Outing Report - Lilybrook Recreation Area, 18 January 2020

Committee meeting in the shelter shed
(Photo J. Ball)

Well, at least the committee turned up, and as it was still pouring with rain we decided to have our committee meeting there and then. We were so busy that we didn't notice until later that an Orange Potter Wasp (Eumenes latreilli) was building her nest under our Secretary's knees!

Orange Potter Wasp
(Photo L. Beaton)

The rain eased as we finished the meeting and a couple of other members turned up so off we went on the walk. As we came down the Goan Track towards the underpass of the Beaudesert-Boonah Rd we were surprised to find the little gully with enough water to make it impassable, and frogs calling vociferously. We followed the gully and eventually our fearless leader found some frogs to identify. "There," he pointed, "their heads are sticking out of the water!" It took some time to convince him that it was kangaroo poo floating in the water! However one head was seen and identified as a Spotted Marsh (or Grass) Frog, and one of the calls as the Graceful Tree Frog. 

Graceful Tree Frog
(Photo L. Cross - not taken at Lilybrook)

Frogs or poo?
Shallow end of the gully
(Photo W. Dunn)

We were hoping to see plenty of butterflies, but unfortunately it was too overcast. Only four butterfly species were seen but eggs and caterpillars of the Wanderer (or Monarch) were found on several exotic Balloon Cotton Bush (Gomphocarpus physocarpus). 

Wanderer caterpillar
on Balloon Cotton Bush
(Photo L. Beaton)

Wanderer eggs on Balloon Cotton Bush
(Photo L. Beaton)

As with our last outing there were plenty of wildflowers although mostly exotic. Here's a couple of natives though.

Blue Trumpet (Brunoniella australis)
(Photo N. Crepin)

Winter Apple (Eromophila debilis)
(Photo N. Crepin)

The humidity had started to rise and the shelter shed was a welcome retreat for morning tea. While we had a cuppa and talked about our observations an Australian Emerald dragonfly hovered over a large puddle dipping her abdomen in the water as she laid her eggs. 

Lastly, here is a beautiful natural piece of artwork found on one of the tracks near Teviot Brook.

Snake skeleton
(Photo A. Podlich)

Fauna: compiled from members’ observations

Birds: Brown Quail, Aust. Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Crested Pigeon, Bar-shouldered
Dove, White-throated Needletail, Aust. Darter, Great Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Aust. Pelican, White-faced Heron, Great Egret, Straw-necked Ibis, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Whistling Kite, Nankeen Kestrel, Buff-banded Rail, Dusky Moorhen, Masked Lapwing, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Little corella rainbow Lorikeet, Pale-headed Rosella, Pheasant Coucal, Eastern Koel, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Little Bronze Cuckoo, Brush Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater, Dollarbird, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-backed Wren, White-throated Gerygone, Striated Pardalote, Noisy Miner, Brown Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Little Friarbird, Striped Honeyeater, Grey-crowned Babbler, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Cicadabird, Rufous Whistler, Aust. Figbird, Olive-backed Oriole, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Aust. Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Leaden Flycatcher, Magpie-lark, Jacky Winter, golden-headed Cisticola, Tawny Grassbird, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Tree Martin, Common Myna, Mistletoebird, Double-barred Finch, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin           67 Birds.

Reptiles: Red-bellied Black Snake

Amphibians: Spotted Marsh (or Grass) Frog, Graceful Tree Frog

Mammals: Eastern Grey Kangaroo      

Butterflies: Small Grass yellow, Wanderer (eggs & caterpillars), Lesser Wanderer, Meadow Argus,

Spotted Pea-Blue. 

Other Invertebrates: European Honey Bee, Orange Potter Wasp, Australian Emerald (dragonfly), Blue Skimmer (dragonfly), Variable Ladybird, Striped Ladybird, Grass Faerie (cicada), Clanger (cicada), Banded Sugar Ant.

