6 December 2023
Due to the unavailability of leaders, the November Golly Walk was postponed to the 6th of December. Ian Abbott and Don Poynton led ten members and one visitor through bushland and then along the coast to a surprise destination for refreshments.
Our walk commenced with Ian leading us along the paths that took us to the top of Melon Hill. Along the way, we passed through typical coastal limestone vegetation, some of which had been planted. Species included Melaleuca huegelii, Melaleuca systena, Myoporum insulare, and Templetonia retusa. Don explained that Honey Myrtle shrubland on limestone ridges of the Swan Coastal Plain had just been declared a Threatened Ecological Community (TEC) under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Obligatory species included Melaleuca huegelii and Melaleuca systena.
As we headed towards the WA Bridge Club HQ, a cluster of bushes with prominent white flowers that from a distance were thought to be Melaleuca cardiophylla turned out to be M. lanceolata. The two have distinctive leaves that are described by their specific epithet – M. cardiophylla having heart-shaped leaves and M. lanceolata having pointed lancelike leaves.
As we walked the path to Swanbourne Beach, we examined several Acacia species and discussed their diagnostic features. After a brief visit to the beach, we walked along the coastal path towards Cottesloe until Don suddenly steered us to the other side of the road and down a slope into a hidden dell, which turned out to be Cottesloe’s Secret Garden. The shady spot was the ideal place to consume the iced watermelon Don had hidden earlier in the morning, although the miniature furniture meant most people had to stand. However, this allowed them to admire the hundreds of children’s playthings that lurked in trees, under bushes, on tables or suspended from limbs. A “Christmas tree” was decorated with discarded children’s dummies instead of baubles. “Golly! I never knew this was here. I must bring my grandchildren,” was frequently heard.
Most of the group then returned to Swanbourne to cap off a very enjoyable walk with morning tea overlooking the ocean at The Shorehouse.
Ian, John Cresp and David Taggart kept the bird record, which amounted to 26 species (refer to the list on page 2..
As we were leaving, John showed a photo of a Domino Cuckoo Bee (Thyreus lugubris) on the flower of an M. huegelii that he had taken during the walk.
Don Poynton
Bird species are listed in the sequence in which we first recorded them. See page 2