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 - 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

July Outing - World's End Pocket, 17 July 2021

Flinders Peak from Pine Mountain

Time: Meet at the yellow tank on Riverside Drive, Pine Mountain, at 9:00 AM.

Location: This area is a Vine Scrub forest in hilly terrain (well sort of hilly – not much really) situated on a big bend of the Brisbane River. It is the end of the road. It is the end of the world – World’s End Pocket. It is linked to the mountain called Pine Mountain, and is a hidden gem.

Directions from Warrego Highway: From the EAST, take the Kholo turnoff at North Ipswich (about 9 kms from the start of the Warrego Highway at Riverview/Dinmore, and would be the second exit after the Bremer River bridge). The exit road goes for about 1 km before reaching a STOP sign – turn right (into Kholo Road and to go back over the highway) and then shortly after, turn LEFT into Riverside Drive – there is a sign to Kholo Botanic Gardens. Through the STOP sign and follow the road. Riverside Drive – start 0kms, past the Kholo Botanic Gardens (2 kms) where there are toilets, onto the good gravel road, past the Sherlock Road turnoff (3 kms), over some hills with great views of Pine Mountain on one side and the D’Aguilars on the other, until you come to the yellow tank at 7 kms. The road finishes just around the corner. You have reached the end of the world.

Directions from the West: Turn off Warrego Highway at Kholo Road at Muirlea, and immediately turn left into Riverside Drive – then see directions above. Riverside Drive is probably the best way. However, the Pine Mountain Road exit at Blacksoil is an alternative. At about 3kms turn RIGHT into Sherlocks Road and then turn LEFT when it meets Riverside Drive.

Directions from Boonah: I think the easiest way from Boonah is to turn RIGHT onto Cunningham Highway at Yamanto and go to Dinmore. Exit here (don’t miss it) and cut across along River Road to join the Warrego Highway and west (LEFT) towards Toowoomba. See directions above.

Activities: The area has scenery and trees and birds (and, oh yes, butterflies too). This is an easy walking trip. We will walk along the road for a while – some vine scrub with lots of birds, especially White-eared Monarch and maybe Black-breasted Button-Quail. Lunch back at Kholo Botanic Gardens. Bring morning tea and lunch, and all the usual other stuff. There are NO toilets at Worlds End Pocket so best go at the Kholo Botanic Gardens on the way in (or the way out).

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

COVID-19 regulations apply 

(at time of posting, you will need to carry a mask but not necessarily wear it.)

Please stay at home if you have any flu-like symptoms

Fauna & Flora Self Drive Trails

Self Drive Fauna & Flora Trails

Click on the Self Drive Trails tab above, just below our heading, to download these brochures. 

They are only available in a downloadable format from this blog. Each one should be used in conjunction with the Scenic Rim Regional Council's brochure "Self Drive Guide Explore the Scenic Rim" which is available from the Boonah Visitor Information Centre, 20 Boonah Fassifern Rd, Boonah QLD 4310. 

June Outing - The Shed Social at Coulson, Saturday 19th June

Time: 9 AM for 9.30 AM start            

Perhaps not this particular shed!

Where: Coulson

Directions: Contact us if you wish to join in.

Activities:  Socialising. Special presentation by Deb and Errol on rare and unusual grassland plants found on their Blackrock and Bunburra properties. Short talks by any members who wish to share something that may be of interest to us all. Stroll around the regrowth and replanted native vegetation areas.

What to Bring: Your own drinks, morning tea and lunch as well as your own plates, cups, cutlery. A BBQ and fridge will be available. There are plenty of chairs though none have side tables. So, if you need a small table bring along your own.

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

Outing Report - Autumn Camp: Foxbar Falls, Amiens: 14-17 May 2021

The days were bright and warm, while the nights were dark and cool (read cold).

Photo: N. Cooper

Photo: N. Cooper

 

Autumn Greenhood (Pterostylis revoluta)
Photo: N. Crepin

Tall Sundew (Drosera hookeri)
Photo: N. Crepin

Wild Geranium (Pelagonium australe)
Photo: N. Crepin

Guinea Flower (Hibbertia histoidea)
Photo: N. Crepin

Camping at Foxbar Falls Campground
Photo: N. Crepin

White-eared Honeyeater
Photo: C. Bonner

Grey Fantail                                           Photo: C. Bonner

Rock Garden                                           Photo: C. Bonner

Foxbar Falls                                           Photo: C. Bonner

A peaceful morning at Lake Amiens
Photo: L. Oliver

The start of a beautiful day
Photo: L. Oliver

Species lists to come

May Outing - Autumn Camp, Foxbar Falls

You must contact Fassifern Field Naturalists Club if you wish to join this camp. See email address in left-hand column.

Foxbar Falls logo

COVID-19 Safe Rules apply

Time: 14-17 May 2021

Where: Foxbar Falls Campground, 375 Goldfields Rd., Amiens www.foxbarfalls.com.au

Directions: Follow Highway 15 through Warwick towards Stanthorpe. At Thulimbah turn right at the Big Apple into Amiens Rd. Travel about 19 kms (make sure you remain on Amiens Rd) then turn right onto Goldfields Rd. Travel 2.1 kms and turn left onto Harslett Rd and follow the signs to the Office at the entry to the campground where you will need to check in. The last part of the road passes between the cultivation.

