Ringed Xenica

The Ringed Xenica (Geitoneura acantha) flies from November to March and it can be seen at Mt French right now being in the north of their range. The host plants for their caterpillars are the native grasses, such as Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra). The Museum of Victoria says they hide in the grass during the day and emerge at night to feed.

This lovely specimen was taken by one of our members, A. Podlich, at Mt French.

Ringed Xenica (Geitoneura acantha)

November Outing - Moth evening at Frenches Creek

Wattle Bizarre Looper (Anisozyga pieroides)

We got rained out last year so let’s try again.  Just after dark we hope to attract a lot of moths to a white sheet in front of a bright light.  They can then be photographed, identified (the common ones anyway) and released.  We may keep the unusual ones for further identification later.  

This is an introduction to the world of moths. There are many thousands of species and they do valuable pollination (as well as lots of damage to plants by their larvae).  They underpin most of our ecosystems as many mammals, birds and other invertebrates eat both the adults and larvae.

Wes Jenkinson from Beaudesert will ease us into this hidden world.

Time: 3 pm. We may finish up around 8:30pm-ish.

Where: Frenches Creek. 

Directions: This is on private property so if you wish to join us, please send an email and we'll reply with the directions.

Activities: This is a beginner’s activity.  It is suitable for everybody – not much walking. Come for an afternoon walk around the property (not far), along with setting up a white sheet and spotlights. If it rains we will have a drink on the deck, like last year. If it doesn't rain you can socialize while waiting for the moths to arrive.

Dot Underwing Moth (Eudocima materna)

Level of Fitness: Easy: do as much or as little as you want. 

What to Bring: We will have early dinner so bring lots of food and drink, table and chairs, and napkins (starched, of course, in silver rings).  For the moth show bring jacket, insect repellent and torches/lights.  Bring a camera and any moth books you may have laying around.

Upon Arrival: Please register in the Attendance Book and pay your $2 per person participant fee. 

Outing Report - Aloomba Lavender Farm Camp, Liston NSW, 19-22 October 2018

Fassifern Field Naturalist members at Undercliffe Falls, Liston NSW

Girraween's loss was Bookookoorara Creek's gain. Or it was the gain for the Fassifern Field Nats. Originally we were going to have our October camp at Girraween National Park but due to the dry conditions and consequent water shortages, the campground was closed. Never daunted, our fearless leader, Wendy, transferred to the Aloomba Lavender Farm at Liston only 20 kilometres from Stanthorpe. The weather forecast was ominous and though there was some fierce storms about our four days were not marred by rain.

Day 1: was a time for setting up camp and familiarising ourselves with our surroundings.
Day 2: heralded fine weather so we set off for Undercliffe Falls a quarter of an hour away. The storms from the previous days meant that there was plenty of water cascading over the rocks though we only had glimpses of the 150 metre waterfall through the trees. Everyone felt the scramble to the bottom of the falls was just a bit too slippery.

Bookookoorara Creek above the falls had plenty to occupy us. Wildflowers were in bloom, insects on the plants, frogs' spawn and tadpoles were in the quiet pools, the geology was fascinating and everywhere was lichen starting to expand with the welcome rain.

Leaf Beetles, Lamprolina aeneipennis (perhaps?) 

at Undercliffe Falls

Another view of the Leaf Beetles

The 150 m drop of Undercliffe Falls

It was back to camp for lunch and then Peter Bonner (our host) took us to another block of their property called The Glen. We drove through cattle paddocks until we came to a small creek. Here we explored the small spring-fed creek with amazing rock formations which sheltered ferns, staghorns and orchids. We could only imagine how cool and lush this would be in wetter times. 

Rock formations at The Glen

Tongue Orchid, Dockrillia linguiformis

Pineapple Orchid, Bulbophyllum elisae

Wheat-leaved Orchid, Bulbophyllum shepherdii

Day 3: for some it was packing up, while others went on a morning jaunt to Storm King Dam amd Dr Roberts' Waterhole.

Aub and Linda moth hunting at Storm King Dam

Willow-herb Day-moth, Phalaenoides tristifica

Dr Roberts' Waterhole

Narrow-leaved Grevillea, Grevillea viridiflava

Day 4: four members went back to The Glen to explore a little further. Then it was time to pack up and leave. What an absorbing and sociable camp. Thanks, Wendy.

