Bellthorpe Camp

Happy Bellthorpe Campers with David Clark

Twenty-one exhausted but exhilarated people had a wonderful 3 days at Bellthorpe Cottage, the property of David and Wendy Clark. The weather was perfect and the views stunning.

David was an attentive host, leading all the outings, whether on the property or further afield. On the first night he also gave a talk on Bellthorpe, the cottage and the district; people, history, geology, wildlife and farming practices.

Jim, Maria and Diane 
at the shed

Glenda not only supplied us with desserts and yummy slices, but had organized some interesting activities, and everything went like clockwork. Facilities were set up in the shed making everything very easy and civilized.

Our first walk was through the rainforest down to the waterfalls. On the way David showed us points of interest and explained the difficulties in building the tracks. In true Nats style people wandered off into the bush to check out fungi or birds, or anything else that caught their eye. Diane got a glimpse of the Paradise Riflebird which made her day. 

Bellthorpe was also affected by the January deluge, and the Bellthorpe Road is still closed. The picture above was taken when a few of us had a recce in November 2010. The one at the right was taken on the camp. You can see how large logs were just swept aside like small branches. (Remember to right click on an image and open in a new tab for an enlargement.)

Happy hour

After 3 hours we were more than ready for happy hour. Good company, tasty nibblies plus a little restorative beverage soon had us ready for the evening's activites. 


Wednesday dawned bright and clear to the sound of bird song. Some early risers went on a walk down near the dams and were rewarded with good sightings of Wompoo Pigeon and Green Catbird. 

One of the dams along the creek

                                                                                 

Rose-leaf Bramble, Rubus rosifolius

At 8.30 we were ready for the day and we set off for Bellthorpe Environmental Park where the Bellthorpe Progress Association has been clearing exotic weed. At the end of one of the tracks was a lovely view of the Glasshouse Mountains with Pumicestone Passage behind.

Glasshouse Mountains View

From there we backtracked to the Bellthorpe State Forest. After squeezing us all into the 4WDs we wended our way along a forestry road until it was time for morning tea including more of Glenda's scrumptious snacks. From here we walked along the track  which meandered through rainforest grandeur with huge trees towering above us, wildflowers sprinkled at our feet, and treefern tracery.

Lunch  was at the Bellthorpe Conservation Park on the site of the old Brandon's Mill. There is very little left of the mill now, and none of the town at all. While we were there all the exotic pines were being cut out and we scavenged some of the wood for our camp fire. David had shown us photos of the mill in its heyday so this virtually empty 14 ha paddock was difficult to picture as a thriving community with a school and homes as well as the mill. In 1998 it was recommended that the area be heritage listed as one of the best preserved sawmill communities, however this obviously didn't happen. There were plenty of birds, butterflies, and flowers to keep us happy as we strolled around the site and surrounding roads.

That night after happy hour and tea we went into the rainforest searching for fireflies. It was eerily beautiful to see them flickering through the trees. Then it was back to the camp fire where Phil played some tunes on his penny whistle.

Coming back from the rainforest walk

Despite the late night we were ready at 8.30 for another walk on the property. This time to the waterfall from the upper track and back past the shed. All that was left to do was say our thank-yous to David and Glenda. David was presented with a gift and an honorary membership for 12 months. This was followed with much acclamation and determination to return. 

 

Looking from the eastern boundary
 to the western boundary with cottage and camp site

For more information on: 

Bellthorpe Cottage - http://bellthorpe.bigpondhosting.com/default.htm 

Bellthorpe National Park - http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/bellthorpe/ 

Brandon's Mill -  http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/50796/qld_se_saw9.pdf 

Bellthorpe in the 1950s. This is a lovely website of one man's life and family. During the 1950s they lived at Bellthorpe. He writes a good story - http://g1uqf.weebly.com/bellthorpe.html

