Botany Nerds Ahoy

wax24 wrote:

Hey Seeds.... i know this a a flora thread and not fauna, but how do koalas act towards humans?

Wax24. Hi mate. No problem at all, we like to think it’s all things biological, post any relative topic or subject.
We’d love some Nth.American content. AW

GreenJam wrote:

g'day AW and seeds, and any others interested in Magnetic Island...

well, maybe I can call it 'Maggie' now - feeling very much at home here after just 2 days. It looks/feels like an awesome place. A bushwalker's and beachlover's paradise. I fled north mainly to escape winter, so that is definitely ticked off here. Been very mild - 16 or 17 overnight, days reaching about 26-27, not a cloud in the sky, the body is feeling very comfortable. That recent cold snap did reach up here though - was about 11 in Townsville the other morning....

anyway, botany observations - I love my dry rainforest/hoop pine scrub type communities/species, and this place has variations of that. Mostly euc woodlands, but the 'scrub' species scattered all throughout, and including emergent hoop's just about anywhere they get a hold in amongst the boulders. Lots of figs (I believe rock figs - Ficus rubignosa) growing on/out of massive boulders - it's a good look! And everything is a bit stunted, given the shallow/rocky soils, which also gives much of the landscape a bit of a 'large bonsia'd look'. Overall, it's got a really mixed/mashed up forest look about it - that's my opinion of it. More to learn on the native ecosystems... Going to try to hook up with the local landcare/coastcare groups and the 'nature care association' - no doubt will be some good knowledge amongst them.

and many very impressive banyan figs along the coastal strips/town areas. Massive spreading shady things.

and thanks seeds - I'm staying just behind Alma Beach - just had a swim a couple of hours ago. And heading over to Arthur and Florence bays later this arvo. Walked up to the Forts junction at dawn this morning, no koalas sighted, but saw 1 yesterday. Plenty of birdlife. Curlews in abundance, so plenty of screaming at night. And havent worked out what it is yet, maybe the local version of the scrub turkey, looks a bit of a cross between a moorhen and turkey, doing the scratching work turkeys do in our southern parts.

anyway, much more to explore and learn. I'll check back in with anything of interest. Sorry no photos, I havent attempted that on these forums yet...

Greenjam. Hi.
Sounds like you’re fully immersed in island life already. Good stuff.
Glad you’re enjoying the weather and a bit of time off.

Your mystery bird.
Do they have orange legs ? Most likely, Orange- Footed Scrubfowl, a.k.a. Orange-Footed Megapodes.
They call a lot, daily and nightly, always cross checking where all members of their family and community are located.
Part of a very old lineage of avian diversity. AW

Birds, eh?

seeds wrote:

Back to the Curlews. I’ve always loved the numbers of them on Maggie. It’s a treat at night with their almost blood curdling screams.

Seeds. Hi fella. Curlews are definitely one of my favourite bird of the tropics.

The wailing, especially overnight or on dusk. Many a tourist has approached me whilst wearing binoculars in the tropics, they always ask, What’s that noise overnight that sometimes sounds like a female is being murdered ?
They often remark that they got no sleep as well.

One of the great sounds of the Australian NE tropics . AW

stunet wrote:

Birds, eh?

Stu. Hi, hope you well.

Not the full two Bob ol’ Matt.

Any out of the ordinary or notable birds or birdlife in your area of the Illawarra?
AW.

seeds wrote:

Their screams put me to sleep. Very comforting. Was surprised about 3 years ago stayed at a place Indo used to work at on K’gari and there were 3 there. I’ve never seen them that far south.

Seeds. I love them, they are very social, very easy to photograph, you can get very close.
Bush Stone Curlews believe it or not are actually a type of shorebird.
They extend way inland, huge irruptions on The Atherton Tableland, always big numbers in Cairns, Yorkeys Knob and all those tropical beach areas.
Right across the Top End into WA and as far south and just below Perth.
You might be interested to know their distribution extends way down south just to as far as Sydney.
Their range into the interior is extending regularly. AW

seeds wrote:

Sydney? You’re shitting me! Can’t be that many, surely.

