January Outing - Breakfast with the Birds, Cunningham's Gap, 20th January 2018

It is traditional for our club to have an early start to the January outing due to the hot, summer weather. This year we are changing our venue to a more shaded and cooler destination, so we are going to the higher, cooler area of Cunningham’s Gap! This will be our year to check the forest and rainforest birds instead of the water and field birds!

View from the lookout over the Fassifern Valley

Meet: at the Crest Car Park, Cunningham's Gap; 6 a.m. for a 6.30 a.m. walk start. Please be careful pulling into and exiting The Crest Car Park. If you can car pool, please do so. It will save on car parking spaces.

Activities: We will check the rainforest circuit first, then back to the car park. We should be finished this part of our walk by 8 am. For those not interested in bird watching it is an easy, pleasant walk and there should be plenty of fungi and flora to see in the rainforest at this time of year. We will then drive to the West Gap Creek picnic area, for a cuppa or breakfast if you so desire, and more bird watching here and along the track across the creek for some distance back towards the top. A big percentage of our walk should be in shade or part shade, so we will call a stop to this walk to return to our cars when we have had enough. We will be able to then cover a variety of habitat from rainforest, open area at the picnic tables, and eucalypt forest with understory along the lower track. (Toilet facilities available at both The Crest Car Park and the West Gap Creek Picnic Area.)

Bring: Breakfast, morning tea, snacks, hat, insect repellant, sunblock and water to carry on the walks. Although there are picnic tables it would be advisable to bring your chairs so you can seek the shade. For use along the way or at the break bring binocs, cameras and some identification books.

Upon arrival – Please sign the Attendance Book and pay your Excursion Fee of $2 per participant.

Directions: Drive west on the Cunningham Highway from Ipswich/Yamanto, etc., pass through Aratula township and head up the Range to the top, just past the crest is the Cunningham’s Gap Crest Car Park on the right. Again, please be careful pulling into and exiting both The Crest Car Park and the West Gap Creek Picnic Area.

Be aware: There could be ticks and leeches. 

December Social

December is always when we have our annual Christmas Party. Plenty of our members were able to make it, and it was a talkfest of reminiscences and catching up with friends not often seen. 

The entertainment was provided by the members with topics ranging from lesser known NSW national parks to the Black-necked Stork nest at Warrill View, and the ever popular 'candid camera'.

Happy New Year, everyone, and Happy Natting in 2018!

Outing Report - Frenches Creek Moths, 18 November 2017

Unfortunately, a torrential downpour cancelled the November outing. It will be postponed to a later date. Meanwhile a few stalwarts turned up, and enjoyed a late afternoon tea on the deck watching the White-winged Trillers, Double-barred Finches, Australian King Parrots, and Grey-crowned Babblers. 

Outing Report - Flinders Plum Reserve, September 2017

Report adapted from the October Newsletter.

The birdos all wanted a sighting 
of the White-eared Monarch

The Flinders Plum or Shiny-leaved Condoo (Planchonella eerwah) was presumed extinct for a large part of last century until its rediscovery at Ivory's Knob, southwest of Ipswich in 1980.

  
The Flinders Peak Conservation Estate has a major part of the population of these endangered trees.
 
Saturday was a beautiful spring day: warm with clear skies. Eighteen Fassifern Field Naturalists and four visitors gathered at the car park prepared to enjoy this easy return walk of 3.5 km along Sandy Creek.

We didn’t get very far before the birds took our attention in the flowering Bottlebrushes. As to be expected Scarlet and Brown Honeyeaters were in abundance along with other honeyeater species and nectar feeding birds. It was a slow walk along a very dry creek bed looking at trees, plants, flowers, insects and anything else that drew our attention, most noticeable were the majestic Hoop Pines dotted along the creek side, so glad these didn’t get logged in the early days. Silky Oaks were flowering, another haven for nectar feeding birds. Keith pointed out various trees along the way with special reference to the Small-leaved Tuckeroo and its tiny flowers.

A great find was the White-eared Monarch, not a bird often seen, and for some members this was a new sighting for them. The bird was very obliging and stayed still long enough for us to get good views as it flitted around the trees by the track. 

We finished our trip with lunch at the picnic grounds, which by the way, is surrounded by the Flinders Plum Tree. A good ending to a delightful outing. 

