The Fassifern Field Naturalists Club Inc. would like to acknowledge the Yugarapul People, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our Club is founded, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present, their languages, customs, culture and connection to this wonderful country.

Saturday 9 March 2024

Outing Report - Wild Mountains Environmental Education Centre , Saturday, 18 November 2023

Adapted from different articles in the Fassifern Field Naturalists newsletters.

Views from the meeting place
We couldn’t have wished for better weather on this outing to Wild Mountains. As planned, we met up at the start of the 4WD sign. This was a prime photo area with majestic views of the ranges and surrounding scenery and people took full advantage of their cameras and scopes. 

It’s not easy to move 15 field nats however, we needed to make progress and go on one of the many walks. We chose the downhill section towards the creek. We were fairly spread out when Steve caught our attention. He was so excited; he could barely speak but was pointing to a tree down from the track. There, perched in a large hollow was a Masked Owl. It was a new bird sighting for the majority of us, but to see this rare owl in daylight made it very special.
Fungi at Wild Mountains

Onwards to the bridge. Due to past rain, the vegetation had thickened considerably, but taking our time, we managed to scramble down the steep terrain to view the creek and the mini waterfall. A delightful place to spend some time, that is if you don’t mind leeches. After that we headed in the vehicles to the majestic rainforest walk that borders NSW.

Throughout the day there was plenty to see, especially the birds enjoying the regeneration efforts in the ex-lantana dominated gullies. A huge Small-leaved Fig Ficus obliqua, with roots all over a rocky waterfall, was in fruit. The canopy was in constant motion with a dozen Topknot Pigeons and Regent Bowerbirds standing out. A couple of Barred Cuckoo-Shrikes looked quite trim in contrast.

Further up the road to the top gate and another avian avalanche. Fruit pigeons calling out everywhere. A Noisy Pitta wanting to go “off to work”. A Paradise Riflebird screeching in our ears. A Green Catbird “meowing” – probably wanting a bowl of milk.

The variety of tall trees on this mountain is truly amazing. Far too many to put in a small newsletter. But the Silver Booyong Argyrodendron trifoliolatum, a common tree, were in fruit – little helicopters spinning around and littering the track. 

All too soon it was time to depart. The folk at Wild Mountains took good care of us, even though they were working hard preparing for a big event the following week. We thank them very much for their generosity of time and friendship. We will look forward in the future to pay another visit to this amazing property.

A wild place and a wild gang of Field Nats – what more could you ask for?

Bird List
Wompoo Fruit Dove, Topknot Pigeon, Brown Pigeon, Rose-crowned Fruit- Dove, White-headed Pigeon, Little Black Cormorant, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Fantail Cuckoo, Brush Cuckoo, Australian Masked Owl, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Noisy Pitta, Regent Bowerbird, White-throated Treecreeper, Scarlet Honeyeater, Eastern Spinebill, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Bell Miner, White-throated Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, White-browed Scrubwren, Striated Thornbill, Brown Thornbill, Brown Gerygone, Barred Cuckooshrike, Black-faced Cuckooshrike, Common Cicadabird. Eastern Whipbird, Grey Shrikethrush, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Pied Currawong, Rufous Fantail, Grey Fantail, Spangled Drongo, Black-faced Monarch, Spectacled Monarch, Torresian Crow, Paradise Riflebird, Eastern Yellow Robin, Silvereye, Mistletoebird.

Friday 16 February 2024

FEBRUARY OUTING CANCELLED

 Due to the inclement weather, the outing to Waterfall Creek Road Maroon  for 17th Feb 2024 has been cancelled.

Sorry, no Plan B.





Sunday 3 December 2023

Camp Report - Undercliffe, NSW; 6-8 October 2023

Article adapted from the FFNC newsletter
The annual spring camp was in the Granite Belt at Undercliffe in NSW. Stanthorpe, to the west, is about 20 kms away. We camped close to the northern fence line in clearings between the trees. Our hosts had kindly provided a composting toilet which was very much appreciated. Campers were all set up by afternoon tea on Friday with the bird list already started.

View to the east
The property covers some 69 ha of largely uncleared, though previously logged, eucalypt forest. It is on the eastern edge of the Granite Belt and has a view down onto Rivertree (the upper reaches of the Clarence Valley) and across to the Border Ranges.

