Outing Report - Lilybrook Recreation Area, 19 October 2019

Varied Sitella, Lilybrook Recreation Area

20 members arrived at Lilybrook Recreation Area, Coulson. It is at the western end of Lake Wyaralong and the original Lilybrook Homestead is still there. We were greeted by a cacophony of sound from the Noisy & Little Friarbirds, Rainbow Lorikeets and Brown Honeyeaters feasting in the flowering Silky Oaks and Bottlebrushes. It wasn't long before there was a scatter of Natters along the banks of the Teviot Brook. 
Nine different honeyeaters were taking advantage of the bottlebrushes. Though they weren't the only birds to catch our eye. The Azure Kingfisher posed grandly, while the Welcome Swallows wheeled and dived over the water. Varied Sittella searched for insects on the branches as well as Striated Pardalotes and Weebills which were both feeding young. More than 50 species of birds were seen.
We were impressed with the growth and survival rate of this section of the 300,000 native trees planted to form environmental corridors by seqwater almost 10 years ago. 
After exploring along the water we gathered at the picnic shelter for morning tea and a chat. 

Having a cuppa in the picnic shelter

The second walk took us away from the homestead and past the stockyards. Up against one of the fence posts was a termite nest with the remains of two Termite-mound Fungi looking like sticks that the termites had built around.

Termite-mound Fungus
(photo taken in April 2019 on the same track)

We continued under the Beaudesert-Boonah Road where we were able to see partially built Fairy Martin nests (though no Martins) and last season's Potter Wasp nests. 

The botanists were also in their element as a number of wildflowers were emerging after the recent - few drops of - rain. Unfortunately most of the ones on the mown tracks were exotic weeds: Yellow Wood Sorrel (Oxalis stricta), Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis), Condamine Couch (Phyla canescens) which by its name sounds like a local but is actually a native of South America, Blue Heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule) another South American, and Phasey Bean (Macroptilium lathyroides) to name a few. It was pleasing to see our native Australian Bluebell (probably Wahlenbergia stricta) flowering profusely. Not only were the melaleucas and grevilleas in flower but also some eucalypts and mistletoe. It was while we were heading for the Goan Track that a rather threatening storm loomed from the south-west with dark clouds and rolling thunder. Not wanting to get caught in a downpour we headed back for the shelter shed and lunch. Of course, a few drops were all we got!

Fairy Martin & Potter wasp nests

Yellow Wood Sorrel (Oxalis stricta)

Condamine Couch (Phyla canescens)

Australian Bluebells

Soldier Beetles on left, Lycid Beetles on right - Lilybrook, October 2019

More photos in the Gallery.

Fauna

Birds: Brown Quail, Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Crested Pigeon, Bar-shouldered Dove, Australasian Darter, Australian Pelican (overhead), White-faced Heron, Straw-necked Ibis, Brown Goshawk, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Nankeen Kestrel, Brown Falcon, Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Cockatiel, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Azure Kingfisher, Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater, Dollarbird, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Weebill - feeding young, White-throated Gerygone, Striated Pardalote - feeding young, Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Little Friarbird, Striped Honeyeater, Grey-crowned Babbler, Varied Sittella, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Varied Triller, Rufous Whistler, Olive-backed Oriole, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Leaden Flycatcher, Magpie-lark, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, partially built Fairy Martin nests but no Fairy Martins.

Butterflies: Caper White (Belenois java), Wanderer (Danaus plexippus), Common Crow (Euploea core), Glasswing (Acraea andromacha.

Moths: Black Thorax Wasp Moth (Amata trigonophora) - copulating.

Other Invertebrates: Native Bee sp., Lycid Beetle sp., Soldier Beetle Sp.

Some Flora noticed along the way:

Fungi: Termite-mound Fungus (Podaxis beringamensis).

Herbs: Yellow Wood Sorrel (Oxalis stricta), Condamine Couch (Phyla canescens), Australian Bluebell (Wahlenbergia stricta).

Mistletoes: Variable Mistletoe (Amyema congener), Melaleuca Mistletoe (Amyema gaudichaudii), Grey Mistletoe (Notothixos incana).

Trees: Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii), Narrow-leaved or Queensland Bottle Tree (Brachychiton rupestris), Silky Oak (Grevillea robusta), Weeping or Creek Bottlebrush (Melaleuca viminalis).