Species Lists 

Birds: 

Bar-shouldered Dove, Wonga Pigeon, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Brown Goshawk, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Bee-eater, Variegated Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, White-browed Scrubwren, White-throated Gerygone, Brown Thornbill, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Lewin's Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Little Friarbird, Eastern Whipbird, Varied Triller, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Pied Currawong, Torresian Crow, Leaden Flycatcher, White-eared Monarch, Eastern Yellow Robin, Tawny Grassbird, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Double-barred Finch, Red-browed Finch.

Butterflies: 

Clearwing Swallowtail, Common Grass-yellow, Scarlet Jezebel, Wanderer, Lesser Wanderer, Meadow Argus, Glasswing.

Mammals: 

Red-necked Wallaby.

Other Invertebrates: 

Variable Ladybird (Coelophora inaequalis), Meat Ant (Iridomyrmex purpureus) and nest, Wasp - no common name (Ropalidia socialistica), Yellow Brown Paper Wasp (Ropalidia romandi), Spider Wasp (Pompilidae family).

Plants of Interest: 

Hairy Birds Eye (Alectryon tomentosus), Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii), Broad-leaved Apple (Angophora subvelutina), Small-leaved Tuckeroo (Cupaniopsis parvifolia), Deciduous Fig (Ficus superba var. henneana), Silky Oak (Grevillea robusta), Native Frangipani (Hymenosporum flavum), Foambark (Jagera pseudorhus), Swamp Box (Lophostemon suaveolens), White Cedar (Melia azedarach), Emu Apple (Owenia acidula), Shiny-leaved Condoo or Flinder’s Plum (Planchonella eerwah), Brush Teak (Toechima tenax).

November Outing - Moths at Frenches Creek

This outing is on private property so if you are not a member and wish to participate please contact us by email (see left-hand margin.)

We may see moths that look like blankets
 - Epicoma zelotes ...

This is a late afternoon/evening outing, and we will meet at the property at 3 pm.

This is where we will have our evening meal so bring lots of food and drink (you might want tea/coffee as well). If you're refined - a table and chairs,  

insect repellent for the mosquitoes, binoculars for the day, and magnifying glasses (or loupes) and small lights for the evening.

Activities include an afternoon walk to check for birds and butterflies (and set up the white sheet and spot lights). Then dinner. Then when it gets dark we will start the lights going and see what pops up on the sheet. 

Wes Jenkinson from Beaudesert is a moth genius and will be helping us to identify the little dears. Some will be held for detailed identification at a later stage. We expect to finish around 8:30 pm.

Did you know that there are 3 twilights! On the night in question – Civil Twilight starts = 6:20pm, Nautical Twilight = 6:45pm, Astro Twilight = 7:15pm, and finally night at 7:47pm. (Ed: Duh!!)

... moths with weird patterns -
Green Blotched Moth, Cosmodes elegans ...

... moths in ball gowns - Problepsis sancta ...

... and some that hide their true colours -
Convolvulus Hawk Moth Agrius convolvuli

October Camp Report - ‘Bindarrabi’, Koreelah

Report adapted from the November newsletter.

Purple Beard Orchid
Calochilus robertsonii

With a forecast of threatening rain and storms for the scheduled camp weekend it didn't look good, and numbers at the camp were minimal. Fortunately, some members set up camp early on Friday when the weather was just great, and were able to put in a full day of walking to a number of areas on this property which has such varying habitats as open eucalypt forest, rainforest, heath, mountain streams flowing gently and cascading over rock slabs, and great viewing spots to look over the spectacular Koreelah Gorge. 

On Saturday the campers were joined by a couple of other members on a day visit. Each habitat had its own unique flora to admire. 

On the moist, sheltered banks, the pale pink flowers of Dendrobium kingianum glowed against its dark green foliage and the many varieties of fern looked lush and healthy in the overcast conditions.

In the grassy areas beside tracks groups of the bright yellow flower spikes of Goodenia bellidifolia waved gently in the breeze while the more prostrate Goodenia rotundifolia and the tiny flowers of two of the native violets, Viola hederacea and Viola betonicifolia, caught our eye underfoot. The highlight of our flora finds was the many Purple Beard Orchids Calochilus robertsonii we found scattered throughout open grassy areas. 

Viola betonicifolia

While carefully meandering along the rock slabs of Trough Creek we observed the tiny Tangle Orchids, 
Plectorrhiza tridentata, with their clusters of minute flowers, dangling by a thread from overhanging branches
and gently moving in the air currents. Impossible to photograph! 

