October Outing - Autumn Camp, Mt Barney Lodge

FRIDAY – SUNDAY, 18 – 20 OCTOBER 2019  

Mt Barney from Boonah

PLEASE NOTE: THIS CAMP IS DEPENDANT ON A LOW BUSHFIRE DANGER RATING

(Keep an eye on our Facebook page or blog if you wish to confirm the camp is still on.)

Accommodation: camping/caravanning; un-powered sites only, no other accommodation is available that weekend. $16 per person per night ($10 per child 3-12 years old.), 50% deposit at time of booking  Check-in time is from 1pm and check out time is 1 pm. Please email us for more information. 

Meet: at the campground on Friday.

Where: Mt Barney Lodge Country Retreat - 1093 Upper Logan Rd, Mount Barney QLD 4287

Directions from Boonah: Upper Logan Rd is about 38 km south of Boonah on the Rathdowney Road. From the Upper Logan Rd junction follow the signs to Mt Barney Lodge and Mt Barney National Park for 10km. The last 3kms is a good quality graded gravel road.

Features: Mt Barney Lodge, once a bare, old farm, has been transformed into a prolific native habitat for sugar gliders, possums, bandicoots, wallabies, insects, lizards, bats and a large variety of birds. An extensive amount of native flowering trees, bush food trees and grasses to feed and house the native wildlife has been planted over the past 15 years.

Activities: usual camp stuff; flora walks, birdwatching, night-spotting, happy hour and species count, etc.

Mt Barney Lodge’s Terms & Conditions:
• amazing mountain views
• modern amenities block with hot showers (no charge), toilets and washing up area
• drinking water on tap
• minimum of 2 nights on a weekend
• no Wi-Fi, limited mobile phone coverage
• no pets, generators, drones or chainsaws
• single use plastic water bottles have been banned onsite since June 2018. Please do not bring 600ml -10 litre containers onsite to reflect your support of our eco principles.
• wet weather is not a valid reason for cancellation, and will result in the loss of your deposit if you choose not to camp.

Outing Report - World's End Pocket, Pine Mountain 17 August 2019

Flinders Peak in the distance

It is not often we venture into the Ipswich area and a number of our members had not had the chance to see this part of the world, or World's End! More than twenty people met at the yellow tank and it wasn't long before we were marching to the top of the hill. This track took us through some lovely Dry Vine Scrub. Although this habitat is adapted to dry conditions there were many trees that showed signs of drought stress, and there were copious amounts of leaves strewn across the ground.

Merrilyn, up close and personal
with a Giant Ironwood

One of the first exciting sightings for the day was an Emerald Dove feeding on the road. It soon scuttled into the undergrowth when it saw us coming. Meanwhile some others were watching a number of Caper White butterflies hanging around the Scrambling Caper (Capparis sarmentosa) and hilltopping over the taller trees. We noticed Button-quail platelets on the edge of the track. They were fairly recent but no Button-quail. Further along Keith pointed out a Giant Ironwood (Backhousia subargentea). This is a rare Australian rainforest tree, growing from Boonah to Imbil in south eastern Queensland and near Mullumbimby in north eastern New South Wales.

We walked back to the cars for morning tea where a little green spider kept us company; possibly a type of lynx. 

Green spider

After the break we slipped through the fence into the adjacent reserve and strolled down the slashed track to the lower section of the vine scrub. Here we saw more platelets and as we checked out some fresh droppings to see if they were Black-breasted Button-quail, our fearless leader flushed three BBBQ from under our noses to a little way up the gully. A few of us were lucky to see them on the wing or scattering after they landed. Nobody had a chance to take a photo unfortunately.

All this excitement called for a lunch break so we headed back to Kholo Gardens where we had a very sociable time in the shade. Surrounded by Ipswichians enjoying the balmy weather in this lovely park beside the Brisbane River.

Fauna:
Birds: Emerald Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Black-breasted Button-quail, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Bee-eater, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, White-browed Scrubwren, Yellow Thornbill, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Lewin's Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Eastern Whipbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Varied Triller, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Australasian Figbird, Pied Butcherbird, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Torresian Crow, White-eared Monarch, Rose Robin, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye, Mistletoebird, Double-barred Finch, Red-browed Finch.
Butterflies: Common Grass-yellow (Eurema hecabe), Small Grass-yellow (Eurema smilax), Striated Pearl-white (Elodina parthia), Cabbage White (Pieris rapae), Wanderer (Danaus plexippus), Brown Ringlet (Hypocysta metirius), Meadow Argus (Junonia villida), Glasswing (Acraea andromacha).

