Outing Report - Heritage Road, Spicers Gap, 19 February 2022

 

FFNC members on the Heritage Road
Photo: W. Dunn

It was a lovely day; the weather was perfect, the countryside lush, the wildlife was wonderful to look at and wonder at, and to top it off, great company. Members and friends ambled along the Heritage Road from the Governor's Chair carpark to the Mt Mathieson Trail junction and back. The photo on the left shows the birding fraternity trying to find the Red-browed Treecreeper. Unfortunately not too many of us saw it before it flew off! 

Bracket Fungi
Photo: L. Beaton

At places it was quite wet underfoot though the track was slashed. It made the cobblestones partially hidden by the grass quite a hazard. Though we marveled at the work needed to build the original road using only hand tools. We read the information boards about the construction while our President explained the geology of the rock. I'm sure we all agreed with Noela that ".... it was just so hard to picture this road being travelled by loaded wagons and coaches probably on tracks no better and even much worse than we were on ....  It really was a very long, dangerous route."

Rock Felt Fern
(Pyrrosia rupestris)
Photo: K. McCosh

Information board about
the construction of the road.
(Perhaps a little update is needed.)
Photo: W. Dunn

We saw a very large Dagger Orchid (Dockrillia pugioniformis). Not in flower though. We also noted many Elkhorns (Platycerium bifurcatum) decorating the trees with countless young plants and this Rock Felt Fern (Pyrrosia rupestris) - above right, was loving the wet season.

Another remarkable sighting for the day was a Goanna nonchantly making its way up the track towards us. Eventually it thought it was outnumbered so slowly headed for the thick vegetation at the side of the road and disappeared from view.

For lunch we gathered at the campground day-use area where there was plenty of room to spread out. Here we chatted about what we had seen and what seemed to be missing compared to other visits. The men reported that there were moths in the conveniences! Sure enough, more than a dozen Granny's Cloak Moths (Speiredonia spectans) were hiding in the gloom of the wooden building. One of them had three red mites sucking blood from its wing.

Granny's Cloak Moth (Speiredonia spectans) 

with the mites
Photos: L. Beaton

 Plague Soldier Beetle
(Chauliognathus lugubris)
Photo: N. Crepin

Fuzzy photo of  Soldier Beetle
(Chauliognathus tricolor),
but it shows the difference
between the two.

Spicers Peak from the Heritage Road
Photo: W. Dunn

Watch this space for the Species lists.

Outing Report - Shoreline Trail (western end) Lake Wyaralong, 15 January 2022

Two of our members
disappearing into the distance
on the Shoreline Trail

Traditionally our January outing is an early morning bird walk. No matter the weather it always seems popular. This was true this year even with the cloud of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 hanging over us. It was great to see some members who hadn't been on an outing for a while and also to welcome our newest member, Maureen.

Everyone was eager to see plenty of birds. Unfortunately, with the great season we're having most of the water birds have dispersed and few were seen this morning. Even so large flocks of Great and Little Black Cormorants were recorded flying along one arm of the dam. Also, there were many bush birds in evidence. The Dollarbirds and Sacred Kingfishers in particular were very visible and vocal, and Fairy-wrens were in abundance - both the Red-backed and Superb species. 

The exotic Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) has started to build up again but the Comb-crested Jacanas and the Striped Marsh Frogs were loving it.

As usual we found far more than birds to catch our attention and a magic morning in the bush was rounded off with a social-distancing gathering at Lilybrook Recreation Area for refreshments in the welcome shade.

Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
in Oaky Creek, Shoreline Trail

2 cicadas found dead on the Trail,
tentatively identified as a Black Prince (left), 
and a Black Tree Ticker (right).

Photographers: W. Dunn, N. Cooper, L. Beaton

Species List for Shoreline Trail Lake Wyaralong

Compiled from members’ sightings by Club Recorder

introduced species = _*

Fauna
Birds (72 species): Brown Quail, Black Swan, Australian Wood Duck, Grey Teal, Bar-shouldered Dove, Australian Darter, Little Pied Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Australian Pelican, White-faced Heron, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Whistling Kite, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Nankeen Kestrel, Purple Swamphen, Dusky Moorhen, Masked Lapwing, Comb-crested Jacana, Galah, Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, [Australian] King-Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Pheasant Coucal, Eastern Koel, Channel-billed Cuckoo, Little Bronze-Cuckoo, Brush Cuckoo,  Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater, Dollarbird, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, White-browed Scrubwren, Speckled Warbler, Striated Pardalote, Noisy Miner, Brown Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Little Friarbird, Striped Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Varied Sittella, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Australasian Figbird, Olive-backed Oriole, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Spangled Drongo, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Leaden Flycatcher, Restless Flycatcher, Magpie-lark, Eastern Yellow Robin, Golden-headed Cisticola, Tawny Grassbird, Tree Martin, *Common Myna, Mistletoebird, Red-browed Finch, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin.
 