Activities: Happy Hour and Recording Sightings: Will be at 4 pm each day (or thereabouts) around a central communal campfire. This is a large property with so much to explore. Birdlife from over the range, granite country flora and fauna, water plants, butterflies and insects, the special Wallangarra White Gum grove and lots more. The Foxbar internet site (Foxbar Falls Campground), has a list of Granite Belt flora and fauna should you wish to take a look before you attend camp.

What to Bring: Camping gear, plenty of warm clothes and bedding, drinking water, binocs, camera, reference books, note books, insect repellent and, if possible, throw in some wood for the communal fireplace. Hiking sticks are a good idea for hiking trails and walking on granite areas. Your own drinks and nibblies for around the campfire. Marshmallows?

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

Outing Report - Helidon Hills, 17 April 2021

Tent spider in her web

Tent spiders build horizontal webs.
Here the spider is on the outer limit of her web
 and the dome of the tent is seen rising
on the right-hand side.

Tent spider egg sacs
above her web

 

We had a marvellous day in the Helidon Hills. It is not an area that the Fassifern Field Nats have visited in the past. 

We were quite surprised at how many wildflowers were blooming at this time of year and put it down to the recent rains. Mistletoe was one of the flowering plants and they were attracting plenty of birds including one we don't see at home, the Fuscous Honeyeater.

Scaevola sp.

 

Flat-stemmed Wattle
 (Acacia complanata)

Rough Bush-pea (Pultenaea scabra)

Are you sure it's a ..........

Pretty sepals of the Pomax umbellata

Close-up of Pomax umbellata

It wasn't only natural things that were interesting.
This antique steam crane left over from earlier quarrying days
of the beautiful Helidon sandstone caught our members' attention.

Discarded piles of Helidon sandstone

Helidon Hills Species Lists, 17 April 2021

introduced species = _*

Fauna

Birds: Peaceful Dove, Bar-shouldered Dove, Rainbow Lorikeet, Little Lorikeet, Pale-headed Rosella, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Brush Cuckoo, White-throated Treecreeper, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Brown Thornbill, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Fuscous Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Little Friarbird, Striped Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Varied Sittella, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Cicadabird, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Grey Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Welcome Swallow, Mistletoebird.

Butterflies: Black Jezebel (Delias nigrina), Orange Ringlet (Hypocysta adiante), Glasswing (Acraea andromacha), Imperial Hairstreak (Jalmenus evagoras).

Damsel/Dragonflies: male Scarlet Percher (Diplacodes haematodes).

Spiders: Tent Spider (Cyrtophora moluccensis), Australian Jewel Spider (Austracantha minax), Flat Rock Spider (Hemicloea major), Leaf-curling Spider (Phonognatha graeffei).

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

Grasses, Sedges, Rushes, etc.: Barbed Wire Grass (Cymbopogon refractus), Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra).

Herbs: Daisy Goodenia (Goodenia bellidifolia), Guinea Flower (Hibbertia stricta), Lady’s Slippers (Hybanthes monopetalus), Slender Bottle-daisy (Lagenophora gracilis), Purple Fan-flower (Scaevola ramosissima), Fringe Lily (Thysanotus tuberosus),

Vines, Scramblers & Climbers: Rusty Tick-trefoil (Desmodium rhytidophyllum), Glycine cyrtoloba, Barbed Wire Vine (Smilax australis).

Mistletoes: Native Cherry (Exocarpos cupressiformis).

Grass Trees: Xanthorrhoea latifolia - sandy or gravelly soil.

Shrubs: Flat-stemmed Wattle (Acacia complanata), Chloanthes parviflora, Four-Tailed Grevillea (Grevillea quadricauda), Dogwood (Jacksonia scoparia), *Lantana (Lantana camara), Lance Beard-heath (Leucopogon affinis), Urn Heath (Melichrus urceolatus), Orange Pultanaea (Pultenaea euchila), Rough Bush-pea (Pultenaea scabra).

Trees: Forest She-oak (Allocasuarina torulosa), Red Ash or Soap Tree (Alphitonia excelsa), Bailey's Stringybark (Eucalyptus baileyana), Helidon Mahogany (Eucalyptus helidonica), Blackbutt (Eucalypt pilularis), Woody Pear (Xylomelum pyriforme).

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).

February Outing - Tannymorel area, 20 February 2021

Shield bug & instars in the rainforest

Activities: Walking in the rainforest to be awed by the biodiversity, sitting on the verandah or in the garden watching the wildlife come to you.

This outing is on private property, so if you are interested please contact us via our email address in the left-hand margin.

What to Bring: The usual, depending on the weather – binocs, cameras, field guides, all food and drinks, chairs, sunscreen, hats, raincoats, wear sturdy shoes, etc., etc., etc.

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