Another shot of the falls

Aloomba Farm camping area and surrounds. Bird list 19/20/21 October 2018

Birds: Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Crested Pigeon, Tawny Frog mouth, Straw-necked Ibis (40), Masked Lapwing, Galah, Musk Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, Australian King Parrot, Red-winged Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Eastern Rosella, Red-rumped Parrot, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Southern Boobook, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, Satin Bower bird, Superb Fairy-wren, White-throated Gerygone, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Spotted Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Red Wattlebird, White-naped Honeyeater, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, White-winged Triller, Varied Triller, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie (12), Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Leaden Flycatcher, Magpie-lark, White-winged Chough, Welcome Swallow.
Other Animals: Echidna, Copper-tailed Skink (Ctenotus taeniolatus), Blue Tongue Skink (Tiliqua scincoides), Rabbit, Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog or Sedge Frog (Litoria fallax).

On road side between Aloomba and The Glen (part of the property)
Pheasant Coucal, Turtle, Painted Lady, Orange Ringlet.

The Glen: 
Birds: Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal, Straw necked Ibis, Wedge-tailed Eagle (eating a rabbit), Whistling Kite, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Galah, Brush Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Dollarbird, White-throated Tree-creeper, White-throated Gerygone, Striated Thornbill, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Spotted Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Red Wattlebird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, White-winged Triller, Grey Shrike-thrush, Pied Currawong, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, White-winged Chough, Dollar bird, Spangled Drongo, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Australian Raven, Torresian Crow, Leaden Flycatcher, Black-faced Monarch, Jacky Winter, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow.
Reptiles: Red-bellied Black Snake, Eastern Water Dragon, Frogs (not identified).
Butterflies: Orchard Swallowtail, Common Grass Blue, Meadow Argus, Wanderer (Monarch). 
Dragonflies: Graphic Flutterer. 
Mammals: Rabbits. 
Of interest: Many different types of lichen on the rocks. Owl pellets, Koala scats. Tongue Orchid in flower, Wheat-leaved Orchid and others mentioned in the separate article.

Undercliffe Falls via Liston
Birds: Straw-necked Ibis, Wedge-tailed Eagle, King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Tree-creeper, Superb Fairy-wren, White-throated Gerygone, Striated Thornbill (breeding), Brown Thornbill, White-browed Scrubwren, Spotted Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, New Holland Honeyeater, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Pied Currawong, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie,  Grey Fantail, Torresian Crow, Leaden Flycatcher, Black-faced Monarch, Magpie-lark, Mistletoebird, Red-browed Finch.
Reptiles: Eastern Water Dragon, Garden Skink, Turtle, Blue tongue Skink, Unknown rough skinned Skink.
Mammals: Red-necked Wallaby.
Butterflies: Meadow Argus, Glasswing, Yellow Spot Blue, Bright Copper, Orchard Swallowtail, Wanderer, Common Brown, Grey Ringlet.

Storm King Dam
Birds: Pacific Black Duck, Grey Teal, Hardhead, Australasian Grebe, Peaceful Dove, Common Bronzewing, Great Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Australian Pelican, Great Egret, Intermediate Egret, White-faced Heron, Australian White Ibis, Royal Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Spoonbill, Purple Swamphen,  Black-winged Stilt, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, Noisy Miner, Grey Shrike-thrush, Dusky Woodswallow, Pied Currawong, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Magpie-lark, Dollarbird, Welcome Swallow, Tree Martin.
Others: Turtle, Willow-herb Day-moth, (Phalaenoides tristifica).

October Camp - Liston NSW, 19/20/21 October 2018

Date: 19/20/21 (22) October 2018

Undercliffe Falls

Where: Aloomba Lavender Farm 5425 Mt Lindesay Rd Liston. 20km east of Stanthorpe, 3.8km from Liston

Directions: From Stanthorpe take the Amosfield Road. In about quarter of an hour you'll reach the junction of the Mt Lindesay Road (Highway), turn left. Drive through Liston to the lavender farm, approximately 3 minutes.

Activities: Explore the property close by the camp. Owner (Peter) to take us to another part of his property. A visit to Undercliff Falls. And of course, sample the lavender scones made by Tere (owner) and check out the gift shop.

