GOLLY WALK: Northern Suburbs Branch, 22 May 2024

Lake Joondalup, just after sunrise, is a meeting spot for birdos, photographers, and those who like to walk and appreciate the serenity of the place—members of the Naturalists’ Club. And we weren’t let down. Although the morning was slightly chilly, the conversation increased as we entered the remnant Banksia woodland on the lake’s western side.

Our first stop was to look at a leaf-curling spider’s home, but we were not able to entice the occupant out. Our next stop was to examine a large shrub that was unfamiliar to several of us: Spearwood (Kunzea glabrescens). Apparently, early settlers used the leaves to make tea.

The lake is edged by an almost continuous forest of paperbarks through which we can get glimpses of the lake and the waterfowl.

Despite the bushland being very close to the lake and the water table being very shallow, the hot summer and dry autumn had taken their toll on many of the mature Firewood and Slender Banksias and a few of the Sheoaks.

Our walk ended at Picnic Cove, where we were able to get an unhindered view of some of the thousands of waterfowl in the lake at the moment. We counted 12 species. The woodland count was pretty good, with 28 species, including an Inland Thornbill and a Western Spinebill. The full list compiled by Ian Abbott and David Taggart is given on page 2.

Don Poynton