Outing Report - Mt Elliott Rd, Undullah, 19th November 2022

Emergent Planchonella eerwah
with Flinders Peak
in the background

Our Saturday outing was at a magnificent location on the eastern side of Flinders Peak with a "Lost World" feel. The Fassifern Field Naturalists had a special day on this private property. Native flora was the main focus and there was an abundance to see and discuss. The special tree we went to see, the Flinders Plum or Shiny-leaved Condoo Planchonella eerwah, was in fruit and some of our members collected them for propogation. As we looked into the scrub from the garden, emergent Planchonella were rising above the canopy into the skyline. We wondered how old they were as they take such a long time to grow.

Any birds were heard rather than seen wheras the butterflies were obvious in large numbers including the current south-east Queensland eruption of Caper Whites.

Photos by N. Crepin

A giant Lacebark
(with human for comparison)

Natters wandering down the track

   

View of Flinders Peak 
(with one of the unidentified
dragonflies in top right-hand corner)

Beautiful veined leaves
of White Fig Ficus virens

Elliott Rd, Undullah Species Lists:

* = introduced species

Fauna

Birds: Pacific Black Duck, Bar-shouldered Dove, Wonga Pigeon, Topknot Pigeon, Collared Sparrowhawk, Dusky Moorhen, Black-breasted Button-quail (platelets only), Australian King-Parrot, Pheasant Coucal, Eastern Koel, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Brush Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Striated Pardalote, Lewin's Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Varied Triller, Little Shrike-thrush, Grey Shrike-thrush, Australasian Figbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Torresian Crow, Black-faced Monarch, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye, Mistletoebird.

Reptiles: Snakes; Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis.

Butterflies: Orchard Swallowtail Papilio aegeus, Fuscous Swallowtail Papilio fuscus capaneus, Lemon Migrant Catopsilia pomona, Common Grass-yellow Eurema hecabe, Small Grass-yellow Eurema smilax, Caper White Belenois java (dozens - due to south-east Queensland eruption/migration), *Wanderer Danaus plexippus, Lesser Wanderer Danaus petilia, Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace, Common Eggfly Hypolimnas bolina, Meadow Argus Junonia villida. (Also, at least 2 small Blue sp. were observed.)

Other Invertebrates: Damsel/Dragonflies; Blue Skimmer Orthetrum caledonicum. (Other dragonflies and a damselfly were also observed but not identified.)

 (Flora list to come)

November Outing: Mt Elliott Rd, Undullah - 19th November 2022

Flower of the Planchonella eerwah
Photo: A. Podlich

The Fassifern Field Naturalists last went here in 2007. A place of rare plants and great views! 

This is the mother-load of Flinders Plum Planchonella eerwah – rediscovered from near here back in 1980. They are common here. 

Time: 8.30 am

Where: Washpool-Undullah district

Directions: members - please refer to your October newsletter; non-members - please email us for directions,   

fassifernfieldnaturalists@gmail.com

Activities: Join us for a walk over a most special place below the impressive Flinders Peak. Botanical, ornithological, photographical, entomological, geographical, and geological wonders await! 

Level of Fitness: Depends on how much you want to do. Lazing around to traipsing around.

What to Bring: Morning Tea, Lunch, chairs, water, and insect repellent, etc.

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