JUNE OUTING ----- AMAMOOR

40 members of the Gympie Fieldnats took advantage of the beautiful weather on Sunday to travel to a picturesque property.The property consists of 30 acres with vine scrub/soft rainforest in part of the highest regions of the Amamoor district. Reaching the developed part of the property, members were delighted with the vast outlook to the hills and vegetation around the surrounding area. 160 varities of trees and associated vegetation have been identified on this property.

Sections of the property have been cleared in the past. As with many acres of the land in the areas around Gympie small land holdings were the usual, this particular one grew pineapples, and before that citrus. A large rock wall is still in existance, results of many hours of picking up the rock out of the fertile soil. Evidence still exists in the adjacent property of terracing of the hillside by former occupants.




Cleared areas adjacent to thick vegetation enabled members to sight birds and trees with ease. One of the early sightings of the day was that of a bird not always seen. An Eastern spinebill was spotted hovering around a Shiny-leaved mistletoe (Benthamina alyxifolia) growing on a Brachychiton discolor (Lacebark) tree. These bird have been spotted around Mistletoes before on the outings, a tip to remember. ( no photo)

Un-identified scrub.

A clump of trees with a selection of Mollotus, (Green, Yellow and Red Kamala) and lower vegetation was the home to a number small bird species. Those spotted were Red-browed finch,Silvereye, Variegated fairy-wren and Large-billed scrub wren.

Red-browed finch.

Silvereye

A large Jagera pseudorhus (Foambark) was growing on this northern facing hillside, a large number of seed showing evidence of a prolific flowering earlier.

Seeds on the Foambark tree

Flowers of the Foambark tree.

A steep walk down the hillside, cleared by the host, come out to the running clear Harry's Creek. Large Celerywood (Polyscias elegans) were providing food for the Brown cuckoo dove. Lomndra longafolia were growing profusely along the creek bank, (helping keep the water so clear), Cordyline rubra, and Giant Maidenhair (Adriantum formosum) comleted the lower level beauty along the creekside.
After lunch some members walked along the creekside to find some further delights, all enjoyed the stunning day.

Grey Fantail ----- very friendly ----- always a good companion on a forest walk.

Eastern Yellow Robin

Dusky Woodswallows ------ for their morning groom.

Varied Sittella ------ our local ----- White-headed Sittella (leucocephala) ---- one of a small flock.----- not real common.

Brown Honeyeater ------ common ----- identified by the small triangle behind the eye.

"VULNERABLE" KOALA MAULED BY DOGS.

NATIVE WISTERA ------ PODS.

 These enormous seeds look like the more familiar Black Bean, but the pod is grooved and furry, like Corduroy. They are from the vine, known as the Native Wisteria, Callerya megasperma. These seeds were collected from the roadside, near Amamoor, in June. They are reputedly slow(2-3 months) to germinate, so watch this space to see if they grow!

BUDGERIGARS AT MARY'S CREEK ----- GYMPIE.

A small number of the flock .

A trip to the local dump proved to be a very exciting day. This time of the year the seeds of the native and introduced species of grasses are ripe and falling to the ground. About 200 metres from my house , I could not believe my eyes when a flock of 30 plus Budgerigars lifted from the edge of the road. No camera or binoculars I was not sure my eyes were playing tricks. We don't have Budgerigars this close to the coastal strip!
Back home for the camera,  I snapped as many birds as possible with-in a small area. The full list spotted, Budgerigars ,Rainbow Bee-eaters , Lewin's Honeyeater , Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike , Dusky Woodswallows , Spangled Drongo , Grey Fantails, Willie Wagtails , Double-barred Finch.
This pasture seed and the associated insects provided food for both the insect and seed eating birds. They were there in large numbers and appeared to be in complete harmony,even the aggressive Drongo. With 80% of Queensland drought declared, Budgerigar feed may be very scarce west of the Great Dividing Range their usual habitat. The same time the following day, not one bird to be sighted , what luck.

Budgerigar in flight

Budgerigar

Double-barred Finch

Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike

Dusky Woodswallow