Botany Nerds Ahoy

... some.. times...
hold on... hold on...

did you see that border force ep with the unicorns?

mm, my best bet would be to google when I stayed in blackers' recommend, and saw totally unicorn prior to a melbs chick group, , we were chatting, the singer smashed my beer.
yep, "totally unicorn swellnet" search will get you there.
playing piano with my son, he's into just simple right hand loops
(like a normal) then chats then bed. back in a bit.
(totally unicorn had a freeeloady mate come into aus fgrom US, with about $2 per day in his pocket,
and acted like an entitled guy, where if he was brown, woulda got laughed at)

blackers wrote:

I"ll give it a crack. Gets cold at night in winter, so to prevent frost damage mebe? Nice fly btw, not like the Marchies we get down here. Bastard feckin creatures

Blackers. Hi, hope your travels are good ones.

Spot on. Hi rates of evapotranspiration ( the sum total of water loss through leaves and stems, in fact any part of the plant) and the plant evolving with that type of stem/leaves set up reduced to scales, windy up there, amazing plant life but a lot of wind. AW.

Griffiths Creek, Kroombit Tops National Park,QLD.

Viola hederacea amongst an entirely intact Microlaena stipoides Weeping Grass sward, very impressive native grassland of around 2 acres.

Epiphytic plant making its climb to the sky.

One of the rice flowers

Tops Lookout, Kroombit Tops National Park, QLD.

Pimelea linifolia

Same March fly, female.

Eurimbula National Park, Agnes/1770, QLD.

River mangrove. Aegiceris corniculatum

Dune Bean Vigna marina

Eurimbula National Park, QLD.

Hypoxis sp. Lily

Goodenia. sp.

Dianella sp.

Grevillea banksii

White and Red morphologies.

Captain Cook Lookout 1770,QLD.

AW quite a few years ago I was having a chat with a bloke who married into a family who owned land along the track going to the Eurimbula Creek campground. He was telling me that the grandfather, or great grandfather, was a timber cutter and purchased roughly a square mile parcel of untouched land that butts up to the creek, you can see the outline clearly marked on some maps. At the time though old grandad never got around to felling any timber so the family now have a parcel of land that is very close to being as it was when Captain Cook and Joseph Banks were anchored at 1770, according to Bank's journal there were native fires in the vicinity when the Endeavour was anchored in the bay. On a satellite view it even appears that there is a different colour and texture to the tree canopy as a lot of that district has been cut over time, even if it doesn't seem so because of the extensive regrowth.

Today there is a small area cleared for a few houses however back when the track was cut in and the houses were being built National Park rangers were consulted first and they had a large say in what timber was to be left standing. Apparently they were finding trees that they've never or very rarely seen in the area, Antarctic Beech is one that sticks in my memory, fairly vague about the others though as the conversation was about 25 years ago. He did say the rangers were pretty excited about what they were seeing. Possibly Red Cedar as well, I know it grows behind the escarpment adjacent to Gladstone so not far away from Eurimbula. It's a really nice area through there, glad you're enjoying it.

How interesting is that, thanks Fliplid

^ just wish I could remember what else he told me was growing there, it was a fair collection of species

Fliplid wrote:

AW quite a few years ago I was having a chat with a bloke who married into a family who owned land along the track going to the Eurimbula Creek campground. He was telling me that the grandfather, or great grandfather, was a timber cutter and purchased roughly a square mile parcel of untouched land that butts up to the creek, you can see the outline clearly marked on some maps. At the time though old grandad never got around to felling any timber so the family now have a parcel of land that is very close to being as it was when Captain Cook and Joseph Banks were anchored at 1770, according to Bank's journal there were native fires in the vicinity when the Endeavour was anchored in the bay. On a satellite view it even appears that there is a different colour and texture to the tree canopy as a lot of that district has been cut over time, even if it doesn't seem so because of the extensive regrowth.

Today there is a small area cleared for a few houses however back when the track was cut in and the houses were being built National Park rangers were consulted first and they had a large say in what timber was to be left standing. Apparently they were finding trees that they've never or very rarely seen in the area, Antarctic Beech is one that sticks in my memory, fairly vague about the others though as the conversation was about 25 years ago. He did say the rangers were pretty excited about what they were seeing. Possibly Red Cedar as well, I know it grows behind the escarpment adjacent to Gladstone so not far away from Eurimbula. It's a really nice area through there, glad you're enjoying it.

Fliplid. Hi mate, thanks for a wonderful synopsis of time and history.

Sorry I didn’t reply last evening, can’t make it past 8pm at the moment.

The Antarctic Beech has piqued my interest.

