Lilybrook Break - 15 August 2020

Ferns sprouting out of the rock at Lilybrook Break

It was a damp looking morning but still there were twenty members happy to brave the weather. 

Admiring the old Blue Gums

A shower as we started, and a downpour at the end but inbetween was perfect, fine and warm. 

Baby Blue Eyes (Evolvulus alsinoides)

Spring wildflowers were just coming into bloom. 

Fauna species lists:

Birds: Brown Quail, Australian Wood Duck, ,Bar-shouldered Dove ,Australasian Darter, Great Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Little Pied Cormorant, Australian Pelican, White-faced Heron, Straw-necked Ibis, White-bellied Sea-eagle, Whistling Kite, Dusky Moorhen, Black-winged Stilt, Masked Lapwing, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Little Corella, Long-billed Corella, Galah, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, King Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Little Bronze-cuckoo, Pheasant Coucal, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Bee-eater, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, White-throated Gerygone, Striated Pardalote, White-throated Honeyeater, Striped Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Noisy Friarbird, Little Friarbird, Grey-crowned Babbler, Rufous Whistler, Olive-backed Oriole, Pied Butcherbird, Grey Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Magpie-lark, Golden-headed Cisticola, Tawny Grassbird, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Double-barred Finch.

Mammals: Eastern Grey Kangaroo

Butterflies: Common Grass-yellow (Eurema hecabe phoebus), Small Grass-yellow (Eurema smilax), Common Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina nerina).

Outing Report - Odonata at Lilybrook, 15 February 2020

What a day! 

Chris Burwell entertaining the Field Nats

Due to the heavy rain and closure of the Coulson road junction in the days before our outing, we moved Chris Burwell's presentation on Odonata to the first activity of the day. The shed soon became full with many members remembering Chris as a lad chasing insects on our early Field Nats outings. Did FFNC have a little input into his being senior curator of Entomology at the Queensland Museum? We like to think so.

After knowing a lot more about damsel/dragonflies and being enthused to find our local species we set off for Lilybrook as the junction had opened that morning. They were ideal conditions and a total of 14 different damsels & dragons were identified and one other at the Coulson shed. As well, there were other invertebrates, 13 different butterflies and 41 species of birds.

Starting out for the water with nets to the ready

Plenty of dragonflies here

Capturing a damselfly for identification

Up close and personal

 Fauna  introduced species = _*

Birds: Brown Quail, Plumed Whistling Duck, Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Crested Pigeon, Peaceful Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Great Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Australian Pelican, Whistling Kite, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Australian King Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Pheasant Coucal, Little Bronze-Cuckoo, Brush Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater, Weebill, White-throated Gerygone, Striated Pardalote, Noisy Miner, Brown Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Striped Honeyeater, Grey-crowned Babbler, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Cicadabird, Rufous Whistler, Olive-backed Oriole, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Restless Flycatcher, Magpie-lark, Tawny Grassbird, Welcome Swallow.

Butterflies: Blue Triangle, Orchard Swallowtail, Lemon Migrant, Common Grass-yellow, Small Grass-yellow, Australian Gull, Caper White, Lesser Wanderer, Blue Tiger, Common Crow, Meadow Argus, Spotted Grass-blue, Common Grass Blue.

Spiders: Australian Jewel Spider (Austracantha minax).

Damsel/Dragonflies: Wandering Ringtail (Austrolestes leda), Eastern Billabongfly (Austroagrion watsonia), Redtail (Ceriagrion aeruginosum), Aurora Bluetail (Ischnura aurora), Common Bluetail (Ischnura heterosticta), Gold-fronted Riverdamsel (Pseudagrion aureofrons), Blue Riverdamsel (Pseudagrion microcephalum), Australian Tiger (Ictinogomphus australis), Palemouth (Brachydiplax denticauda), Wandering Percher (Diplacodes bipunctata), Scarlet Percher (Diplacodes haematodes), Black-faced Percher (Diplacodes melanopsis), Water Prince (Hydrobasileus brevistylus), Blue Skimmer (Orthetrum caledonicum), Short-tailed Duskdarter (Zyxomma elgneri).
Moths: Joseph's Coat Moth (Agarista Agricola) 1.

