Our November excursion was a beach sweep at Shoalwater Bay, Rockingham. It was attended by eight members on a warm but windy morning. Along the footpath down to the beach a large patch of Scaevola crassifolia was in flower, attracting lots of Podalonia tydei suspiciosa Cutworm Wasps, native bees (Amegilla Blue-banded Bees) and honey bees. On the wattles surrounding the car park we spotted Red & black bug nymphs (probably Coleotichus costata), an Ancita sp. Little Wattle Longicorn beetle and tent caterpillars. Many Wanderer Butterflies were spotted.

Not many birds were sighted, those that were present included Pelicans, Silver Gulls, Crested Terns, Turtle Dove, Singing Honeyeater, Little Black Cormorant, Welcome Swallows and Willie Wagtails.

Along the beach Daniel Heald identified Densipora corrugata bryozoan on Amphibolis (Wireweed); Drifts of dried-out Posidonia Seagrass fruit washed up on beach, along with Sargassum seaweed. He was pleased to find a Turban shell (Turbo torquata) that was still alive – he was surprised to learn that the spiral ridge on the operculum is on the outside. Also, that it’s covered in intricate serrations; Hipponix Hoof Snails (live attached to larger gastropods); Calliostoma – Painted Top Shells; Thalotia – Monodont Shells; Spirula spirula Ramshorn Squid shells; any number of tiny pipis, abalone, cuttlebones, and assorted other molluscs.

The flowering plants in the dunes were Scaevola crassifolia, several good bushes of Alyxia buxifolia, (Camel Bush), flowering and with lots of fruit, (Anne Bellman commented that it was more than she had usually seen). The Coast Sword sedge, Lepidosperma gladiatum was also in flower. Anne also commented that it was bad luck to see so much Brazilian Pepper in the dunes.

 Colin Prickett