Take a trip to Bannockburn Bushland Reserve and you may see an Australian Owlet-nightjar. This one was photographed in the sunshine, away from a hollow in the bushland on the golf course side of the road, an area we hadn’t investigated before. It was only spotted it because it was being harassed by New Holland Honeyeaters.
Posted in Field reports
Some plants to see around Barkstead especially along the Great Dividing Trail, are ferns, mosses and lichens. These plants are diverse and numerous.
Posted in Field reports
There is a lot happening with the Friends of Canadian Corridor and around Woowookarung Park. Here is a link to their May newsletter.
It is disappointing to read that despite all the hard work and good will by Parks Victoria staff and the Friends Group, that a minority of people don’t value the space as we and a growing group of visitors and residents do. Continue reading
Posted in Places to visit
One of the places Ballarat Field Naturalists sometimes visit in winter is Wombat Station near Barkstead. We go for a stroll looking for different sorts of fungi along the old rail line, which is now part of the Great Dividing Trail Walk. The track is getting a bit rutted in places so it was good to note last week that there is a seasonal closure sign to exclude vehicles.
Seasonal closure at entrance to walk
It is also worth noting that at the end of the cutting there is a sign that prohibits entry due to a felling operation. Technically this stops walkers exiting the cutting and returning via the track that goes along the top of the cutting. A logged site could be seen in the distance and the work may well have been completed.
Timber harvesting safety zone sign
Here are a selection of the fungi from last Thursday for those of you who may be planning a visit. Naming fungi is tricky so apologies for not naming them.
Posted in Field reports, Fungi
Another field report from the Brisbane Ranges, where yesterday we came across one plant we hadn’t seen before. It was Shiny Leionema, Leionema lamprophyllum ssp. obovatum on a rocky outcrop with patches of Rosy Beackea, Baeckea ramosissima ssp. ramosissima. This was off a dead end track we hadn’t been down before, off Shoot Track. It was worth the walk for the views across the Rowsley Valley.
There was an interesting insect on the Rosy Baeckea that we didn’t notice until later when looking at the photos on computer.
insect on Baeckea
After a period of inactivity many due to inclement weather we escaped to the northern end of the Brisbane Ranges National Parks today, for this field report. We walked in via Spring Creek Track then Loop Track, around Glider Track and back to the vehicle. There was dew on the sundews, some fungi and the Ironbarks were flowering. Two wattles were flowering Acacia gunnii, Ploughshare Wattle, and one plant of Acacia pycnantha, Golden Wattle. A few honeyeaters were heard calling in the tree tops.
Posted in Field reports
If you haven’t been able to escape the city for a walk in the bushland then here is an update. The Tiny Greenhoods are flowering, scented sundew leaves are emerging, fringe lily is twining and fungi are being munched. . These photos are from the Bungal State Forest. It was lovely to see the Goodenia lanata flowering. It is our club emblem.
Posted in Field reports
Every so often it is good to check on various populations of threatened species, so we decided to take a walk in the Wombat Forest on Thursday. We can report that the Wombat Bossiaea is alive and well.
We hope it isn’t too long before our Field Nats group can get back to running excursions but in the mean time here are a few photos of what is emerging in the Korweinguboora end of the forest.
Posted in Field reports
Tagged Ballarat Field Naturalists, Wombat forest, Wombat Leafless Bossiaea
The common and widespread orchid Parson’s Bands, are flowering now but they may be tricky to spot. The flower is about a big as a five cent piece. The leaf is usually not fully developed at flowering, but appears later. The flowers are pollinated by native bees. There are lots of crane flies in the local forest too and they belong to the largest fly family in Australia with over 800 species.
Posted in Field reports
The last site on our February Skipton excursion, was to where the rail trail crosses Spring Hill Road. We went for a short stroll and looked at a wetland that is virtually invisible from the nearby highway but may be glimpsed by cyclists. Running Marsh-flower edged the wetland and the Magenta Stork’s-bill and Yellow Rush-lily were almost hidden in the thick grass.
Posted in Excursion reports
