OUTING REPORTS: Boondall Wetlands and Nudgee Beach, 06 July 2014



Rod talking about the flora (photo F.Mangubhai)

A cold group of Field Nats met in Neil Street but were soon warmed by the smiling faces of Phil and Cheryl in the bus. On the way Rod Hobson spoke about the marine wetlands and remarked on features such as a huge flock of Magpie Geese feeding in the paddocks at Gatton and one of the most easterly patches of Brigalow at Marburg. As soon as we arrived at the Boondall wetlands it was morning tea which we had in the sunny car park to the calls of Noisy Friarbirds and a Grey Butcherbird. We set off on the Billai dhagun walk with Rod surrounded by eager Natters with a thirst for knowledge. This walk starts at the Environmental Centre and wanders through six or more different ecosystems. One of the most notable is the Casuarina forest which gives the circuit its name. This has an ethereal beauty of its own with the spindly trunks, wispy foliage and Sporobolus virginicus under- story. A number of birds and butterflies were seen here; Mistletoebird, the Whistlers, Brown Honeyeaters, Spangled Drongo, Grey Fantail, Common Crow butterfly to name a few. 

The saltmarsh fascinated us with its reddish coloured samphire. It was here that we saw the majestic White- bellied Sea-eagle and Brahminy Kites overhead in the clear blue sky. The boardwalk led us to the bird hide on the junction of Nudgee and Cabbage Tree Creeks. Here we were delighted with close-up views of White-faced Heron, Little Egret, Collared Kingfisher and even the elusive Mangrove Gerygone, one with a band on its leg. 

Eucalypts were flowering and the lorikeets were making the most of it so blossom covered the ground. Members collected at least three species which are still to be identified. Butterflies started to appear as it was later in the day and cameras were at the ready. 

(Tawny Frogmouth (photo: F. Mangubhai)

On the way back some of the members with Rod were lucky enough to taste some bush tucker while those at the front had great views of a Tawny Frogmouth near the Environmental Centre. With the one hour walk taking the Nats probably two and a half it was time to go to Nudgee Beach for lunch.

Then it was off on the second part of our day at Moreton Bay. This was the Tabbil-Ban dhagun boardwalk and we started at the water’s edge in the mangroves. Much to our enjoyment Rod discovered three different types of crabs, stingray depressions, whelks and winkles. As we walked through the mangroves we were sheltered from the stiff breeze and the sun was warm on our backs. We watched the fish in the deeper holes of Nudgee Creek and toadfish swimming around the aerial roots or pneumatophores of the mangroves. 

As well as the mangroves we saw two types of Casuarina along the boardwalk; Casuarina equisetifolia subsp. incana and Casuarina glauca. Horsetail She-oak, Casuarina equisetifolia, is not common to Toowoombarites being a coastal species. The characteristic foliage is like a horse’s tail. Its distribution is from Burma through south-east Asia to eastern Australia, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. The subspecies incana is only found in Australia and the Pacific.

With just one stop to pick up the caffeine fiends at the coffee shop, we set off for home. Thanks to bus driver, Phil, who had us back on the dot of 5.00pm, and thanks to Rod for a truly marvellous and enlightening day.

(Report by Lesley Beaton)

Lists - compiled by Lesley Beaton from member’s sightings.
Billai dhagun (Place of She-Oaks) Circuit, Boondall Wetlands:  Birds – Crested Pigeon, Peaceful Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Tawny Frogmouth, Australian Pelican, Eastern Great Egret, White-faced Heron, Little Egret, Australian White Ibis, Pacific Baza, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Whistling Kite, Brahminy Kite, Crested Tern, Silver Gull, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Pale- headed Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, Collared Kingfisher, Mangrove Gerygone, Brown Thornbill, Striated Pardalote, Noisy Miner, Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Striped Honeyeater, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Olive-backed Oriole, Grey Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Spangled Drongo, Grey Fantail, Torresian Crow, Magpie-lark, Welcome Swallow, Mistletoebird.

Butterflies – Black Jezebel Delias nigrina, Scarlet Jezebel Delias argenthona, Glasswing Acraea andromacha, Common Crow Euploea core, Large Purple Line-blue, Nacaduba berenice.