Bring: All your own camping needs as usual. You will need to bring water for camping use and drinking water as well. Water is provided for showers and toilets. Don’t forget the insect repellent, torch, camera and all your personal and camping needs.

Camping fees: $15 per night, per couple. $20 per night per couple for powered sites 10v (limited). $5 for each extra person per night.
There is also some B&B accommodation.

Please contact us if you're wishing to join the camp; fassifernfieldnaturalists[at]gmail.com.

Aloomba Lavender Farm link 

Outing Report - Pine Tree Creek Scrub, 15 September 2018

A walk up along a forested gully at Black Rock in September was just a delight. The creek had some water in it even though the rest of the area looked dry. Apparently, the creek never goes dry, and this supports an interesting forest.

Pine Tree Creek

Everwhere was so dry

However there were some lovely waterholes all along the creek bed

The waterholes had plenty of aquatic life including the Slender Yabby (Cherax dispar). Unidentified species also found were shrimp, water boatmen, whirligigs, and skaters.

Slender Yabby (Cherax dispar)

Hunting dragonflies at the dam on the creek

We came to a patch of Dry Vine Scrub with some notable species - Peanut Tree with some old and new fruit pods, a very tall White Tamarind, and a Hairy Bird’s Eye with a few red fruits and a beetle in large numbers, mating on the ground under the tree. 

Soapberry Bug (Leptocoris rufomarginatus or Leptocoris tagalicus) under a Hairy Alectryon (Alectryon tomentosus) or Hairy Bird's Eye tree. Can you find the mating pair in the centre of the photo?

A beautiful Platycerium specimen surviving the drought

A Tick Orchid (Dockrillia linguiformis) in full flower 

A young Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) after which the creek is named

Species list. Pine Tree Creek, Black Rock Rd, Coochin, Qld, 15 September 2018
Birds: Australian Wood Duck, Bar-shouldered Dove, Straw-necked Ibis, Spotted Harrier, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Masked Lapwing, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Weebill, White-throated Gerygone, Striated Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin's Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Little Friarbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Golden Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Olive-backed Oriole, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Leaden Flycatcher, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Mistletoebird.

Mammals: Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Dingo/Feral Dog (scats only).

Butterflies: Orchard Swallowtail, Lemon Migrant, Yellow Migrant, Common Albatross, Wanderer, Lesser Wanderer, Common Crow, Evening Brown.

Dragonflies: Blue Skimmer, Common Glider, Wandering Percher.

Other Invertebrates: Soapberry Bug (Leptocoris rufomarginatus or Leptocoris tagalicus) on and under Hairy Alectryon (Alectryon tomentosus) tree. Slender Yabby (Cherax dispar). Shrimps - unknown species. Different types of water beetles and bugs; skaters, boatmen and whirligigs. Mud Dauber and Potter wasps – nests of several different species.

Amphibians: Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog (calling from a little side gully filled with sedges.)

Reptiles: Lace Monitor (dead), Garden Skink
.
Some of the plants noticed on the way: Maidenhair (Adiantum sp.), Hairy Alectryon or Hairy Birds Eye (Alectryon tomentosus), Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii), Slender Tick -trefoil (Desmodium gunnii), Tick Orchid (Dockrillia linguiformis), White Tamarind (Elattostachys xylocarpa), Bats Wing Coral Tree (Erythrina numerosa), Blue Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis), Rock Fig (Ficus macrophylla), Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus), Red Kamala (Mallotus philippensis), Snowwood (Pararchidendron pruinosum), Elkhorn (Platycerium bifurcatum), Billy Buttons (Pycnosorus globosus), Peanut Tree (Sterculia quadrifida).

September Outing - Pine Tree Creek at Black Rock

Black Rock Creek area

Time: 8:30 am, Saturday 15th September (Yes, it has come around quickly. It only seems like yesterday we were down the coast.)

Where: Meet at the end of Black Rock Road (only a bit over 1 km down the road), through the last gate and near some yards. We may drive a bit closer but will car share from here.

Directions: Go south out of Boonah on the Boonah Rathdowney Road until you come to Coochin.  Past Ganthorpe Road on the right, then down the hill and over Black Rock Creek, then left into Black Rock Road. If you see the entrance to Coochin Coochin property, then you have gone too far.