The stark white papery flowers of a Helichrysum grew in the moist fertile soils along the banks while more kingianums clung to the rocky sides above the water levels.

In the heathy areas on the high rocky banks of the gorge Leptospernum polygalifolium was still in flower together with the Sticky Hop Bush. 

Springside, where the vegetation provided cover, the Tusked Frog, Adelotus brevis repeated his ‘tok, tok’ call. The large clumps of water cress at the stream crossing
tempted a couple of us to try out the peppery taste of this delicacy.

Nature's Totem Art

Once again, as on a previous camp some two years ago, the ‘totem art’ created under bark by an insect on a tree trunk, caught our eye. Some members, with more imagination than others, could make out eagles and other animals in the art. No! – tea, coffee and water were the main beverages consumed!

Unfortunately, with rain setting in late Saturday and continuing all night Saturday night and with further rain and storms predicted, we all decided to pack up and head home via Woodenbong and the Mt
Lindesay Highway – a bit longer but better than the freshly graded soil road through White Swamp.

Despite the early departure, it was a most enjoyable two days with lots of relatively easy walks and plenty to take our interest.

We managed to build up a respectable bird count in the day and a half of fine weather – 64 species. A small number of butterflies were also identified – 7 species.

Species List: compiled from members’ sightings.

Birds: Brown Quail, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Collared Sparrowhawk, Grey Goshawk, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Nankeen Kestrel, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Pheasant Coucal, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Brush Cuckoo, Southern Boobook, Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, Dollarbird, Noisy Pitta, White-throatedTreecreeper, Green Catbird, Satin Bowerbird, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, White-browed Scrubwren, Large billed Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, White-throated Gerygone, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin's Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Bell Miner, Noisy Miner, Red Wattlebird, Scarlet Honeyeater, White-throated honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Eastern Whipbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, White-winged Triller, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Australasian Figbird, Olive-backed Oriole, Grey Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Leaden Flycatcher, Restless Flycatcher, Black-faced Monarch, Eastern Yellow Robin, Tawny Grassbird, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Red-browed Finch.Butterflies: Orchard Swallowtail, Common Brown, Brown Ringlet, Wanderer, Common Grass Blue, Ringed Xenica, Greenish Grass DartOthers: Red-bellied Black Snake, Lace Monitor (Goanna), Red-necked Wallaby.

October Camp - Koreelah. 13/14/15th October 2017

One of the creeks we explored last camp

This camp is on private property so if you are not a member and wish to participate please contact us by email (see left-hand margin.)

We first visited this delightful property in April 2015, so it’s time to go back again and see it at this time of the year. There is a diverse landscape of wet sclerophyll forest, creeks, rainforest, and open grassland. The camping area is reasonably flat and it is easy to set up. A very relaxing and peaceful place to be.

Facilities: Camp kitchen, large gas stove, refrigerator, dining space for 12, space for another 30 under cover, solar hot water, solar electricity, 2 solar hot showers, composting toilets, and spring water
Bring: All you need to be self-sufficient, camping gear, chairs and table, torch, food, etc. Don’t forget your binoculars, walking shoes, field guides, insect repellent, hat and whatever else you feel you need for the camp.
Costs: Camping $10pppn. Day visits $5. The property is just over an hour’s drive from Boonah so, if you don’t want to camp come for the day and enjoy this special place.

There is no mobile phone coverage.

September Outing - Flinders Plum Picnic Area

Picnic Area

Meet: at the Flinders Plum Picnic Area at 8.30 for a 9 a.m. start: Saturday, 16th September 2017. Peak Crossing locality.

Parking is limited so if you can arrange to take someone with you in your car it would
help.

The picnic area has very good BBQ facilities shelter shed and a toilet but it’s a good idea to bring a chair as other day visitors share this spot.

Activities: Walking along the mostly flat Sandy Creek Track, approximately 3.5 km return The creek last month was mostly dry but there were some pools of water around. Even with the dryness the birds were very vocal. There should be some flowering shrubs and plants in September along the creek walk.

There are other walks for the very fit, all start from the picnic area. Maps show distances, but the main walk for us is the Sandy Creek track.

We will take morning tea and be back at the picnic ground for lunch and socialize.

Meadow Argus

Bring: Morning tea, lunch, snacks, hat, sunblock and water to carry on the walks. Bring binocs, cameras and some identification books for use at our lunch break.

Upon arrival – Please sign the Attendance Book and pay your Excursion Fee of $2 per participant.