Some flora noted along the way:
Grasses: Slender Bamboo Grass (Austrostipa verticillata).
Vines, Scramblers & Climbers: Scrambling Caper (Capparis sarmentosa), Pandorea sp.; probably Wonga Vine (P. pandorana) - too high in tree to identify.
Shrubs: Brush Caper Berry or Caper Bush (Capparis arborea), Small-leaved Canthium (Everistia vacciniifolia). 
Trees: Wild Quince (Alectryon subcinereus), Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii), Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa), Giant Ironwood (Backhousia subargentea), Corkwood (Endiandra sieberi), Scrub Blind-your-eye (Excoecaria dallachyana), Crow’s Ash (Flindersia australis), Leopard Ash (Flindersia collina), Long Jack or Yellow-wood (Flindersia xanthoxyla).

Birds for Kholo Botanic Gardens (We didn't explore very far from the picnic spot): Australian Brush Turkey, Pacific Black Duck, Great Cormorant, Australian Pelican, White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Bee-eater, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Lewin's Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Varied Triller, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Torresian Crow, Welcome Swallow.
Butterflies for Kholo Botanic Gardens: Common Grass-yellow (Eurema hecabe), Small Grass-yellow (Eurema smilax), Wanderer (Danaus plexippus).

Outing Report - Shed Social Coulson, 20 July 2019

As usual there was a good gathering of members at the social. It is always a great opportunity to catch up with friends who can't always make the outings. 

Also, as usual, there was plenty to do, and plenty to eat. Like the 'loaves and fishes' crackers & dips, cakes & slices, biscuits and of course the hosts' beautiful scones suddenly appeared for an afternoon tea feast.

We saw presentations on visits to O'Reillys and Carnarvon Gorge, and reminisced on the camp at Iron Pot Creek at Toonumbar National Park. We were  delighted by the wildlife on a Mt Alford property and videos on the Albert's Lyrebird and bee-keeping in the good old days. Keith gave us a short talk on the Great Artesian Basin under our feet, and perhaps the reason why the brigalow is found in our neck of the woods. 

The Club's photographic archive was pored over, and there were many books, brochures and maps to keep us occupied.

After an early bbq tea and some lovely dessert we set off in the dark for a bit of scrub. This was some nearby roadside brigalow unfortunately infested with asparagus fern. We inspected all the shrubs and trees, adjacent paddocks and grass verges. There weren't any animals except for a quick glimpse of an unidentified microbat caught in a torch beam, the reflective glinting of spiders' eyes, and the occasional churring of crickets. 

We had all rugged up expecting a chill breeze however it turned out to be quite mild and windless. The Milky Way was a soft smudge across the night sky. Our night-spotting torches seemed to carry to the stars as we picked out Saturn and Jupiter, and the well-known constellations. What a peaceful way to end the day. 

Thanks to our hosts for such an enjoyable time.  

July Outing - The Shed Social, Coulson

Time: from 2 pm onwards 

Night spotting for owls .... perhaps!

Where: The usual shed at Coulson

Directions: Contact us via email and we will give you the details.

Activities: 
(1) Socialising
(2) Short talks by any members who wish to share something that may be of interest to us all; we will have the data projector in action for showing photos so bring along CDs or DVDs with pictures. There will even be a slide projector available if you wish to share some old photos. 
(3) For the more adventurous, spotlighting in the Coulson area from around 6.30 pm. We intend to finish fairly early.
(4) If you have anything in the naturalist world you would like to display, bring it along.

What to Bring: Your own drinks, afternoon tea and dinner as well as your own plates, cups, cutlery; a BBQ will be available. Don’t forget your food, binoculars, cameras, insect repellent, torches and head lamps. See you there!

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

Outing Report - Wharkuroogma Wetlands, Roadvale, 15 June 2019

Meeting in the leafy car park

About 30 members gathered in the car park of the Wharkuroogma Nursery. Claire Ekas welcomed us and gave a short history of the property. When Claire and her husband bought the property in the 70s there was hardly a tree on the place, and now there are thousands. These trees provide windbreaks and wildlife corridors and the Field Nats saw for themselves that many birds used these havens. The two large dams are known as an important wetland in south-east Queensland.