Our hosts joined us for the weekend activities. They have been actively removing lantana etc which grew well during the recent La Nina event and have to create yet another fence-to-fence track for fire reasons during the last dry. This made access a lot easier for us.

Friday afternoon we took a vehicle trip around part of the property, trying to get our bearings. This wasn’t helped by the fact that the map downloaded from a New South Wales government website had the property in the wrong location!

On Saturday we rambled along one of the many tracks which criss-cross the property noticing plants such as sedges, cycads, fungi and a black bootlace orchid. After lunch we visited Undercliffe Falls on Bookookoorara Creek where we scrambled around the rocks and took plenty of photographs.

Despite the dry conditions, we were able to safely have a fire in a portable steel firepit but evening discussions around the fire were shortened due to the cold nights.

Sunday morning involved a walk along a creek where numerous holes still held water despite the very dry conditions. Of note were the many trigger plants in full flower. Several of us tried to get the trigger to work but with little success.
Pale-spotted Tiger Moth Amata aperta

Watch out for those nippers

Fauna

Birds: Australian Wood Duck, Pacific Black Duck, Wonga Pigeon, Bar-shouldered Dove, Masked Lapwing, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Square-tailed Kite, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairywren, Bell Miner, White-throated Gerygone, Striated Thornbill, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Pied Currawong, Willie Wagtail, Grey Fantail, Magpie-lark, Corvid sp., Eastern Yellow Robin. Marsupials: Red-necked Wallaby. Reptiles: Lace Monitor or Goanna. Frogs: Graceful Tree Frog. Insects and spiders: Butterflies; Lesser Wanderer, Common Brown. Moths; Pale-spotted Tiger Moth,  Others; a dull-coloured long-legged fly, Grey Planthopper, White Wax Scale Ceroplastes destructor. Spider; a red and black spider (Nicodamid species).

Flora: as discussed or taken note of on the camp (not a comprehensive list):

Fungi; none identified. Cycad; a cycad Macrozamia viridis. Ferns; Maidenhair sp., Rock Felt Fern Pyrrosia rupestris, a fern (Blechnum sp.). Grasses Sedges, etc; Grey Tussock-grass Poa sieberiana, Kangaroo Grass Themeda triandra, Mat rushes Lomandra sp. Herbs;  a Pennywort, Border Ranges Nightshade Solanum limitare, a Trigger Plant Stylidium sp., a bluebell Wahlenbergia sp., Zieria sp.Orchids; Black Bootlace Orchid Erythrorchis cassythoides. Vines & Scramblers; Clematis sp., Pink Bower Vine Pandorea jasminoides, Monkey Rope Vine Parsonsia straminea, Native Raspberry Rubus parvifolius, Barbed-wire Vine Smilax australis. Shrubs; Wild May Leptospermum polygalifolium, Poison Peach Trema tomentosum. Trees; Mountain Grey Gum Eucalyptus cypellocarpa, Forest Oak Allocasuarina torulosa, Youman's Stringybark Eucalyptus youmanii, Ribbonwood Euroschinus falcate, Sweet Pittosporum Pittosporum undulatum, Broad-leaved Cherry Exocarpos latifolius, Tree Heath/Waddy wood Trochocarpa laurina, Green Wattle Acacia decurrens, Lilly-pilly spp., Breynia sp. 

Friday 27 October 2023

Outing Report - Mt French, Saturday, 16 September 2023

 A Botanical Outing with a Birdo as Leader

Mt Barney from Mee-bor-rum Lookout
A very small group met at Mt French as more of our members were enjoying a tag-along in the cool, breezy climes of northern NSW.

Meanwhile, we meandered through the Mee-bor-rum Circuit. The first part of the walk was still showing the effects of the burning earlier in the year, so there were no orchids to be found. In fact, very few wildflowers were in flower.

After admiring the south-east view towards Mt Barney we entered the heath where there was some blossom. Luckily, somebody in our small band knew the plants. She pointed out acacias, both Brown Wattle A. brunioides and Sticky Wattle A. viscidula. The leptospermums were also in flower making a white haze around us.

