November Outing Details - Last for the year!

Fassifern Field Naturalists at "Ballow View", 2016

Time: 9:00 AM - Saturday, 20th November 2021

Where: “Ballow View” Nature Refuge at Carneys Creek; private property. 

Directions: If you're not a member, please contact us for more precise details.

Activities: This is a combined outing of Fassifern Field Naturalists Club and Native Plants Queensland – Logan River Branch. So, come prepared with some really difficult questions for the Plant people.

Great views of Mt Ballow. Mountain butterflies. Big trees. Friendly birds. And perhaps it might be cooler. 

Level of Fitness: Moderate - the ground is fairly level, with some rocks and gullies for the adventurous.

Facilities: none

What to Bring: The usual, depending on the weather – binocs, cameras, field guides, all food for morning tea and lunch, and drinks, chairs, hats, raincoats, wear sturdy shoes, etc., etc., etc. Lunch will be back at the cars. Bring your usual safety stuff (sunscreen, insect repellent, etc)

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

COVID-19 regulations apply 

Please stay at home if you have any flu-like symptoms

From the Wildlife Land Trust website: The sanctuary [“Ballow View” Nature Refuge] covers 51.86 hectares and lies in the foothills of the Main Range adjacent to the Queensland-New South Wales border in southern Queensland. Approximately 30% of the property was cleared over 50 years ago for grazing, and currently the block is lightly grazed by cattle - partly for fire management purposes. The rest of the sanctuary consists of intact open forest with significant stands of Allocasuarina torulosa. 

Remnant vegetation of significant conservation value includes Regional Ecosystems Of Concern 12.8.9 (Lophostemon confertus tall open forest on Cainozoic igneous rocks) and 12.8.20 (Shrubby woodland with Eucalyptus racemosa or E. dura on Cainozoic igneous rocks).  Riparian vegetation includes rainforest species.

Outing Report - Glen Rock Camp, 15-18 October 2021

FFNC & visitors
in the Casuarina Camping Area

The weekend looked doubtful but the weather forecast assured us it would be fine. So 8 members and 3 visitors braved the conditions and trickled into the Casuarina Camping Area throughout the grey, cloudy Friday. The good spring season had many plants 'springing' into blossom. In the camping area the Silky Oaks (Grevillea robusta), Weeping Bottlebrushes (Melaleuca viminalis) and Orange Mistletoe (Dendrophthoe glabrescens) were attracting flocks of birds including all the local lorikeets, Little, Musk, Rainbow and Scaly-breasted. These along with the Little and Noisy Friarbirds meant it was difficult to hear anything else. 65 species of birds were identified over the weekend including a Peregrine Falcon on more than one occasion.

Weeping Bottlebrush and Orange Mistletoe
in the camping area

The forecasts were right and on Saturday we woke to cloudless blue skies. Over the weekend we explored many of the trails with plenty of interesting observations. The plants caught our attention and the Orange Mistletoe was particularly prolific.

The scenery was impressive and many a photo was taken.

Orange Mistletoe
(Dendrophthoe glabrescens)

The moon in the tall timber

The 'Rock'

A patch of exotic Poppies
(Papaver somniferum ssp. setigerum)

    

Funnel Ant sp. (Aphaenogaster sp.)

Closer view of Poppy
(Papaver somniferum ssp. setigerum)

 

Watch this space for the species lists

October Outing - Spring Camp, Glen Rock State Forest: 15-17th October

View from Casuarina camping area,
Glen Rock SF

This is a new destination for us. Glen Rock State Forest preserves a diverse range of landforms, vegetation communities and wildlife. It stretches from the fertile flats of the Blackfellow, Shady, Flaggy and Black Duck Creeks to the rugged gorges, ridges and high plateau country of the Great Dividing and Mistake Ranges and borders Main Range National Park to the south.
The vegetation communities range from open woodlands and rocky escarpments to dry vine scrub and rainforest.

Time: Arrive any time, but meet at the large shelter shed in the lower section of the day-use area next to Casuarina Camping Area at 4 pm for happy hour (or two).

