The August outing was to Sullivan Rock, which is located south east of Jarrahdale in the Monadnocks National Park. Six members plus one visitor met at the picnic area on a beautiful winter morning and made our way across the Albany Highway to commence the walk up Sullivan Rock, one of the many granite outcrops in the area that give the National Park its name. The rock surface exhibited many patches of moss, most of which played host to lichens and fungi. In many the red leaves of Droseras stood out from the green of the moss. There were also twining Droseras, Pale Rainbow (Drosera pallida) many of which were in flower; showing white flowers.
At the top of the rock we found a pool of water around 250mm deep. In the pool were Seed Shrimps and small tadpoles.
Our walk then took us along the track to the intersection with the Bibbulman Track, which we then followed part of the way up the south western slope of Mt Vincent, rewarding us with a magnificent vista over the extensive Jarrah woodlands. We often had to make way for groups of walkers, this being one of the more popular stretches of the Bibbulman for day walks close to Perth.
On the ridges there were some magnificent specimens of grass trees (Xanthorrhoea preissii)
(left, C Prickett), including one at the top of a ridge that had five branches off the main trunk.
Kinga Australis was also present, some with flower spikes starting to emerge.
Along the track there were several smaller shrubs in flower, including two species of Hibbertia (Hibbertia hypericoides and Hibbertia pilosa), Honey Bush (Hakea lissocarpha), Leucopogon capitellatus and Honey Pot Dryandra (Banksia nivea). Several species of Acacia were in flower, not all are native to the area but they do present a wonderful splash of colour at this time of year. Five species of orchid were in flower, Banded Greenhood (Pterostylis vitata), Frog Greenhood (Pterostylis sargentii), Jug Orchid (Pterostylis recurva), Little Pink Fairy (Caladenia reptans subsp. reptans) and Winter Donkey Orchid (Diuris brumalis). Many other orchid leaves were emerging.
Bird sightings included both Spotted and Striated Pardalotes, Grey Fantail, Silvereye, Tree Martins, Grey Shrike Thrush, Grey Currawong, Red Wattlebird, Red-capped Parrot, White-breasted Robin and Carnaby’s Cockatoo. Fan-tailed Cuckoos and Rufous Tree Creepers were heard but not sighted. Jarrah seeds showing evidence of attack by cockatoo beaks were common along the track highlighting the importance of these woodlands as a foraging area for the black cockatoo species.
Invertebrates included several large Dragonflies and spiders.
Ornate Crevice Dragons (right, C Prickett) were active on the rock surface when we returned. They are very well camouflaged, and are difficult to spot until they make a dash for their favoured crack in the rock.
In the stream at the base of Sullivan Rock a Red-thighed froglet was heard calling (a distinctive quack quack call).
After lunch and a cuppa at the picnic area we had a short walk along the roads at the back of the picnic area before reluctantly making our way back to the cars for the trip home. Everyone agreed that it had been a great day.
Colin Prickett