Moths – Joseph's Coat Moth, Agarista agricola.

Flora – Yellow Mangrove Ceriops tagal, Grey Mangrove Avicennia marina australasica, Sea Hibiscus Hibiscus titaceus, Common Samphire Sarcocornia quinqueflora, Sea Purslane Sesuvium portulacastrum, Australian Seablite Suaeda australis, Saltwater Couch Sporobolus virginicus, Horsetail She-oak Casuarina equisetifolia subsp. incana, Swamp She- oak Casuarina glauca, Corky Passion Flower Passiflora suberosa, Stinking Passion Flower Passiflora foetida, White Passion Flower Passiflora subpeltata, Ruby Saltbush Enchylaena tomentosa var. glabra, Pig Face Carpobrotyus glaucescens.
For the botanists amongst us, on the web, this link will find a list of the native plants of Boondall Wetlands starting on page 4.  http://www.northerncatchmentsnetwork.org.au/images/resources/publications/Plant%20List%20and%20Map.pdf

Tabbil-Ban dhagun (Place of Salt Water) boardwalk, Nudgee Beach: 

Birds – Crested Pigeon, Australian Pelican, Eastern Great Egret, Striated Heron, Australian White Ibis, Whistling Kite, Brahminy Kite, Caspian Tern, Silver Gull, Rainbow Lorikeet, Mangrove Gerygone, Striated Pardalote, Noisy Miner, Brown Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Australian Magpie, Rufous Fantail, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Welcome Swallow, Martin sp. 

Butterflies – Meadow Argus Junonia villida, Australian Painted Lady Vanessa kershawi.

Crustaceans – Richardson’s Snapping Shrimp Alpheus euphrosyne richardsoni, Rounded Porcelain Crab Petrolisthes haplodactylus, Mud Crab Scylla serrata (remains only), Furry-clawed Crab Australoplax tridentata, Broad-footed Mangrove Crab Metograpsus frontalis.

Molluscs – Gold-mouthed Periwinkle Bembicium auratum, Hercules Club Mud Whelk Pyrazus ebeinus, Australian Mud Whelk Velacumantus australis.

Fish – Yellow-finned Bream Acanthophagus australis, Common Toadfish Tetractenos hamiltoni, Banded Toadfish Marilyna pleurosticta, Scalytail Toadfish Torquigener squammicauda.

Flora:  Pig Face Carpobrotyus glaucescens, Goat’s Foot Impomoeapes pes-caprae.

Other interesting sightings: Huge flock of Magpie Geese feeding in the paddocks opposite the Gatton Campus, University of Queensland. Chestnut Teal seen by Rod in a swamp beside the Gateway Motorway. 

Addendum to the Imbil camp list These two birds were left off the Imbil camp list. They were seen at the Cabins by the Creek. White-faced Heron, New Holland Honeyeater.

(Report by Lesley Beaton)

Toad fish - boardwalk Nudgee Beach (photo F. Mangubhai)

 

 



July Speaker's Report

Nathan Garrod, speaking on local lizards showed images of the following reptiles, and gave information about each. Many questions were asked during and after Nathan’s presentation, with members showing a high level of interest in these lovely reptiles.

(Leaf-tailed gecko (with acknowledgement to Arkive)

Leaf-tailed gecko (Saltuaris wyberba) – from Stanthorpe, this gecko is about 12 centimetres long, a mottled colour which blends with the granite on which it hunts. It can alter its colour slightly to match its surroundings, and is nocturnal.  Southern spotted velvet gecko, or Tryoni’s gecko (Oedura tryoni) – a barking gecko, ground-dwelling, lacking sticky toe-pads. It vocalises as a warning and for defence purposes. This one was seen at Girraween.
                                                                                                        

Lesueur’s velvet gecko (Oedura lesuerii), Stanthorpe – an attractively patterned small gecko of about eight centimetres. It also uses camouflage. Small geckoes may be eaten by larger species. 

Golden-tailed gecko (Strophurus taenicauda) – several subspecies are found in southern Queensland and northern NSW, where some habitats are endangered. This species has black spots on a paler coloured body, with a gold area down the tail. It has reddish orange eyes. Some geckoes can exude a sticky substance as a defence.