No shitting here. They even occur north of the divide in Victoria and up along the Murray, Swan Hill, Mildura , West NSW etc.

Completely off topic.
Fahrenheit 451, the movie, if you know the theme. They are on their way Bozo. AW

seeds wrote:

Ha
I await my Aust Post app update

There’s something in there , that would show you the Bush Stone Curlews distribution. I tell no more. AW

seeds wrote:

Nice. It’s like Xmas. I took a delivery from Tiger last weekend. Then on Monday the Patagonia wettie that today vacuumed sealed my body like a pickled pork with walnuts. I await basesix’s mail bomb. And Tubeshooter never showed up.

Well, you’re a good fella, always up for an engaging discussion and always interested. Good things happen to good folk.

Your Tiger boards have been great to follow here.

I received a couple of days ago a 6’6” Eric Arakawa single flyer rounded pin twinnie. Can’t wait to ride it in some size. Don’t you love beautiful hand crafted boards.

Ohh. Just had a vision of your wetsuit sculpting, not good, I just ate also. AW

seeds wrote:

Nice. It’s like Xmas. I took a delivery from Tiger last weekend. Then on Monday the Patagonia wettie that today vacuumed sealed my body like a pickled pork with walnuts. I await basesix’s mail bomb. And Tubeshooter never showed up.

Yeah, sorry about that Seeds. I wrote the wrong house number down.
The elderly couple down the road weren't too happy to find me on their lounge in my undies drinking the old fellas home brew and I had to leave town pretty smartly.

Agree on the soothing sounds of curlews at night.
Throw in a few plovers too.

well, I didn't write down your address @seeds, so I flicked an email to tubeshooter to get it.. the old couple down the road will be getting a coorong book and a dub of skunk arriving soon.. should make up for @ts's shenanigans..

seeds wrote:

Haha that’s funny. Thanks. Fully clothed you might of got a cuppa and a scone.

Lovely couple though.
I think what upset him the most is that his wife didn't seem to have a problem with it, which scared me more than he did.

yes seeds, on a roadtrip, the winter escape. The body really isnt liking the cold anymore, I've known it for years, so this year I finally stopped talking about it and fled. Left last Friday, will likely get back home around end of August. Took a few days to get up here - overnights in Yeppoon (Farnborough Beach), Mackay (Bucasia Beach), then Townsville (right on the Ross River). Maggie is the first of a number of extended stays - a week here (and already feeling I should have made it a month!), 5 or so in the rainforest on Babinda Creek, a couple at Kurrimine Beach, and about a week each at Forrest Beach, Ball Bay (Cape Hillsborough) and Agnes as I make my way back home. Still working several days/week, and exploring the areas a bit. Hopefully a smooth journey...

and yes AW, that's the bird, the scrubfowl. Confirmed it yesterday, then was talking about it this morning with a coastcare weeder I ran into in the dunes. It was a good chat, getting the lowdown on the local weed issues and bush rehab work. I was on my way to check out a small patch of remnant rare/threatened coastal vine scrub just behind the beach down the road a bit, and she mentioned they've got a working bee there tomorrow morning, so I'll join them for a bit, and no doubt meet some more local botany knowledge holders. She (the coastcare weeder) also says she has a book on the island's geology she can give me - so there is also that extra enticement. Love a bit of geology...

and obviously no surf here, but the stunning beaches/bays... got out on the SUP at crack of dawn this morning for a paddle up the coast a bit, was beautiful, plenty of sea bird life (including an Osprey pretty close), and a turtle popped up to say hello towards the end. Great start to the day, will be repeating that in the days ahead.

and all the talk of the birds, well I've noticed there's also plenty of other pretty birdlife here, if only I still had some partying backpacker days in me...

seeds wrote:

GJ on your way north from Townsville check out Little Crystal Creek and Big Crystal Creek/Paradise swimming hole. It’s half way to Ingham.