Flora seen along the way:

Slug Herb (Murdannia graminea), Yellow Buttons (Chrysocephalum apiculatum), Australian Dodder (Cuscuta australis), Twining Glycine (Glycine clandestine), Blue Heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule), Lantana (Lantana camara), Phasey Bean (Macroptilium lathyroides), Siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum), Dwarf Morning Glory (Evolvulus alsinoides), Condamine Couch (Phyla canescens), Warrigal Greens (Tetragonia tetragonoides), Blue Bells (Wahlenbergia spp.), Poison Pratia (Lobelia concolor), Bristle Cloak Fern (Cheilanthes distans), Native Sensitive Plant (Neptunia gracilis), Blue Trumpet (Brunoniella australis), Winter Apple (Eromophila debilis), Bladder Cotton (Gomphocarpus physocarpus).

Grass-blues at Wyaralong

Spotted Grass-Blue, Zizeeria karsandra,

underside (Photo A. Podlich)

As the waters recede at Wyaralong and herbage grows on the exposed soil, small grass butterflies are bountiful. Illustrated is the Spotted or Dark Grass-Blue. Its wing span when fully open is only about 2 cm. They are found across the world from the eastern Mediterranean, through India & Sri Lanka, south-east Asia, New Guinea, Australia and over to the Philippines.

Spotted Grass-Blue, Zizeeria karsandra
(Photo A. Podlich)

At Wyaralong they are using many different exotic weeds which have sprung up in the rich soil. Two other species seen are Common Grass-Blue, Zizina otis, and Dainty Grass-Blue, Zizula hylax, one of the smallest Australian butterflies. We have no images for either of them yet, but click on the links for more information.

Change to Plan B - 18 January 2020

CHANGE OF DESTINATION FOR OUR 18^th JANUARY 2020 EARLY MORNING BIRD WALK

CUNNINGHAM'S GAP TRACKS WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL THE END OF JANUARY DUE TO BUSHFIRE DAMAGE

Shelter shed at Lilybrook Recreation Area

New Destination: Lilybrook Recreation Area, Beaudesert-Boonah Road (Western Trailhead)

Time: 6am for 6.30 am start

Directions: From the Coulson junction of Ipswich-Boonah and Beaudesert-Boonah Roads turn onto the Beaudesert-Boonah Rd/State Route 90, drive for approximately 2.75 kms then turn left. (The Western Trailhead is clearly signposted.) Drive to the carpark at the end of the road. 
From Beaudesert: take the Beaudesert-Boonah Rd and drive for almost 30 kms. The Recreation Area is not signed from this direction but the Qld MOTO Park on the left is, just before the right-hand turn into the Western Trailhead.

Activities: “What we will do and see” will be decided on the day depending on weather conditions. Exploring the property by walking on mown, grassy tracks. Easy walking access to Teviot Brook.

Level of Fitness: easy, graded tracks

Facilities: Toilets, and a large covered shed with tables and seating is available at this site and we have the luxury, also, of public gas BBQs should anyone decide they need to throw a 'sausage on the barbie' for breakfast after our early morning adventure.

What to Bring: Breakfast, morning tea and lunch (if you stay longer). Carry water on your walks but we will return to cars for food and cuppas. Cameras, binocs, reference books, hats, sunscreen and insect spray.

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

Bootlace Bush

Wikstroemia indica, Bootlace Bush

This is Wikstroemia indica, a local vine scrub plant, also known as Tie Bush. It grows about 2 metres high, and has really tiny flowers and red fruit. It is unusual in plants to have flowers that are black or green, but this is one with green flowers.  

Green flowers of Wikstroemia indica

Distribution and Ecology
Occurs in the Northern Territory, Cape York Peninsula, North East Queensland and southwards as far as coastal central New South Wales. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 900 m. Often grows in open forest or wet sclerophyll forest but also found on rain forest margins, in rain forest regrowth, or some of the drier forms of rain forest. Also occurs in Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific Islands. They are found in the local area including the Moogerah Peaks National Parks.
Natural History
The leaves are poisonous to cattle. The fruits are more poisonous than the leaves. Cases have been reported of children dying after eating the fruits of this plant. Although it is a much favoured food for the Brown Cuckoo-dove.
Cultural Notes
It came by its common name because the tough stringy bark can be pulled off in long strips and was used by Aborigines and pioneers to make string.
Also used as fish poison.

Studies of chemicals in Wikstroemia have suggested it contains chemicals that may prove useful in cancer research.

Resources
A. Podlich, Fassifern Field Naturalists Club Inc.
Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants
Noosa's Native Plants
Save Our Waterways Now