Ringwood Field Naturalists Club Inc.
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THE RINGWOOD FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB Inc. NEWSLETTER
Issue No.21 - October, 2005
EDITORIAL: The Newsletter comes of age with this, the 21st issue. From the tentative appearance of the first issue in 1995, the Newsletter has continued to grow from strength to strength, diligently recording the Club’s activities. Many of the high points and some of the low points that have marked the Club’s progress over the years have been included in its pages. The number of regular contributors to the Newsletter has gradually increased, helping to cater to the diverse interests of the Club’s membership. Some of the welcome feedback received from readers has indicated that this publication has provided interest and pleasure and an opportunity to keep in touch. I look forward to continuing to provide this important service during the next decade.
PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL REPORT 2004-5
The Club has continued to try to move with technology. Members are using the internet and taking pictures on digital cameras. We have spent considerable time at Committee meetings and at general meetings investigating new presentation options especially the use of multimedia projectors and computers. Hopefully in the not too distant future we will be in a position to take advantage of the technology on offer. Certainly thanks to Alan Veevers and David Hewitt for their assistance in this regard.
Once again our program was a high standard and provided a wide range of interesting topics from quality speakers. Topics included Alpine Flora, The Helmeted Honeyeater, Fire and forest ecology, botany language and perspectives, the Platypus and a look at South Africa. As in other years we travelled near and far for our excursions. Certainly our eco-marine boat trip on Western Port Bay, where we were able to see and touch sea creatures dredged from the bay bed, was a great success. In all, our program was excellent - a credit to our presenters, excursion leaders and program coordinators.
The Club is still involved in helping to eradicate environmental weeds in the Warrandyte State Park and at Hochkins Ridge. The Field Care Day at a new site at The Common in Haslams Track proved to be especially worthwhile with bags and bags of Smilax removed. Thanks to the members who are able to devote time to these endeavours.
On the membership side, we have had mixed fortunes. A few members have moved away from the area – Ross and Joyce Cowling to live in Perth, Flora Anderson to the city and Marlene Lyell to Axedale. This year also saw the death of member Bary Dowling and Adam Gaines.
As always, the success of the Club would not be possible if not for the efforts in and around the Club: the leaders of excursions, those assisting at meetings including the set up, packing up, running the projector, members who provided talks, slides exhibits and reports. Thanks again to Loris Peggie for auditing the books. Finally thanks to the Committee and especially our Secretary Lynn Smith for her willingness to jump into the deep-end – she has done a great job this year. In addition a special thanks to two members who have been on the Committee for many years but have had to resign from these positions. Thank you to Jean Neville and Jean Moy for their contributions.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
17 April, 2005 - Excursion to Kinglake NP Leader – Lynn Smith
On a lovely sunny day, fifteen members met at 11:00 am at Jehosephat Valley Picnic Area in Kinglake National Park, having successfully negotiated the many cyclists participating in the annual bike ride up the Divide. We walked around the Lavers Circuit walk looking for lyrebirds, interesting plants and other birds. Although we heard a lyrebird they didn’t come out of the thick bush. Several ferns, fungi and plants were of interest to members. We stopped for a discussion with a Ranger we met along the track. We returned to eat lunch together in a sunny spot in the picnic area, where three more members joined us. Plans for the afternoon were changed, as the Wombelano Falls track is degraded, steep and overgrown. We moved instead to Mason’s Falls where the track has recently been upgraded, although unfortunately the Lyrebird Circuit track was closed by a fallen tree. We saw yellow robins and white-browed scrub wrens along the track. In the river-bed was mudstone containing fossils. The only orchid found was a Pterostylis. The other items of interest were mistletoe berries, maidenhair fern, and Wahlenbergia sp. in flower. The area was popular and we met lots of other walkers. Ranger David spoke to us in the picnic area and offered suggestions for other excursions, offering to lead an excursion if we wished. Those members who attended agreed it was a great day.
