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.