Recent Observations of Flora & Fauna 

in the Geelong Region

 Last update 02/11/2008

These observations are taken from the previous copy of the Geelong Naturalist or from information provided by members. Responsibility for accuracy lies with the observer.

Members are encouraged to send observations directly to our email address or phone them to Barry Lingham on 5255 4291.  Even better, send your digiscope or digital shot of the bird for all to see!

 

Recent Reports    Last Months Birds    Plants        Mammals    Other

Plants

Plant Species  Date  Location Comments Observer
Harlequin Mistletoe. 3/1/2008 You Yangs Flowers photographed near Barros Dams and along Branding Yard Road. Photo MHe;DHe;
RMc
Wire-leaf Mistletoe 3/1/2008 You Yangs Flowering  on the track beside Hovells Creek. Photo MHe;DHe;
RMc
Eucalypt sp June 2006 Havelock 
Conservation Reserve 		Habitat photo. SEANA campout, Maryborough.. Photo RSm
Magenta Stork's-bill (Pelargonium rondneyanum)  June 2006 Havelock 
Conservation Reserve 		SEANA campout, Maryborough. Photo RSm
Chamomile Sunray (Rhodanthe anthemoides)  June 2006 Havelock Conservation 
Reserve 		SEANA campout, Maryborough  Photo RSm
Red Beak Orchids Lyperanthus nigricans  15/10/2006 Brisbane Ranges Butchers Road. Photo1. Photo 2  DHe
Copper Beard Orchid Calochilus campestris 15/10/2006 Brisbane Ranges De Motts Road.Under eucalypt saplings along roadside next to field. These trees were slightly scorched in January but not burnt.   DHe

Wedding Bush (Ricinocarpus pinifolius).

Picture 

17/10/04

Carlisle Heathland, Otway Ranges

This shrub is mostly found on the east side of Port Phillip Bay, and this small community of Ricinocarpus in the Carlisle State Park heathlands is unusual.

Rosalind Smallwood

Flying Duck Orchid

Picture 

17/10/04

Carlisle Heathland, Otway Ranges

 

Rosalind Smallwood

Spotted Sun Orchid (Thelymitra ixioides)

Picture 

17/10/04

Carlisle Heathland, Otway Ranges

 

Rosalind Smallwood
Pink Bells (Tetratheca ciliata)

Picture

17/10/04

Carlisle Heathland, Otway Ranges

   Rosalind Smallwood
         

 

 

Mammals

Mammal Species  Date  Location Comments Observer
Water Rat 31/10/2008 Barwon River
Swimming in the Queens Park section of the Barwon River, opposite the fenced off area in Zillah Crawcour Park. It swam on the surface for a about ten metres, until it disappeared against the river bank under a large Red Gum.

 

 SQ
Echidna 30/11/2008 Connewarre Corner of Bluestone School Road and Barwon Heads - Geelong road BL
Platypus 3/10/2008 Mooroobool River Geringhap, above Sutherlands Creek. Foraged and surfaced repeatedly as it moved downstream. The platypus surfaced, climbed onto a part-submerged branch, and with it’s webbed foot, started scratching under the chin. It then dived,  moved down-stream and then re-surfaced, clambered onto another branch and commenced “back-scratching” on an adjacent branch! (see  photo) RGa
Platypus 7/9/2007 Barwon River A Platypus, seen about 500 m upstream from Queens Bridge). Another was also seen in the same area about six months ago. LD
Humpback Whale 30/6/2007 Point Addis At midday. Surfaced and blew and dived, all within 30-60 seconds. 30 minutes later, surfaced again breifly and blew. MHe & DHe
Echidna 5/11/2006 Barwon Heads On the Bluff area. Moving about, poking snout into the soft soil in search of food. BL
Koala 29/10/2006 Brisbane Ranges Walked up slope in severely burnt woodland, about half way along Anakie Gorge; not many leaves at higher levels , but good growth from base of burnt eucalypts. MHe & DHE
Platypus 25/09/2006 Barwon River 500 m upstream of the Queens Park Bridge, opposite the golf course. AM
Platypus 21/08/2006 Barwon River Queens Park. Two on 26/706; One 31/7/06; One 5/8/06, One 18/8/06, Three 21/8/06  BAt
Platypus 27/04/2006 Barwon River Seen from footbridge near Redgum Island. HSt
Flying Fox sp 12/03/2005 East Geelong 70+ noted overflying 420 Ryrie Street, in southwards direction, between 8:30 pm and 8:50 pm. Near Full moon BL
Australian Fur Seal 26/12/2005 Barwon Estuary Ozone Pier - a fur seal swam downstream in front of us. The tide had just turned and was on the way out. TFl
Elephant Seal 24/10/2005 Swan Bay Jetty Large adult male near jetty Parks Vic via BL
Elephant Seal 24/10/2005 Point Lonsdale Henry lolling about and causing some mischief on the road BL
White-tailed Water Rat 08/10/04 Queens Park 500 metres upstream of footbridge. Swimming downstream BAt
Platypus 23/09/04 Queens Park 500 metres upstream of footbridge.  0945. BAt
Platypus 29/09/04 Queens Park Underneath footbridge. 0920 BAt
         
