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.

Wednesday, 17 November 2021

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.

Monday, 1 November 2021

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