FEBRUARY OUTING ------ MUDLO NATIONAL PARK -------- KILKIVAN.

Sunday,  16th February, 2020. 

With good rain preceding the outing to Mudlo National Park, We held high expectation of a good display of Fungi, Ferns and mosses. We were not disappointed.

Walking upstream along Scrubby Creek the group were required to navigate a number of shallow creek crossing, cool crystal water enhanced with a number of small rapids. Some members were very enthusiastic  identifying the many native plants and some introduced weed species. Reference list in the Numabulla publication. A very large bolder outcrop was seeping with moisture hosting a large stand of Basket Fern (Drynaria rigidula) , Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum atroviride) with other assorted ferns and mosses.

 This track is through mainly open eucalyptus forest with not a lot of leaf litter and rotting forest mulch, the hard (Bracket) Fungi were the most likely to be present. The specimen opposite growing adjacent to rocks close to the ground. The opinion seemed to be that specimen would normally be attached to a dead tree.

Both of these specimens were close together adjacent to 

to the creek. This group of fan like fungi were grouped together about 4 meters up a dead tree. My reference suggests Pleurotus dyamor, a pale-gilled mushroom shaped like fans. ( ref. Aust. Subtropical Fungi)












The loop circuit is a moist enclosed forest area with lots of leaf litter and rotting wood very suitable for the ground dwelling fungi. A good sample was on display with varying colours, sizes, shapes and growth habits. 

Marasmius haematocephalus
Very small, only a few mm across with a dome shaped fluted surface, standing on a thread size black stem. Take notice of the fungus size relative to the leaf

Cymatoderma elegans , Rather large goblet shape, wrinkled cap and center stem.

Microporus affinis, massed on a fallen log in the creek bed. Photo angle makes this one appear very large, in real life about 50 mm across on a short stem.

Phillipsia subpurpurea  ( cup fungi)
Large cup/disc shaped burgundy centered fungi with pale cream contrasting underside.

                                               I will try for  Mycena chlorophos , wishful thinking maybe , as these fungi glows an eerie blue-green by night !!!!!!!   A wide photo to illustrate the lovely moss setting





Auricularia mesenterica,  (Tripe Fungi)
Rubbery fungi with tripe like appearance with purplish brown surface (just visible)

Coprinellus disseminatus - This identification is
open to consideration as the author did not view
the origin.

Trying for Anthracophyllum archeri ,

Xylaria hypoxylon,  (Candle Stick Fungi).
Earth Tongues ----- found on the ground ---- seasonal on moist flooded ground. or possibly chlorophos.

Mycena yirukensis , 3-8 mm hemispherical shaped cap with a white to slight cinnamon shade growing in large colonies on decaying wood.

















For accurate identification of fungi the top and underside view with stem colour is required. Stem colour and method of growth is helpful. Colour, light and shadow has to be interpreted by the camera and can be misleading.  This is our best attempt to identify the attached photos.
ref. Australian Subtropical Fungi by McMullan, Leonard and Guard.
Post by Lionel and Jeanette               Photos   Kerrie  and Lionel

Dragonflies - The Acrobatic Jewels of the waterways

More than 300 different species of Dragonfly and their smaller cousins the Damselfly, have been Identified in Australia. They live and breed in a large range of habitat, usually not too far from water, habitats as diverse fast flowing rivers to tiny stagnant pools of water, high up in the cool Alpine regions 

                                                                 Alpine Darner  (Kerrie O'Donnell)

down to the warmer sandy ocean beaches. 

                                                    Wandering Percher on sand (Kerrie O'Donnell)

Some like the Cruisers, 

                                                     Eastern Swamp  Emerald in flight (Kerrie O'Donnell)

fly up and down streams and waterways endlessly searching for food  while others like this Fiery Skimmer 

                                                               Square Spot Basker  (Kerrie O'Donnell)

will fly to a stick or rock and sit there waiting for some food to fly past or another species of Dragonfly to fly into its territory. Most Dragonflies are territorial and will defend their territories by chasing other species away.

                                                            Northern Evening Darner  (Kerrie O'Donnell)

They vary greatly in size from the Northern Evening Darner to the tiny damselfly.   

                                                         Five Spot Threadtail  (Kerrie O'Donnell)
and in a wide range of colours and patterns. In some species the females are very similar in colour to the male , in others they look quite different. 

Sapphire Rockmaster
  (Male)  (Kerrie O'Donnell)


                 Sapphire Rockmaster
                       (Female)
                        (Kerrie O'Donnell)



                                                
Each Dragonfly starts its life from an egg deposited by a female in the water, on vegetation or even on a piece of wood.

