Diario del proyecto Yellingbo and surrounds

23 de febrero de 2024

23/02/24 Bird & Frog survey: Yellingbo

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
After a hot, windy day yesterday that saw a Total Fire Ban declared, we had a mild, overcast morning for our Bird & Frog survey today, with the temperature guage hovering below 20 deg C all morning. We were quite pleased about that :)
Amongst the 46 species of birds and 1 frog species (Striped Marsh Frog) observed, it was the shared, close-up encounters of Wedge-tailed Eagles, Mistletoe birds and Azure Kingfishers that kept us all spellbound. It was a joy to share this special place with students looking to gain some field skills, local landholders keen to learn more about what species are in their patch and those from further afield who are seeking some time away from the urban environment and in nature. Special thanks to Brian for removing the flowering and seeding ivy climbing a majestic Eucalyptus. We rarely see ivy in YNCA, so great job Brian. Let's keep it out!!

Publicado el febrero 23, 2024 05:05 MAÑANA por regnans regnans | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

26 de enero de 2024

21/01/24 Citizen Science & Youth Reference Group social: Yellingbo

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
Regular and new volunteers joined our Citizen Science & Youth Reference Group social kickoff for 2024. We ventured out in the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Area along Woori Yallock Creek, joined by our like-minded neighbours from the Friends of Hoddles Creek. Some of the exciting creatures spotted included a Speckled Orbweaver, Burrowing Crayfish, an Azure Kingfisher, Superb Fairy-wrens, White-necked Herons, a Wedge Tailed Eagle and the mesmerising display of Water Ribbons on the creek. We were also welcomed by the calls of a few Striped Marsh Frogs & the Eastern Banjo Frog.

Publicado el enero 26, 2024 10:01 TARDE por regnans regnans | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

24/01/24 Flora & Insect survey: Yellingbo

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
The dappled shade of mature Eucalypts created an inviting and welcome escape from the day's heat (it reached 32.4 deg C by 1pm) for our Flora survey today.
There's hardly a weed to be seen on this 20ha site, a highly valued legacy of its previous private landowner. Now part of the public estate, we are thankful for the quick response and foresight of the Judith Eardley Save Wildlife Association (JESWA) in purchasing this land and allowing it to be transferred into the public estate, extending the reach of Yellingbo NCA into perpetuity.
Today, we loved seeing the Pale Grass Lily, a previously unknown patch of Small Tongue-orchids, Rosy Hyacinth Orchids (but sadly, many flower spikes were browsed), a stunning pink Coral Fungi, a beautifully marked Red-lined Looper, Slender Devil's Twine looking, Alison observed, like fairy lights in the landscape, Small Grass-trees with their tall flower spikes setting seed and much, much more.
A special thank you to Peter for pulling out one of the few weeds we saw - a Blackberry seedling. We won't let them spoil this fantastic piece of bush!
Many thanks to Lisa, Alison and Peter for sharing some special treats over lunch! 😊💓

Publicado el enero 26, 2024 09:45 TARDE por regnans regnans | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

20 de enero de 2024

18/01/24 Bird & Frog survey: Yellingbo

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
As we set off on our first 2024 Bird & Frog survey, it was just 14.9 deg C at 8am with a wind speed averaging 2 km p/h. We were lucky today, the high winds came after we'd left at 1pm. What crazy summer weather we're having though - 20mm rain yesterday on top of previous heavy rain in January, and the tell-tale flattened grass all along Woori Yallock Creek indicating the bursting of its banks over the past weeks.

To the glorious, constant chorus of Pobblebonks, Striped Marsh Frogs and Laughing Kookaburras, our walk was rewarded with seeing and hearing some fabulous things in this special part of the world. Amongst the highlights were a pair of Gang-gang Cockatoos going into what we think is a nest hollow, two Wedge-tailed Eagles soaring over head with a 3rd calling nearby, a pair of Australasian Grebe's with 2 young, two species of Kingfisher (Azure & Sacred), Satin Bowerbird, Satin Flycatcher, the delicate Angled Lobelia covering the ground, Robert's apple slice 😋 and a Blue Ant which isn't an ant at all (it's a species of Flower Wasp)!

Can you beat taking time out and paying attention to the natural world?

Publicado el enero 20, 2024 04:59 MAÑANA por regnans regnans | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

13 de diciembre de 2023

13/12/23 Bird & Frog survey: Yellingbo

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
At 8am, it was already 25.2 deg C as we set off on our Bird & Frog survey. At 11am, it was 31 deg C and humid. The expected high winds, rain and thunderstorm missed us - phew! - and in fact we were fortunate to have a clear, still morning.