Australasian Darter (female)

                                                      

 

Great Cormorant

Restless Flycatcher

It was wonderful to see that the dams had enough water to attract many birds, and we spent a long time here enjoying the activity. After morning tea we walked around the upper dam keeping our eyes peeled for koalas, but none showed their faces this time. Lunch was munched in the verdant surrounds of the nursery.

Steelblue Ladybird (Halmus chalybeus)

Enjoying lunch

Species Lists:

Nursery & Yards:

Birds: Crested Pigeon, Peaceful Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Superb Fairy-wren, White-throated Gerygone, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Striated Pardalote, Lewin's Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Magpie-lark, Double-barred Finch.

Butterflies: Lesser Wanderer (Danaus petilia), Common Crow (Euploea core).

Other Invertebrates: European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera), Steelblue Ladybird (Halmus chalybeus), Granny's Cloak Moth (Speiredonia spectans).

Paddocks & Dams:

Golden-headed Cisticola

Birds: Black Swan, Australian Wood Duck, Pink eared Duck, Grey Teal, Pacific Black Duck, Hardhead, Australasian Grebe, Crested Pigeon, Peaceful Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Australian Darter, Little Pied Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Australian Pelican, Great Egret, White-faced Heron, Australian White Ibis, Royal Spoonbill, Whistling Kite, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Nankeen Kestrel, Dusky Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Black-winged Stilt, Black-fronted Dotterel, Masked Lapwing, Australian King-Parrot, Pale-headed Rosella, Azure Kingfisher, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Bee-eater, Superb Fairy-wren, Red-backed Fairy-wren, White-throated Gerygone, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Weebill, Striated Pardalote, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin's Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, Striped Honeyeater, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Australasian Figbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Restless Flycatcher, Magpie-lark, Golden-headed Cisticola, Silvereye, Welcome Swallow, Mistletoebird, Zebra Finch, Double-barred Finch, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin.

Butterflies: Lemon Migrant (Catopsilia pomona), Common Grass-yellow (Eurema hecabe), Small Grass-yellow (Eurema smilax), Black Jezebel (Delias nigrina), Common Albatross (Appias paulina), Wanderer (Danaus plexippus), Lesser Wanderer (Danaus petilia), Common Crow (Euploea core), Meadow Argus (Junonia villida), Plumbago Blue (Leptotes plinius).

Spiders: Daddy Longlegs Spiders       (Pholcus phalangioides)

Amphibians: Green Tree Frog (Litoria caerulea).

Other Invertebrates: European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera).

Reptiles: Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii), Elegant Snake-eyed Skink (Cryptoblepharus pulcher). 

June Outing - Wharkuroogma Wetlands, Roadvale

Lower dam at Wharkuroogma

We can't promise as much water as this on our June outing but it will still be very special.

Not only waterbirds are in abundance but bush birds such as Speckled Warbler, finches, honeyeaters and fairy-wrens. Koalas are sometimes seen and there's usually butterflies flitting around the mistletoe and grasses. It might be a bit cool for dragonflies but who knows ........

Latecomers please shut all gates.

Time: 8.30am.

Where: Top of the farm driveway at the Wharkuroogma Nursery carpark, 144 Roberts Rd, Roadvale.

Directions: from Boonah: take Coronation Drive, turn onto Hoya road, drive 8.4km, turn right onto Roadvale Road, drive 3km and turn left onto Roberts Road, drive 1.5 on gravel road to the Nursery/wetlands which will be on your right, drive up to the nursery carpark. 

Activities: Exploring the property by walking along the wildlife corridors linking the remnant brigalow scrub and spending time at the dams. 

Level of Fitness: Easy

Facilities: Toilets at the nursery

What to Bring: chairs, 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 plus $5 entrance fee. 

Autumn Camp Report - Canungra Valley, 3-5 May 2019

Canungra Creek
below the campsite

What a spot! Paul Finch of Spring Gully Stays had slashed a section above the creek especially for us, in a paddock away from the main camping area. With a port-a-loo on site we were in camping seventh heaven. 

A beautiful sunset after the rain

 It was hard to leave the campsite as it was so peaceful and picturesque.

The camp by the creek

The campsite

With walks along the creek, nightspotting and yarns under the canvas awning the damp weather was ignored, and Sunday dawned clear and sunny. The day-trippers arrived and we were off to a local Land for Wildlife property, Greenlee Cottages. Paul and Robyn Lee were delightful hosts. Besides the 4 cottages they also have a small macadamia farm and honey business. It wasn't long before the "nats" were striding past the macadamia trees along the track up the ridge.

Up the track, past the macadamias.

