenda)

Amanita species, Boletellus emodensis, Calvatia lilacina, Calvatia species, Crucibulum laeve, Cyptotrama aspratum, Ganoderma species, Geastrum species, Gloeophyllum albietum, Gymnopilus ferruginosus, Lyco-perdon scabrum, Mycena species, Panus fasciatus, Phaeotrametes decipiens, Phellinus species X 2, Pisolithus albus, Pisolithus arhizus, Pisolithus tinctorius, Pycnoporus coccineus, Scleroderma species, Stemonitis species, Stereum species, Trametes species, Unidentified bolete, Xerula gigaspora. 26 species

Goomburra Forest Reserve, Sunday 04 March, 2012

(Adapted from Francis's newsletter report.) Rain in the Toowoomba regional area on Saturday made the outing doubtful but after checking if Dalrymple Creek was passable, 21 people set off for Goomburra. Five more members joined us along the Inverramsay Road into the national park. We had no difficulties getting in although there was plenty of water in the creek crossings.

Giant Fleay's frog (photo by John W.)

The cars made straight for the picnic area where we had our morning tea. It was very wet underfoot and a giant Fleay’s Frog carved in stone kept us company. 

As rain looked imminent and the water across the creek crossing was already high, the group made its way to the Dalrymple Circuit walk. As we got to the beginning of the Circuit our ears were assailed by the call of the Bell Miners. The Circuit walk was very easy but the rain had brought out the leeches. So there was constant checking of these creatures as we walked and the number of red legs was a testament to their persistence. 

Viewing platform over Dalrymple Creek (photo by John B.)

A number of birds were spotted on the circuit (see the bird list). We also saw a Red-necked Pademelon (Thylogale Thetis) on the path. We stopped at the viewing platform to look at the fast flowing Dalrymple Creek and across it on the rocky face a giant spear lily (Doryanthes palmeri). Continuing on the walk, with the sky looking very threatening, but fortunately not raining, we saw a very established bird’s nest fern across the valley. The rainy season had also given rise to a number of fungi, which Glenda photographed. 

Our circular route led us back to our cars and lunch under the trees of the camping ground. After lunch, some of us walked back to the picnic area by Dalrymple Creek where we were impressed by the force and depth of the water flowing over the side road we had originally planned to take up the hill. The amount of activity off-track indicated that many photogenic fungi were still being encountered .

The little frogs of Goomburra (by Barry)

The March excursion returned home with several frog mysteries. The Clicking Froglet Crinia signifera was certainly calling from the water-filled ditches along the track, but what was the grating, ratchet-like call coming from similar habitats and heard by Michael and Genevieve? With help from the CD of frog calls and later Harry Hine’s knowledge of the amphibian fauna of the park this turned out to be the Red Backed Broodfrog Pseudophryne coriacea. The little froglet found in our lunch area was identified in time from photos as a metamorph of the Stony Creek Frog Litoria wilcoxii. In the Club poster its previous name was Litoria lesueuri. I wonder how many other calls would have graced the night air had we waited until early evening?  

Species List (Compiled from members' sightings by Lesley.)

Birds: Brown Cuckoo-Dove (Pigeon), Pacific Baza, Masked Lapwing, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Crimson Rosella, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, Satin Bowerbird (male & female), Superb Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, White-browed Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, White-throated

Gerygone, Brown Thornbill, Lewin's Honeyeater, Bell Miner, Red Wattlebird, Eastern Whipbird, Grey Shrike-thrush, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Rufous Fantail, Torresian Crow, Black-faced Monarch, Eastern Yellow Robin, Redbrowed Finch. 28 species

Butterflies: Dingy Grass-dart Taractrocera dolon, Blue Triangle Graphium sarpedon, Orchard Swallowtail Papilio aegeus, Chequered Swallowtail Papilio demoleus, Large Grass-yellow Eurema hecabe, Common Brown Heteronympha merope, Yellow Admiral, Vanessa itea, Lesser or Native Wanderer Danaus chrysippus, Wanderer or Monarch Danaus

plexippus, Yellow-spot Blue Candalides xanthospilos, Common Grass Blue Zizina labradus labradus. 11 species

For a report on the lovely orchid, Ladies Tresses Spiranthes sinensis subsp. australis (Spiranthes australis), please see http://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/ladies-tresses.html

Redwood Park Open Day

The display before the rain came

Friends of the Escarpment Parks held an open day at Redwood Park on Sat 3 March. TFNC was there with a display. The day started cloudy which gradually turned into heavy showers, but we all had a good time.

Lesley & John set the stand up and were joined by Ben, Jean and Glenda with Angie helping to pack up. Other members who dropped by were Neil & Helen, Joan, Al & Helen, Genevieve & Mary Ann,  & Michael.

Toowoomba Bird Observer, Mick, leading the bird walk

The first walk of the day was for the birds and they had a fairly dry time with enough activity to keep them happy. Birds were definitely very active with Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos flying over the picnic area, Black-faced Monarchs calling from across the creek, and Silvereyes and Thornbills twittering in the bushes close to the display. 

Meanwhile Trish Leehong had turned up with her animals, and she and Jean got into feeding the young puggles while our favourite P4 is now old enough to feed herself.

Puggles feeding time

P4 eating termites

Heavy showers didn't dampen anyone's enthusiasm and the other activities were as popular as the puggles. Dr Don Sands had everybody enthralled on the butterfly walk even though we didn't see one butterfly! 