15 May, 2005 – Eco-Marine Cruise/Discovery Trip, Westernport Leader – Alison Rogers
On Sunday 15th May, 27 members and two visitors headed to the Westernport Marina in Hastings. We boarded a catamaran and Martin, our Captain, guided us through the mudflats out to the bay. For those worried about rough seas, the water was flat and shiny. So started a great morning with sightings of many water birds (see list) with a special sighting by Graeme Fernandes of a Fairy penguin floating in the water.
At a prime position on the bay Martin lowered the dredge only to come up empty. His second effort came aboard with many goodies to be looked at by members. The contents were emptied into flat plastic tubs where we were able to pick up and examine these new discoveries (see list). After depositing the haul back in its original territory, Martin took us on a quick sightseeing tour of the bay, including the pier and the old submarine near Cribb Point.
Back to the marina and we headed to Jacks Point for lunch at a small reserve located there. A short walk in the afternoon on the boardwalk, adding a few more birds to our list as well as looking at some of the plants growing in the tidal flats along the way.
Comments afterwards indicate this was a popular and appreciated excursion.
18 June, 2005 – Excursion Sherbrooke Leader – Peter Rogers
7.15am on a crisp Saturday morning in June saw fifteen members and one visitor cooking bacon and eggs and drinking coffee to the sounds of the wakening forest at O’Donohues Picnic Ground.
Following breakfast members walked to Sherbrooke Falls and continued around the loop back to O’Donohues. Some members were fortunate to see an antichinus scurry across the track and a wallaby crashing through the understorey. Lyrebirds were elusive but could be heard all around. Again some time was spent examining the abundance of ferns along the tracks as well as identifying two target fungi species. The bird count was not high. Some members remained behind to undertake additional walks and were fortunate to see some Lyrebirds and a close-up of a Whipbird.
17 July, 2004 - Excursion to The Gurdies Leaders - Alan and Hazel Veevers
Thirteen intrepid members braved the threat of horrendous weather conditions to visit the Gurdies Nature Conservation Reserve just off the Bass Highway near Grantville. Despite a heavy morning shower and some very strong afternoon winds, we were amply rewarded by the day’s sightings and activities. Most of the tall eucalypts were Messmate (Eucalyptus obliqua) and Narrow-leaved Peppermint (E. radiata) with a diverse range of flora in the middle and lower stories.
There were some magnificent orchids, especially numerous Cobra Greenhoods (Pterostylis grandiflora) which was a new species for some of the group. A list of species seen is given in the table under Nature Notes.
The damp conditions suited the many fungi that were spotted and much time was spent trying to identify them using, amongst others, Bruce Fuhrer’s book on the topic. Particularly colourful interludes were provided by the Flame Fungus (Clavaria miniata), which really did look like “small tongues of fire amongst ferns and undergrowth in the forest”.
Despite the conditions a good number of birds were seen in the bush. The best sighting came as we left the trees for the track by the top paddock where we were greeted by a pair of Scarlet Robins and a flock of Buff-rumped Thornbills all lined up along the wire fence in front of us. See list for all the birds that were recorded for the day.
We moved to the picnic area near Lang Lang Caravan Park, on Westernport Bay, for lunch where the strong wind provided many challenges during the meal. Afterwards, everyone braved the conditions for a beach walk and we were quickly rewarded with a lovely sight of three Royal Spoonbills trawling along the water’s edge for food, seemingly oblivious to us hardy souls watching them. There was also a group of six Pied Oystercatchers busily feeding on a mud flat and some Australian Shovellers enjoying the offerings in the shallow water just offshore. It was obviously a good place for long-billed birds.
An approaching storm cloud encouraged us to about turn and head back to the cars, which were reached just as the heavens opened. We took the hint and headed home reflecting on a most enjoyable excursion.
13 August, 2005 - Excursion to Glynn's Reserve Leader - Marlene Lyell
As members arrived at the entrance to the reserve they were reassured by signs put up by Marlene directing them inside and down to the meeting area. Immediately we found ourselves surrounded by birds as we had our morning tea, including a pair of Spotted Pardalotes nesting in the roots of a fallen tree. We then set off to explore the reserve which, apart from the abundant wildlife, we had entirely to ourselves. The large eucalypts along the river were alive with various parrots, cockatoos and corellas, all looking for nesting hollows. A mob of grey kangaroos kept a wary eye on us, quietly moving off as we approached. On our second walk, along the entrance road, we picked up a number of the more elusive bush birds, bringing to an end a most enjoyable day.