Activities: Join in a walk and ramble along Pine Tree Creek on Deb Stenzel’s place at Black Rock. The walking should be easy and not too far. Lots of plants and birds and rocks and things (on a horse with no name). Promises to be a very interesting trip as we have been nearby many times but never stopped for a look. Errol and Deb have found a wide variety of plants here. There are also some cliffs nearby to explore. Black Rock Scrub and Nesters Mountain are also nearby.

So come and enjoy a warm Spring day with lots on offer.

Bring – Morning Tea and Lunch.  Put morning tea in a back pack so we don’t have to go back to the cars for a cuppa.  It won’t be far anyway.  Bring binoculars, cameras, water, and sunscreen, etc.  Butterfly net?  Field Guide to Fossils?  Magnifying Glass?

Upon Arrival: Please register in the Attendance Book and pay your $2 per person participant fee. 

Outing Report - Pine Ridge Conservation Park, 18 August 2018

Using "Mangroves to Mountains" 
to identify this beautiful shrub

The Fassifern Field Nats don't often head down to the coast so it was an enthusiastic group that met at the Pine Ridge Conservation Park at Runaway Bay. This perfect patch of Wallum is a gem as it is one of the last remnants of natural bushland on the Gold Coast and was gazetted in 1984. How it survived we don't know but we're glad it did.

Before we set out on the walk Peter explained how the sand ridges and swales in the park were formed. Due to the continuing drought the swales weren't swampy but contained a variety of interesting flora nevertheless.

In fact, for such a small park it has a variety of habitats: Eucalypt open forest on sand ridges, Melaleuca tall open forest on sand plains, wet and dry coastal heath on sand plains, Banksia woodland on dunes and sand plains. The first two ecosystems being considered endangered. Also Tiny Wattle (Acacia baueri subsp. Bauera) is considered Vulnerable, Christmas Bells (Blandfordia grandiflora) and Lesser Swamp Orchid (Phaius australis) as Endangered. [Ed. I would love to see the orchid in flower.)]

We were kept busy identifying some of the unfamiliar plant species, listening for bird calls and trying to photograph insects. One animal not often seen by us was a Dark Bar-sided Skink (Concinnia martini) hiding in the crevice of a tree.  

Photographing Flying Duck Orchid (Caleana major)

Flying Duck Orchid
(Caleana major)

Wallum Tea-tree (Leptospermum semibaccatum)

Dusky Coral Pea (Kennedia rubicunda)

Dense heath beside white sand tracks

Wallum Zieria (Zieria laxiflora)

After spending some considerable time in the park we went 3.5 kms down the road to Jabiru Island. No Jabirus were seen but we did have a very convivial lunch in the shade while fending off the marauding magpies. After lunch we followed the path under the main road and enjoyed the short boardwalk in the Phi Hill Environmental Park to the edge of the Coomera River.

We saw an Osprey perched on the mast of one of the sailing boats, and heard the Mangrove Gerygone, and Mangrove Honeyeater.

It was a beautiful day and we all agreed we had a wonderful time on the coast. Thank you Peter and Tricia for organizing the trip.

Boardwalk into the mangroves, Phil Hill Environmental Park

Admiring the ultra-modern Osprey platform

Silver Gulls on the edge of the Coomera River

Photos by Doreen, Lesley and Noela.

Pine Ridge Conservation Park, Hollywell (Runaway Bay) Qld, 18 August 2018

Birds: Spotted Dove, Tawny Frogmouth, Australian White Ibis, Whistling Kite, Rainbow Lorikeet, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Bee-eater, Striated Pardalote, Striated Thornbill, Variegated Fairy-wren, Eastern Spinebill, Noisy Miner, Brown Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Olive-backed Oriole, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Rose Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Mistletoebird.

Butterflies: Orchard Swallowtail, Lemon Migrant, Common Grass-yellow, Small Grass-yellow, Black Jezebel, Wanderer, Evening Brown, Common Eggfly.

Other: Dark Bar-sided Skink (Concinnia martini), Golden Orb-Weaver (Nephila plumipes), Bush Orb Weaver (Plebs eburnus), Potter Wasp (Abispa ephippium).