I spent most of the day in there yesterday, very enjoyable.
I’ll do some follow up investigations regarding the Beech when I return home.

Think I mentioned yesterday, this area is really growing on me.

Swell is slightly bigger today, there’s one guy on a long board at a quaint location south of town.
Just finished a 2 hour bird survey here, very nice species account .
Think I will hang here, high tide is 12.30pm, maybe a wave for me and my twinnie. AW

So nice to see Hibbertia scandens the Snake Vine in natural locales and not just in landscaped gardens.

AlfredWallace wrote:

Fliplid. Hi mate, thanks for a wonderful synopsis of time and history.

Sorry I didn’t reply last evening, can’t make it past 8pm at the moment.

The Antarctic Beech has piqued my interest.

I spent most of the day in there yesterday, very enjoyable.
I’ll do some follow up investigations regarding the Beech when I return home.

Think I mentioned yesterday, this area is really growing on me.

Swell is slightly bigger today, there’s one guy on a long board at a quaint location south of town.
Just finished a 2 hour bird survey here, very nice species account .
Think I will hang here, high tide is 12.30pm, maybe a wave for me and my twinnie. AW

I had a nap under a She-oak on that beach while waiting for the tide to drop a bit one day. I woke up to a very faint noise close by that had me baffled. Think of the screech a cockatoo makes but strip out all the decibels till you get a faint whisper, it was barely audible. When I looked up into the branches, less than 10 feet away there were a couple of Black Cockatoos feasting on the She-oak seeds directly above me and the noise was from them as they fed, sounded like a contented murmuring, a bird purr !

Hope you get a wave

Fliplid wrote:

AW quite a few years ago I was having a chat with a bloke who married into a family who owned land along the track going to the Eurimbula Creek campground. He was telling me that the grandfather, or great grandfather, was a timber cutter and purchased roughly a square mile parcel of untouched land that butts up to the creek, you can see the outline clearly marked on some maps. At the time though old grandad never got around to felling any timber so the family now have a parcel of land that is very close to being as it was when Captain Cook and Joseph Banks were anchored at 1770,

That will be the Rules family. They have lived here and throughout the area a long time, a lot of history.

There are some tracks through Eurimbula to some beautiful hidden spots both on the way to Eurimbula Creek and Middle Creek, but the rangers get pretty angry if they find people in there. The wild pigs are really doing damage all through there also, particularly in the rich rainforest sections. It's really sad that the rangers wanting to throw the book at anyone they catch hunting the pigs and clearing them out, but yet QNP do very little to control them.....

Well worth venturing south through Deepwater NP too AW, as someone eluded to above. Some beautiful spots down that way too.

fitzroy-21 wrote:

Fliplid wrote:

AW quite a few years ago I was having a chat with a bloke who married into a family who owned land along the track going to the Eurimbula Creek campground. He was telling me that the grandfather, or great grandfather, was a timber cutter and purchased roughly a square mile parcel of untouched land that butts up to the creek, you can see the outline clearly marked on some maps. At the time though old grandad never got around to felling any timber so the family now have a parcel of land that is very close to being as it was when Captain Cook and Joseph Banks were anchored at 1770,

That will be the Rules family. They have lived here and throughout the area a long time, a lot of history.

There are some tracks through Eurimbula to some beautiful hidden spots both on the way to Eurimbula Creek and Middle Creek, but the rangers get pretty angry if they find people in there. The wild pigs are really doing damage all through there also, particularly in the rich rainforest sections. It's really sad that the rangers wanting to throw the book at anyone they catch hunting the pigs and clearing them out, but yet QNP do very little to control them.....

Well worth venturing south through Deepwater NP too AW, as someone eluded to above. Some beautiful spots down that way too.

Fitzroy-21. Hi mate.

Thanks for connecting with me whilst I’ve been in your part of Oz, it’s much appreciated.
There more I hear the more I want to know.

I did see clove hoof marks on the mangrove edge near the NW car park.

As I, others and yourself have mentioned, it’s a unique pocket of what was most likely relictual Gondwanan rainforest .

We have to remind ourselves that southern Australia at that time sat at about latitude of 70deg, south.
So there really is every change Beech was in those forests.

The scenario you highlighted is a complete facsimile with us back in Victoria.

Pigs, but mostly Deer are smashing the Otway Forests on the Great Ocean Road, in fact nearly all forests to be honest.
The Brisbane Ranges National Park near me is full of the buggers.

Wetlands I survey on the coast have deer damage, evident on mangroves where the upper woody branches are stripped bare from antler grinding.