4 September, 2005 - Excursion to Baluk Willam Flora Reserve Leader - Loris Peggie
A slightly smaller number of members than usual gathered at Courtney’s Road on Father’s Day and had lunch before setting off to hunt for orchids. Loris was able to lead us to localities easily and we were well rewarded. Altogether we identified about fourteen different species, many of them in flower. One of the highlights of the day was a single flower of the Large Tongue Orchid (Cryptostylis subulata). Many other plants were in flower as well, providing colourful displays. Bird observers were also able to put together a substantial bird list. We were fortunate on this occasion that, in spite of recent very inclement weather, we had a fine day.
BARY DOWLING (18-7-1933 – 30-5-2005)
Bary Dowling was a member of the Club for a number of years. He was also a member of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Inc. and a member of the Bird Observers Club of Australia.
Some members may have met Bary on various bush outings or read his regular weekly wildlife column in The Age and could not fail to notice his keen love of natural history in all its forms. Bary’s enquiring mind refused to accept anything at face value and he was always seeking deeper understanding.
Bary joined my regular Wednesday walks several years ago and soon endeared himself to everyone with his sense of humour, kindness and thought-provoking discussions, ie, “Why is it so?” and “Do we really understand fully the processes of this or that?” He was often right, in some cases we did not! He was always willing to support and publicise the work of other naturalists whenever possible.
His enthusiasm on any excursion was contagious and his love for the environment was obvious. He was equally passionate in his concern for some of the things that impact negatively on the natural environment, not just in Australia, but worldwide.
His articles printed in the Age newspaper were painstakingly researched. He had several “gurus” (as he referred to them in his articles) that he walked and talked with as well as many telephone contacts who were knowledgeable or specialists in their field. It was his thoroughness in research as well as his evident delight in new discoveries that made his articles so special. These are articles to keep and file away or display in nature journals.
We shall all miss Bary, as naturalists and writers of his calibre are rare and precious. Our sincere condolences to his family and partner Catherine.
Cecily Falkingham
ADAM GAINES (August 2005)
Just before the Newsletter was going to press, the Club was saddened to learn of the death of long time member Adam Gaines. Many early members will have vivid memories of Adam’s talks on snakes and other reptiles, which he illustrated, not with photographs, but with live specimens, causing much interest and excitement at meetings. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family.
jvc
NATURE NOTES
Plant List - Kinglake National Park - April, 2005Acacia dealbata Lindsaea linearis
Acacia leprosa Lomandra longifolia
Acacia melanoxylon Lomatia ilicifolia
Acacia mucronata Microsorium diversifolium
Acacia verticillata Muellerina eucalyptoides
Acaena novae-zelandiae Olearia argophylla
Adiantum aethiopicum Olearia lirata
Bedfordia arborescens Pandorea pandorana
Blechnum penne-marina? Pimelea axiflora
Brachycome multifida Pittosporum bicolor
Cassinia aculeata Platylobium formosum
Cheilanthes austrotenuifolia Poa sp
Clematis aristata Polystichum proliferum
Coprosma quadrifida Pomaderris aspera
Correa reflexa Prostanthera lasianthos
Cyathea australis Pteridium esculentum
Dianella tasmanica Pterostylis atrans
Epacris impressa Pultenaea gunnii ??
Eucalyptus obliqua Pultenaea scabra
Eucalyptus regnans Rubus parvifolius
Gahnia sieberiana Rubus sp.
Goodenia ovata Spyridium parvifolium
Grammitis billardieri Tetratheca ciliata
Hakea sericea Viola hederacea
Indigofera australis Wahlenbergia sp.
