Bymien Picnic Area, Walk to Poona Lake Thursday 24th September 2020

 

On the Day: An enthusiastic group of around 15 Field Nats arrived at Bymien Picnic area around 8.45am.

In the in the car park we found a flowering Black Bootlace tree Orchid -Erythrorchis cassythoides aka Climbing Orchid.  It is rare, being a mycotrophic orchid - it gets its nutrients from the fungi that are decaying the stumps it grows on. (Usually eucalyptus).

Erythrorchis cassythoides

There was a very strange ?fungus , looking like deer horns, growing on a living tree trunk.

Unknown fern/fungus

A huge Native Wisteria -Callerya megsperma, with characteristic flaky orange bark, and trusses of purple flowers high up in the canopy, is a food plant of Pencilled Blue and Narrow-banded Awl butterflies

Pencilled Blue

Callerya megasperma

A group of Tiny Common Jewel Orchid flowered just in front of a camper van Then onto the walk around the Dandathu Circuit to see the Rainforest Green Hoods in flower. Jean pointed out some Pixie Cap leaves that were still visible on the path, although the flowers had finished. Hoya australis grew along the ground.

After a short morning tea, we set out for the 2.1 km walk to Lake Poona through the rainforest. The track wound through huge Kauri Pines and ancient Fig trees draped in Giant Pepper Vines. Tall Piccabeen Palms towered skyward.

The Forest Pittosporum (revolutum) hung with golden bells of flowers.

Pittosporum revolutum

The bright red fruits of the Alyxia ruscifolia formed chains among the whirls of sweetly perfumed white waxy flowers.

Alyxia ruscifolia

The cone-shaped nest of a Rufous Fantail, our Field Nats Emblem, was in a small tree near the track. Ancient ferns and tiny wreaths of moss lined the wetter areas.

Flowering Zeuxine oblonga, the Common Jewel Orchid, cast tiny yellow lights on the forest floor,while bright orange wood fungi lit up the rotting logs.

After our slow wander uphill, the path opened up to Eucalypt forest where it wound across a ridge before becoming a narrow sandy downhill track.

Zeuxine oblogona

Rufous fantail

Gnarled tree trunks supported Tiny Strand Orchids , Bulbophyllum exigumm . 

Bulbophylium exigumm

A flowering Raspy Root Orchid (Rhinerrhiza divitiflora) was observed high up on a tree. 

Rhinerrhiza divitiflora

Near the bottom the track, lined with bushes, mostly Alyxia covered in buds, opened out to the beautiful white sandy shore line of the large tannin coloured waters of the fresh water lake, ringed by Paperbark trees.

The tiny blue 'Dune Ringtail' Damselfly was noticed perching among the reeds. 

"Dune Ringtail" Damselfly

Ima commented on a camouflaged tiny Yabby moving slowly in the water near the edge of the lake. 

A welcome rest and snack here then people made their way back to the picnic area in their own time. Most then had lunch at the Bymien picnic tables before departing.

A number of birds were observed. There were several Rose-crowned Fruit-doves and Catbirds in the car park, and at the lake we witnessed a confrontation between a White Goshawk and a Sea Eagle, expertly photographed by Cameron. A family of Australasian Grebes were swimming on the far side of the lake.

The birds were seemingly used to people walking along the track, as we had very close views of the Rufous Fantail, Spectacled Monarch and Brown Gerygone.

Rose-Crowned Fruit-Dove

Australasian Grebe

Text & Photos Kerrie O'Donnell

Extra photos: Rahima Farnham & Archives: Dave Walter, Cecile Espigole, Bevly Hughes.

Boronia Trail, Harry’s Hut Road 20 September 2020

 Early Birders had a very interesting time. Graham led us to site of the tragic plane crash in 1966 where three people lost their lives. No signs of wreckage remain but broken-off trees and scarred limbs were a potent reminder of that event. We walked past the crash site along a Forestry track, with a deep gully on one side and hoop pine thickly undergrown with Gahnia sieberiana.

Slash pine and Gahnia sieberiana

Someone said, “With all that Gahnia, there should be a Swordgrass Brown butterfly”.  Immediately, about 30 yards away, two brown butterflies flew straight up out the green mass, fluttered tauntingly and dived back down within seconds. During the day, several of these butterflies were seen, some very dark, which accounts for the name - Varied Swordgrass Brown. Gahnia species are their food plant. 