Amphibians: Striped Marsh Frog, Green Tree Frog.
 
Fish: *European Carp.
 
Butterflies: Fourbar Swordtail (Protographium leosthenes), Lemon Migrant (Catopsilia pomona), Common Grass-yellow (Eurema hecabe), Small Grass-yellow (Eurema smilax), *Wanderer (Danaus plexippus), Lesser Wanderer (Danaus petilia), Common Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina), Meadow Argus (Junonia villida).
 
Damsel/Dragonflies: Common Bluetail (Ischnura heterosticta), Scarlet Percher (Diplacodes haematodes), Blue Skimmer (Orthetrum caledonicum), Graphic Flutterer (Rhyothemis graphiptera).
 
Other Invertebrates: Ants: Southern Meat Ant (Iridomyrmex purpureus); Beetles; Darkling Beetle sp., Eucalyptus Weevil (Gonipterus sp.), Red-blue Banded Leaf Beetle (Paropsis obsolete); Cicadas; Black Tree-ticker (Birrima varians), Black Prince (Psaltoda plaga).

Spiders: Australian Jewel Spider (Austracantha minax), Leaf-curling Spider (Phonognatha graeffei).
 
 
Flora discussed or taken note of on the day (not a comprehensive list):
Fungi: Termite-mound Fungus (Podaxis beringamensis) – old fruiting bodies.

Aquatic Plants: *Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). 

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

Outing Report - Mt Colliery, 20 February 2021

Ruby Bonnets (Mycena viscidocruenta) 
Photo: N. Crepin

What a special area Mt Colliery is. On the ridge where we parked our cars it was eucalypt woodland and as we dropped down the steep slope to the east it became thick rainforest. 

It wasn't long before we were setting off for a bit of bush bashing through that rainforest. It was quite misty with low cloud when we arrived and there had been rain in the preceding days so it was wet and slippery underfoot. We had to walk carefully.

There was plenty of fungi about and it was heads down, bums up as members started taking photos of specimens on the forest floor, the fallen logs and lower tree trunks.

Heads down and bums up
Photo: L. Beaton

The forest floor with rotting logs, ferns, lichens, mosses, sedges and fungi.
Photo: L. Beaton

More fungi - Earthstars (Geastrum sp.)
Photo: C.Bonner

The track disappearing into the rainforest
Photo: L. Beaton

..... and truly awe-inspiring
Photo: N. Crepin

The beauty of the rainforest
is truly stunning .....
Photo: N. Crepin

Eventually we were lead to a private lookout over the Cambanoora (Condamine) Gorge. Here we met up with another one of our groups busily inspecting mistletoe.

Cambanoora Gorge

The birds were heard but not often seen though we did record 29 species, as well as a few butterflies and other invertebrates. While some of us were lucky enough to see the Red-bellied Black Snake go for a swim in the dam.

By lunchtime the sun was in full glory and we were seeking the shade to chat about our glorious time.

Species Lists

* = introduced species

Fauna

Birds:  Most of the birds were heard rather than seen. The Bell Miner and Pied Butcherbird were heard from the lookout so we're not sure that they were actually on the property.

Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Topknot Pigeon, White-throated Needletail – flying overhead at the top of the driveway, Wedge-tailed Eagle – above the paddocks on Sunday Plains Rd, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo, King-Parrot, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Albert's Lyrebird, White-throated Treecreeper, Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Brown Gerygone, Brown Thornbill, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin's Honeyeater, Bell Miner, Eastern Whipbird, Golden Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Pied Butcherbird, Pied Currawong, Spangled Drongo, Grey Fantail, Black-faced Monarch, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Mistletoebird.

Reptiles: Red-bellied Black Snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus).

Butterflies: Orchard Swallowtail (Papilio aegeus) – caterpillars & adults , Small Grass-yellow (Eurema smilax), Australian Gull (Cepora perimale), Black Jezebel (Delias nigrina), Yellow Albatross (Appias paulina) - male, Common Pearl White (Elodina angulipennis) which feeds on Capparis (note C. arborea was on site and the likely host plant), *Wanderer (Danaus plexippus).

Damsel/Dragonflies: Blue Skimmer (Orthetrum caledonicum).