Burton’s legless lizard, or Burton’s snake-lizard (Lialis burtonis) – this reptile is found Australia-wide, and is now classed as a “legless gecko.” It has no eyelids but does have clear scales over its eyes which it cleans with its tongue, and its tail forms two thirds of its total length. It lays two eggs and grows to 50 centimetres long. Its pointed, wedge-shaped jaw is strong, and enables it to prey totally on other lizards.

Mararet’s Rock skink (Egernia mararetae) – these skinks are up to 20 centimetres long, and live communally in burrows in groups consisting of several generations. They share a communal toilet area.

Common striped skink or Common garden skink (Lampropholis delicata) – a striped skink which feeds aggressively on insects, spiders and other lizards. Quite common in gardens.

Cunningham's skink (acknowledgement AROD.com.au

Cunningham’s skink (Egernia cunninghami) – a spiny skink to 30 centimetres long, variable in colour with spines on the dorsal and tail scales. It grows to 30 cm long, and lives communally with consecutive year’s off- spring amongst debris and fallen branches. It eats snails and vegetable matter, and may live for up to ten years.  

Blue tongued lizard (Tiliqua scincoides) – this large skink which grows to 35 centimetres, is common around Toowoomba. It has strong jaws so it can crack open snails. A northern subspecies grows to 65 centimetres long. It gives birth to as many as 30 live young in one or two litters per year. The young are self-sufficient from birth. 

Golden water skink or Eastern water skink (Eulamprus quoyii) – a large and robust skink with a golden stripe from above the eye to about the hips, a voracious predator which takes prey to half its size. 

Black rock skink (photo Museum Victoria

Black rock skink (Egernia saxatilis) – lives in specific habitat at Stanthorpe, preferring cracks in the granite boulders. It is threatened here by illegal reptile collectors.

 

Broad-banded sand swimmer (Eremiascincus richardsonii) – grows to 15 centimetres, with a banded pattern over the back and tail. Found west of St George and across the continent into West Australia, it has very smooth scales, and can swim through loose sand.

Major skink (Bellatorias frerei, syn. Egernia frerei) – a large skink to 18 centimetres, living in vine thickets and amongst rocks in subtropical areas. Eastern or common bearded dragon (Pogona barbata) – this reptile is not the frilled lizard, but does have a throat sac which is inflated and with its opened yellow mouth serves to deter predators. As an adult, it is vegetarian, eating flowers, clover and grasses. It is the largest Australian dragon, growing to 45 centimetres long. It is able to darken its skin colour to absorb or reflect heat. Juveniles differ in colour.

Southern angle-headed dragon (Hypsilurus spinipes) – from Goomburra and similar high-altitude habitats, this dragon has a crest of spines on its neck. The top and sides of the head meet to form an acute angle. They are frequently found on branches.

Nobbi dragon (Amphibolurus nobbi) – a small dragon which in the mature male has bright yellow markings along the sides of the body to attract females. Found on Table Top and also in Stanthorpe. Lace monitor (Varanus varius) – a large goanna to two metres, a scavenger and predator of any small animals. Common throughout the eastern states. Sand goanna (Varanus gouldii) – grows to 1.6 metres, living mostly on the ground. It is common in deserts but there is a community at Flagstone Creek.                                                                         

                                                              (By Francis Mangubhai and Glenda Walter)

June Club Outing Reports

Trish Allen organised a day in the Lockyer Valley, focusing on the Mt. Sylvia district, renowned for its patch- work landscape of irrigated vegetable and lucerne crops on the river flats with grass-fed beef being produced in the more undulating foothills. Whipbirds called as we began our first visit of the morning to Karen Gruner’s Land for Wildlife property, tucked away in Reibstein Road. This gave us an insight into the type of country the early German pioneers in the district would have selected. Karen and partner Michael chose their 57 acre property because of its possibilities as a safe haven for wildlife and in the four years that they have lived there, they have worked tirelessly towards restoring and conserving the flora and fauna on their patch. 

