Waterfall at Hell Hole Gorge
Following an early thunderstorm, the weather cleared up beautifully and a good number of naturalists snaked through the wet grass out onto the ridge that forms the southern boundary of Glen Lomond Park. This gave us an excellent view into Hell Hole Gorge and the rare sight of a sparkling stream cascading over the rock face at the top of the Gorge. This vertical cliff is attractively dotted with ferns whilst the steep slopes flanking it are covered with the ubiquitous lantana. The shady areas on the floor of the Gorge have nice patches of rainforest but also a fair amount of privet. Butterflies were more abundant than birds (at least until our President arrived!). Sharp eyes also discovered a variety of attractive spiders.
On to Duggan Park for morning tea and a very informative walk, and talk on the work done by Friends of Escarpment Parks. More birds and butterflies, a preying mantis (probably the Garden Mantis Orthodera ministralis), a large stick insect and again numerous spiders. Neil.
Skipper on a dandelion, Glen Lomond Park
Members' Combined Lists
Bird List for Glen Lomond:
Grey Goshawk, Pheasant Coucal, White-throated Treecreeper, Fairy-wren sp.(heard but not seen), Brown Thornbill, Striated Pardalote, Lewin's Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Cicada-bird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Spangled Drongo, Grey Shrike-thrush, Willie Wagtail, Leaden Flycatcher, Silvereye.
Bird List for Duggan Park:
Brush Cuckoo, Galah, Rainbow Lorikeet, Pale-headed Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, Variegated Fairy-wren, White-browed Scrubwren, Lewin's Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye, Red-browed Finch.
Butterfly List for both parks:
Orchard Swallowtail Papilio aegeus, Lemon Migrant Catopsilia pomona, Black or Common Jezabel Delias nigrina, Caper White Belenois java, Common Brown Heteronympha merope, Glasswing Acraea andromacha, Meadow Argus Junonia villida, Common Crow Euploea core, Lesser or Native Wanderer Danaus chrysippus, Wanderer or Monarch Danaus plexippus, Blue Tiger Tirumala hamata, Small Green-banded Blue Psychonotis caelius.
Spider List for both parks:
Dewdrop Spider Argyrodes antipodianus, Jewel or Spiny Spider Austracantha minax, Golden Orb-weaver Nephila edulis.