That brings back memories, we camped there on our way down the coast from Cairns with the kids. Got it to ourselves as a storm rolled in. Beautiful place.

seeds wrote:

Pics of the Eric Alfred?

Seeds. Hi mate.
Will do (take photos) on Saturday morning, I’ve been departing home in the dark and returning home in the dark, gotta a little deck and roofed pergola job on thats almost finished.
All the best. AW

We only found the ones close by, didn't really get to explore. A swim after hours on the road was needed, quick cook up then hide from the storm. We left early the next day but still remember it.

thanks seeds, will try to get there. Have been there before many years ago and recall it being a great spot. Paluma on a stinking hot/humid summer's day was a big relief

AW

Thought this chat better here .

I checked on google and the Bird I saw was a Yellow Billed Blue Magpie .

The Male was over a meter long with a colourful tail , half it's length .

Female had a normal bird tail , cute !

Like all animals in Bhutan , not scared of humans much and a smart scavenger imho .

They have That , Look !

Lots of Moss , Lichen and Ferns covering most stuff .

And Strange Bugs and Insects .

Dun Beatles rolling shit uphill 2 .

Hemlock wood is beautiful .

I have mentioned the Cobra Plant .

A very interesting place that U and seeds would love .

I love the people .

Devine Madness wrote:

AW

Thought this chat better here .

I checked on google and the Bird I saw was a Yellow Billed Blue Magpie .

The Male was over a meter long with a colourful tail , half it's length .

Female had a normal bird tail , cute !

Like all animals in Bhutan , not scared of humans much and a smart scavenger imho .

They have That , Look !

Lots of Moss , Lichen and Ferns covering most stuff .

And Strange Bugs and Insects .

Dun Beatles rolling shit uphill 2 .

Hemlock wood is beautiful .

I have mentioned the Cobra Plant .

A very interesting place that U and seeds would love .

I love the people .

Devine. Madness.

Hope ya trip is going well (and I don’t mean mushies).

That male bird is awesome with its long tail.

Hemlock Wood is a North American tree.

Problem with common names,
Bhutanese may call it Hemlock Wood and it may be an entirely different conifer. AW

seeds wrote:

One day Pop. Sounds like a Devine place to visit.

I was down the back yard today dumping some green waste when I noticed some new culms seem to have reached full height and had started to leaf. Probably 60ft guesstimating. I planted this at 2 foot high.

Seeds. Hi mate. Wow, that’s impressive, some kind of growth.

That second photo with the beaming light passing through the culms looks like some Devine Intervention , don’t tell me Optimist is pulling a few strings. Good stuff. AW

AW

I think Seed's Stand has a bit of a buddha belly and looks very happy !

Almost Jack and the bloody Beanstalk material , nearly .

Not sure what Seeds is using 2 grow Stuff , but bag it imho !

careful, Buddha will come...

- you only lose what you cling to ;)

Devine Madness wrote:

AW

I think Seed's Stand has a bit of a buddha belly and looks very happy !

Almost Jack and the bloody Beanstalk material , nearly .

Not sure what Seeds is using 2 grow Stuff , but bag it imho !

Devine Madman

I’m not sure Seeds is ever going to divulge what he’s growing up in those high field rises.
Bit of a jungle for a reason I’d surmise. I’m green with envy.AW

We all know what seeds is growing lol ;)

ashsam wrote:

We all know what seeds is growing lol ;)

Ashsam. Hi.

I think you’ll find the correct grammar is ‘We all know what seeds are growing’.

He hasn’t told us, I don’t know , I’d presume. tomatoes, capsicum, lettuce, basil, coriander etc.

Play on words. AW

Seeds. Hi fella. Go to your local P.O today, it’s arriving.AW