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.