Other Invertebrates: Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus porosus), Orange Potter Wasp (Eumenes latreilli), Cherrynose [cicada] (Macrotristria angularis).

Amphibians: *Cane Toad.

Reptiles: Red-bellied Black Snake.

February Outing - Insects by the Teviot, 15 February 2020

We are privileged to have Dr. Chris Burwell, senior curator of Entomology at the 

A likely find on the February outing
(Photo: A. Podlich)

Queensland Museum, as our guest and leader for this outing. There will be two parts – a field outing in the morning followed by displays and a presentation by Chris at a local property. His presentation will be on the Odonata, comprising dragonflies and damselflies, one of the best know groups of Australian insects in terms of their taxonomy.

Time: 8.30 am, Saturday, 15th February 2020

Where: Lilybrook Recreation Area – Beaudesert-Boonah Road, Coulson (I know, we're going back but it's a great place to find dragonflies.)

Directions: from the Coulson junction (Ipswich Boonah & Beaudesert Boonah Roads) turn onto the Beaudesert Boonah Rd/State Route 90, drive for approx. 2.75 kms then turn left. The Western Trailhead is clearly signposted. Drive to the carpark at the end of the road. From Beaudesert – take the Beaudesert Boonah Rd and drive for almost 30 kms. The recreation area is not signed from this direction but the Qld MOTO Park on the left is just before the right-hand turn into the Western Trailhead.

Activities: Chris will lead us, hopefully, in search of dragonflies and damselflies. If they are in short supply then he will see what other insects we can turn up. He assures us there is always something interesting to find in the entomological world.

Level of Fitness: easy, grass tracks with some slopes

Facilities: toilets and shelter shed at Lilybrook

What to Bring: The usual – chairs, morning tea, lunch, binocs, magnifying glass, cameras, insect repellent, sunscreen. We will still be doing our birding and other creature lists.

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

Outing Report - Lilybrook Recreation Area, 18 January 2020

Committee meeting in the shelter shed
(Photo J. Ball)

Well, at least the committee turned up, and as it was still pouring with rain we decided to have our committee meeting there and then. We were so busy that we didn't notice until later that an Orange Potter Wasp (Eumenes latreilli) was building her nest under our Secretary's knees!

Orange Potter Wasp
(Photo L. Beaton)

The rain eased as we finished the meeting and a couple of other members turned up so off we went on the walk. As we came down the Goan Track towards the underpass of the Beaudesert-Boonah Rd we were surprised to find the little gully with enough water to make it impassable, and frogs calling vociferously. We followed the gully and eventually our fearless leader found some frogs to identify. "There," he pointed, "their heads are sticking out of the water!" It took some time to convince him that it was kangaroo poo floating in the water! However one head was seen and identified as a Spotted Marsh (or Grass) Frog, and one of the calls as the Graceful Tree Frog. 

Graceful Tree Frog
(Photo L. Cross - not taken at Lilybrook)

Frogs or poo?
Shallow end of the gully
(Photo W. Dunn)

We were hoping to see plenty of butterflies, but unfortunately it was too overcast. Only four butterfly species were seen but eggs and caterpillars of the Wanderer (or Monarch) were found on several exotic Balloon Cotton Bush (Gomphocarpus physocarpus). 

Wanderer caterpillar
on Balloon Cotton Bush
(Photo L. Beaton)

Wanderer eggs on Balloon Cotton Bush
(Photo L. Beaton)

As with our last outing there were plenty of wildflowers although mostly exotic. Here's a couple of natives though.

Blue Trumpet (Brunoniella australis)
(Photo N. Crepin)

Winter Apple (Eromophila debilis)
(Photo N. Crepin)

The humidity had started to rise and the shelter shed was a welcome retreat for morning tea. While we had a cuppa and talked about our observations an Australian Emerald dragonfly hovered over a large puddle dipping her abdomen in the water as she laid her eggs. 

Lastly, here is a beautiful natural piece of artwork found on one of the tracks near Teviot Brook.

