NSB July 2016 Golly Walk
What I advertised as a 45-minute walk on July 27 ended up taking more than double that time, as we found numerous things to look at.
Before the walk began Ann Clarke, co-ordinator of the Friends of Carnaby Reserve, outlined how community-led changes to the positioning of the Mitchell Freeway and the planned housing development resulted in the area being preserved. Ann displayed an impressive collection of photos of the reserve’s flora, printed on white canvas.
Within a few metres of entering the reserve we came across 30 cm tall Greenhood Orchids and 5 cm Snail Orchids. It was too early for the Donkey, Fairy and Spider Orchids which abound in the reserve but Ann led us, in small groups, to a cluster of brown-veined Shell Orchids (below left, D Poynton) which were not visible from the path.
The first part of the walk, where there is a deeper soil cover, was dominated by native ‘buttercups’ along with flowering Catspaw, Pearl Flower, Swan River Myrtle, Daviesia triflora and a large number of white Drosera. Among the taller shrubs we found Prickly Hakea, Pepper-and-Salt and flowering female Dwarf Allocasuarina (above right, D Poynton).
The vegetation changed considerably as we headed up to the limestone ridge. At the beginning of the walk we walked through Sheoak, Banksia, and Christmas trees and even a small stand of Jarrah. As we headed up the ridge the vegetation changed to Parrot Bush, Honeybush, Chenille Honeymyrtle and Grass Trees. In the understorey we spotted yellow Leschenaultia, grey Scaevola, Couch Honeypot (below, Ann Clarke) and Conostylis. 
Unfortunately, many of the Parrot Bushes have died this year due to the dry summer. This is disturbing because, as the name implies, the reserve is a favourite haunt of Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo. Only four of these were sighted. Most of the numerous New Holland Honeyeaters we spotted were also in this area.
When we came across a large Golden Orb Spider’s web, Alex Saar pointed out the size difference between the single female and the three small males.
We finished the walk by inspecting two areas which are being revegetated by direct seeding using seed taken from plants within the reserve. Seedlings from this year’s application have not yet appeared while last year’s seeds are now thriving. The seedlings include Calothamnus quadrifidus, Melaleuca systena, Banksia sessilis, Olearia axillaris and Rhagodia baccata.
Many of us finished the morning by adjourning to the Joondalup Resort for lunch.
And our “Golly, I didn’t know that!” moment? When Alex told us the Canary Islands (he had picked up some Canary Island Palm seeds dropped by Rainbow Lorikeets) were not named after birds but dogs!
Don Poynton