         
         

 

Other

Species  Date  Location Comments Observer
Marbled Gecko 19/10/2008 Belmont Under timber in backyard shed Brett Smith
Mainland Tiger Snake 4/1/2008 Otway Ranges. Maher's Road near Hayden Tk junction.
Two noted, including one un-banded, copper-brown in colour.
 TP
Southern Victorian Spiny Crayfish 30/12/2007 Callahan's Creek, South Branch, at Goat Track, Barwon Downs. Five noted. TP
Purple Meat Ants 15/04/2007 Rupanyup, Wimmera. A plastic bag that had contained marinated chicken was dropped on the ground during an evening BBQ. The next morning, by 10:00am, a horde of meat ants was busily cutting the bag into pieces about 2mm square and carting them off to their nest. Picture. BL
Caper White Butterfly 25/3/2007 Edwards Point 2 among tussock grass and shrubs half way along point. I haven't seen any locally since October, and I think they are unusual at this time of year. Good views of 'perched' butterflies, upperwings white with black margins containing white spots, fore underwing white with black edge containing white streaks, hind underwing, black with white lobes , yellow patches near body and yellow spots along edge. MHe
Cicada

Ticker or Alarm Clock Squeaker

Pauropsalta mneme

 16/12/2006 Brisbane Ranges Durdidwarrah Rd, Brisbane Ranges, numerous, calling, sitting 1-2 metres up on burnt tree trunks and flying about. Also a few at Switch Rd. 11 months after fire. A female was identified. They are mainly black with some dull orange markings and they were perfectly camouflaged against the burnt trunks.
They were still present at Durdidwarrah Rd on 19/12/06, but had moved further up the trunks and were inaccessible for photography. According to the cicada book, they occur through most of Victoria. The adults are common at times and can be found from late September to early January. They occur in open eucalypt woodland. The adults favour blackened trunks and branches in vegetation burnt in past years.		 MHe
Anthelidae sp. caterpillar 2/1/2007 Point Lonsdale This beautiful creature appeared at my front door  and Dave King has tentatively identified it for me. There's a good description of the family Anthelidae in the book Backyard Insects, by Paul Horne & Denis Crawford, pub. The Miegunyah Press. Also some lovely photos of both moth and caterpillar species.
Dave (and Backyard Insects) warned of danger of handling such caterpillars, because the hairs can cause extreme skin and eye irritation.
Photo		 Rosalind Smallwood
Caper White Butterfly

Belenois java

 17/10/2006 Bacchus Marsh area

17/10/06, Lake Merrimu and northern Long Forest: constant stream of Caper White butterfies moving west. 18/10/06, Bacchus Marsh town: a few Caper Whites moving west.1

9/10/06, Bacchus Marsh town: a few Caper Whites moving west.

f20/10/06: Geebung Track, Brisbane Ranges: 4 Caper Whites seen over an hour, moving west.

 MHe
Cuttlefish bone 10/09/2006 Ocean Grove beach 100s between Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove. Most about 20 cm long. A few with some flesh still attached. Strong SE winds for the past few days. BL
Sea Hare

picture

 23/03/2006 Lake Connewarre The Sea Hare was most probably Aplysia parvula. It is a gastropod mollusc. There is a small internal shell. Sea Hares are herbivorous. MHe, DHe,

RMc,BL
Mistletoe Moths 18/02/2006 Long Forest Lots of Mistletoe Moths Comocrus behri in flowering mistletoe at Long Point. MHe
Pobblebonk Frog 

Picture

 12/01/05  Ocean Grove In compost heap BL