Their property has Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) growing on the tops of the hills, with semi-evergreen vine thicket on sedimentary rock closer to the valley floor. They face the frustrating task of battling with lantana, Madeira vine and tree pear. Their first plantings of trees have been very successful, notwithstanding the loss of newly established trees due to the floods of 2011 and 2013. The flora and fauna lists for this property would indicate that Karen and Michael’s vision to restore this property’s ecosystem is a worthy passion, and with continued hard work they will succeed. Their work makes them true modern-day pioneers in this valley.

After morning tea by the creek we moved to the property on the other side of the creek, belonging to Jim and Joan MacDonald. We enjoyed the shady walk along the avenue of Ficus Benjamina to meet Jim who is in his eighties. He has been planting native trees on his 40 acre property since 1983, his first planting being a wind- break of wattles and eucalypts. In 1987 he planted a wildlife corridor, and these plantings, including Red Cedar (Toona ciliate) and White Cedars (Melia azedarach var. australasica), are now maturing. Some species such as the Eucalyptus tereticornis are now self-propagating. It is obvious Jim is still passionate about planting trees and through trial and error he has learnt a great deal along the way. Jim’s success in growing trees on his property must be inspirational for Karen and Michael.

Jim MacDonald with frog poster (above)

Elattostachys xylocarpa Beetroot tree at Karen's place (above right) 

Phyllanthus microcladus (right)

Report and Photos by Jean Gundry

Trish and Adrian’s Trees - and a Cowpat 

The afternoon of our Upper Tenthill outing was spent at Trish and Adrian Allen’s former property, where we saw the remains of their 1970s planting of 1000 trees. Most of the trees had survived and were looking well established and comfortable on what is now a wooded slope, though the hoop pines (Araucaria cunninghamii) apparently succumbed to the first drought. The crows ashes (Flindersia australis) were looking particularly splendid, as might have been expected considering the magnificent old crows ashes occurring naturally at the bottom of the slope. There were also some large and lovely specimens of the South American racehorse tree (Tipuana tipu). Trisha spoke of her regret at having chosen to plant them. When she and Adrian had goats on the property, no seedlings survived. Since the goats have gone, however, the trees are showing a tendency to escape into the surrounding landscape. Having planted a few environmental horrors in my time, I can sympathise! Among other weeds, I planted some Tipuanas in the seventies. They were recommended by the Forestry Department, which supplied me with the plants. 

Dung beetle (See note below)

Having listened to Geoff Monteith’s fascinating talk on Friday night, we paid more attention than we usually do to the cow dung on the property, and wondered what wonders might be discovered in a particularly fresh, moist pile. Our new member Deb Ford has had prior experience of dung beetles, having been involved in a dung beetle collection exercise. Sure enough her sharp eyes spotted this little specimen, which was quickly scooped up on a stick. The process covered the insect rather liberally in dung, which seemed to offend it deeply, as it immediately began to clean itself using its middle pair of legs. I decided to help it along with a bit of a dunk and swish in the clean water of the dam. This led it to cling rather desperately to my finger, showing off its long back legs to the camera. Having paid attention on Friday night, we concluded that it must be a ball-rolling species, rather than one which would bury dung immediately under the cowpat. We also knew that this must be one of the species introduced by CSIRO, because our own native dung beetles, having evolved with the drier dung of marsupials, would not have been interested in this particular source of their favourite food. We hoped to see it start making a ball when, on being replaced on the pat, the         beetle began making rhythmical sweeps with its front legs. No ball seemed to be forthcoming, which led us to speculate that it was feeding.

 (Photo above: Trish Gardner and Lauren Marlatt examining the single dung beetle found in a fresh cowpat at Mt Sylvia - photos by Glenda Walter)

Report by Trish Gardner

Note:

Hello Glenda

Just back from out at Lake Nuga Nuga near Injune where I continued on to for a couple of nights after the Nats talk. Good work, that’s a dung beetle and it’s one of two species of the introduced African ball-roller Sisyphus. I showed pictures of their balls and the larva inside during the talk.

There are two introduced species S. spinipes and S. rubrus and they both occur widely in SEQ. They are very difficult to tell apart and impossible in a photograph. S. spinipes is the one I said does not bury its balls but just secretes them under the edge of a grass tussock. S. rubrus does bury its balls.

Cheers Geoff