The Fassifern Field Naturalists Club Inc. would like to acknowledge the Yugarapul People, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our Club is founded, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present, their languages, customs, culture and connection to this wonderful country.

Friday 25 September 2020

October Outing - Spring Camp, Lake Coolmunda

Camping at Lake Coolmunda 2019

Camp: 16th, 17th & 18th October 2020. Registration with the Fassifern Field Naturalists Club is essential. Our email address is in the left-hand margin of this page.

As of 25 September COVID-19 restrictions are 30 people at gatherings in public open spaces. Therefore our camp can go ahead! Social distancing will be maintained. Hand sanitizer will be available. Do not come if you are feeling unwell.

The last time FFNC went out to Lake Coolmunda was in 1997 so it’s well worth another visit.

Activities: Walking by the lakeside. A tag-along around the lake with several stops including Coolmunda Conservation Reserve. This reserve was established for one of the 4 places where the Shiny-leaved Ironbark (Eucalyptus virens) grows. There’s a good Fact Sheet online about this tree just Google Eucalyptus virens. For birders there’s a chance of seeing some western birds such as Bluebonnets, Southern Whitefaces and White-winged Fairy-wrens.

Happy hour: Will be at 4.30 pm at Base Camp around a campfire if permitted.

Facilities: Non-powered sites at the dam (Base Camp), powered sites and cabins at the caravan park (2nd Base). For details on sites & prices for camping at the dam or caravan park please contact Fassifern Field Naturalists Club.

Directions: approx. 185 kms from Boonah Visitor Information Centre, just over 2 hours driving.

From Boonah drive to the Cunningham Highway and turn left. Do not leave the Cunningham Highway until you get to Coolmunda i.e. do not turn to Stanthorpe when you’re in Warwick. As you approach Lake Coolmunda signs will appear on the highway, turn left into Coolmunda Access Road. Stop at the Caravan Park to pay your fees and collect your admittance tag if you’re staying at the dam.

What to bring: If camping at the dam, you will need everything to be self-sufficient; drinking water, camping gear, chairs, tables, torch, food, binocs, cameras, reference books, insect repellent, firewood etc.

Notes: When we reconnoitred in late February there were masses of small non-biting midge-type insects. A head net might be advisable (available from Far Outdoors, Boonah). Campfires permitted if no fire ban.

Booking your site: This is up to attendees but please advise the Fassifern Field Naturalists Club so numbers are known, and you can be contacted if there are any last-minute changes. Lake Coolmunda Caravan Park: 07 4652 4171.

After you have set up, please sign the Club Attendance Book which will be on the table at Lesley & John’s caravan at Base Camp, and pay your $2 per person Club participant fee. People at 2nd Base will need to park outside Base Camp and walk in.

Saturday 12 September 2020

Another Cancellation


To comply with the current COVID-19 restrictions the FFNC Committee has had to, once again, make the decision to postpone the scheduled AGM and cancel the Field Outing on the 19th September 2020. Hopefully the October camp will still go ahead but watch this space.

Wednesday 2 September 2020

Lilybrook Break - 15 August 2020

Ferns sprouting out of the rock at Lilybrook Break
It was a damp looking morning but still there were twenty members happy to brave the weather. 
Admiring the old Blue Gums

A shower as we started, and a downpour at the end but inbetween was perfect, fine and warm. 

Baby Blue Eyes (Evolvulus alsinoides)
Spring wildflowers were just coming into bloom. 

Fauna species lists:
Birds: Brown Quail, Australian Wood Duck, ,Bar-shouldered Dove ,Australasian Darter, Great Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Australian Pelican, White-faced Heron, Straw-necked Ibis, White-bellied Sea-eagle, Whistling Kite, Dusky Moorhen, Black-winged Stilt, Masked Lapwing, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Little Corella, Long-billed Corella, Galah, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, King Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Little Bronze-cuckoo, Pheasant Coucal, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Bee-eater, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, White-throated Gerygone, Striated Pardalote, White-throated Honeyeater, Striped Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Noisy Friarbird, Little Friarbird, Grey-crowned Babbler, Rufous Whistler, Olive-backed Oriole, Pied Butcherbird, Grey Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Magpie-lark, Golden-headed Cisticola, Tawny Grassbird, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Double-barred Finch.
Mammals: Eastern Grey Kangaroo
Butterflies: Common Grass-yellow (Eurema hecabe phoebus), Small Grass-yellow (Eurema smilax), Common Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina nerina).