Red-necked Wallaby and joey
Back at the picnic area we sat at a shady table and enjoyed the company of a Red-necked Wallaby and her joey which peeped out from her pouch. We thought a goanna was going to join us but it just sauntered past on its way to somewhere far more interesting. After the break we went to Logan’s Lookout because one can never get enough of this breathtaking view. Then all too soon it was time to go home after another pleasant stroll on our iconic mountain.

Species Lists introduced species = *
Fauna
Reptiles: Lace Monitor or Goanna Varanus varius.
Birds: Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Lewin's Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Scarlet Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Eastern Whipbird, Australasian Figbird, Pied Butcherbird, Pied Currawong, Mistletoebird.
Marsupials: Brush-tailed Wallaby (on the way up the mountain), Red-necked Wallaby & joey.
Butterflies: *Wanderer Danaus plexippus, Lesser Wanderer Danaus petilia, Orange Ringlet Hypocysta adiante, Meadow Argus Junonia villida.

Flora discussed or taken note of on the day (not a comprehensive list):
Vines, Scramblers & Climbers: Native Sarsaparilla Hardenbergia violacea.
Grass Trees: Johnson’s Grass Tree Xanthorrhoea johnsonii.
Shrubs: Brown Wattle Acacia brunioides, Sticky Wattle Acacia viscidula, Small-fruited Tea Tree (Leptospermum microcarpum.


Sunday 22 October 2023

Outing Report - Lake Moogerah, Saturday, 19 August 2023

 Adapted from the Fassifern Field Naturalists Club Inc. Newsletter

Plan B: Moogerah Dam and Below the Dam

With the cancellation of the Moon View outing, due to fire threat, our leader had to quickly come up with a Plan B. So, seven hardy Natters turned up at Haigh Park overlooking the Moogerah dam wall on a very windy and cold but sunny morning. A few more joined the group later, making eleven.

A walk across the dam wall was abandoned at the first shelter point, as we attempted to shelter from the cold westerly wind. After photos were taken, we headed for our cars and drove the short distance down to the Lower Recreation area along Reynolds Creek, below the dam wall.

As we set off, one member’s hat was blown into the water, luckily it was reached with a walking pole before it could sink! We strolled downstream to the weir at the end of the picnic area, the wind kept the birds away. Most noted were two Welcome Swallows doing circuits over the area, and four pelicans circling up above.

At the weir our leader told us of the Rhyolite plugs of Mt Edwards towering ahead on the other side of Reynold’s Creek (NNW) and Little Mt Edwards on our side of the creek ahead to NNE. While most returned for morning tea, one went on along the rough track downstream from the weir, to see the huge rock slabs of rhyolite rising up on the right; which had been mentioned.

Then on the grassy bank of the creek with the warm sun and the wind at our backs, a long morning tea was enjoyed with great conversation. We looked at a rock with fish scales and bones fossilized in it, from the Richmond area. The small bird count grew as we sat there. A pair of Rainbow Lorikeets came to check out a hollow in a big tree, and a Kookaburra sat and watched us for a bit. In the end it was so pleasant chatting in the sun that no one wanted to leave!

Birds of August Field Trip

Australian Wood Duck, Little Pied Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant, Australian Pelican, Dusky Moorhen, Gull-billed Tern, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Laughing Kookaburra, Striated Pardalote, Spotted Pardalote, Striped Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Restless Flycatcher, Willie Wagtail. Australian Magpie, Torresian Crow, Pied Currawong, Welcome Swallow, Mistletoebird.

Saturday 21 October 2023

Outing Report - Mt Alford, Saturday, 15 July 2023

From the Fassifern Field Naturalists Club Inc. newsletter
Koala seen on the property

It wasn’t anywhere as near as cold as expected for the July outing. In fact, it was pleasant enough for 17 members to join our hosts at their home. As usual with Nats, we stood around chatting for a while, munching mandarins that were picked from the nearby tree earlier. We eventually set off down the paddock disturbing the Whiptail, or Pretty-faced, Wallabies on the way. The Red-backed Wrens and Silvereyes twittered around us. It wasn’t long though before we were all clustered under a eucalypt admiring a large, healthy, male Koala. It was a great sighting and many photos were taken.