Snake skeleton
(Photo A. Podlich)

Fauna: compiled from members’ observations

Birds: Brown Quail, Aust. Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Crested Pigeon, Bar-shouldered
Dove, White-throated Needletail, Aust. Darter, Great Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Aust. Pelican, White-faced Heron, Great Egret, Straw-necked Ibis, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Whistling Kite, Nankeen Kestrel, Buff-banded Rail, Dusky Moorhen, Masked Lapwing, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Little corella rainbow Lorikeet, 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 Wren, White-throated Gerygone, Striated Pardalote, Noisy Miner, Brown Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Little Friarbird, Striped Honeyeater, Grey-crowned Babbler, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Cicadabird, Rufous Whistler, Aust. Figbird, Olive-backed Oriole, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Aust. Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Leaden Flycatcher, Magpie-lark, Jacky Winter, golden-headed Cisticola, Tawny Grassbird, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Tree Martin, Common Myna, Mistletoebird, Double-barred Finch, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin           67 Birds.

Reptiles: Red-bellied Black Snake

Amphibians: Spotted Marsh (or Grass) Frog, Graceful Tree Frog

Mammals: Eastern Grey Kangaroo      

Butterflies: Small Grass yellow, Wanderer (eggs & caterpillars), Lesser Wanderer, Meadow Argus,

Spotted Pea-Blue. 

Other Invertebrates: European Honey Bee, Orange Potter Wasp, Australian Emerald (dragonfly), Blue Skimmer (dragonfly), Variable Ladybird, Striped Ladybird, Grass Faerie (cicada), Clanger (cicada), Banded Sugar Ant.

Flora seen along the way:

Slug Herb (Murdannia graminea), Yellow Buttons (Chrysocephalum apiculatum), Australian Dodder (Cuscuta australis), Twining Glycine (Glycine clandestine), Blue Heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule), Lantana (Lantana camara), Phasey Bean (Macroptilium lathyroides), Siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum), Dwarf Morning Glory (Evolvulus alsinoides), Condamine Couch (Phyla canescens), Warrigal Greens (Tetragonia tetragonoides), Blue Bells (Wahlenbergia spp.), Poison Pratia (Lobelia concolor), Bristle Cloak Fern (Cheilanthes distans), Native Sensitive Plant (Neptunia gracilis), Blue Trumpet (Brunoniella australis), Winter Apple (Eromophila debilis), Bladder Cotton (Gomphocarpus physocarpus).

Outing Report - Lilybrook Recreation Area, 19 October 2019

Varied Sitella, Lilybrook Recreation Area

20 members arrived at Lilybrook Recreation Area, Coulson. It is at the western end of Lake Wyaralong and the original Lilybrook Homestead is still there. We were greeted by a cacophony of sound from the Noisy & Little Friarbirds, Rainbow Lorikeets and Brown Honeyeaters feasting in the flowering Silky Oaks and Bottlebrushes. It wasn't long before there was a scatter of Natters along the banks of the Teviot Brook. 
Nine different honeyeaters were taking advantage of the bottlebrushes. Though they weren't the only birds to catch our eye. The Azure Kingfisher posed grandly, while the Welcome Swallows wheeled and dived over the water. Varied Sittella searched for insects on the branches as well as Striated Pardalotes and Weebills which were both feeding young. More than 50 species of birds were seen.
We were impressed with the growth and survival rate of this section of the 300,000 native trees planted to form environmental corridors by seqwater almost 10 years ago. 
After exploring along the water we gathered at the picnic shelter for morning tea and a chat. 

Having a cuppa in the picnic shelter

The second walk took us away from the homestead and past the stockyards. Up against one of the fence posts was a termite nest with the remains of two Termite-mound Fungi looking like sticks that the termites had built around.

Termite-mound Fungus
(photo taken in April 2019 on the same track)

We continued under the Beaudesert-Boonah Road where we were able to see partially built Fairy Martin nests (though no Martins) and last season's Potter Wasp nests. 