                                                                   Dragonfly Larva  (Kerrie O'Donnell)
They live in the water feeding mostly on mosquito lava and other aquatic invertebrates, some for many years, before they climb up the stem of a reed or stick to split their skins and emerge as a beautiful fragile Dragonfly.

Golden Flatwing  Damselfly  (Kerrie O'Donnell)

Dragonflies have long aerodynamic bodies and two sets of fragile looking, but amazingly versatile wings which work independently from each other enabling them to change direction instantly  in flight.

 Pale Mouth  (Kerrie O'Donnell)

Their two large eyes are set at the sides of their heads so that they can see in almost  360 degrees and their mouth piece consists of a 'beak' like structure with which  they  crush, rather than bite, the insects they feed on.

Red & Blue Damsel eating  (Kerrie O'Donnell)

The males have two appendages, resembling  fingers, at the end of their tail to hold the female while mating.

                      Common Bluetail Damsels in mating position  (Kerrie O'Donnell)

When they mate they form a 'heart' shape or 'Wheel position' and then the female deposits her eggs, often by flipping her tail into the water as she flies over it or by cutting a small slit into the stem of a plant then depositing her eggs into the slit so they won't wash away.

  Metallic Ringtail laying eggs  (Kerrie O'Donnell)

Generally Dragonflies only live a for a few months after they have mated and laid their eggs

Although Dragonflies Larvae can live in a wide range of waters like all our native wildlife, they need an environment that is free from pollutants. Domestic waste and chemicals such as sprays can pollute the waterways and kill or deform the lava and the Dragonflies themselves as well as the insects they feed on.  When out in the natural environment, take your rubbish with you and restrict your use of chemical pollutants.

Let’s make sure these beautiful fragile creatures are flying, dipping and weaving along our  waterways for all future generations to enjoy.

 Contributor: Kerrie O'Donnell                                                                                                                              

FRIENDS of MARY - Wandering Weeders

A true friend of MARY

The River Walk is a great new experience, letting us get down to see the Mary River. We have watched the transformation following the removal of the impenetrable thickets of invasive weed species, including Cat’s Claw Creeper, Balloon Vine, Morning Glory, and all those Chinese Elms and seen all the replanting with plants which originally would have grown all along the Mary River banks.

Last year, Local Graham Parr was one man who walked the Walk, and watched the revegetation, and when he noticed that weedy vines were beginning to grow back over the newly planted trees, he started to weed them out. Friends were recruited to help, and a group was formed, under the auspices of MRCCC, “Friends of Mary – Wandering Weeders.”  They meet on the first Saturday of the month, at first in the afternoon, but when the heat started, now at 7.30 am.

As the dry Winter became a very dry Spring, Graham noticed plants suffering, so he started to hand water, filling his car boot with 2 litre bottles of water, lovingly carried to each little plant. “The Lord helps those who help themselves”, and so it came to pass!  Graham, working with MRCCC received a grant from the BMRG – Burnett Mary Regional Group, to buy a pump, hoses, buckets and weeding tools.

Graham and Chris with the new pump

At the first weeding day of 2020, the Wandering Weeders were delighted to get the pump set up at the weir and give the little plants a good drink. 60 metres of hose wasn’t quite long enough, but the dedicated Weeders formed a Bucket Brigade, finding the Lomandras, Figs, Casuarinas, Red Cedars and other plants amongst the long grasses, which are not being removed, as they are needed to provide soil stability until the native revegetation can establish.

Gerard & Graham priming the pump

Many of the Weeders are members of the Gympie and District Field Naturalists Club, but are still only a very small group, and would very much welcome help from anyone who is moderately fit.          ( Key Selection Criterion- “ can you climb a bank while carrying a bucket of water?”)

Many hands make light work

Meeting at the Gympie Touch Football Club, at 7.30 on the first Saturday of the month. Protective clothing is recommended, and you are welcome to bring your weapon of choice, (hoe, mattock, secateurs). Please contact Graham Parr for more information on 0418 151 049.

Volunteering/ Caretaking at Bowra Station (A.W.C.) for Birds Queensland

Volunteering/ Caretaking at Bowra 2019

Bowra Homestead in June

Cameron and I, in June 2019, volunteered for duties, for two weeks, at Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, outside Cunnamulla.  As volunteers for Birds Queensland, we would be responsible for bookings and payments lodged by visitors to the Sanctuary and to take charge of housekeeping duties related to the maintenance of appropriate facilities available to visitors.  The evening bird list was also an important part of the everyday operations: where visitors and staff notified which birds and how many (in a single location) were observed in the previous 24 hours.  These results, overnight, were relayed to Birds Queensland.  Sounds easy, doesn’t it.  Think again.