Outing Report - "Moon View", August 2017

An extremely windy day, the worst this season, but it didn't deter the Natters on their August outing. More than twenty met at "Moon View", Peter & Fleur's property.

The Fassifern Field Naturalists haven't been here for a number of years but "Moon View" still has it's particular charm. 

We set off through the casuarinas heading for the gorge that runs through the property. Two Glossy Black Cockatoos were feeding quietly here. We were first aware of their presence by the quiet chittering as they delicately fed on the seeds. They stayed there for all the morning as they were still in the same tree on our return journey.

Some of the
remarkable rock formations

Down in the gorge it was much calmer and there was plenty of birds. White-throated Honeyeater, Rose Robin, Scarlet Honeyeater and Eastern Spinebill were some of the birds taking advantage of the warmth, the flowers and the rock pools.




Immediately the Natters spread out, investigating the geology, plants and water life, as well as birdwatching. Sighting of the day would be the Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby seen scrambling up the side of the gorge. No picture unfortunately. You'll just have to click on the link to look at this fact sheet.

Natters spreading out along the gorge

This area was frequented by aboriginals in the past and Peter told us a little of the history and showed us some hollows made by grinding stones.

Hollow worn by aboriginal grinding stones.

Then it was up to the other side of the gorge into heath and all the unique and amazing plants that grow there. We were soon trying to key the hoveas that were just coming into bloom, hovea similis and hovea acutifolia perhaps. (Click on links to see images.)

Wandering towards the heath

Beetle on leptospermum flower

The leptospermum were in flower but so tiny you could easily miss them. This little scarab beetle, possibly of the Chrysomelidae family, is covering one bloom completely.













We eventually came out on an open rock face where we had great views of Mt Moon and the surrounding country.

Mt Moon from "Moon View"

Birds (26 species): Bar-shouldered Dove, Glossy Black-Cockatoo, Little Lorikeet, Crimson Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, Variegated Fairy-wren, Brown Gerygone, Spotted Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin's Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Leaden Flycatcher, Rose Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye, Red-browed Finch.

Reptiles: Wall Skink.

Butterflies: Common Grass-yellow, Wanderer, Evening Brown, Orange Ringlet.

Mammals: Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby.

Other Invertebrates: European Honey Bee.

Some Flora of Interest: Brown Wattle Acacia bruniodes, Soap Tree Alphitonia excelsa, Bertya pinifolia - classified as near threatened', Smooth-barked Apple Angophora leiocarpa, Native Olive Chionanthaus ramiflora, Lemon-scented Gum Pink Corymbia citriodora, Bloodwood Corymbia intermedia, Brown Bloodwood Corymbia trachyphloia, White Mahogany Eucalyptus acmenoides, Gum-topped Ironbark Eucalyptus dura, Grevillea linsmithii another rare plant, Settlers’ Flax (Grub Plant) Gymnostachys anceps, Hovea acutifolia, Hovea similis, Keraudrenia sp., Small-fruited tea-tree Leptospermum microcarpum, Hairy Psychotria Psychotria loniceroides [info from member - Psychotria is a good butterfly plant.], Forest Grass Tree Xanthorrhoea latifolia.

Outing Report - Head of the Condamine, July 2017

Report adapted from the August Newsletter.

We all squeezed into cars in Boonah and headed up into the clouds of the Main Range to take in the delights of waterfall wonderland. Our first stop - the Teviot Falls - were misted and mysterious. But the Red Apple trees (Syzygium ingens, aka Acmena brachyandra) were in fruit with bright red bunches contrasting with the greens of the canopy. 

Cambanoora, or Condamine, Gorge is a spectacular sight.

Looking towards the Gorge

Cambanoora or Condamine Gorge
from the Head of the Condamine River 

We made stops at both Queen Mary and Brown's Falls. They had plenty of water. At Queen Mary ground orchids were noticed (by some of us with eagle eyes and macro cameras) in a number of sheltered spots – mainly Nodding Greenhoods (Pterostylis nutans). A couple of Spotted Pardalotes came very close and they would be, without doubt, the most beautiful of tiny birds. While at Brown's those members able to endure the perils of rock-hopping saw the falls while others listened to the elusive Logrunner. As usual, heard but not seen.

Rock-hopping and log-kneeling at Brown's Falls!

The last leg of the trip was to travel through Killarney to Mt Colliery (there was a coal mine somewhere near here a long time ago) and then up the mountain back towards Mt Superbus. We had wonderful views into the Condamine Gorge and the potato fields of Spring Creek. 

