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.