Dust and rain … but just a drop

What a wonderful response to yesterday’s brilliant story by Patrick Kavanagh.

I was heartened to see the beautiful images of small birds, especially the Speckled Warbler – a shared favourite. While recent weather has been taxing for humans, it is likewise for the birds and to see evidence of their local persistence ‘made my day’.

Yesterday at about 5pm a dramatic dust-storm rolled over Newstead from the north-west, racing ahead of a band of thunderstorms that left a grand total of 2mm in town. Other places in the region fared better … but the drought still grips.

Click on the panoramic image below for a landscape view of yesterday’s storm.

Dust storm over the Moolort Plains, 30th January 2019

A promise of gold

Over the past few days the first blooms of Golden Wattle have tentatively appeared in the local bush. Travelling back from the Grampians towards Maryborough yesterday I noted quite a display of gold that hadn’t been there a few days earlier – it appears that flowering is slightly ahead over there, as it is further north. The first Golden Wattle flowers usually appear after the shortest day – the bush will be transformed to gold in coming weeks.

This area near Box Track will be transformed to gold in coming weeks

Golden Wattle, Box Track Muckleford State Forest, 4th July 2016

Golden Wattle flower buds

Golden Wattle flowers at Newstead

Blue and gold

Even in winter, if you look hard enough, the colour on offer in our local bush is extraordinary.

Male Superb Fairy-wren, Strangways, 18th July 2015.

Golden Wattle – the first blooms that I’ve spotted this winter.

Brilliance in winter.

Male Spotted Pardalote.

Inquisitive as usual.

Chasing insects amongst the Red Box foliage.

A stunning bud burst

by Patrick Kavanagh

We recently sighted the first Golden Wattle Acacia pycnantha on our place to burst into flower for the season. Always a stunning and joyful vision! It prompted me to train the high power macro lens on the erupting flower buds to see how the process works. I was amazed when someone pointed out to me the tiny insects on the bud at the earliest stage of flowering. How many can you count? I have also been fascinated by the marvelous shapes of the still-budding Spreading Wattles Acacia genistifolia so I’ve included a few more high magnification shots of these.

Golden Wattle buds at bursting point, Strangways, June 30th 2015

Look closely for the tiny insects on the surface of the buds.

A great sight in mid winter!

Spreading Wattle buds opening.

Beauty in miniature.

Farewell to autumn

This ‘pair’ of adult rosellas, a Crimson and an Eastern Rosella are one of a number of mixed pairs currently flying together around town. In my experience this happens more frequently in urbanised environments than it does elsewhere – I wonder if anyone has done a study? The Crimson Rosella is a bird of woodland and forest, while the Eastern generally prefers more open country.

Crimson Rosella feeding on Viburnum, Wyndham Street Newstead, 30th May 2015.

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Its mate, an adult Eastern Rosella, feeding nearby.

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III

Autumn abundance

2015 looks like a grand season for Grey Box. After a light flowering in 2014, there is an abundance of blossom on many district trees as autumn unfolds.

The rich aroma smells wonderful on these cool mornings.

Grey Box in flower, Joyce’s Creek, 9th March 2015.

Grey Box flowers.

Grey Box buds … and a few recently opened flowers.

A bountiful supply of autumn nectar and pollen.

Six seasons – not four!

A journey through the six seasons of the Wombat Forest

A Newstead Landcare presentation by Tanya Loos at the Newstead Community Centre, Thursday Oct 16^th at 8pm.

Who says the first day of Winter is on June 1? Indigenous people around the world and here in Australia mark the seasons through the weather patterns, and the behaviour of flora and fauna. Inspired by this, naturalist Tanya Loos has created a six season calendar for the Wombat Forest region.

Tanya is a nature columnist for the Hepburn Advocate, and in 2013, published a book called Daylesford Nature Diary; six seasons in the foothill forests www.daylesfordnaturediary.com

The six seasons of the Wombat Forest.

Tanya will share how she used ten years of nature journal observations to adapt the Yarra Timelines calendar to the Wombat Forest area. If you like the idea of marking the seasons by such things as the arrival of spring migrants, or fabulous fruiting fungi – do come along.

Tanya is a very skilled ornithologist, field naturalist and writer and is a fantastic presenter into the bargain! She is currently ‘Habitat for Bush Birds’ Project Coordinator with Connecting Country.

So don’t miss this great night and let all your friends know about it. The presentation starts at 8pm at Newstead Community Centre on Thursday Oct 16^th and will go for one hour. It will be followed by our very brief AGM and a light supper. Gold coin donations would be appreciated. Tanya will also have copies of her book for sale.

True Spring.

 

The end of winter

It feels like it’s been a cold winter – the warmth of early spring is just around the corner. I’m looking forward to the arrival of woodswallows, rainbow birds and a kingfisher or two along the Loddon.

In the meantime, here is a selection of images from yesterday, to mark the change of season.

Masked Lapwing, Codrington Street Newstead, 30th August 2014.

Crested Pigeon – an aerial view.

Crimson Rosellas are nesting in hollows in our local elms at the moment.

Horsfield’s Bronze-cuckoos have been calling enthusiastically over the past week … even in the middle of the night.

It’s orchid time … again

It’s early Spring, with just a touch more warmth than we’ve experienced since late May.

In the bush the first of the wildflowers are starting to appear, including the orchids. Cyanicula caerulea used to be Caladenia caerulea, but a change of scientific name means that this is now the only species in this family to be found in the eastern states. The remaining members, about a dozen in all, are restricted to Western Australia. This lovely orchid is still commonly known as the Blue Caladenia, in a nod to past nomenclature.

Blue Caladenia, Spring Hill Track, 19th August 2014.

A flowering Cyanicula caerulea, with two unopened flowers in the background.

Leopard Orchids Diuris pardina appear to be flowering a little earlier this year than the past few years – somewhat surprising as it seems to have been a bitterly cold winter.

The first of the Leopard Orchids have arrived a little earlier this season.

Early Nancy Wurmbea dioica really is a harbinger of Spring – its been flowering for a few weeks now and will continue to do so until late September.

Early Nancy, Spring Hill Track, 19th August 2014.

Coming, going … staying!

It’s a time of transition in our woodlands.

Flame Robins are looking south towards spring nesting sites at higher altitudes …

Flame Robin, Muckleford Gorge, 4th August 2014.

… while cuckoos have arrived in force over the past week – a Fan-tailed Cuckoo calling in town last evening, and both Horsfields and Shining Bronze-cuckoos at Muckleford Gorge this afternoon.

Shining Bronze-cuckoo with cup-moth larva.

Meanwhile the stay-at-homes, Hooded Robins and Jacky Winters, are getting ready for spring breeding.

Hooded Robin pair at Muckleford Gorge.

Jacky Winter, Muckleford Gorge, 4th August 2014.