Looking down into the valley

Barry admiring the beautiful creek

What the ....?

Autumn Camp - 4-6 May

This year's camp is at Spring Gully Stays’, Canungra. Pre-booking is essential.

Outing Report - Karawatha Forest, 13 April 2019

It was a brilliant, warm sunny morning when the Fassifern Field Nats met at the Discovery Centre at Karawatha. There was a mixture of newer and long-term members; some meeting for the first time. We spent a wonderful half-hour at the Centre which is an amazing resource. Our walk started out on the Ironbark Circuit which is predominantly Ironbark and Spotted Gum that changed to predominantly Ironbark and Stringybark as we grew closer to the sandstone ridges. 

Fungi - Amanita ochrophylloides

             

Nats in Karawatha Forest

Shepherd's Crook Orchid (Geodorum densiflorum)

Orange Ringlet (Hypocysta adiante)
Photo: L. Euston

Carpet Python in our hosts' garden

Common Crow (Euploea core)
on Monkey Rope Vine (Parsonsia straminea), also in the garden 

Boletellus sp.

Birds: (also MS) = also seen at Mildura Street: Galah, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Laughing Kookaburra (also MS), Rainbow Bee-eater, White-throated Treecreeper, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Noisy Miner (also MS), Scarlet Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Golden Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Spangled Drongo, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Magpie-lark, Eastern Yellow Robin, Welcome Swallow, Mistletoebird.

Butterflies: Small Grass-yellow (Eurema smilax), Black Jezebel (Delias nigrina), Wanderer (Danaus plexippus), Common Crow (Euploea core), Orange Ringlet (Hypocysta adiante).

Mammals: Wallaby sp.; too quick for identification.

Reptiles: Elegant Snake-eyed Skink or Wall Skink (Cryptoblepharus pulcher).

Spiders: Garden Orb Weaver (Eriophora transmarina), Golden Orb-Weaver (Nephila plumipes), Daddy Longlegs (Pholcus phalangioides).

Some of the plants that caught our interest: Our walk started out in predominantly Ironbark and Spotted Gum woodland and changed to predominantly Ironbark and Stringybark as we grew closer to the sandstone ridges.

Heterodea muelleri, (a common ground lichen in open eucalypt forests of South East Queensland).

Flat-stem Wattle (Acacia complanata), Black She-oak (Allocasuarina littoralis), Soap Tree or Red Ash (Alphitonia excelsa), Smooth-barked Apple (Angophora leiocarpa), Rough-barked Apple (Angophora woodsiana), Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata), Bailey's Stringybark (Eucalyptus baileyana), Tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys), Needlebark Stringybark or Bastard Tallowwood (Eucalyptus planchoniana), Grey Gum (Eucalyptus punctata), Yellow Jacket (Eucalyptus similis), Shepherd's Crook Orchid (Geodorum densiflorum), Brush Box (Lophostomen confertus), Swamp Box or Swamp Mahogany (Lophostemon suaveolens), Monkey Rope Vine or Common Silkpod (Parsonsia straminea) - flowering, Quinine Tree (Petalostigma pubescens) - fruiting.

Also at Mildura Street, Stretton

Butterflies: Greenish Grass Dart (Ocybadistes walker), Common Crow (Euploea core), Large Purple Line-blue (Nacaduba berenice), Speckled Line Blue (Catopyrops florinda).

Reptiles: Carpet Python (Morelia spilota)

Other Invertebrates: Stick Insect (possibly Anchiale austrotessulata)

Spiders: Brisbane or Brown Huntsman (Heteropoda jugulans)

April Outing - Karawatha Forest

Time: 8.30 am, 13th April 2019

Karawatha Forest track from Wikipedia
(en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karawatha_Forest)

Please notice the change of the customary Saturday due to our usual time falling over Easter. 

Where: Meet at the Discovery Centre via the Acacia Road entrance at Karawatha Forest. 

Directions: There are a number of routes but make sure you arrive at the Discovery Centre in the northern section of the park.

Activities: The Council is currently working on the tracks and our leaders, Paul & Jan, will decide closer to the day which we'll take. Morning tea at the Forest. Lunch at our leaders' home.

Level of Fitness: Whatever walks we take they will be of an easy to moderate nature with slight inclines.

Facilities: Toilets at the Discovery Centre.

What to Bring: Morning tea, lunch, snacks, hat, sunblock and water to carry on the walks. If you wish, bring binocs, digital cameras and some identification books for use at our lunch break. A chair for lunch.

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