Otway Cross Bow hunters who banded together to eliminate the deer, then share the venison are constantly getting in strife with Parks Victoria.

Same syndrome on repeat play.

I’ll try and track down some history about the Rules
Family.

I’ve previously mentioned I did drive into Deepwater NP, I have my ex wifes work 4WD which I picked up from Cairns airport, but it’s a little low to the ground.
The other day when I attempted even in 4WD mode, the sand ruts were very deep and impassable.
If I had my car, no problem.
I’ll have to come back then.

Nice birds today drinking at ‘the springs’ you could say. AW

Everyone with a garden in Rote has a fence around their property otherwise these guys will strip the ground bare . Even where we stay they leap the wall and have to be chased out . Goats everywhere and they don’t mind quickly stepping out in front of you when riding a scooter , at least the cattle are slow moving.

I gave these orchids to a mate in Evans before we left oz . Blooming nicely.

Fliplid wrote:

AlfredWallace wrote:

Fliplid. Hi mate, thanks for a wonderful synopsis of time and history.

Sorry I didn’t reply last evening, can’t make it past 8pm at the moment.

The Antarctic Beech has piqued my interest.

I spent most of the day in there yesterday, very enjoyable.
I’ll do some follow up investigations regarding the Beech when I return home.

Think I mentioned yesterday, this area is really growing on me.

Swell is slightly bigger today, there’s one guy on a long board at a quaint location south of town.
Just finished a 2 hour bird survey here, very nice species account .
Think I will hang here, high tide is 12.30pm, maybe a wave for me and my twinnie. AW

I had a nap under a She-oak on that beach while waiting for the tide to drop a bit one day. I woke up to a very faint noise close by that had me baffled. Think of the screech a cockatoo makes but strip out all the decibels till you get a faint whisper, it was barely audible. When I looked up into the branches, less than 10 feet away there were a couple of Black Cockatoos feasting on the She-oak seeds directly above me and the noise was from them as they fed, sounded like a contented murmuring, a bird purr !

Hope you get a wave

Fliplid. Hi mate. Nice recollections.

I love their chewing chatter.

There’s been four here today, hanging on the Casuarinas. Majestic birds, the Osprey is also here again today.

Very fortunate only two hours ago I saw a couple of White Throated Honeyeaters, very elusive and clandestine with their movements.
Heard one calling otherwise I would have missed out, finally got a viewing, I’ve been here since 5,30am , magical spot. AW

Supafreak wrote:

I gave these orchids to a mate in Evans before we left oz . Blooming nicely.

Supafreak. Hey mate. How’s things ?

Been surfing T-Land or other breaks ?

Goats, bloody motor mowers on legs , eat anything.

Gardens full of Bouganvillea and Plumerias ( Frangipani)

Hot, dry and windy there I’d imagine, as you are east of the Wallace Line.

Climate resembling NW Oz, because that’s where their East trade winds come from, as it’s part of the Australo-Papuan Climate and Geo zone.

I remember those orchids, you posted them as a picture some time ago asking for identification.

Safe travels big fella. AW

Hi AW, sounds like an awesome trip mate.

Any luck with Eastern Ground Parrot calls?

I know they are in the heathland here but I haven't had a chance to try and get a call.

Thanks AW , a few fun ones this morning at T-land before northerlies blew it out, some decent swell finally, not sure how long for as this swell came out of nowhere. I’m enjoying reading what you’ve up too and keep the photos coming. You stay safe too young fella, catch up one day on the rock . Are you still headed for LR next month ? Hope it’s on if you go .

freeride76 wrote:

Hi AW, sounds like an awesome trip mate.

Any luck with Eastern Ground Parrot calls?

I know they are in the heathland here but I haven't had a chance to try and get a call.

Freeride76. Hi mate. Hope you and your family are well.

Having a great time for sure, any day in the field is better than not.

I have done a few nights spotlighting and seeking anything that moves. Plenty of bats, Boobook owls, calling Pittas, Owlet Nightjars and the incessant calling from Eastern/Pacific Koels.

No Eastern Ground Parrots as such, I hope you hear one.

BTW, you could have your own fishing show, so impressed with your catches, what I like the most is that you only catch what you need, I never see a gluttony of fish in your photos, a good exemplar for all.

On a good news bird story, a few days ago a population of about 50 night parrots in WA were discovered by indigenous rangers.
They’ve recently been rediscovered as you know, but it was near on 100 years before the rediscovery, so this is certainly heartwarming news for populations.
They are antiphonal birds which historically has mislead people trying to find them.