Some of the northern escarpment of the gorge
with potato fields near the horizon.

Although fairly cleared the mountains still held a few scrub patches. We stopped on Gambubal Road at one clump to see what Glen Leiper had been gushing about at our last AGM. Over a dozen delightful species were noted there and I am sure we just scratched the surface. Some Sassafras (Doryphora sassafras) was in flower. A Common Acronychia (Acronychia oblongifolia) was in fruit – a white segmented drupe. A Narrow-leaved Tuckeroo (Cupaniopsis baileyana) stood out with its long, compound leaves. Orange Blossom Orchids (Sarcochilus falcatus) were in bud. 

Storm clouds rolling in over the Gorge (taken near "the clump")

At over 1,000 metres altitude, it got a bit cold. And then we saw the rain coming. Storms too. Better get off this mountain quickly. And we did. Just in time. We followed some showers (or they followed us) all the way back to Boonah. What a great day in waterfall country, near the top of the world. 

Species List for whole trip

Birds: Brown Quail, Australian Wood Duck, Australasian Grebe, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, White-necked Heron, White-faced Heron, Straw-necked Ibis, Black-shouldered Kite, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Masked Lapwing, Galah, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Musk Lorikeet, Crimson Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, Albert's Lyrebird, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairy-wren, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, White-throated Gerygone, Brown Thornbill, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin's Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Bell Miner, Noisy Miner, Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, Australian Logrunner, Eastern Whipbird, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Torresian Crow, Magpie-lark, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Common Myna.

Butterflies: Wanderer.

Outing Report - Lutter Road, Charlwood, May 2017

The weather, after not looking promising on the Friday, dawned warm and sunny on Saturday morning, and stayed that way all day. The Fassifern Field Naturalists met at Lutter Road and caught up with old friends or made acquaintance with new ones. Lutter Road is on the western slopes of Mt French. 

It was misty on the Great Divide

We then set off in two groups; one to explore the scrub along the slashed tracks, and the other to admire the chooks, fossick in the scrub edges and walk up to the dam. We all met back for morning tea where we sat in the sunshine glorying in the magnificent view of the Great Dividing Range. Afterwards the group split up again; the adventurers diving into the scrub on the northern side of the block and the others meandering along the drive admiring the number and diversity of butterflies flitting about in the sunshine. By this time the scrub-bashers had joined the others for a wander along the road before returning to the view for lunch. By this time we were all sitting in the shade.

A juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle circled above us while birds, butterflies, frogs, moths and vine scrub plants were all discussed over our delicious lunches. All except for Wendy who was on a bread and water diet!

Inspection of the Flindersia xanthoxyla leaves

On the property were some Long Jack or Yellow-wood, Flindersia xanthoxyla (derived from the Ancient Greek xanthos "yellow", and xylon "wood".) Read more ....

White Looper Moth or Flower-eating Caterpillar, Pingasa chlora

This magnificent specimen was resting on one of the carport posts. It can be forgiven for thinking it is the trunk of a gum tree because it is still well camouflaged. Click on the image to enlarge. Then you will see its hairy wings. Read more ....

Species lists

Bees: Blue-banded Bee Amegilla cingulate.

Beetles: Variable Ladybird Coelophora inaequalis.

Birds, 43 species: Brown Quail, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Australian Pelican (in the far distance), White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Brown Goshawk, Wedge-tailed Eagle (a pair in the far distance), Pale-headed Rosella, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Rainbow Bee-eater, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, White-browed Scrubwren, Speckled Warbler, White-throated Gerygone, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Striated Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin's Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Eastern Whipbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Varied Triller, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Currawong, Rufous Fantail, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Rose Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin, Tawny Grassbird, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Martin sp., Mistletoebird, Double-barred Finch.

Butterflies, 11 species: Clearwing Swallowtail Cressida cressida, Common (Large) Grass-yellow Eurema hecabe, Yellow or Common Albatross Appias paulina, Tailed Emperor Polyura sempronius, Glasswing Acraea andromacha, Meadow Argus Junonia villida, Yellow Admiral Vanessa itea, Common Crow Euploea core, Lesser Wanderer Danaus chrysippus, Wanderer Danaus plexippus, Blue Tiger Tirumala hamata.

Frogs: Striped Marsh Frog Limnodynastes peroni, Eastern Sedge Frog Litoria fallax.

Moths: White Looper Moth or Flower-eating Caterpillar, Pingasa chlora.