Around the firepit
Eventually the party split into two groups with some taking the high road, and some taking the low road. There were plenty of bush birds with a male Rose Robin and a couple of Jacky Winters being highlights. Once we were all back at the house, we settled around the firepit for our sausages generously prepared and supplied by our hosts. The fire’s warmth invited lots of conversation and laughter. The species list call came before dark and the night-spotting. Forty-three birds, three mammals and one butterfly were accounted for.

Then it was time for a few members to head homeward ..... but a few intrepid naturalists braved the cool by increasingly moving their chairs closer to the fire, before heading out with torches in search of elusive night creatures. There wasn't much wildlife around (probably all tucked up in bed), but we were lucky enough to spot a rufous bettong, a microbat and another red necked wallaby. We heard frogs around the dam but didn't manage to spot the barn owl which is rumoured to sit on the fence wire each night!

Species Lists for Kooroomba Drive:

Birds: Brown Quail, Australian Wood Duck, Australasian Grebe, Peaceful Dove, Great Egret, White-faced Heron, Little Pied Cormorant, Masked Lapwing, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Pale-headed Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, Rainbow Bee-eater, Red-backed Fairy-wren, White-throated Gerygone, Weebill, Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Brown Honeyeater, White-naped Honeyeater, White-throated Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Striped Honeyeater, Varied Sitella, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Golden Whistler, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Australian Magpie, Grey Fantail, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Rose Robin, Restless Flycatcher, Jacky Winter, Magpie-lark, Welcome Swallow, Silvereye, Mistletoebird, Double-barred Finch.

Mammals: Koala, Rufous Bettong, Whiptail Wallaby, Red-necked Wallaby, Microbat sp.

Butterfly: Wanderer.

Sunday 15 October 2023

Outing Report - Bunburra, Saturday 17 June 2023

Adapted from the FFNC Inc. Newsletter

A lovely fine winter’s day greeted us when we went to Bunburra in June. We gathered and jumped into 4-wheel drives. Our host led us out the back of his place to “Dingo Creek” – a local name for a gully draining off the highest point on his property.
Birds were rather scarce. But the views were spectacular. And the gully was full of interesting
plants.

A fig in an Ironbark 
A fig (probably Ficus rubiginosa) had lodged about 30 m up in the top of a huge Ironbark (probably Eucalyptus crebra) and had dangled a very long tap root all the way to the ground – a definition of persistence. It will probably develop a bigger canopy and survive long after the Ironbark has died. The gully was dominated by Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus), but there was also a really big Crow’s Ash (Flindersia australis), some Scrub Ironbark (Bridelia leichhardtii) and a Yellow Tulip (Drypetes deplanchei).
Above Dingo Creek
The protected hillside was also dominated by Brush Box, with their lignotubers providing sustenance during harsher times. In some landscapes, a “whip-stick” form of Brush Box can establish – conditions are not good enough for big trees to develop, but just enough for thin trunks to dominate. True to form, Field Nats scattered in all directions .... but hunger got the better of them and they all straggled back eventually.





























Looking to the east


Monday 24 July 2023

CANCELLED - Mid-week Walk

 Mid-week walk  (Thursday 27 July) to Sandy Creek cancelled due to area being closed for controlled burning. 

Wednesday 24 May 2023

Camp Report - Cullendore High Country, 12-15 May 2023


Matty's Dam at Cullendore High Country
Preliminary reports are that the camp was very enjoyable. From one attendee
"We had a great camp – 18 attended.   Mostly fine until Sunday night when it rained most of the night and we packed up in light showers next morning." And another, "We went out each morning sharing cars, out again in the afternoon. Great fun." 
Banksia Campground

The camp was at the Banksia section of Creek Camp. An area where the Club hasn't camped before. It was for our exclusive use and has flush toilets and hot showers. Luxury camping indeed. 

There were a number of walks over the weekend; meandering creek-side of the camping area to a small dam, night-spotting in the cold, exploring the Overflow area around Matty's Dam, naturalizing along the Ashglen Dam Trail in Maryland National Park, and scrambling over the boulders behind Forest Camp

Much was seen and discussed, but most memorable is the friendly atmosphere, the campfires and the amazing natural scenery.