Varied Swordgrass Brown

We saw many birds, including a much-debated Flycatcher. Some were hoping for the rarely seen Satin, but it was a Leaden Flycatcher. Cecile explained that one way to tell them apart, if you are below, is the curve of the black-white boundary on the upper breast. Leadens have a more upward curve, like a smile.

Some of the many flowering plants were Red Kennedy Pea, (Kennedia rubicundia),and Forest Hop Bush (Dodonea triquetra) .

Forest Hop Bush Dodonea triquetra

The track led to a gate where there was a striking Golden-headed fly. Later, posted on Facebook, Cam’s picture led to much discussion as to its exact ID.  See https://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_tachinids/Rutiliini.html

Golden-headed fly Rutilia cingulata

The early birders then went on to meet up with the second group. 

Bev’s report:   On a fine September morning a good crowd turned up to walk the Boronia Trail on Harry’s Hut Road. It was a pleasant walk through wallum woodland and rainforest, ending at Kin Kin Creek.  The only obstacles on the trail were a few trip hazards, lawyer vine (Calamus muelleri) ready to ensnare us and supplejack (Flagellaria indica) reaching out with coiled tendrils. We could be forgiven for expecting wildflowers for actually they were scarce, though there were good clusters of Grass Trigger Plants (Stylidium graminifolium) and Guinea Flower (Hibbertia vestita). I was excited to see Apple Berry (Billardiera scandens) and Broad-leaved Geebung (Persoonia cornifolia) in flower. 

Guinea flower Hibbertia vestita

Apple Berry Billardiera scandens

Fruit  of the Apple Berry

Prolific was the dark leaved Scrub Cherry (Exocarpos latifolius), parasitic on the roots of nearby trees.

Scrub Cherry Exocarpos latifolius

Persoonia ?

Comments on the identification of this persoonia appreciated.  Is it  cornifolia or sericea?

When we arrived at Kin Kin Creek, Graham filled us in on the story of the bridge which had once existed here and remnants of which were still visible.

Graham relates the story

The old bridge

As previously you could not get across the creek, the old suspension bridge was built on the walking trail from Elanda Point to Cooloola by the Army in about the Eighties, as an exercise.   A big flood in 1988 came through and washed the bridge away.  Now all that is left is the structure on one side of the creek that supported the suspension.

Ernie drew our attention to the primitive fern, Forked Comb Fern (Schizaea bifida). 

Forked comb fern Schizaea bifida 

He also identified Scentless Rosewood (Synoum glandulosum), Copper Laurel (Eupomatia laurina) with vine-like arching branches, and Plum Myrtle (Pilidiostigma glabrum), among others.

The rainforest welcomed us with cool mossy logs, Elkhorns (Platycerium superbum) and various orchids spotted by Jean. Overhead towered Flooded Gums (Eucalyptus grandis), Kauri Pines (Agathis robusta) and Piccabeen Palms (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana).

As for fauna there was a European bee hive in a tree hollow,and evidence of bandicoot or echidna diggings along the trail. 

Drooping Tree Orchid Peristeranthus hillii

An old tree, along the trail, presented an interesting visage due perhaps to trunk and limb damage in the distant past.

What tales I could tell!

A female Orchard Swallowtail butterfly put in an appearance.

Orchard Swallowtail Female

We adjourned to Harry’s Hut day use area for lunch and our meeting. It was good to see the area was recovering from last year’s fires. 

Time for a meeting

On the way home we called in to the Boronia keysii Scientific Area and were delighted to see the vulnerable boronia thriving and flowering. There were also masses of the beautiful Boronia rivularis. 

Boronia keysii

Boronia rivularis Wide Bay Boronia

                               

Many thanks to Ernie for IDing plants and to Wendy and John for help with organising the day. 

CONTRIBUTORS: Bev, Cameron, Rahima, Ernie, Annette.

 

 

Heron Island- The Amazing Birds and Sea Life

 

Welcome to Heron Island

Heron Island sunrise

Our arrival on Heron Island on October 18 till 23, coincided with the nesting season of the White Capped Black Noddy Tern, Anous minutus  which arrives to breed on the coral cay islands from October to January.   Normally 30-70 thousand pairs breed on the island, but have had up to 120 k pairs.  The preferred nesting tree is the Pisonia tree which only grows on coral cays.  Every tree had multiple nests. The Pisonia tree has an unusual relationship with the terns in that at the end of the nesting season in January its seeds become very sticky and trap some terns and other birds to the extent that they can no longer fly and starve to death only to serve as fertiliser for the hungry trees.