Moths: Joseph's Coat Moth (Agarista agricola) – caterpillar.

Other Invertebrates: Bees; Blue-banded Bee (Amegilla cingulate). Bugs; Metallic Shield Bug (Scutiphora pedicellata) - instar. Flies; Robber fly sp.

Flora discussed or taken note of on the day (not a comprehensive list):

Fungi: Wood Ear sp. (Auricularia sp.), Leathery Goblet (Cymatoderma elegans), Orange pore Fungus (Favolaschia calocera), Earthstar sp. (Geastrum sp.), Ruby Bonnet (Mycena viscidocruenta), a bracket fungi (Trametes modesta).

Ferns: Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum aethiopicum).

Grasses, Sedges, Rushes, etc.: Variable Sword-sedge (Lepidosperma laterale), Bog Bulrush (Schoenoplectiella mucronata).

Herbs: Native Geranium (Geranium solanderi), Indian Weed (Sigesbeckia orientalis), Stinging Nettle (Urtica incisa).

Vines, Scramblers & Climbers: Common Silkpod or Monkey Rope (Parsonsia straminea).

Mistletoes: Myrtle-leaved Mistletoe (Muellerina myrtifolia).

Shrubs: Native Pomegranate or Caper Bush (Capparis arborea),

Palms: Walking Stick Palm (Linospadix monostachya).

Trees: Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii), Black Booyong (Argyrodendron actinophyllum), Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius), Giant Stinging Tree (Dendrocnide excelsa), Sydney Blue Gum (Eucalyptus saligna), Rock Fig (Ficus rubiginosa) Python Tree (Gossia bidwillii), Wild Quince (Guioa semiglauca), Green Bolly Gum (Neolitsea australiensis), Flintwood (Scolopia braunii), Red Cedar (Toona australis).

Outing Report - Palm Grove N.P., Mt Tamborine, 21 November 2020

Members fascinated with some fungi.
Photo: N. Crepin

The members and friends of the Fassifern Field Naturalists Club had a very 'naturalistic' day at Palm Grove N.P. Here they are going ga-ga over fungi. No wonder. This fungi certainly deserves its name, Dead Man's Fingers.

Dead Man's Fingers (Xylaria polymorpha)
Photo: J. Cornwall

Photo: J. Cornwall

Then they found some Richmond Birdwing Butterfly eggs on a Richmond Birdwing Butterfly Vine and many photos were taken.

Recording the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly eggs
Photo: N. Crepin

Photo: W. Dunn

They also loved the Yellow Carabeen (Sloanea woollsii) trees.

Photo: W. Dunn

Photo: N. Crepin

Photo: N. Crepin

Mt Mathieson Trail Reconnoitre

The leader and I went to check the Mt Mathieson Trail for the July outing on Friday. 

Grasstree spikes on a burnt ridge, Mt Mathieson

It was beautiful weather, warmer than usual for this time of the year. We only went as far as the Lookout, about 2 km. It was upsetting to see how bushfire damaged the area was. A phantom of its former glory. 

Yes, shoots are coming back on the trees and the Xanthorrhoea (grasstrees) are looking healthy but so little canopy and few birds. By the time of our outing the grasstree flower spikes should be fully out. Already some of the early bloomers were attracting bees and butterflies.

Large Grass-yellow on grasstree flower spike

Not all the grasstrees survived however. The one below had this fungi growing on its rotting stem. Don't know which species of fungi it is.

Fungi growing on burnt grasstree

Although fire-ravaged it was a lovely walk with amazing views at the lookout and plenty of birdlife in the thicker scrub. I'm looking forward to our return on Saturday July 18. See previous post for details.

Outing Report - Mt French, August 2016

FFNC members investigating the flora and fauna on the Mt French escarpment

Considering rain was forecast it was more members than expected who assembled in the Mt French car-park. We had to jostle for parking spaces with the large numbers of rock-climbers attempting the Frog Buttress cracks. Before we left the car-park Keith pointed out the Eucalyptus dura, also known as the Smooth-branched Ironbark, or Gum-topped Ironbark, which is fairly uncommon but found on the peaks in our area.

Nats in the Mt French heath

Mt French is always a botanist's delight and it wasn't long before we were scattered along the Mee-bor-rum Circuit track as people stopped to discuss and identify plants. Unfortunately the Moogerah Pea (Bossiaea rupicola) had finished flowering and there were only occasional blooms to be seen.

Moogerah Pea (Bossiaea rupicola) - a lone flower.