Where: East Haldon, south of Gatton

Directions: The easiest way is to find your own way to Lake Apex, Gatton. Turn left immediately after the Lake Apex parklands into Tenthill Creek Rd. Follow this for a little more than 8½ km when you’ll come to a T-junction with a sign to Glen Rock National Park. Turn right though you’re still on Tenthill Creek Rd. After 1½ km cross Tenthill Creek and turn left into Mt Sylvia Rd. Stay on this road for approximately 21½ km then keep left onto East Haldon Rd. Follow this to the end.

Activities: Usual stuff, birdwatching, botanizing, photography - Two walking tracks are shared with horses though one short one is for walkers only.

Level of Fitness: Easy to as hard as you want to go, please yourself.

Facilities: showers (cold water only - brrrr), toilets and fireplaces.

Open fires: permitted in the fireplaces provided, except when fire bans or prohibitions apply. Bring your own firewood. Do not collect wood from the park. Fuel stoves are recommended.

Generator use: prohibited.

Essentials to bring: drinking water, food, rubbish bags, firewood, 

What else to Bring: binocs, cameras, field guides, insect repellent, wine, etc.

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

Outing Report - Black Rock Scrub, 18 September 2021

Magnificent views on the way to Black Rock Scrub
(2 pics have been made into a collage so the join is a bit wonky) 

A good turn out of members and visitors took to their 4WDs to climb the hills to Black Rock Scrub. What views there were on the way up.

Carpet Python (Morelia spilota)

Once we arrived it was time for morning tea and we were joined by a sparkling Carpet Python, his new skin shining in the sun.

The beautiful vine scrub

The lure of the scrub could not be ignored and it wasn't long before we were wandering through this patch of virgin vine scrub. As usual, the Natters scattered depending on their interests - photography, botany, birdwatching, searching for insects,

or just plain rambling in the bush.

Bark of a mature Prickly Pine
(Bursaria incana)

  

    Watch this space, more to come.

September Outing - Black Rock Scrub, Coochin

Black Rock Creek area

Back to Black Rock! We are going back to one of our all-time favourites.

The Black Rock Scrub is a large dry vine scrub located on the side of a hill, with many different and interesting flora species. Compared to most local scrubs, Black Rock Scrub is large (40 acres) and clean of most environmental weeds.

Time: Meet at 9 am at the property.

Where: Coochin

Directions: This is private property. Please contact us for directions.

Activities: Tree identification, birdwatching and photography. There is a view from the top of the hill above the scrub for those with a bit more energy. There will be birds, butterflies, and biscuits. Flat walking tracks go through the scrub to the other side. You can scramble if you want to go higher up or lower down. 

Level of Fitness: All fitness levels are catered for.

Facilities: No luxuries, only lavo-trees.

What to Bring: Bring water, morning tea and lunch and chairs. We will have lunch at the edge of the scrub where it is flat, before heading back down and going home. Also bring insect repellent (especially ticks) and the usual first-aid stuff, etc.

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

COVID-19 regulations apply 

Please stay at home if you have any flu-like symptoms

Non-outing Report - Heritage Rd, Spicers Gap, 21 August 2021

Austral Indigo
(Indigofera australis) 

Although the change in the COVID-19 restrictions came too late to resurrect our outing, five of our members decided it was too beautiful a day to miss. They were rewarded with some lovely naturalizing (Is that a word?) at Spicers Gap.

The first stop was the campground where they checked out the previously burnt areas in and around the monument. The undergrowth in this area had been thoroughly burnt out in the 2019 fires. You would not know that it had happened now with lots of new growth taking place. Plenty of weed species are emerging too. The dominant plant in this area, especially in and around the car park is the lovely Austral Indigo (Indigofera australis) which is spring flowering. Mostly the shrubs were in bud, but Noela managed to find a couple of good sprays of flowers to take a photo. The area should be lovely in just a couple of weeks’ time.  

Also around the monument area, the spikes of Donkey Orchids (Diuris sulphurea) were showing themselves in the grassy areas. 

Donkey Orchid (Diuris sulphurea)

The other plant which has been noticed on Mt French and elsewhere this year is the beautiful Native Sarsaparilla (Hardenbergia violacea) which probably has had its most prolific flowering season for a couple of years. This was trailing all over the campground, attaching itself to sticks, tree trunks and other plants to climb higher to display its lovely purple sprays of flowers. It certainly is putting on a good show. 

Native Sarsaparilla (Hardenbergia violacea)

On the walk up to the Heritage Road, on the moist sheltered banks, we found numerous Greenhood Orchids in flower, all the same species, Pterostylis curta.

Easily identified by its slightly off centre twisted tongue. Here, also, the Hardenbergias were the dominant flowering species.

All of the Xanthorrhoeas in the National Park were sprouting new pale green heads, no flower spikes, but recovering well, as they do, after the fires. Really quite spectacular with their clean black trunks and heads of green. 

Thanks to Noela, Tricia and Wendy for their lists and reports.

Greenhood Orchid
(Pterostylis curta)

Greenhood Orchid
(Pterostylis curta) -
showing twisted tongue

Australian Buttercup or Yarrakalgamba
(Ranunculus lappaceus)

Rock Felt Fern
(Pyrrosia rupestris)

Scopula sp.

Fauna

Birds: Spicers Gap Campground: Brown Quail, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairy-wren, Spotted Pardalote, Lewin's Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Bell Miner, Noisy Friarbird, Eastern Whipbird, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Olive-backed Oriole, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow.
Moss’s Well area: Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Golden Whistler, Red-browed Finch.
Heritage Road area: White-throated Treecreeper, Lewin's Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Bell Miner, White-throated Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Eastern Whipbird.
Moths: Scopula sp.
Other Invertebrates: Planthopper - unknown species.

Flora discussed or taken note of on the day (not a comprehensive list):
Ferns: Prickly Rasp Fern (Doodia aspera), Resurrection Fern (Doryopteris concolor), Rock Felt Fern (Pyrrosia rupestris).
Grasses, Sedges, Rushes, etc.: Blady Grass (Imperata cylindrica), Wattle Mat-rush (Lomandra filiformis), Broad-leaved Mat-rush (Lomandra laxa), Spiny-headed Mat-rush (Lomandra longifolia),  Weeping Grass (Microlaena stipoides),  Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra).
Herbs: Blue Flax Lily (Dianella brevipedunculata), Purple Running Pea (Kennedia procurrens), Australian Buttercup or Yarrakalgamba (Ranunculus lappaceus), Dwarf Darling-pea (Swainsona luteola).
Orchids & Epiphytes: Donkey Orchid (Diuris sulphurea), Blunt Greenhood (Pterostylis curta).
Vines, Scramblers & Climbers: Native Sarsaparilla (Hardenbergia violacea), Rubus sp., Barbed Wire Vine (Smilax australis).
Grass Trees: Johnson’s Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea johnsonii).
Shrubs: Austral Indigo (Indigofera australis).

August Outing - Governor’s Chair and the Heritage Road, Spicers Gap, Saturday 21 August

 Due to Covid-19 restrictions this outing has been cancelled

Springtime on Mt French

It might be blowing a gale and the temperature is dropping to under 10°C, but the spring flowers on Mt French are already blooming! Photos taken this week by one of our members, Aub Podlich.

Leucopogon is neoanglicus

Native Sarsaparilla (Hardenbergia violacea)

Bossiaea rupicola

Dusky Coral Pea (Kennedia rubicunda)

Glycine Pea

Outing Report - World's End Pocket, 17 July 2021

Wonga Vine (Pandorea pandorana)

Despite the blustery weather several members met at the yellow tank at World's End Pocket, Pine Mountain. The usual parking place was quite muddy but sheltered. We took off up the road with Scarlet Honeyeaters singing overhead. There was plenty to keep us interested. 

Hairy Rosewood (Dysooxylum rufum)

A number of plant species were fruiting and the bright red, orange and black berries were attracting the birds. We were particularly looking for White-eared Monarch and Black-breasted Button-quail. There were plenty of Monarchs calling but it took us a while to get a good sighting. 

The fresh platelets of the Bbbq will have to be a sufficient sighting until we come again. It's good to know they're still about.

White-eared Monarch

Black-breasted Button-quail platelets

Stinkhorn sp.

male Scarlet Honeyeater

Varied Triller

July Outing - World's End Pocket, 17 July 2021

Flinders Peak from Pine Mountain

Time: Meet at the yellow tank on Riverside Drive, Pine Mountain, at 9:00 AM.

Location: This area is a Vine Scrub forest in hilly terrain (well sort of hilly – not much really) situated on a big bend of the Brisbane River. It is the end of the road. It is the end of the world – World’s End Pocket. It is linked to the mountain called Pine Mountain, and is a hidden gem.

Directions from Warrego Highway: From the EAST, take the Kholo turnoff at North Ipswich (about 9 kms from the start of the Warrego Highway at Riverview/Dinmore, and would be the second exit after the Bremer River bridge). The exit road goes for about 1 km before reaching a STOP sign – turn right (into Kholo Road and to go back over the highway) and then shortly after, turn LEFT into Riverside Drive – there is a sign to Kholo Botanic Gardens. Through the STOP sign and follow the road. Riverside Drive – start 0kms, past the Kholo Botanic Gardens (2 kms) where there are toilets, onto the good gravel road, past the Sherlock Road turnoff (3 kms), over some hills with great views of Pine Mountain on one side and the D’Aguilars on the other, until you come to the yellow tank at 7 kms. The road finishes just around the corner. You have reached the end of the world.

Directions from the West: Turn off Warrego Highway at Kholo Road at Muirlea, and immediately turn left into Riverside Drive – then see directions above. Riverside Drive is probably the best way. However, the Pine Mountain Road exit at Blacksoil is an alternative. At about 3kms turn RIGHT into Sherlocks Road and then turn LEFT when it meets Riverside Drive.

Directions from Boonah: I think the easiest way from Boonah is to turn RIGHT onto Cunningham Highway at Yamanto and go to Dinmore. Exit here (don’t miss it) and cut across along River Road to join the Warrego Highway and west (LEFT) towards Toowoomba. See directions above.

Activities: The area has scenery and trees and birds (and, oh yes, butterflies too). This is an easy walking trip. We will walk along the road for a while – some vine scrub with lots of birds, especially White-eared Monarch and maybe Black-breasted Button-Quail. Lunch back at Kholo Botanic Gardens. Bring morning tea and lunch, and all the usual other stuff. There are NO toilets at Worlds End Pocket so best go at the Kholo Botanic Gardens on the way in (or the way out).

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

COVID-19 regulations apply 

(at time of posting, you will need to carry a mask but not necessarily wear it.)

Please stay at home if you have any flu-like symptoms

Fauna & Flora Self Drive Trails

Self Drive Fauna & Flora Trails

Click on the Self Drive Trails tab above, just below our heading, to download these brochures. 

They are only available in a downloadable format from this blog. Each one should be used in conjunction with the Scenic Rim Regional Council's brochure "Self Drive Guide Explore the Scenic Rim" which is available from the Boonah Visitor Information Centre, 20 Boonah Fassifern Rd, Boonah QLD 4310. 

June Outing - The Shed Social at Coulson, Saturday 19th June

Time: 9 AM for 9.30 AM start            

Perhaps not this particular shed!

Where: Coulson

Directions: Contact us if you wish to join in.

Activities:  Socialising. Special presentation by Deb and Errol on rare and unusual grassland plants found on their Blackrock and Bunburra properties. Short talks by any members who wish to share something that may be of interest to us all. Stroll around the regrowth and replanted native vegetation areas.

What to Bring: Your own drinks, morning tea and lunch as well as your own plates, cups, cutlery. A BBQ and fridge will be available. There are plenty of chairs though none have side tables. So, if you need a small table bring along your own.

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

Outing Report - Autumn Camp: Foxbar Falls, Amiens: 14-17 May 2021

The days were bright and warm, while the nights were dark and cool (read cold).

Photo: N. Cooper

Photo: N. Cooper

 

Autumn Greenhood (Pterostylis revoluta)
Photo: N. Crepin

Tall Sundew (Drosera hookeri)
Photo: N. Crepin

Wild Geranium (Pelagonium australe)
Photo: N. Crepin

Guinea Flower (Hibbertia histoidea)
Photo: N. Crepin

Camping at Foxbar Falls Campground
Photo: N. Crepin

White-eared Honeyeater
Photo: C. Bonner

Grey Fantail                                           Photo: C. Bonner

Rock Garden                                           Photo: C. Bonner

Foxbar Falls                                           Photo: C. Bonner

A peaceful morning at Lake Amiens
Photo: L. Oliver

The start of a beautiful day
Photo: L. Oliver

Species lists to come