August Outing Report - Mt French, 15 August 2026

brown wattle Acacia bruniodes

The Mt French outing is always a botanical event, and Keith and Barry didn't let us down with their knowledge of the local flora. We were a little disappointed with the flowering though the brown wattle Acacia bruniodes and the Brisbane wattle A. fimbrata put on a display. The Bossiaea rupicola had finished flowering, and the Jacksonia scoparia didn't look if it was going to flower at all. 

Brisbane Wattle, Acacia fimbrata

We came across some magnificent spider sacs on our way to the east cliff lookout. Nobody seemed to get a good photo of them so I've used one from my garden. They are quite amazing. 

magnificent spider,
Ordgarius magnificus

Once at the lookout, most members listened to Keith explain the rock formations, Barry checked out the flora, and I watched a couple of Elegant Snake-eyed Skinks or Wall Skinks Cryptoblepharus virgatus.

The heath offered us much more in the flowering shrub line, such as small-fruited may Gaudium microcarpum once known as Leptospermum microcarpum, and New England beard heath Styphelia neoanglica.

Species Lists compiled by the Club Recorder from members observations.

introduced species = _* 

Fauna

Arachnids: magnificent spider Ordgarius magnificus – egg sacs. Birds: pale-headed rosella, white-throated honeyeater, eastern spinebill, Lewin's honeyeater, noisy miner, spotted pardalote, white-throated gerygone, white-browed scrubwren, brown thornbill, pied currawong, grey fantail, Torresian crow. Marsupials: red-necked wallaby. Other Invertebrates: Ants; spiny ant sp. Polyrhachis sp. Reptiles: Dragons; lace monitor or goanna Varanus varius - injured. Skinks; elegant snake-eyed skink Cryptoblepharus pulcher (sometimes called fence, or wall skink).

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

Grasses: *red Natal grass Melinis repens. Herbs: tree trigger-plant or larchleaf triggerplant Stylidium laricifolium. Vines, Scramblers & Climbers: climbing asparagus fern Asparagus africanus, wonga vine Pandorea pandorana. Grass Trees: Johnson’s grass tree Xanthorrhoea johnsonii, coastal grass tree Xanthorrhoea latifolia. Shrubs: brown wattle Acacia brunioides, fringed or Brisbane wattle Acacia fimbriata, Bossiaea rupicola, triangle-leaved hopbush Dodonaea trianularis, hop bush Dodonaea triquetra, prickly or native hibiscus Hibiscus heterophyllus, dogwood Jacksonia scoparia – not flowering, *lantana Lantana camara, small-fruited tea tree Gaudium microcarpum [formerly Leptospermum microcarpum], Grove's paperbark Melaleuca groveana, New England bearded heath Styphelia neoanglica. Trees: kurrajong Brachychiton populneus, smooth-branched ironbark Eucalyptus dura, thin-leaved stringybark Eucalyptus eugenioides, small-leaved fig Ficus obliqu, shiny-leaved canthium Psydrax odorata subsp. buxifolia.

August Outing Details - Mt French National Park, 15 August 2026

Mt French showing its two peaks,
Punchagin on the left
 and Mee-bor-rum on the right
Photo L. Beaton

Time: 8.30 am 

Where: Mt French N.P. car park

Directions: Travel south of Boonah on the Rathdowney Road for about 750m. Turn right at the Dugandan Hotel into Mt French Road and follow it all the way to the parking area at the top of the mountain; bitumen road all the  way.

Mt French is a very popular place for climbers on the weekends so the car park can become crowded. If you can arrange to take someone with you in your vehicle it would help, as parking is limited in the parking area. 

Activities: This morning outing will suit all fitness levels though the Mee-bo-rum track goes over rocky heath with stone slabs. Apart from admiring the views from the North and East lookouts we will be doing our usual birding, butterfly and insect identification, and especially noting the native flora though it may be too early for flowering. The vegetation is mostly montane heath on exposed rock faces with open eucalypt forest in areas with more soil. In sheltered areas there  are some patches of rainforest. Endemic flora species occur on the peaks that can be found nowhere else on earth.

Level of Fitness: All levels of fitness, mainly flat track or flat rock slabs. (Grade 2: Formed track. May have gentle hills and some steps. Clearly signposted. No experience required.)

Facilities: toilets and picnic tables

What to Bring: Morning tea, a chair (just in case there’s not enough room at the tables), enthusiasm, and love of our local environment.

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

Outing Report - Mt French, Saturday, 16 September 2023

 A Botanical Outing with a Birdo as Leader

Mt Barney from Mee-bor-rum Lookout

A very small group met at Mt French as more of our members were enjoying a tag-along in the cool, breezy climes of northern NSW.

Meanwhile, we meandered through the Mee-bor-rum Circuit. The first part of the walk was still showing the effects of the burning earlier in the year, so there were no orchids to be found. In fact, very few wildflowers were in flower.

After admiring the south-east view towards Mt Barney we entered the heath where there was some blossom. Luckily, somebody in our small band knew the plants. She pointed out acacias, both Brown Wattle A. brunioides and Sticky Wattle A. viscidula. The leptospermums were also in flower making a white haze around us.

Red-necked Wallaby and joey

Back at the picnic area we sat at a shady table and enjoyed the company of a Red-necked Wallaby and her joey which peeped out from her pouch. We thought a goanna was going to join us but it just sauntered past on its way to somewhere far more interesting. After the break we went to Logan’s Lookout because one can never get enough of this breathtaking view. Then all too soon it was time to go home after another pleasant stroll on our iconic mountain.