Photos: W. Dunn




 
One of the massive Brush Boxes
on the property,


Sunday 16 April 2023

Outing report - Wyaralong Shoreline Trail, Saturday 15 April 2023

Hypericum japonicum
Photo L. Beaton
Well, we didn't come across any horses or any cyclists along the trail, but not long after we arrived the carpark was full of young canoeists. Luckily we had some time beforehand to see the swamphen, stilt and dotterel feeding on the muddy spit. Also, we chatted to a young couple who were catching their breakfast of 
Red Claw Crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus. Six plump crayfish were in their bucket. We soon left the milling throng behind and set out along the trail.
There were plenty of bush birds about though the waterbirds were a bit scarce. No swan or coot, only one pelican, less than a dozen duck but we did see all three egrets; the Great, Intermediate and Little.
Antictenia punctunculus
Photo: T. Shields
There was much activity in the woodland where Weebill, Golden and Rufous Whistlers, Rose Robin and Varied Sitella, and the Club emblem Pacific Baza, were some highlights. A beautiful specimen of a Carpet Python, moths and wildflowers also caught our attention. 
Some of us turned back at the bridge over Oaky Creek but most walked onto the point about another 500 metres further on. We finished the outing by leaving the crowded carpark and having a convivial time at Lilybrook Recreation Area. 
Red Claw Crayfish 
Cherax quadricarinatus
Photo: N. Crepin
White-breasted Woodswallow
Photo: C. Bonner
















                                                                                                

Species Lists

introduced species = *

Reptiles: Eastern Water Dragon Intellagama lesueurii - 1 juvenile, Carpet Python Morelia spilota - 1.

Birds: Brown Quail - 3, Australian Wood Duck - 5, Grey Teal - 2, Australasian Grebe - 8, Common Bronzewing - 1, Bar-shouldered Dove - 1, Australian Darter - 2, Little Pied Cormorant - 2, Great Cormorant - 1, Pied Cormorant - 1, Australian Pelican - 1, Great Egret - 1, Intermediate Egret - 1, White-faced Heron - 1, Little Egret - 1, Royal Spoonbill - 3, Pacific Baza - 2, White-bellied Sea-Eagle – 2 (1 adult, 1 immature), Whistling Kite - 2, Australasian Swamphen - 4, Dusky Moorhen - 4, Pied Stilt - 6, Black-fronted Dotterel - 4, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo - 2, Australian King-Parrot – 1 (heard), Pale-headed Rosella - 3, Azure Kingfisher - 1, Laughing Kookaburra - 1, Forest Kingfisher – 1 (heard), Rainbow Bee-eater – 1 (heard), Superb Fairy-wren – 11-20, Red-backed Fairy-wren - 8, Weebill - 1, White-throated Gerygone - 3, Striated Pardalote - 6, Noisy Miner - 5, Brown Honeyeater - 4, White-throated Honeyeater - 8, Blue-faced Honeyeater - 1, Striped Honeyeater - 9, Varied Sittella - 1, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike- 1, Golden Whistler-2 ( or immature), Rufous Whistler - 7, Grey Shrike-thrush - 1, Australasian Figbird - 1, White-breasted Woodswallow - 2, Grey Butcherbird - 2, Australian Magpie - 2, Pied Currawong - 2, Grey Fantail - 2, Willie Wagtail - 2, Torresian Crow - 5, Restless Flycatcher – 1 (heard), Magpie-lark - 2, Rose Robin – 1 (), Golden-headed Cisticola - 3, Tawny Grassbird - 1, Silvereye - 5, Tree Martin – 20+, Red-browed Finch – 6.

Butterflies: Clearwing Swallowtail Cressida Cressida – 2, *Wanderer Danaus plexippus, Lesser Wanderer Danaus petilia - 8, Common Crow Euploea core - 1, Evening Brown Melanitis leda - 1, Meadow Argus Junonia villida - 5, Glasswing Acraea andromacha - 3, White-banded Plane Phaedyma sheperdi – 1. 

Crustacean: *Red Claw Crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus (a native species, introduced from northern Australia) - 6. 

Other Invertebrates: Bees; Blue-banded Bee Amegilla cingulate - 4, *European Honey Bee Apis mellifera – 20+, Dragonflies; Blue Skimmer Orthetrum caledonicum - 4, Moths; Antictemia punctunculus moth – 1.