All lists compiled from members’ sightings 

8-10 November 2011

Bellthorpe Cottage and Cabin Bird List: (26° 49’ 46” S, 152° 42’ 55” S – Bellthorpe Cottage ) Australian Brush-turkey, Pacific Black Duck, White-headed Pigeon, Spotted Dove (Spot Turtle Dove), Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Wonga Pigeon, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Topknot Pigeon, White-necked Heron, White-faced Heron, Straw-necked Ibis, Brown Goshawk, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Galah, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Pale-headed Rosella, Eastern Koel, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Southern Boobook (heard), Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, Dollarbird, Noisy Pitta (heard), White-throated Treecreeper, Green Catbird, Regent Bowerbird, Satin Bowerbird, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Variegated Fairy-wren, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, White-browed Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, Fairy Gerygone, White-throated Gerygone, Brown Thornbill, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin's Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Scarlet Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Cicadabird, Crested Shrike-tit, Golden Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Spangled Drongo, Rufous Fantail, Grey Fantail, Torresian Crow, Leaden Flycatcher, Satin Flycatcher, Black-faced Monarch, Paradise Riflebird, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Red-browed Finch. 67 species

Bellthorpe Environmental Park: (26° 51’ 50” S, 152° 44’ 48” E) Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Crimson Rosella, Horsfield's Bronze-Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Noisy Pitta (heard), Satin Bowerbird, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Large-billed Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, Lewin's Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Australasian Figbird, Pied Currawong, Spangled Drongo, Rufous Fantail. 17 species

Bellthorpe State Forest: (M=Old Brandon’s Mill Site only, 26° 49’ 21” S, 152° 40’ 46” E at Crane Pivot) Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Wompoo Fruit-Dove (M), White-faced Heron (M), Purple Swamphen (M), Masked Lapwing (M), Australian King-Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Pale-headed Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, Satin Bowerbird, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Variegated Fairy-wren, Spotted Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin's Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Scarlet Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Cicadabird, Grey Shrike-thrush, Olive-backed Oriole, Pied Butcherbird (M), Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Torresian Crow, Paradise Riflebird, Welcome Swallow (M), Red-browed Finch. 31 Species

Miscellaneous in the Bellthorpe Area: Cattle Egret, Buff-banded Rail, Willie Wagtail. 3 species Total species: 78

Long Live the Field Nats! Our 60th Anniversary Weekend

At the tree planting

The fun started on Friday evening with a re-enactment of the first meeting held in November 1951. Ernie & Ben played the roles of President and Secretary respectively with other members playing minor parts. Diane P's script made sure there were a few laughs. Then Neil gave a good impression of a 1950s learned gentleman by the means of using a jacket and tie to change from a 21st century learned gentleman. He gave Keith Walker's talk of  "How to Study Birds" also given on that august night sixty years ago. Neil commented on the changes in our way of studying birds since then. All this was followed up with the film shown at our Club's first general meeting, "Wildlife in Bushland", kindly given to the club by Stephen Fleay, David Fleay's son. There was quite a crowd with visitors, and past members and it was a very convivial night.

Sunday was also a day of nostalgia. We met at Olcott Hall in Russell Street where Ernie gave us some history of the place, and TFNC's connection. Pastor Nick was there to allow us to look at the upstairs room where our Club had its beginnings.

From there we went on to the Bicentennial Waterbird Habitat for a lovely morning tea in the sunshine.

Neil recounting the history of the Bicentennial Waterbird Habitat

At 10.30 am precisely we planted our Grass Tree, Xanthorrhoea australis. Not only our logo but a symbol of longevity, just like Toowoomba Field Naturalist Club Inc. By then more Natters had joined us and we were quite a crowd.

Planting the Xanthorrhoea

In 1951 the Field Nats went to a property in Middle Ridge on the outskirts of Toowoomba. It probably belonged to Mr Robert Angus Moncrieff our first president who lived very close to Nielsen Park which was where we adjourned for a stroll and lunch on Sunday.

