Northern Suburbs Branch – 25 September 2024
GOLLY, how did we get lost so quickly?
Soon after starting along the 10th Lighthorse Heritage Trail, we took a wrong turn, so we had to cut through the bush to find the path leading to the Yaberoo-Budjara Heritage Trail. Thank goodness for mobile phones and Google Maps.
Once on the right track, we were able to observe quite a few native plants in flower, although not as diverse as further along the track. Among the plants were False Boronia, Milkmaids, Pixie-mops, Golden Long-heads (Podotheca gnaphalioides), Stinkwood and two Triggerplants.
Many bushes were covered with Common Clematis (Clematis pubescens), and several of us working in the nearby coastal reserves noted how much larger the flowers were than those of the coastal species, Slender Clematis (Clematis linearifolia).
Numerous bushes of another coastal species, the Coast Hop-Bush (Dodonea aptera), were not in flower but were noticeable along the track due to their shiny green leaves. There were numerous bushes of another coastal species.
Our most interesting observation for the morning was an Acacia with clusters of finger-shaped galls about 60mm in length. Many had a small hole where an insect had emerged. On close inspection, it was obvious the hole had been eaten from the inside of the gall. Some holes still contained the pupal casing, which was left behind when the insect emerged. Intact galls, when split open, were found to contain a single grub about 4-5mm in length. The gall has yet to be identified.
As we neared the intersection with the Yaberoo-Budjara trail, we began to see Cowslip Orchids and, after some searching, found a few Rabbit Orchids, one White Spider Orchid, and one Purple Enamel Orchid. However, there was no trace of the Blue China and Carousel Orchids that had been there a couple of weeks earlier.
We were lucky enough to have a Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa kershawi) pose long enough for people to photograph it, while the numerous ants we found weren’t so cooperative.
It was surprising how few birds we saw or heard, given that we were in mixed Jarrah and Tuart woodland. However, before we commenced our walk, a pair of Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos flew overhead.
We ended the morning by having morning tea on the property of the late Alan and Johanna Notley. Daughter Mia (aka Miriam) met us and showed us around the 2.5 hectares of bush, which she will sell soon. Wouldn’t it make a great retreat for the club? While we found a few orchids on the Notley property, the large number of Purple Enamel Orchids across the road, including over 20 in one patch of a couple of square metres, had us snapping wildly.
Don Poynton
All images Don Poynton