Kwinana Rockingham Mandurah Branch

A good turn-out of 12 members plus one visitor attended KRMB’s May 19-21 weekend trip to Dryandra Woodland, with a staggered arrival at the Lions Village, where we had two large cottages booked for two nights. For those of us who arrived early on Saturday there was a lot of bird activity around the village and nearby walk trails. Rufous Tree Creepers were commonly sighted among the Brown Mallet (Eucalyptus astringens) at the start of the Kawana Walk trail leading away from the car park. Jacky Winters were also active in this area and around the cottages, easily recognizable by the twirl of their tail whenever they landed on a branch. Magpies were common throughout the village and we were to discover that they would concentrate whenever we chose to enjoy a meal on the tables at the front of the cottages. Australian Ringnecks and Western Rosellas were spotted foraging on the ground around the cottages. A pair of Grey Currawongs also frequented the village and they were seen to forage in piles of leaf litter, pushing their beaks deep into the heap in search of prey. Scarlet Robins favoured the trees at the back of the cottages where they perched while hunting for insect prey. Also on the hunt for invertebrates was Daniel, who found a nice ant-mimicking jumping spider (Myrmarachne sp.) climbing up his leg. He found it to be mimicking Rhytidoponera sp. ants, which it was doing very well.

After lunch a group of us headed across the paddock to view the large group of Western Grey Kangaroos that were feeding there and to see what other birds were around. We found that the large stands of Mottlecah (Eucalyptus macrocarpa) were in flower, much to the delight of New Holland Honeyeaters and Red Wattlebirds that were feeding on the nectar. On a previous visit we had found Bush Stone Curlews in the shrubbery near the paddocks but none were found (or heard) during our visit. We then walked up to the large dam past the back entry to the village. On the way we heard and then saw a Fan-tailed Cuckoo high up in one of the eucalypts. Western Gerygone and Weebils were active in the canopies of the trees along the track. The dam, though holding a good level of water, did not have any water birds present. Along the track Daniel was busy shaking shrubbery to see what invertebrates would fall into his up-turned umbrella, (he continued his investigations until he left for home on Sunday afternoon). Using this technique enabled him to compile an impressive list of invertebrate species found throughout the weekend. However, some times the insects did not need to be persuaded to make an appearance; a Crane Fly with orange and black banding (Gynoplistia sp.) landed on Anne Bellman and a small Lace Bug from the Tingidae family was found on my sleeve. Insects and spiders found by Daniel include several species from the Psyllidae, a Spined Predatory Stink Bug (Oechalia schellenbergii), nymphs of several species of Leafhopper (Cicadellidae:) and Red Dolophones spiders (Dolophones sp.), For a full list, images and further details of the invertebrates found please refer to KRMB’s project area on BowerBird at the following link: Bowerbird.

After an early dinner we headed to the Barna Mia Sanctuary for a guided nocturnal walk through the predator proof enclosure. After a brief introduction to the sanctuary our guide took us through the enclosure, stopping at three feeding stations that were also set up with seating for guests.

Mala at Barna Mia, C. Prickett

The enclosure contains five marsupial species, Mala (Lagorchestes hirsutus), Bilby (Macrotis lagotis), Quenda (Isodon obesulus), Woylie (Bettongia penicillata), Boodie (Bettongia lesueur) and Marl (Perameles bougainville). At the first feeding station we were treated to close up views of four of these species, with Mala, Woylie, Bilby and Boodie plus a Brush-tailed Possum (that had found its way into the enclosure by climbing over the roof of the information centre) coming out for food and at times hopping around near our feet. The marsupials appeared quite relaxed in our presence thanks to the red spotlights used by the guide and provided us with a unique viewing experience. Near one of the lights along the walk Daniel spotted a Huntsman Spider with a moth it had captured. A Garden Orb Weaver (possibly Eriophora transmarina) was also spotted near the information centre.