Kunzea ericoides
Eco-Marine Cruise Discovery Trip Westernport May 2005
Marine Life brought up by the dredge
Pistol shrimp (Alpheus villosus) Dead man's fingers (sponge)
Brachiopods Compound ascidium
Sea tulip (Pyura gibbosa) Surf crab (Ovalipes australiensis)
Pencil urchin (Goniocidaris tubaria) Balmain bug (Ibacus alticrenatus)
Golf ball sponge Pale octopus (Octopus pallidus)
Sea spider (Nymphon aequidigitatum) Purple spiny urchin (Centrostephanus rodgersii)
Bird List - Boat Trip
Silver gull Pelican Pied cormorant
Black swan White ibis Pacific gull
Little pied cormorant Raven Chestnut teal
Royal spoonbill Fairy penguin Welcome swallow
White faced heron Intermediate egret Little wattlebird
Little black cormorant 16 species
Bird List - Jack's Beach and Board Walk
Magpie Magpie-lark Noisy miner
Spotted pardalote Red wattlebird Masked lapwing
Black swan White ibis Silver gull
White faced heron White-eared honeyeater Eastern spinebill
Little pied cormorant Welcome swallow Grey thrush
Silvereye Blue wren Yellow robin
White-browed scrub-wren Brown thornbill Grey butcherbird
White-plumed honeyeater 22 species
Sherbrooke (O’Donohue’s Picnic Ground) June, 2005
Fern List
Rough Treefern (Cyathea australis) Soft Treefern (Dicksonia antarctica)
Batswing Fern (Histiopteris incisa) Finger Fern (Grammitis billardieri)
Bracken Fern (Pteridium esculentum) False Bracken (Culcita dubia)
Hard Water Fern (Blechnum wattsii) Soft Water Fern (Blechnum minus)
Fishbone Water Fern(Blechnum nudum) Shield Hare's Foot(Rumohra adiantiformis)
Mother Shield Fern(Polystichum proliferum) Mother Spleenwort(Asplenium bulbiferum)
Shiny Shield Fern (Lastreopsis acuminata) Kangaroo Fern(Microsorium diversifolium)
Common Filmy Fern (Hymenophyllum cupressiforme) Veined Bristle Fern(Polyphlebium venosum)
Shiny Filmy Fern(Hymenophyllum flabellatum) Austral Filmy Fern (Hymenophyllum australis)
King Fern (Todea barbara) Sickle Fern (Pellaea falcata)
Bird List
Kookaburra Magpie Lyrebird
Yellow robin Sulphur-crested cockatoo Pied currawong
Grey thrush White-browed scrub wren Crimson rosella
Spotted pardalote White-throated treecreeper Brown thornbill [12]
FungiMap Target species
Mycena interrupta Stereum ostrea
The Gurdies July 2005
Orchid List
In flower: Leaves only:
Acianthus pusillus (small mosquito orchid) Chiloglottis reflexa (autumn bird orchid)
Pterostylis melagramma (tall greenhood) Chiloglottis valida (common bird orchid)
Pterostylis nutans (nodding greenhood) Cryptostylis leptochila (small tongue orchid)
Pterostylis parviflora (tiny greenhood) Cryptostylis subulata (large tongue orchid)
Pterostylis grandiflora (cobra greenhood) Caladenia robertsonii (purple beard orchid)
Fungi List (T = FungiMap Target)
Dermocybe austrovenuta T Clavaria miniata (Flame fungus)
Trametes versicolor (Rainbow fungus) Tremella mesenterica (Orange jelly fungus)
Russula persanguinea Russula lenkunya
Omphalina chromacea T
Bird List
Australian Wood Duck Australasian Shoveler Little Black Cormorant
White-faced Heron Royal Spoonbill Australian White Ibis
Black-shouldered Kite Pied Oystercatcher Masked Lapwing
Pacific Gull Silver Gull Crimson Rosella
Laughing Kookaburra White-throated Treecreeper Superb Fairy-wren
Spotted Pardalote Buff-rumped Thornbill Brown Thornbill
Red Wattlebird Bell Miner Eastern Spinebill
Scarlet Robin Eastern Yellow Robin Varied Sittella
Golden Whistler Grey Shrike-thrush Grey Fantail
Magpie Lark Australian Magpie Australian Raven
Welcome Swallow 31 species
Bird List – Glynn’s Reserve August 2005
Black Duck Rainbow Lorikeet Long-billed Corella
Eastern Rosella Pied Currawong White-winged Chough
Grey Teal Purple Swamphen Superb Fairy-wren
Kookaburra Spotted Pardalote (pr, n) Black Duck
Little Corella Dusky Moorhen Crimson Rosella
Magpie Little Black Cormorant Red Wattlebird
Magpie-lark Sulphur-crested Cockatoo White-eared Honeyeater
Yellow Robin Masked Lapwing Grey Butcherbird
Raven Grey Fantail Weebill
Galah White-throated Tree-creeper Grey Shrike Thrush
Varied Sitella Yellow-faced Honeyeater Welcome Swallow
White Ibis White-naped Honeyeater Golden Whistler (f)
Wood Duck White-browed Scrubwren Brown Thornbill
Striated Thornbill Bell Miner Noisy Miner 42 species
MEMBERS’ CONSTRIBUTIONS
Bushfire by Margaret Yii
This vast Australian land
Grew so grand,
By adapting to the fire-sticks
Aborigines wielded in their hand.