Some plants noticed on the way – Pixie Caps (Acianthus fornicates), Black Wattle (Acacia concurrens), Prickly Moses (Acacia ulicifolia), Wallum Banksia (Banksia aemula), Coastal Banksia (Banksia integrifolia), Swamp Water Fern (Blechnum indicum), Wallum Boronia (Boronia falcifolia), Flying Duck Orchid (Caleana major), Curly Sedge (Caustis recurvate), Small-leaf Grape (Cissus opaca), Devil's Rice (Conospermum taxifolium), Pink Bloodwood (Corymbia intermedia), Dillwynia floribunda, Golden Wedge Pea (Gompholobium virgatum), Dusky Coral Pea (Kennedia rubicunda), Wallum Tea-tree (Leptospermum semibaccatum), Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus), Macaranga (Macaranga tanarius), Forest Quinine (Petalostigma triloculare), Swamp Grasstree (Xanthorrhoea fulva), Forest Grasstree (Xanthorrhoea johnsonii).

Jabiru Island, Gold Coast Qld, 18 August 2018

Birds: Little Black Cormorant, Australian White Ibis, Noisy Miner, Grey Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Torresian Crow, Welcome Swallow.

Butterflies: Scarlet Jezebel.

Phil Hill Environmental Park, Gold Coast Qld, 18 August 2018

Birds: Eastern Osprey, Caspian Tern, Rainbow Lorikeet, Rainbow Bee-eater, Mangrove Gerygone, Mangrove Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater,

Some plants noticed on the way – Saltwater Couch (Paspalum vaginatum), Mangrove spp. http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/documents/bf/fs-mangroves.pdf

August Outing - Wallum habitat at Coombabah

The Wallum Habitat in September 2014

Time:  9.30 am, 18th August Saturday 
             
Meeting Place: Pine Ridge Conservation Park, Coombabah Car Park off Oxley Drive
               
Activities: There are three possible walks; all are easy and on established tracks.
(1) Pine Ridge Conservation Park – a 3 km walk through Wallum vegetation on very low sand dunes 
(2) Jabiru Island Mangrove Boardwalk – a 900 m walk alongside mangroves to the Coomera River.
(3) Coombabah Lakelands – a 2.2 km walk through Wallum vegetation on low-lying areas and wetlands.
We will have lunch at Jabiru Island which has toilet, barbecue and shelter facilities. 
                
Level of Fitness: All walks are easy and on established tracks.
              
What to bring: Morning tea, lunch, snacks, hat, sunblock, insect repellent and water. Binoculars, digital cameras and the Mangroves to Mountains reference book would also be good.
              
Directions: There are a number of routes you can take. Once you are on the Pacific Motorway turn east at Oxenford onto Hope Island Rd. Follow Route 4 for approx. 9.5 km (its name changes to Oxenford Southport Rd, then Broadwater Ave then to Oxley Drive along the way) and then to the car park only 50 m after the traffic light at Columbus
Drive.
        
Upon Arrival: Please register in the Attendance Book and pay your $2 per person participant fee. 
           
Facilities: Toilets are only available at Jabiru Island but toilets can also be accessed on the way to Coombabah at Bischoff Pioneer Park and Arthur Earle Park at Nerang.

Outing Report - Keith's Hidden Valley Mt French, 21 July 2018

Waterhole at the head of the gorge

We were back on Mt French again this month. It is such an unusual mountain being one of the rhyolite peaks of the Scenic Rim. It has a diversity of habitats - eucalypt woodland, montane heathland, Fassifern Scrub on the slopes, and dry rainforest or vine scrub in the gorges and gullies. 
          
Mt French is a plateau with cliff ramparts on most sides. We explored a small gorge on the eastern slopes below the cliffs, leaving our vehicles where the national park is on either side of the road. The first thing we noticed was the bird calls and had about a dozen birds identified while we gathered on the road. We soon noticed a small waterhole at the head of the gorge where Red-browed Finches and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters were going down to drink. In the canopy overhead were Grey Fantails, Silvereyes, Eastern Yellow Robins and Olive-backed Orioles. This number of birds is unusual for Mt French which is known for its botany, not its birdlife.

Gathering at the head of the "Hidden Valley"

                 
We split into two groups, one group headed down into the gorge while the remainder skirted along the top. There was no track so we were bush-bashing and the ground was covered with large rocks hidden by undergrowth including plenty of vines, and logs. 
                     