My computer skills were severely tested in the first few days in getting to grips with the complexities of the booking/ payment system.  Keeping track of who was where also had its challenges. 

Was it worth it?  Too right.  A good downpour of rain in April had caused a late spurt of thick herbage growth and tree blossom and the birds had launched into a breeding frenzy.  Freezing temperatures -5 degrees C and a bitter wind from the South, made dawn walks for bird spotting, along the Bore Drain Track, a feat of endurance.      

Herbage near the Bore Drain

The rewards were there: banded lapwings escorting their young out of harm’s way, southern whiteface feeding their chicks on fat green grubs, thousands of wood swallows filling the sky (black-faced, masked, white-breasted, white-browed), red-throats enjoying the lagoons at Gravel Pits, chestnut-breasted quail thrush displaying and calling.

Chestnut-breasted Quail- thrush (Cameron Whiley)

Fairy Martin nests under the house eaves

Red throat at Gravel Pits  (Cameron Whiley)

Bore

Marilyn, a frequent visitor to Bowra, introduced us to The Garden and the haunts of the white-browed treecreeper and the Hall’s babbler.

Rugged up, in search of the Hall's babbler

White-browed tree-creeper   (Maggie Overend)

White-winged fairy-wren  (Cameron Whiley)

White-winged fairy wrens were a regular on the Bore drain, crimson chats and red-capped robins were often seen, pallid cuckoos frequented the eucalypts on the fringe.  

Red-capped robin  (Cameron Whiley)

Black-breasted buzzard, little and wedge-tailed eagles, brown goshawk, brown falcon and the grey falcon, photographed by Kerrie, were some of the raptors to appear.   Fairy martens, in their funnel-shaped nests, under the eaves of the homestead, were active from early morning to dusk.  Australian ringneck parrots investigated a nest hollow at the door of the office.  Major Mitchell cockatoos feasted on small melons growing on the clay pans.  The elusive Bourke's parrots finally settled near the Home Dam.

Bourke's or Sundown parrot 

 Two visitors to Bowra entertained us with their stories and photos.  Bruce Hoskins, “Plumes of Oz”, and Brett Lewis, “Roaming the Outback”, have Youtube presentations well worth a look.  Two young scientists, from Canberra University, were at Bowra doing research on the Western water dragon, a reptile they are discovering is being impacted quite severely by climate change..     Kangaroo and wallaby numbers had been annihilated by the drought and then the rain and cold weather and had died in their thousands.  Their absence was very noticeable.  Also missing were the finch and native hen species.  Bird numbers had dropped significantly due to the on-going drought.

Fast forward to December here we are again back at Bowra and what a difference a few months make.   

Parched landscape on the road to the main gate

This time, Cameron and I were here in the capacity of volunteer caretakers for two weeks (No visitors/clients).  Our duties were maintaining bird lists and a general clean-up of the house and shearers’ quarters, in readiness for 2020.  John Barton, the Wildlife Conservancy appointed Manager and his wife, Melinda have made a huge difference to the facilities at Bowra.  The green cover was a thing of the past.  Cottage and Top dam were empty and water levels, at the others, were falling rapidly.  But the parrots were there in their hundreds, especially Blue Bonnets, feasting on the seeds available on the Acacias and the prickly ground covers.

Blue bonnet parrots  (Cameron Whiley)

 Honey eaters were noticeably missing until the Eucalypts, Mistletoe and Capparis  loranthifolia were in flower. Emus appeared with their chicks. 

Capparis loranthifolia

The native hens were back.  Juvenile red-capped robins were in abundance.  White-fronted honeyeaters left their location of Western Paddock and appeared at the Homestead lagoon.   One of the Canberran scientists Kris Wild, was back with 8 enthusiastic students who laboured, from dawn to dusk, in the overwhelming heat to continue the research on the Western dragon.  They were an inspiration.

Western dragon  (Cameron Whiley)

White-fronted honeyeater  (Cameron Whiley)

 Cameron hit the jackpot with photos of a pair of chestnut- breasted quail thrush, and the Hall’s babbler, the white-fronted, grey-headed, striped, spiny-cheeked, singing, black, brown-headed honey-eaters, budgerigars.

Grey-headed & Singing Honeyeaters (Maggie Overend)

Black honeyeater  (Cameron Whiley)

Striped honeyeater  (Cameron While)

Visiting Bowra, working there, has been a very rewarding experience.   A good season, with a decent amount of rain, will set the place up for an exciting 2020.   Here’s hoping.