From orchid bulbs underground
To towering Mountain Ash.
Fire brings them into flower
or liberates their seed cache.
When Caucasians settled in this land
They failed to understand
That nature uses fire
To sculpt and farm the land.
Efforts began
To purge the land
Of fire-stick farming
That dictated its yield.
Australians live in cities and towns
No longer do they camp and roam
Firing land before leaving home
To stimulate growth of leaf and bone.
Catchment waters trapped in dams
To irrigate foreign stock and crops.
Pipe to stagnant populace
And extinguish all rejuvenating flame.
Dry leaves and bark accumulate,
Moist green growth they suffocate.
Nature’s need will not be denied.
Fierce, feral fires will accommodate
If human hands will not.
20-2-2004
[This contribution was prompted by Peter Attiwill’s thought-provoking talk to the Club in April, 2005 in which he referred to the 2003 fire in the Alps and the 2005 Wilson’s Prom. fire as “feral fires” - ed.]
FIELD CARE DAYS - 2005
The Common, Warrandyte State Park Saturday, 23rd July
Participants: Cecily Falkingham, Judith Cooke, Geoff Christensen, Ruth Christensen, Neil Smith, Alan Veevers, Hazel Veevers
Ranger David and his children met us and took us to a new area heavily infested with Smilax, providing plenty of work for us to do. Several hours later the utility was loaded up with lots of bags full of the weed and a delicious morning tea was enjoyed by all.
Hochkins Ridge Reserve, Croydon North, Friday, 19th August
Participants: Judith Cooke, Cecily Falkingham, Reg Falkingham, Ruth Christensen, Alan Veevers, Hazel Veevers
Members met Helen Moss at the Manuela Court entrance to the reserve and commenced work along the southern border. Weeds removed included ivy, blackberries, Sollya, non-indigenous Acacias and Pittosporum undulatum.
As always, the Clubs efforts in assisting to control weeds in our local parks and reserves are very much appreciated.
MEMBERS’ CONSTRIBUTIONS (cont.)
Giant Bridal Creeper on the Loose! Cecily Falkingham
Weed spotters around Victoria are being called into action in the search for a ‘giant’ bridal creeper, a larger than normal variety of the plant that has recentlybeen found in Australia for the first time. Of major concern is this form’s apparent resistance to the rust fungus.
The giant form was discovered near Nelson in south-western Victoria and at Donovan and Port McDonnell in South-eastern South Australia in 2004.
What to Look For It looks very similar to the smaller version at first glance, but it has larger, rounder leaves. Its tubers are much longer at 45cm and are arranged like a rosette around the rhizome.
More Information Ph ((08) 8303 9748 Dennis Gannaway, National Bridal Creeper Management Co-ordinator
From “Under Control” Pest Plant and Animal Management News June 2005
Dates for your Diary
14-16 October - Annual Camp-out, Castlemaine