The original 3.25 hectares (8 acres) block was donated by 97 year old Mable (I believe this is the correct spelling) Nielsen in 1990 to the State Government with Toowoomba City Council acting as trustee as long as the land is utilised as a park. In 2005 two more blocks to the north were acquired making the park a reasonable bushland reserve. The park contains some of the oldest trees in Toowoomba and also part of the old bullock trail up the range. 

Lunch at Nielsen Park

Nielsen Park is close to the escarpment so there were plenty of birds, and we even glimpsed some of the local wallabies. Although as with all our bushland the exotic weeds are prevalent, there was plenty of natural bush to keep the botanists happy. It was a very pleasant pre-lunch walk. Lunch was a very social time with even more members arriving, and Ben spoke about his link to Angus Moncrieff.

We all agreed it had been a delightful day. Our thanks go to the 60th Anniversary Committee who made the celebrations such a success. Hip, hip, hooray!   


Remember to see an enlargement of any photo, right click on the image and open in a new tab.

Photos by Cheryl & Phil, and Di T.

Wildflowers at Hartmann Park, Crows Nest

Pink and cream Stylidium laricifolium

At Hartmann Park we set off with Kym and her naturalist pre-schooler, Jamie. Lovely yellow Donkey Orchids soon had the cameras clicking. We almost walked on the Chloanthes parviflora with their mauve flowers, growing on the side of the track. Xanthorrhoea was everywhere. Perhaps the highlight was the masses of Stylidium laricifolium or Tree Trigger Plant. A fascinating plant on which the narrow leaves grow in a thick mass up the stems giving the plant a furry look. The tiny pale pink, four-petalled flowers grow up the stem above the leaves. We had difficulty finding any to trigger and decided maybe the rain had set them off. Along the track we found only two specimens of  Stylidium graminifolium, a very different upright plant with fine strap leaves supporting its base.

The miniature white flowers of the Leucopogan were more difficult to see, as were the tiny flowers of the purple Hylanthus and Glycene Pea Glycine tabacina hiding in the grass.

Kym pointed out New England Blackbutts Eucalyptus montivaga and told us there was a very rare suite of eucalypts in this park. Jamie pointed out his favourite flower Pimelia linifolia. We got to smell the leaves of the Platysace lanceolata (a member of the carrot family.)

A banksia was in flower, and the very thick stem of the Parsonsia vine was easy to see. Here Kym pointed out Angophora woodsiana, another member of the unusual suite of trees. 

Amata nigriceps in a Toowoomba garden

Further along the track Jamie’s sharp eyes found a lovely black and orange moth on the underside of the Xanthorrhoea. It was a White Antenna Wasp Moth, Amata nigriceps.

Arriving back at our starting point we agreed it had been a very successful walk, and as we headed for the cars Jamie pointed out Great Cormorants flying overhead.

                                                                                                                                                   by Donalda

Applegum Bird Walk in October

By the time I arrived at Bullocky’s Rest there was great excitement as Grahame and Donalda had already seen a Buff-banded Rail which was a new species for the area. There were only five people brave enough to turn up on a rainy, early morning but we had some great birding with 44 species seen or heard in about 2 hours.

There were plenty of wildflowers in bloom especially a little Pink Rock Orchid, Dendrobium kingianum which Donalda and I found beside the track. Another delight was the sighting of two Eastern Water Dragon Physignathus lesueurii at the Pump Hole.

Pink Rock Orchid

The rain had come on more heavily by then but it didn't deter the birds with the smaller bush birds in abundance.

We arrived at Hartmann Park for morning tea, and while we were waiting beside the creek Donalda and I had a good sighting of an Azure Kingfisher. This was a new species for the park.

