OUTING REPORTS: Sunday 01 March 2019

Carex appressa and Michael Rooke at Goomburra

March 2019 Trish Gardner

Trish Gardner took this photo of Carex appressa because it was a nice healthy plant, and asked Michael to stand beside the plant to give the photo scale. It was seeding prolifically and demonstrating how splendidly the species can grow on a dry slope well away from water. It also grows where it is almost completely submerged and tolerates considerable flooding. In the natural environment it provides shelter for frogs, perches for dragonflies, and is a host plant for butterflies (browns and skippers). The seeds are eaten by finches and other birds.

It is a popular garden plant for ponds and dry creek beds.

Poem and Bird List for Goomburra National Park – 01 March 2019 – John Ball & Lesley Beaton

		We left old Boonah town at eight, And travelling at a steady rate, With sinking heart, we saw the weight Of cloud above Goomburra. While driving in we had some doubt. Why were these vehicles coming out? It starts to look just like a rout Of campers from Goomburra! And finally, the Field Nats come To guzzle tea at Manna Gum. To solve the mighty con-un-drum — What draws us to Goomburra? So, should we go, or should we stay? We’re made of sterner stuff we say. We’re going to walk a track today In soggy old Goomburra.		The weather now turned almost fine. So walking in a single line, Admiring epiphyte and vine, The Nats explored Goomburra. The bubbling creek, what a delight. The fantail, what a pretty sight. The lofty eucalypts, upright. Magnificent Goomburra. We saw the Bellbirds in the tree. We heard the Brown Gerygone. The Wonga Pigeon flying free. The magic of Goomburra. We saw the rain increase in rate And Lesley’s cape disintegrate. We’re leaving now before too late! Goodbye to wet Goomburra.
	Birds: Wonga Pigeon, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Little Lorikeet, White-throated Treecreeper, Satin Bowerbird, Superb Fairy-wren, White-browed Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, Brown Thornbill, Spotted Pardalote, Lewin's Honeyeater, Red Wattlebird, Noisy Friarbird, Eastern Whipbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Golden Whistler, Grey Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Rufous Fantail, Grey Fantail, Torresian Crow, Leaden Flycatcher, Eastern Yellow Robin.

 

Michael Rooke suggested we mime our morning's finds, so we imitated a mushroom ring.

(Trish Gardner)