The Noddy nests are a very rudimentary structure of  dead Pisonia leaves and bird poop,  The males collect leaves and present them to the females for consideration.  She may accept or reject the leaves by dropping them.  Some males have found that dipping the leaves in sea water makes them more acceptable. The Noddys generally raise 2 chicks one after the other.  If the first chick dies the female divorces the male and finds another mate for the second attempt. 

Noddys Anous minutus feeding at nest

 Also nesting on the island at this time is the Wedged Tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus which nests in burrows about 2m long all over the island.  At night you need to watch where you tread as they tend to lay outside of the burrows and are easily trod on.  The vision of the shearwaters is like polarised sunglasses and this makes them almost blind on land at night.  Together with rear positioned legs they are prone to bump into trees etc when coming in to land at their burrows.

The common nesting Tern is the Bridled Tern Sterna anaethetus  a ground nester.  

Bridled Tern in flight

Bridled Tern  Sterna anaethetus 

Most of the birds simply ignore you as you pass or hop a meter out of your way.

Less friendly are the Eastern Reef Egrets Egreeta sacra  who tend to have a wider comfort zone of 3-5m.  Both the light and dark forms are present in large numbers and are also nesting at this time and have large hungry chicks.  The chicks are not friendly to each other and generally only one will survive to fledge.

 

Eastern Reef Egret Egreeta sacra

Eastern Reef Egret chick on nest

Eastern Reef Egret Egreeta sacra dark form

The Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis is very common on the island and have distinct defended territories in which they lay up-to 11 eggs, but usually only one or two will survive predation by the Egrets and gulls.  The mothers are very protective but are unable to deter the hungry Egrets. 

Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis

Rail with chicks

Capricorn Silver-eye Zosterpos chlorocephala

This is a distinct Barrier Reef island form, yellower above, whiter below.  It does not interbreed with the more common Zosterpos familiaris which occurs in eastern Australia as far north as Rockhampton.

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres

The Ruddy Turnstone were in non-breeding plumage.

Ruddy Turnstones - in flight

Grey-tailed Tattler Tringa brevipes

Grey-tailed Tattlers breed in Siberia.  When feeding, they dart about bobbing and teetering between runs in their search for crabs, mollusks, sometimes fish.

Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

Pied Oystercatchers mate for life and are unable to survive as a single bird.

Brown Booby Sula leucogaster

The Brown Booby is a bird of the tropical oceans and ranges, in Australia, from Brisbane north to Dampier in Western Australia.  They prefer to roost on solid objects and nest on the ground.  This particular bird had lost its mate.

Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana

This tern breeds in colonies on rocky islands and headlands.

Black-naped Tern

During a walk at dawn on the beaches, you will find laying Turtles both Green Chelonia midas and Loggerheads Caretta caretta.   More often one just finds tracks as most turtles have returned to the sea by daybreak.

Up the beach

Green Turtle track up the beach.

Nest sites

Green turtle nest site along side a protected Loggerhead turtle nest. The Loggerhead turtle is Critically Endangered so the nests are protected when found. 

Job done!

A female Green Turtle returns to the relative safety of the water.

On the Reef

Shark Ray Rhina ancylostoma

Eagle Ray Myliobatis australis

Very common around the jetty and shallow reefs around the island.

Manta Ray Manta alfredi

Manta Rays are classified as Vulnerable, largely due to overfishing.  Other threats include climate change, sediment run-off, pollution, rising sea temperatures.

Epaulette Shark Hemiscyllium ocellatum

Frequently seen while one is enjoying walking on the reef.

Black-tipped Reef Sharks

Many types of coral can be seen during the glass-bottomed boat cruise.  Identification remains elusive.

Sea cucumbers

Starfish on reef

Wreck of HMCS Protector

On 19 June 1884, HMCS Protector was ready for service. In July 1943, en-route to New Guinea for service with the US Navy and off Gladstone, she was damaged in a collision with a tug and abandoned.  The hull was taken to its present place at Heron Island and later sunk for use as a breakwater.

Sunset over the wreck

Text & Photographs: Ian Smith