  

Bird List for Crows Nest Outing, compiled from members’ sightings

Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Crested Pigeon, Little Pied Cormorant, Great Cormorant (o’head), Australian White Ibis (o’head), Straw-necked Ibis (o’head), Buff-banded Rail, Dusky Moorhen, Masked Lapwing, Galah, Rainbow Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Azure Kingfisher, Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, White-throated Treecreeper, White-browed Scrubwren, White-throated Gerygone, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Brown Thornbill, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Noisy Friarbird, Eastern Whipbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Olive-backed Oriole, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Rufous Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Leaden Flycatcher, Magpie-lark, White-winged Chough, Apostlebird, Welcome Swallow, Red-browed Finch.

Also seen in and around Crows Nest: Australasian Grebe, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Little Friarbird.      Total: 47 species                                                                                                                             

White Mountain, September

It was a lovely time to venture into the far western edge of the Helidon Hills area, near White Mountain. Our first stop was at the creek crossing below Greg's place to look at the havoc caused by the January flood.

Jenny & Nick in the ravaged creek

After morning tea we had an invigorating walk through his property. A particular plant of interest was the Climbing Orchid Erythrorchis cassythoides or Black Bootlace Orchid. 

Erythrorchis cassythoides 

 

The black stems

                                                                                    

Looking at the long dark stems you can see the reason for its name. Go to Trish Gardner's blog for more about this lovely orchid,  toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/2009/09/black-bootlace-orchid.html. Other plants that caught our attention were Large-leaf Hop-bush Dodonaea triquetra, the vulnerable Four-tailed Grevillea Grevillea quadricauda, and the Koala Fern Caustis blakai subsp macrantha. 

Four-tailed Grevillea

Plenty of Koala Fern 
on the rocky slopes

John and Bob coming through
the Koala Fern and Grass Trees

Bird list: +/- 250m from S27º 25.724'  E152º 05.377' The honeyeaters were out in force on this fine spring day. The Scarlet Honeyeaters particularly were calling and fluttering everywhere. So though there was plenty of activity only 12 species were recorded on the morning. Perhaps some quiet time beside the creek may be worth investigating in the future. We also saw Button-quail platelets. Possibly Painted Button-quail as they've been recorded at Paradise Creek which is close by. Lorikeet sp. (Rainbow/Scaly-breasted), Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Pied Currawong. 

Relaxing at lunch

Photos by Lesley & Heather.
  

Durikai State Forest – 7 August 2011

This was certainly a day for honeyeaters as far as birders were concerned. 16 different species were seen. The highlight would have been the lunch stop at Durikai Waterhole where we had wonderfully close views of a number of species as they came in to drink. Particularly amazing as there were about 20 people sitting around chatting. The lone Bell Miner was a very unusual bird to get at the waterhole.

The group of 5 Emus on the way home was also a special sighting for our overseas guest.

Durikai Waterhole (28° 11’ 20”S/151° 37’ 27” E) 
Little Lorikeet, Striated Pardalote, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, Fuscous Honeyeater, White-plumed Honeyeater, Bell Miner,  Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown-headed Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Crested Shrike-tit, Grey Shrike-thrush, Olive-backed Oriole, Eastern Yellow Robin, Mistletoebird. 

Lorraine took us to the Scientific Area of the Durikai, and we searched along the fence line with success for fossils of the fern Otozamites feistmantelli from the Jurassic period. 

Looking for fossils

And finding them!

There was plenty for the botanists too, with 3 types of mulga, several different wattle in flower, and other plants of the 'traprock' country.

Green Mallee Eucalyptus viridis flower

The wonderfully coloured calyptus, the bud-cap,
of the Baker's Mallee Eucalyptus bakeri.

Butterfly List

There was only one species seen flying on the day, a White or Common Migrant Catopsilia pyranthe. One was caught by Nicholas Matheson and identified by members before being released. There were two individuals fluttering around the morning tea spot at the Karara Showgrounds.

The brown hairy caterpillar found on the mistletoe (possibly Smooth Mistletoe Dendrophthoe glabrescens) was the larvae of a Scarlet Jezebel Delias argenthona. An ugly duckling of a larva compared to the beautiful butterfly it becomes. 

