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).