Many specimens of the trees logged from Mt French in earlier times were found in this section: Hoop Pine, Narrow-leaved Ironbark, Yellow Stringybark and Tallowwood for example. Considering the stony ground and thin layer of soil there were some fine trees. Further around the edge of the gorge we struck off back to the road passing through dense heathland which obviously could be swampy in wetter conditions. Then a stretch of very healthy Grass Trees until we came to some that clearly were suffering from die back. Past that section we came upon a thicket of Dogwood.They were young plants and not in flower but they will be a riot of colour later.    
              

Python Tree trunk

After a quick bite of morning tea the national park on the southern side of the road beckoned. We walked along the track which became increasingly overgrown until we lost it altogether. Then we had to watch out for all the vines that tried to catch us and trip us up. This patch of vine scrub is a delight with much botanical interest. Our first stop was at a large Python Tree. It's trunk was smooth and cold to the touch. It was twisted and with lichen and patches of green giving it the appearance of a carpet python in the shadowy scrub.
            

Kay and Ron in the Vine Scrub (well named) 

There were so many vines and we became fascinated with the way they twisted around other plants. Becoming almost one as they twined upwards towards the light. Corky Milk Vine was in abundance. It is the food plant of the Common Crow butterfly's caterpillars. Zigzag Vine is another butterfly attracting plant. Four-barred Swordtail and Pale Green Triangle caterpillars feed on this one.
              
There were several of the endemic Boonah Tuckeroo. Its conservation status is listed as "vulnerable" because it's only found in vine thickets between Boonah and Ipswich. We spent some time examining another "vulnerable" species, Marblewood. This is one of the largest, and one of the few rainforest acacias.

Eventually the scrub became so impenetrable that we turned back for lunch. As the vehicles were only about 200 metres away it wasn't long before we were all relaxing and chatting about what we had seen that morning.

Species List

Birds: Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Common Bronzewing, Peaceful Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Fan-tailed Cuckoo,  Rainbow Bee-eater, White-throated Treecreeper, Brown Gerygone, White-throated Gerygone, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin's Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, White-throated Honeyeater, Varied Triller, Golden Whistler, Little Shrike-thrush, Grey Shrike-thrush, Australasian Figbird, Olive-backed Oriole, Pied Butcherbird, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Torresian Crow, Rose Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye, Mistletoebird, Red-browed Finch. 

Butterflies: Evening Brown. 

Mammals: Evidence of Bandicoot (scratchings).

Some plants we noticed on the way

Canopy: Marblewood (Acacia bakeri), Forest Oak (Allocasuarina torulosa), Hoop Pine (Araucaria Cunninghamii), Bossiaea rupicola, Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria incana),  Spotted Gum (Corymbia citriodora), Boonah Tuckeroo (Cupaniopsis tomentella), Yellow Stringybark (Eucalyptus acmenoides), Narrow-leaved Ironbark (Eucalyptus crebra), Tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys), Gum-topped Box (Eucalyptus moluccana), Ribbonwood (Euroschinus falcatus), Python Tree (Gossia bidwillii), Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus), Penta Ash (Pentaceras australe), Whalebone Tree (Streblus brunonianus), Satinwood (Vitex lignum-vitae).
Understorey plants: Brown Wattle (Acacia brunioides), Hickory Wattle (Acacia disparrima), Chain Fruit (Alyxia ruscifolia - broad leaf form), Broad-leaf Star Hair (Astrotricha latifolia), Large Leaf Hop Bush (Dodonaea triquetra), Axe Breaker (Geijera salicifolia), Dogwood (Jacksonia scoparia), Leichhardt Vine or Zigzag Vine (Melodorum leichhardtii), Canthium (Psydrax odorata), Corky Milk Vine (Secamone elliptica), Poison Peach (Trema tomentosa), Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea latifolia).
Forest Floor: Barbed-wire Grass (Cymbopogon refractus), Blue Flax Lily (Dianella brevipedunculata), Running Postman (Kennedia rubicunda), Creeping Shade Grass (Oplismenus aemulus), Hairy Trumpet (Panus fasciatus), Barbed-wire Vine (Smilax australis), Tree Trigger Plant (Stylidium laricifolium), Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra).