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).