Spiders: Garden Orb Weaver Eriophora transmarina, Golden Orb-Weaver Nephila sp.

Plants of interest: Rosewood Acacia fasciculifera, Brush Ironbark Bridelia exaltata, Long Jack or Yellow-wood Flindersia xanthoxyla, Crow's Apple Owenia venosa, Poison Peach Trema tomentose.

May Outing 2017 - western slopes of Mt French

It's been a while since FFNC explored this side of Mt French. We will be on private property. It is mainly regrowth wattle with some vine scrub in the gullies. In the clearing around the cabin there's plenty of naturalising to do including a gentle walk to the dam. There are magnificent views of the Great Dividing Range from the property.

Meet: at the property on Saturday 20th May at 8.30 am. 

Bring: Morning tea, and lunch. Bring the usual stuff – camera, sun screen, insect repellent, walking shoes, water, etc. CHAIRS! Reference books.

Fitness/Mobility: This outing caters for all. The more adventurous can explore the tracks through the bush while the more genteel can amble around the cleared areas. Some very interesting insects were discovered during the recce. 

Please email us for more information.

Camp Report - Cullendore, NSW

Cullendore High Country is an ideal spot for a field naturalists camp. Overlooking the Maryland National Park on the Qld-NSW border, it is at high altitude, and on the edge of the Granite Belt. This means there are different species of fauna, flora and fungi that we don't always get in the western Scenic Rim. We had a great time walking and driving the tracks. There was so much to see and do. Here's some photos which show what we got up to.

Species lists follow the photos.

All images are by members of the Fassifern Field Naturalists Club.

Fassifern Field Naturalists at Cullendore High Country

Matty's Dam, Cullendore High Country

 Australian Bluebells (Wahlenbergia sp) with wasp pollinator

White Patch Bark Moth (Scioglyptis lyciariap)

Russell’s Greenhood (Diplodium russellii)

White Stemmed Wattle Moth

Beautiful waterlilies

Ringed Xenica (Geitoneura acantha)

Water Snowflakes (Nymphoides indica)

Unknown insect (probably Tipulidae sp.) but several found flying close to the leaf litter in Maryland National Park

More Craneflies Tipulidae sp.

Morning Tea Reflections - stunning!

Species List: compiled by the Club Recorder from members’ sightings.

Birds Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Australasian Grebe, Bar-shouldered Dove, Wonga Pigeon, White-faced Heron, Straw-necked Ibis, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Purple Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Masked Lapwing, Glossy Black Cockatoo, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Galah, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Musk Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Azure Kingfisher, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, Brown Tree-creeper, Satin Bowerbird, Superb Fairy-wren, Variegated Fairy-wren, White-browed Scrubwren, Western Gerygone, Brown Thornbill, Striated Thornbill, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, White-eared Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Red Wattlebird, Brown Honeyeater, White-cheeked Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Grey-crowned Babbler, Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike, Golden Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Black-faced Woodswallow, Dusky Woodswallow, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Restless Flycatcher, Magpie-Lark, White-winged Chough, Apostlebird, Jacky Winter, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Mistletoebird, Double-barred Finch, Red-browed Finch, Australian Pipit. 

Mammals Red-necked Wallaby, Common Brushtail Possum, Rufous Bettong, Common Ringtail Possum, Brown Hare

Reptiles Carpet Python, Red-bellied Black Snake, Wall Skink

Amphibians Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog, Striped Marsh Frog, Beeping Froglet

Ants Jumper Ant (Myrmecia nigrocincta), Many more but couldn’t identify them.

Butterflies Greenish Grass-dart, Small Grass-yellow, Glasswing, Lesser Wanderer, Wanderer, Common Brown, Ringed Xenica, Common Grass-blue (unconfirmed Shouldered Brown)

Moths White Stemmed Wattle Moth (Chelepteryx chalepteryx), White-patch Bark Moth (Scioglyptis lyciaria)

Dragonflies Blue Skimmer (Orthetrum caledonicum)

Native Orchids - In Flower: Dark Mosquito Orchid (Acianthus exsertus), Common Wasp Orchid (Chiloglottis diphylla), Russell’s Greenhood (Diplodium russellii). 
Not In Flower: Pink Rock Orchid (Dendrobium kingianum, now with a taxonomic name change - Thelychiton kingianus), King Orchid (Dendrobium speciosum, also a name change - Thelychiton speciosus), Climbing Orchid (Erythrorchis cassythoide