Species Lists introduced species = _*
Fauna
Reptiles: Lace Monitor or Goanna Varanus varius.
Birds: Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Lewin's Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Scarlet Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Australasian Figbird, Pied Butcherbird, Pied Currawong, Mistletoebird.
Marsupials: Brush-tailed Wallaby (on the way up the mountain), Red-necked Wallaby & joey.
Butterflies: *Wanderer Danaus plexippus, Lesser Wanderer Danaus petilia, Orange Ringlet Hypocysta adiante, Meadow Argus Junonia villida.

Flora discussed or taken note of on the day (not a comprehensive list):
Vines, Scramblers & Climbers: Native Sarsaparilla Hardenbergia violacea.
Grass Trees: Johnson’s Grass Tree Xanthorrhoea johnsonii.
Shrubs: Brown Wattle Acacia brunioides, Sticky Wattle Acacia viscidula, Small-fruited Tea Tree (Leptospermum microcarpum.

Springtime on Mt French

It might be blowing a gale and the temperature is dropping to under 10°C, but the spring flowers on Mt French are already blooming! Photos taken this week by one of our members, Aub Podlich.

Leucopogon is neoanglicus

Native Sarsaparilla (Hardenbergia violacea)

Bossiaea rupicola

Dusky Coral Pea (Kennedia rubicunda)

Glycine Pea

Outing Report - Lutter Road, Charlwood, May 2017

The weather, after not looking promising on the Friday, dawned warm and sunny on Saturday morning, and stayed that way all day. The Fassifern Field Naturalists met at Lutter Road and caught up with old friends or made acquaintance with new ones. Lutter Road is on the western slopes of Mt French. 

It was misty on the Great Divide

We then set off in two groups; one to explore the scrub along the slashed tracks, and the other to admire the chooks, fossick in the scrub edges and walk up to the dam. We all met back for morning tea where we sat in the sunshine glorying in the magnificent view of the Great Dividing Range. Afterwards the group split up again; the adventurers diving into the scrub on the northern side of the block and the others meandering along the drive admiring the number and diversity of butterflies flitting about in the sunshine. By this time the scrub-bashers had joined the others for a wander along the road before returning to the view for lunch. By this time we were all sitting in the shade.

A juvenile White-bellied Sea-eagle circled above us while birds, butterflies, frogs, moths and vine scrub plants were all discussed over our delicious lunches. All except for Wendy who was on a bread and water diet!

Inspection of the Flindersia xanthoxyla leaves

On the property were some Long Jack or Yellow-wood, Flindersia xanthoxyla (derived from the Ancient Greek xanthos "yellow", and xylon "wood".) Read more ....

White Looper Moth or Flower-eating Caterpillar, Pingasa chlora

This magnificent specimen was resting on one of the carport posts. It can be forgiven for thinking it is the trunk of a gum tree because it is still well camouflaged. Click on the image to enlarge. Then you will see its hairy wings. Read more ....

Species lists

Bees: Blue-banded Bee Amegilla cingulate.

Beetles: Variable Ladybird Coelophora inaequalis.

Birds, 43 species: Brown Quail, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Australian Pelican (in the far distance), White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Brown Goshawk, Wedge-tailed Eagle (a pair in the far distance), Pale-headed Rosella, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Rainbow Bee-eater, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, White-browed Scrubwren, Speckled Warbler, White-throated Gerygone, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Striated Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin's Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Eastern Whipbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Varied Triller, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Currawong, Rufous Fantail, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Rose Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin, Tawny Grassbird, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Martin sp., Mistletoebird, Double-barred Finch.

Butterflies, 11 species: Clearwing Swallowtail Cressida cressida, Common (Large) Grass-yellow Eurema hecabe, Yellow or Common Albatross Appias paulina, Tailed Emperor Polyura sempronius, Glasswing Acraea andromacha, Meadow Argus Junonia villida, Yellow Admiral Vanessa itea, Common Crow Euploea core, Lesser Wanderer Danaus chrysippus, Wanderer Danaus plexippus, Blue Tiger Tirumala hamata.

Frogs: Striped Marsh Frog Limnodynastes peroni, Eastern Sedge Frog Litoria fallax.

Moths: White Looper Moth or Flower-eating Caterpillar, Pingasa chlora.

Spiders: Garden Orb Weaver Eriophora transmarina, Golden Orb-Weaver Nephila sp.

Plants of interest: Rosewood Acacia fasciculifera, Brush Ironbark Bridelia exaltata, Long Jack or Yellow-wood Flindersia xanthoxyla, Crow's Apple Owenia venosa, Poison Peach Trema tomentose.

May Outing 2017 - western slopes of Mt French

It's been a while since FFNC explored this side of Mt French. We will be on private property. It is mainly regrowth wattle with some vine scrub in the gullies. In the clearing around the cabin there's plenty of naturalising to do including a gentle walk to the dam. There are magnificent views of the Great Dividing Range from the property.

Meet: at the property on Saturday 20th May at 8.30 am. 

Bring: Morning tea, and lunch. Bring the usual stuff – camera, sun screen, insect repellent, walking shoes, water, etc. CHAIRS! Reference books.

Fitness/Mobility: This outing caters for all. The more adventurous can explore the tracks through the bush while the more genteel can amble around the cleared areas. Some very interesting insects were discovered during the recce. 

Please email us for more information.

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)