The group met at the Bli Bli Shopping centre carpark , on the David Low
Way, just on the southern side of the bridge over the Maroochy River.
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Ludwigia peploides
Mangroves to Mountains p51 |
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Ludwigia octovalvis
Mangroves to Mountains p51 |
From here we followed an easy walk along a
new concrete walkway, between a new housing development and Mangroves. There were many things to capture our
attention. Just at the start of the walk was a fine example of the Native
Willow Primrose, (Ludwigia octovalvis) with 4-petalled yellow flowers and
hairy leaves, which distinguish it from the similar exotic weed, Water
Primrose, (Ludwigia peploides) which has 5-petalled flowers and shiny
leaves.
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| Winter Apple (Eremophila debilis) |
We checked out the reed beds, but no
Warblers this day, and a pigeon on a nest in the casuarinas, sampled (and lived to tell the
tale) bunches of blue fruit on the Kangaroo Vine (Cissus antarcticus).
The bank was planted with what looked like Eremophila debile- Winter
Apple- and Grey Vitex, (Vitex rotundifolia) which usually grows on rocky
coastal headlands.
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| Kangaroo Vine (Cissus antarcticus) |
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| Grey Vitex (Vitex rotundifolia) |
A
large pond/waterhole in front of the houses was inhabited by a posing Eastern
Water Dragon, and very statuesque Great Egret. On a patio, someone had a bird
feeder in a metal frame which allowed
entry to only small birds, being visited
by Double-barred Finches, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin and oddly, a pair of
Variegated Fairy-wrens.(Do they eat seed?)
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| Chestnut-breasted Mannikin |
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| Great Egret |
Opposite this, a boardwalk out into the
mangroves followed the rusty but visible old cane train tracks, heading out to
cross the Maroochy River.
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| Abandoned cane train tracks |
The long (over 1.5metres) stiff fronds of the Mangrove Ferns (Acrostichum speciosum) grew
along the water channels. In the Swamp Oak (Casuarina glauca), a flash
of red was a Mistletoe bird, and beside the walk, were the brilliant red, yellow and green flowers of Estuarine
Mistletoe(Lysiana maritima). Ian also photographed flowers of the
Variable Mistletoe, (Amyema congener).
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| Estuarine Mistletoe (Lysiana maritima) |
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| Variable Mistletoe (Amyema congener) |
The path continued through large shady
trees, where a Strangler Fig had “done for” a big Paperbark, passing through a
Picabeen Palm and Paperbark swamp, and was edged by Lomandra and Coastal Viola,
in flower.
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| Coastal, Ivy-leaf Violet (Viola banksii) |
At the end of the path, at Lefoes Road, we
were displeased to find the weed, Common Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica),
which is a widespread, invasive, spiny weed, usually found further north. It can be problematic when trying to control the plan by chemical means. If plants are disturbed before spraying, the leaves will fold and the herbicide will be ineffective. (Weeds Australia - Profiles www.ala.org.au) Unfortunately it was flowering, and in lawn where it will be mowed and ridden
over by bicycles. We should have dug it out, but weren’t armed!.
Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica)
We hurried back to the cars, (2 hour parking
limit) and crossed the bridge to Finland Road, where morning tea was partaken.
Three Australian Pipits and several Freshwater
birds and were seen, including six Royal Spoonbill, and a trifecta of Egrets:
Great, Intermediate, and Little.  |
| Royal Spoonbill |
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| Pelican |
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| Little Pied Cormorant |
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| Little Black Cormorant |
Kerrie
hunted Dragonflies, but found a large Red-bellied Black Snake, which attracted
an admiring circle of Field Nats.
Photos: Rahima Farnham, Vince Lee, Kerrie O'Donnell, Ian Smith.
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