The botanists were also in their element as a number of wildflowers were emerging after the recent - few drops of - rain. Unfortunately most of the ones on the mown tracks were exotic weeds: Yellow Wood Sorrel (Oxalis stricta), Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis), Condamine Couch (Phyla canescens) which by its name sounds like a local but is actually a native of South America, Blue Heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule) another South American, and Phasey Bean (Macroptilium lathyroides) to name a few. It was pleasing to see our native Australian Bluebell (probably Wahlenbergia stricta) flowering profusely. Not only were the melaleucas and grevilleas in flower but also some eucalypts and mistletoe. It was while we were heading for the Goan Track that a rather threatening storm loomed from the south-west with dark clouds and rolling thunder. Not wanting to get caught in a downpour we headed back for the shelter shed and lunch. Of course, a few drops were all we got!

Fairy Martin & Potter wasp nests

Yellow Wood Sorrel (Oxalis stricta)

Condamine Couch (Phyla canescens)

Australian Bluebells

Soldier Beetles on left, Lycid Beetles on right - Lilybrook, October 2019

More photos in the Gallery.

Fauna

Birds: Brown Quail, Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Crested Pigeon, Bar-shouldered Dove, Australasian Darter, Australian Pelican (overhead), White-faced Heron, Straw-necked Ibis, Brown Goshawk, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Nankeen Kestrel, Brown Falcon, Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Cockatiel, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Australian King-Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Azure Kingfisher, Laughing Kookaburra, Sacred Kingfisher, Rainbow Bee-eater, Dollarbird, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, Weebill - feeding young, White-throated Gerygone, Striated Pardalote - feeding young, Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Little Friarbird, Striped Honeyeater, Grey-crowned Babbler, Varied Sittella, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Varied Triller, Rufous Whistler, Olive-backed Oriole, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Leaden Flycatcher, Magpie-lark, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, partially built Fairy Martin nests but no Fairy Martins.

Butterflies: Caper White (Belenois java), Wanderer (Danaus plexippus), Common Crow (Euploea core), Glasswing (Acraea andromacha.

Moths: Black Thorax Wasp Moth (Amata trigonophora) - copulating.

Other Invertebrates: Native Bee sp., Lycid Beetle sp., Soldier Beetle Sp.

Some Flora noticed along the way:

Fungi: Termite-mound Fungus (Podaxis beringamensis).

Herbs: Yellow Wood Sorrel (Oxalis stricta), Condamine Couch (Phyla canescens), Australian Bluebell (Wahlenbergia stricta).

Mistletoes: Variable Mistletoe (Amyema congener), Melaleuca Mistletoe (Amyema gaudichaudii), Grey Mistletoe (Notothixos incana).

Trees: Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii), Narrow-leaved or Queensland Bottle Tree (Brachychiton rupestris), Silky Oak (Grevillea robusta), Weeping or Creek Bottlebrush (Melaleuca viminalis). 

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

Avenue into Lilybrook Recreation Area, Oct 2019

OCTOBER CAMP IS CANCELLED!!!

Alternative Outing - Lilybrook Recreation Area

Time: 8.30am.

Where: Lilybrook Recreation Area, Beaudesert Boonah Rd.

Directions: from the Coulson junction (Ipswich Boonah Road – Beaudesert Boonah Road) turn onto the Beaudesert Boonah Rd/State Route 90, drive for approximately 2¾ kms then turn left. The Western Trailhead is clearly signposted. Drive to end of road. From Beaudesert – take the Beaudesert Boonah Rd and drive for almost 30 km. The recreation area is not signed but the Qld MOTO Park on the left is just before the right-hand turn into the Western Trailhead.

Activities: Exploring the property by walking on mown, grassy tracks. Easy walking access to Teviot Brook. When I checked out this area yesterday the bottlebrushes and silky oaks were in flower with birds everywhere. There is still water in the Brook at this point with water birds, dragonflies, etc. The trees here are looking healthy and it’s amazing how much they’ve grown even in the last 5 years.

The Teviot Brook from the road in, Oct 2019

Level of Fitness: Easy

Facilities: Toilets at recreation area; also large shelter shed and picnic tables.

What to Bring:  water, morning tea and lunch, insect repellent, hat, and the usual gear.

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

Looking across to Old Beaudesert Rd from Lilybrook, Oct 2019