Gooralong Park in Jarrahdale.

 Four KRMB members made the trip to Jarrahdale for a walk in Gooralong Park. On a very pleasant morning we parked the car and set out through Jarrah Forest towards an area that had previously been open for camping. The camp facilities have now been closed and the shower blocks and toilets have been left to deteriorate. At the cam site we spotted Grey Fantails, Australian Magpie and Australian Ringneck Parrots.

We then took a trail that took us through an area that appeared to be regrowth after logging as there were mainly younger trees with only a few mature trees. There were also a few large trees that had died but were still standing. A flock of around twenty Forest Red Tailed Cockatoos were congregated on a couple of these dead trees and we stopped and watched them as they noisily flew between them, briefly settling before taking off again. We continued along the path towards a rocky outcrop over which the Gooralong Creek flowed. Along the way we spotted Splendid Fairy Wrens, Red-capped Parrots and many small birds that we were unable to identify high up amongst the canopy. A Rufous Tree Creeper was spotted with a caterpillar that it had found on the trunk of a small Jarrah near the edge of the track.

At the small waterfall we stopped for a snack and drink and listened to frogs calling along the banks of the creek. The creek at this point is close to private property and a number of weed species were present, most notably Blackberry and Cotton Bush. The latter had attracted Wanderer Butterflies but a search of several plants failed to locate any caterpillars or Chrysalis – perhaps it was a bit late in the season.

Only a few plants were found to be in flower, a climber, Marianthus tenuis, a daisy like flower,  Olearia elaeophila and a Holly Leafed Banksia.  We were also pleased to sight a Scarlet Robin on a low branch alongside the track. We then headed back along the track, passing a number of other groups that were also out enjoying a beautiful Autumn morning. Although only a small number of bird species was sighted and few plants were in flower it had been a very pleasant walk.  Colin Prickett