Rain didn't dampen the enthusiasm

And the rain stopped so that we could all enjoy the bbq.
(To see enlargements of the photos, right click on the image and open in a new tab.)

Figs and Fruit-doves

Ravensbourne National Park, Sunday 5 February 2012 
The afternoon at Ravensbourne National Park was most enjoyable. Twenty-nine people took part including some members we hadn't seen for a while, and five visitors.  

A scatter of Natters at the Blackbean Day-use Area

While still in the picnic area Trish showed us a miserable Brown Malletwood, Rhodamnia rubescens, which had been attacked by Myrtle Rust. In the fruiting season last year it had been a mass of Topknot Pigeons, Lopholaimus antarcticus.

The Brown Malletwood
and Myrtle Rust

The rain stayed away, and deciding that afternoon tea could wait we set off for the Rainforest Circuit. That may have been a mistake as the normally 40 minute walk took us 2 hours! 


There was plenty to interest us, and gradually we were strung out along the track with the birdos up front, the botanists some distance behind, and the fungi enthusiasts last of all.


We weren't long on the circuit when we came upon a large Moreton Bay Fig, Ficus macrophylla. Its fruit was dropping like rain and there was the clatter of pigeon wings far above us. The eagle eyes of our younger members soon found Topknot Pigeons, Lopholaimus antarcticus, and Wompoo Fruit-doves, Ptilinopus magnificus. We spent some time here making sure everybody had good views of these lovely birds.

Checking out the fruit-doves
in the fig on the Rainforest Circuit

Eventually we all straggled back to the car park, so we moved up to Beutel's Lookout for our afternoon tea. This was a brilliant idea because the lone Moreton Bay Fig in the Cedar Block picnic area was also full of birds. As well as the fruit-doves there were Australasian Figbirds, Sphecotheres vieilloti, Green Catbirds, Ailuroedus crassirostris, and one lone male Regent Bowerbird, Sericulus chrysocephalus. What a sighting!


In the sunny, open areas there were plenty of butterflies, especially Wanderers, Danaus plexippus.


A few of us walked the Cedar Block Circuit before our bbq. We saw quite a few branches and vines down, possibly from high winds in the area. That part of the park is very susceptible to wind damage being right on the edge of the range. There was no sign of Black-breasted Button-quail platelets at all. Very few birds were about in fact. They were all out in the sun enjoying a respite from the wet week we'd had. So it was back to the bbq tea and a quiet chat.

Birds: Blackbean Day-use Area and Rainforest Circuit: White-headed Pigeon, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Topknot Pigeon, Australian Pelican (overhead), Wedge-tailed Eagle (overhead), Galah, Noisy Pitta (heard), White-throated Treecreeper, White-browed Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, Eastern Spinebill (heard), Lewin's Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Golden Whistler, Pied Currawong, Spangled Drongo, Rufous Fantail, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Black-faced Monarch, Paradise Riflebird (heard), Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye, Red-browed Finch. 26 species

Birds: Cedar Block Day-use Area and Circuit: Australian Brush-turkey, White-headed Pigeon, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Topknot Pigeon, Rainbow Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, Pheasant Coucal, Eastern Koel, White-throated Treecreeper, Green Catbird, Regent Bowerbird, Superb Fairy-wren, White-browed Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, Lewin's Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Cicadabird, (heard), Australasian Figbird, Pied Currawong, Spangled Drongo, Black-faced Monarch, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye, Red-browed Finch. 25 species  Total: 36 species

Butterflies: Mainly Blackbean Day-use Area: Blue Triangle Graphium sarpedon, Orchard Swallowtail Papilio aegeus, Large Grass-yellow Eurema hecabe, Black Jezebel Delias nigrina, Brown Ringlet Hypocysta metirius, White-banded Plane Phaedyma shepherdi, Wanderer or Monarch Danaus plexippus. 7 species

A Great Start to 2012

The members' January Get-together was time for friends to have a good chat. With 48 people sitting down for lunch in Stockyard Hall, we had almost half our membership at one function. This is quite an amazing feat for any club. Well done Natters. 

Lunch at the Hall After a scrumptious morning tea we wended our way up Sawpit Gully Road for a few kilometres. Here we parked the cars and walked back down to a little gully with steep sides covered in thick vine scrub. Butterflies were in abundance, especially the Australian Caper Gull, Cepora perimale. Members had good views of them as they settled on the damp ground at the side of the road.

Australian Caper Gull, Cepora perimale

As some Natters followed the small creek up the gully others walked up or down the road remarking on the abundance of Madeira Vine which is gradually smothering this lovely section of scrub. Noisy Pittas and Black-faced Monarchs were heard but not seen emphasizing the thickness of the vegetation as those monarchs were right above us but never showed us a glimpse of their distinctive colouring.

Then back to the Hall for lunch. We were fed until our eyes bulged and we could eat no more. It was a more leisurely stop next when we called in at Carol's place in Rockmount. While some people preferred to sit on the verandah and relax, a group went looking for koalas on the ridge and others went down to the creek. Nora became entangled with a Garden Orb Web Spider, Eriophora transmarina. These can vary greatly in colouring and patterning (For more information on this hairy little beast see www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_orbweavers/Garden_sp.htm).

Garden Orb Web Spider, Eriophora transmarina

Carol had told us about a good lookout on the way home through Preston with panoramic views from Toowoomba down to Gatton, and it was well worth the stop. While we there several members heard the Rockmount Bellbirds calling from the valley to the south-east. It was a lovely way to end the day.

Picnic Point and Tabletop from the Preston-Boundary Road