Scarlet Jezebel caterpillar

Mt Peel Reserve & Federation Park - July

This reserve on the south-western side of Toowoomba is a remnant patch of eucalyptus and acacia woodland. Many of the Yellow Box Eucalyptus melliodora were in flower and one tall tree in particular was heavily blossomed with Rainbow & Little Lorikeets and Noisy Friarbirds making a cacophony of sound as they fed in the high canopy. Nearer the northern peak Scarlet Honeyeaters were in abundance whereas the southern peak attracted a flock of 50+ Silvereye. Tricia and I thought we heard Speckled Warblers but they were elusive and we gave up the search.

Federation Park was a perfect place to lunch on a windless day, with a short walk afterwards and a good sighting of a Fan-tailed Cuckoo.

Setting out 

Yellow Box flower

Golden Orb-weaver

Reserve – Crested Pigeon, Cockatiel, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, Pale-headed Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, Variegated Fairy-wren, White-browed Scrubwren, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Noisy Miner, Scarlet Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Torresian Crow, Silvereye, Mistletoebird, Double-barred Finch.
Federation Park – Spotted Dove, Galah, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Striated Pardalote, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Grey Butcherbird, Grey Fantail, Magpie-lark, Common Myna, Double-barred Finch.  

Eagleby Wetlands - June

With Ben driving the bus, we set off for the Eagleby Wetlands and were joined by more Nats for morning tea in the picnic shelter, with a Brahminy Kite overhead. Most of us had never been to this part of Logan before so were very impressed with the wetlands, particularly the boardwalk. Here we got delightful views of Black Swans with cygnets, and a watchful Owlet Nightjar. Lovely.

Natters at Old Beenleigh Town for lunch

Owlet Nightjar

Natters checking out the Owlet Nightjar
with Black Swans checking out the Natters!

 After lunch at Old Beenleigh Town we went to two properties along Schmidt Road which gave us some species we don't normally see up on the range.

Gull-billed Terns on the Steen property

The outing finished with afternoon tea at the Logan River Parklands, and a quiet and safe drive home.

Afternoon tea at the Logan River Parklands

Bird Lists: 

1)    Eagleby Wetlands - Black Swan, Australian Wood Duck, Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Hardhead, Australasian Grebe, Bar-shouldered Dove, Australian Owlet-Nightjar, Australasian Darter, Intermediate Egret, Straw-necked Ibis, Brahminy Kite, Purple Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Masked Lapwing, Comb-crested Jacana, Rainbow Lorikeet, Pale-headed Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, White-throated Gerygone, Striated Pardalote, Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Little Friarbird, Striped Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Golden Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Spangled Drongo, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Magpie-lark, Golden-headed Cisticola, Tawny Grassbird, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Mistletoebird, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin

2)    Properties on Schmidt Road - Australian Wood Duck, Chestnut Teal, Australasian Grebe, Crested Pigeon, Australasian Darter, Little Black Cormorant, Australian Pelican, Intermediate Egret, Cattle Egret, Straw-necked Ibis, Royal Spoonbill, Whistling Kite, Purple Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen, Black-winged Stilt, Black-fronted Dotterel, Masked Lapwing, Gull-billed Tern, Little Corella, Rainbow Lorikeet, Striated Pardalote, Scarlet Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Grey Shrike-thrush, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Magpie-lark, Welcome Swallow, Common Myna, Australasian Pipit

3)    Logan River Parklands - Black Swan, Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Hardhead, Australasian Grebe, Eastern Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, Australian White Ibis, Purple Swamphen, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Noisy Miner, Brown Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Australian Magpie, Torresian Crow.

Roadside sightings - Spotted Dove, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.           

Mt Beppo - Camp Somerset

On the second day of camp it was such a pleasure to visit “Peppertrees”, the Fysh property at Mt Beppo. They knew they had a piece of scrub with a reputation in the district as being of good quality, but I don’t think they knew, until Bill started recording the species, just how good it is. We started to see unusual things even on the drive in, which follows a long row of native dry rainforest trees (mostly Whalebone Tree Streblus brunonianus, Scrub Boonaree Cupaniopsis parviflora, and Scrub Wilga Geijera parviflora).