(Antiphonal bird calls are when two birds(m&f) are involved, for example Eastern Whipbird, when you hear the call it’s actually two birds)
First instance the first bird calls, the second immediately hears the cue and fires making it sound like one.

How good is that ?

Magpie Larks do something similar, many birds do also. All the best. AW

Supafreak wrote:

Thanks AW , a few fun ones this morning at T-land before northerlies blew it out, some decent swell finally, not sure how long for as this swell came out of nowhere. I’m enjoying reading what you’ve up too and keep the photos coming. You stay safe too young fella, catch up one day on the rock . Are you still headed for LR next month ? Hope it’s on if you go .

Supafreak. Hi mate. You’re killing it over there, good on ya.

As of two days ago my trip to LR has been rescheduled to late April early May.
I can’t elaborate too much , but let’s just say I’ve got a bit of an arrangement with owners, they need some building services, I get a contra deal and everyone is happy. I’m not meant to work in Indo, so they are employing me as a ‘consultant’ so to speak.
They are behind where they wanted to be, simply not ready for me yet .

My trip to Sulawesi, Mollucan Islands and Halmahera is all paid for and confirmed for 2025.
It’s late June for 18 days. (25th from memory)
I’d love to meet you at Tarci Bungalows, ask to leave my board bag with you, come back after my bird trip and if you’re up for it, I will shout you the 12 days accommodation stay at LR as a thank you for holding my boards in a safe place whilst I’m away. AW

I posted some close up photos of Grevillea banksii yesterday.

Here is a few photos of the maturation sizes, very impressive roadside vegetation on the road into Agnes Water.

Always meeting nice friends along the way.

A very good specimen of Jacksonia sp. in the car park here today.

Don’t you love the pea family Fabaceae.

AlfredWallace wrote:

Supafreak wrote:

Thanks AW , a few fun ones this morning at T-land before northerlies blew it out, some decent swell finally, not sure how long for as this swell came out of nowhere. I’m enjoying reading what you’ve up too and keep the photos coming. You stay safe too young fella, catch up one day on the rock . Are you still headed for LR next month ? Hope it’s on if you go .

Supafreak. Hi mate. You’re killing it over there, good on ya.

As of two days ago my trip to LR has been rescheduled to late April early May.
I can’t elaborate too much , but let’s just say I’ve got a bit of an arrangement with owners, they need some building services, I get a contra deal and everyone is happy. I’m not meant to work in Indo, so they are employing me as a ‘consultant’ so to speak.
They are behind where they wanted to be, simply not ready for me yet .

My trip to Sulawesi, Mollucan Islands and Halmahera is all paid for and confirmed for 2025.
It’s late June for 18 days. (25th from memory)
I’d love to meet you at Tarci Bungalows, ask to leave my board bag with you, come back after my bird trip and if you’re up for it, I will shout you the 12 days accommodation stay at LR as a thank you for holding my boards in a safe place whilst I’m away. AW

WOW that is such a generous offer AW , very unexpected but seriously it’s no drama to look after your boards. We can chat about a trip when you rock up , my daughter has school holidays next year from June 21 to July 12th which should be when you finish your bird trip. WOOHOO

Supafreak wrote:

AlfredWallace wrote:

Supafreak wrote:

Thanks AW , a few fun ones this morning at T-land before northerlies blew it out, some decent swell finally, not sure how long for as this swell came out of nowhere. I’m enjoying reading what you’ve up too and keep the photos coming. You stay safe too young fella, catch up one day on the rock . Are you still headed for LR next month ? Hope it’s on if you go .

Supafreak. Hi mate. You’re killing it over there, good on ya.

As of two days ago my trip to LR has been rescheduled to late April early May.
I can’t elaborate too much , but let’s just say I’ve got a bit of an arrangement with owners, they need some building services, I get a contra deal and everyone is happy. I’m not meant to work in Indo, so they are employing me as a ‘consultant’ so to speak.
They are behind where they wanted to be, simply not ready for me yet .

My trip to Sulawesi, Mollucan Islands and Halmahera is all paid for and confirmed for 2025.
It’s late June for 18 days. (25th from memory)
I’d love to meet you at Tarci Bungalows, ask to leave my board bag with you, come back after my bird trip and if you’re up for it, I will shout you the 12 days accommodation stay at LR as a thank you for holding my boards in a safe place whilst I’m away. AW

WOW that is such a generous offer AW , very unexpected but seriously it’s no drama to look after your boards. We can chat about a trip when you rock up , my daughter has school holidays next year from June 21 to July 12th which should be when you finish your bird trip. WOOHOO

Supa. Good stuff . I’ll keep you informed right up to when i arrive in N/Lem. AW