However there were acacias in full flower and Wonga Vine (Pandorea pandorana) was tumbling down the rocky escarpment in a shower of creamy bells. Hoya australis was also climbing over the rocks and up the trees, and Hibiscus heterophyllus bushes were clinging to the edge but neither were flowering at this time of the year. Many of the Grass Trees (Xanthorrhoea sp.) were in flower, and Keith spotted scratchings on one of the stems which looked as if they could have been made by a small glider. The native bees also enjoy the nectar and were buzzing around the tall spikes.

                     

Morning tea was back at the picnic tables then we set off for the North Cliff walk and the stupendous view at Logan's Lookout.

Kalbar from Logan's Lookout on Mt French

The habitat is quite different in this section though similar to the car-park and camping area. Young Celery Wood (Polyscias elegans) and Kurrajong (Brachychiton sp) were noted by the side of the track.

      

It was back to the picnic tables for lunch, and time to recap on what we had observed, catch up with members we don't always see on our outings and cheer our decathlon winner in the Games. (Some people can't live without their gadgets!) The group split up after this with some members heading home and others going to the lower section of the national park.

              

The ground was damper here and the track was littered with tiny yellow fungi and Pale Sundew (Drosera peltata). We searched the leaf litter for native ground orchids and though we saw leaves of some varieties it was a little early for their flowers. In the dry creek bed we found Lacy Wedge Fern (Lindsaea microphylla).

                

Certainly a day for the botanists.

Des, cleaning his boots to help eradicate the Phytophthora cinnamomi or Root Rot, a mold which infects native vegetation.
Heathlands and dry Eucalypt forest are particularly at risk.  

Birds:

Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Laughing Kookaburra, White-throated Treecreeper, Spotted Pardalote, Lewin's Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Scarlet Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Australasian Figbird, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Torresian Crow, Silvereye, Mistletoebird

Butterflies:

Black Jezebel (Delias nigrina)

Skinks:

Wall Skink (Cryptoblepharus virgatus)

Spiders:
Leaf Curling Spider (Phonognatha graeffei), egg sacs of the Magnificent Spider (Ordgarius magnificus)

AGM

Our AGM in March was a very enjoyable affair. The official business was dealt with efficiently and we were able to settle down to the interesting and informative talk by Megan Prance on fungi.    

Megan Prance giving her talk

Some of the facts from her talk were: 

• Of the many thousands of fungi found all over Australia, only a comparatively small number have been identified.
• Plants and trees form a relationship with fungi and together they produce specialised roots known as mycorrhiza. (Mycorrhiza = fungus + root) This association produces essential nutrients for both the fungi and the plant and it also provides protection for the plant against disease and soil borne organisms. This Mycorrhiza is also essential for the growth of many of our native terrestrial orchids.
• Fungi is a major source of food for many of our small marsupials such as small wallabies, potoroos, bandicoots and wombats. Some birds also include fungi in their diet. 
•  Even though wood chips used as mulch in the suburban garden leads to the appearance of many interesting and colourful fungi, its use changes the ecosystem.   Using local garden mulch is much better for the environment because of the important role fungi plays in plant ecology.  Wood chip is sourced from a completely different environment so its use promotes a fungi which is foreign to the plants it is going to associate with.

Megan & Noela discussing the beautiful display Noela created

This was followed by many questions, and much discussion over a wonderful supper supplied by members.

GUEST SPEAKER: Megan Prance "Fabulous Fungi and some Photography"

The formal part of the meeting will be, as is our custom, quite short, followed by -

Megan Prance speaking at the Lockyer Valley
Land for Wildlife Forum

GUEST SPEAKER:  Megan Prance "Fabulous Fungi and some Photography"

Megan became seriously interested in fungi & photography in 2007 after seeing a magnificent Stinkhorn while on a bush walk at Lamington National Park. It took 6 months to find out what it was. To learn about macro fungi she joined Queensland Mycological Society. 

She is a former nurse and has an Applied Science Degree majoring in Biology. She currently works at
Queensland Herbarium assisting with the Fungal Collection, the new DNA lab and  running the Botanical library. Megan is past president of Wolston & Centenary Catchments Inc. With Dr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher she conducted a fungal survey of West Brisbane Fungi in 2014-15.

The annual general meeting of the Fassifern Field Naturalists Club Inc. will be held at 6.30pm on Saturday, 19th March 2016 in the Boonah Baptist Hall, corner of Church and Macquarie Streets, Boonah.

This will be followed by our guest speaker, supper and socializing with time to view the interesting items and photos brought in by members.

Admission for members and non-members is $4 and includes supper.