Starting the walk at Peppertrees

Native Bryony, Diplocyclos palmatus

The two Barrys enjoying a cuppa

The view from Peppertrees

Many of the trees and vines are butterfly host species, so it was not surprising that even at this time of year we found quite a few butterflies. The scrub must be alive with them in summer. We finished our morning with a picnic lunch on the lawn, and thanks to Betsy and Frith for letting us wander around their interesting property.

Bird List: Brown Quail, Australian Wood Duck, Grey Teal, Australasian Grebe, Little Pied Cormorant (overhead), Australian Pelican (overhead), White-bellied Sea-Eagle (overhead), Pale-headed Rosella, Red-backed Fairywren, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Lewin's Honeyeater, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Varied Triller, Rufous Whistler, Australasian Figbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Grey Fantail, Torresian Crow, Magpie-lark, Mistletoebird.

Butterfly List: Grass-yellow sp. Eurema sp., Black Jezebel Delias nigrina, Pearl White sp. Elodina sp., Evening Brown Melanitis leda, Tailed Emperor Polyura sempronius, Glasswing Acraea andromacha, Meadow Argus Junonia villida, Common Crow Euploea core, Wanderer or Monarch Danaus plexippus.

Snakes, Slugs and Sparklers

Coming into Camp Somerset in the late afternoon

May was a busy month for TFNC as we also had our annual camp with Bill McDonald from the Qld Herbarium. Once again Barry organised a superb camp and we all had a great time. Having visitors from other organisations was an added bonus. 

Phil and Lauren

Highlights were: 
1) Celebrating Lauren's 65th birthday with sparklers, cakes and a serenade in Danish. 






2) Seeing a Brush-tailed Planigale on one of the bird walks. (Sorry about the quality of the Planigale photos.) The phascogale is a rat-sized marsupial with a black ‘bottle-brush’ tail. It is said to be nocturnal, shy and rarely seen. Mating occurs between mid-May and early July. After that quite frantic activity all the males die. Females may live to three years old.

Fuzzy photo of the Planigale. 

  

The brush tail

Ros, Bill, Sandra, Dawn, Marie
and Helen on the bird walk

Red Triangle Slug,Triboniophora graeffei   

A Welcome Swallow
enjoying the morning sun

All fun and games, some of the evening entertainment.

3) Another good find was a Keelback Snake, Tropidonophis mairii. They are diurnal and found near freshwater  dams, creeks, rivers and swamps. They are harmless, eat their prey rear first, and are able to eat small Cane Toads!

Young Keelback Snake hanging on Neil's glasses.

Bird List:  (compiled by lesley from members’ sightings)
Australian Brush-turkey, Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Little Pied Cormorant, Australian Pelican, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Whistling Kite, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Bush Stone-curlew, Masked Lapwing, Gull-billed Tern, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Galah, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Pale-headed Rosella, Pheasant Coucal, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Beeeater, White-throated Treecreeper, Satin Bowerbird, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Variegated Fairy-wren, White-browed Scrubwren, Brown Thornbill, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Lewin's Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Dusky Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Grey-crowned Babbler, Eastern Whipbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Golden Whistler, Little Shrike-thrush, Australasian Figbird, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Spangled Drongo, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Magpie-lark, Rose Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin, Welcome Swallow, Mistletoebird, Red-browed Finch.


Butterfly list: (compiled by Don from members’ sightings)
Small Grass-yellow Eurema smilax, Black Jezebel Delias nigrina, Caper White Belenois java, Evening Brown Melanitis leda, Brown Ringlet Hypocysta metirius, White-banded Plane Phaedyma shepherdi, Wanderer or Monarch Danaus plexippus, Blue Tiger Tirumala hamata.