Pilchers Bridge Flora and Fauna Reserve
15 November 1998
Pilchers Bridge Flora and Fauna Reserve is a small odd shaped reserve, situated between Sedgwick and Sutton Grange. Eleven adults, Sarah and a Tassie Devil named Tom met at the Black Eagle picnic area at 10am. The name of the picnic spot indicated to me that wedge-tailed eagles must have been seen in the area. After the usual misapprehensions, traumas and nonsense which precede a car shuffle, the cars were in fact shuffled and we started the walk where Ridge track joins Axe creek road. As the name suggests, Ridge track follows the ridge line and offers good views over the surrounding country. We disturbed a black wallaby and the flowers in bloom included blue pincushions, magenta stork's-bill, blue bells, primrose goodenia and finger flowers in a predominantly stringy bark forest.
We followed Ridge track to Huddle road which is used as an access road for those with properties adjacent to the reserve. I was amazed at the number of hollows in the trees and Elvyne spotted a yellow pea, which I think she said was a wedge-pea, near where Huddle road joins Andrews track. We followed Andrews track to where it makes a ninety degree turn and then headed into the bush. After a few hundred metres we stopped for lunch in a shallow gully of open woodland, including several old trees. We saw several scar trees and in the top of one was a huge wedge-tailed eagle's nest.
After lunch we continued through the bush and saw an echidna and disturbed a fox. The gullies were filled with silver and black wattle and there were plenty of LBNs (little brown numbers) to excite the birdos. We finished the walk where Andrews track joins Carnochans lane. We then drove to Eppalock Ridge winery. This winery was originally named Romany Rye and the grapes are grown between the Campaspe and Coliban rivers. They had a shiraz and cabernet to taste. Both wines were full of fruit and very young, only having been bottled recently. I enjoyed the cabernet best, but both wines will improve with cellaring. Looking around the group, people seemed pleased with the outing and Elizabeth capped the day off by saying, I think I will go home, have a shower and watch "Persuasion" on TV.
The Moel had been successful in his first walk as leader. I hope other members follow Reyer's lead and put up their hands to lead walks in the future.
Bob Jones