Outing Report - Fassifern Rail Trail Boonah, 16 July 2022

We would like to respectfully acknowledge the Yuggera Ugarapul people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which our outing took place, and pay our respects to Elders both past, present and future.

Fassifern Field Nats taking pics on the Rail Trail

A stunning morning weather-wise was spent on the Rail Trail. It was interesting that a number of our members had not walked the Trail before. It is not a naturalist's paradise but it is a short, gentle walk through a pastoral landscape and in winter has crisp views of Mt French with the Main Range beyond. 

Punchagin (south peak)
with Main Range in the background

We were about one-third of the way along the Trail when a local farmer invited us onto his property. He told us his trees were full of birds. He wasn't wrong. His fig trees were, amazingly enough, full of Figbirds but there were Striated Pardalotes, Silvereye and White-throated Gerygones too. Mike also had a White-faced Heron nest in one of the trees earlier in the year. Two small dams provided a range of water birds as well.

There was a smattering of scrub trees along the trail and the Maiden's Wattle Acacia maidenii was in flower.

It wasn't long before we were in the cutting and down through the Baptist Cemetery on Red Bridge Rd. Here some members returned via the trail, others walked onto the lunch spot at Bicentennial Park, while some drivers were driven back to their vehicles. 

The park is a pleasant place to have lunch and there was much chatter and sharing of photos. Lastly, a quick walk around the park added a few more species to the lists.

Ficus macrophylla with figs and F. obliqua

Field Nats taking a tour
of a local property

 

Walking down from the fig trees

Baptist Cemetery on Red Bridge Rd

Lunch at Bicentennial Park

The pond at Bicentennial Park

Photographs by L. Beaton, N. Crepin, W. Dunn.