Garden Orb Weaver C. Prickett

Arriving back at the Lions Village Bob Goodale shone his head torch over a flowering eucalypt near the cottages and spotted a Brush-tailed Possum feeding on the flowers. The cottage lights attracted many moths that grabbed the attention of some in our group. Most of the moths were small but one species of larger moth was also present – a couple of specimens of the Swift Moth Oxycanus perditus (below, C Prickett) were found early in the morning, one on the cottage wall under a bathroom window and the other on a screen door.

 Unfortunately the one on the screen door became breakfast for one of the hungry magpies. Other moths found included a Black-edged Geometrid (Cycloprorodes melanoxysta) plus two other Geometridae (a Chloricoma sp. and a Chloroclystis sp.). The most common moth found was grey with black stripes but its identification is as yet unknown (possibly Nolidae).

Restless Fly-catcher, C Prickett

Sunday’s activities started with a walk along the Kawana Walk, a 3.3km walk starting opposite our cottages. The walk passes through Brown Mallet (Eucalyptus astringens) woodland, with Dryandra understorey, crossing into Kwongan Heath. Along the walk we added to our bird species, with Western Yellow Robins, Golden Whistler and Purple-crowned Lorikeets spotted. Amongst the Mallet we also found the Bitter Quandong (Santalum murrayanum), a small tree, the upper branches of which droop over, with some specimens forming natural arches over the walk trail. Orb weaving spiders were spotted with leaf-curling spiders (Zygiellinae family) and Golden Orb Weavers (Nephula edulis) common. On one web of a Golden Orb Weaver Daniel pointed out tiny Dew Drop Spiders (Argyrodes sp.) that were hard to see with the naked eye but Daniel’s photos showed the detail of bodies looking like tiny pearls. The Dew Drop Spiders are kleptoparasites, living the webs of larger spiders and helping themselves to insects that are too small for the larger spiders or occasionally stealing one of the larger spider’s victims.

After a quick lunch those of us that were staying for the second night headed off in a three-vehicle convoy on a drive around Dryandra to try and spot Numbats. At the York-Williams Road intersection we took a left turn to visit the Congelin Dam picnic area. There was a lot of bird activity at the dam, with Restless Fly-catchers, Grey Shrike-thrush, Scarlet Robins and Varied Sitellas sighted. These were added to our bird list, taking the total to 30 bird species over the weekend. We also took a walk along the Congelin Siding walk, following the old railway track. We then headed back along Tomingley Road. Our first sighting was not a Numbat but was another termite predator, an Echidna that was walking along the side of the road. After getting some photos we encouraged it to move off the road. We then continued our hunt and as we neared the Lions Village had all but given up hope of seeing a Numbat. We turned off the main road to take the back way into the village and Chris Punter spotted a Numbat close to the roadside just ahead of us. Unfortunately, it moved away as we halted our vehicles, paused for a while on a log a bit further into the woodland and then ran for the cover of some low shrubs. For those in the lead vehicle it was a great sighting but those behind weren’t so fortunate, arriving too late to see it.

After a BBQ dinner, Chris Punter and I set off on a night stalk along the Wandoo Walk close to the village. This walk has reflective signs that help walkers navigate their way around the trail at night – a great initiative by DBCA. Our only marsupial sighting was a Brush-tailed Possum, spotted up in a eucalypt. Wolf spiders (Lycosidae family) were quite common and several specimens were photographed. A study of the photos on the computer showed that they all appeared to be from the same species (as yet unidentified). A few orb weaver spiders were also spotted, including a Garden Orb Weaver (possibly Eriophora transmarina) and a leaf-curling spider with Dew Drop Spiders that really shone like drops of dew in the spotlight. I mentioned them to Daniel later and he said it was the first time he had heard of them on leaf-curling spider webs. On the drive back to the village we spotted another possum on the side of the road plus another on the ground in the village carpark.

On our way out on Monday morning we drove slowly hoping to get another Numbat sighting but sadly we had no such luck. Shortly after turning on to the road to Narrogin we did have a rather sad sighting, a dead Chuditch on the road, hit by a car. Rosalie and Geoff Barritt stopped and removed it from the road and discovered it was a female with a joey in her pouch, also dead. This was a sad way to end an otherwise very enjoyable weekend.

Colin Prickett