To the occasional calls of Pobblebonks and Striped Marsh Frogs, the highlights were seeing a number of birds collecting nesting material, a Great Fantail taking insects back to its nestlings, a Striated Thornbill sitting on its nest, Rufous and Golden Whistlers, a White-winged Triller, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikes and one of the best Australian bush sounds of all (I think!), the male call and female response of the Eastern Whipbird.
Today we wrapped up our citizen science program for 2023. Great company. Shared learning. Friendships formed. Fabulous birds, plants, frogs and other wildlife seen or heard, and today, shared Christmas cheer! If you celebrate Christmas, have a great one, and may 2024 bring all you wish for.

Publicado el diciembre 13, 2023 08:47 TARDE por regnans regnans | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

06 de diciembre de 2023

06/12/23 Flora & Insect survey: Yellingbo

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
A gentle 2 km/h breeze and rising to 22.5 deg C at midday - perfect morning for our survey!
A couple of the Large Tongue-orchids were in flower, and just the hint of colour in a Rosy Hyacinth Orchid, whilst most were still in bud. Sadly, it wasn't uncommon to see these two species of orchid, plus Flag Lily and Small Grass Tree flower spikes browsed. One feral deer was seen, whilst deer scats were seen through the site. In amongst this however were all sorts of other fabulous things, including Common Brown and Swordgrass Brown Butterflies on the wing, stunning Satin-green Forester Moths, a couple of skinks scurrying, a solitary Red-anther Wallaby Grass (why just one we wondered??), and a Wandering Ghost Spider just newly emerged from its outgrown exoskeleton. What looked like a sea of sedges and grasses, turned out to have loads of hidden gems! Great job everyone!!
Many thanks to Lisa and Robert for sharing their fabulous home-baked Christmas treats! No-one left hungry 😊💓

Publicado el diciembre 6, 2023 07:04 MAÑANA por regnans regnans | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

15 de noviembre de 2023

15/11/23 Bird & Frog survey: Yellingbo

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
The weather was almost perfect - still and mild - as we headed out for our Bird & Frog survey.
We all agreed, Alison & Bruce spotted the 2 species of the day. The stunningly beautiful Azure Kingfisher is not commonly seen in Yellingbo NCA, but today it happily perched a few metres from us, diving for food along the swamp edge. Frogs beware! The White-winged Triller is rarely recorded in YNCA. Today we saw a male, with its striking white and black plumage, feeding in Silver Wattle and Blackwood.
Together, our fabulous team of citizen scientists all contributed to recording 43 bird species, including a family of Australian Shelducks, Shining Bronze-cuckoos, White-necked Herons, Rufous and Golden Whistlers and a Pelican flying overhead. Up to 4 frog species were recorded (Pobblebonk, Striped Marsh Frog, Common Eastern Froglet, and TBC the Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog).
Every time we survey, we learn a little more about the animal species living amongst us, the habitat they are dependent on for survival and the joy that being in the natural world with like-minded people brings. What a great day. Thank you everyone!

Publicado el noviembre 15, 2023 05:25 MAÑANA por regnans regnans | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

11 de noviembre de 2023

10/11/23 Twilight Frog survey with David de Angelis: Yellingbo

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
With the expertise of ecologist David de Angelis, a fabulous team of Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater citizen science and Youth Reference Group volunteers hit the tracks on a still, warm, 28 deg C evening to survey for frogs in Yellingbo. There had been rain in previous days, so there was plenty of moisture in the ground.
The insect life was abundant, with our torches certainly attracting them! Eight of the eleven species of frogs known to have been historically present in YNCA were recorded: Common Eastern Froglet, Eastern Banjo Frog (Southern sub-species), Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog (a relatively new arrival in YNCA), Peron's Tree Frog, Southern Brown Tree Frog, Spotted Marsh Frog, Striped Marsh Frog and Whistling Tree Frog.
Although our focus was frogs, it was lovely to see a Brushtail Possum, Swamp Wallaby and a gang of Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos. Plus, some invertebrates, including a Leopard Slug and our friend the leech - we've become masterful at spotting and removing these before they attach!
What a joy to be in the bush with people who have so much interest and respect for all species in this special part of the world. A special thank you to David for imparting so much of his knowledge to us so willingly. Thank you everyone - a great team effort 🙂

Publicado el noviembre 11, 2023 12:02 MAÑANA por regnans regnans | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

26 de octubre de 2023

25/10/23 Bird & Frog survey: Yellingbo

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
The weather was almost perfect - still and mild - as we headed out for our Bird & Frog survey. In a section of the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Area that is rarely walked we recorded 46 bird species and 3 frog species (Pobblebonk, Striped Marsh Frog and Common Eastern Froglet). The highlights? A great volunteer team with 3 new participants, an expansive wetland with waterbirds everywhere and a number of birds sitting on nests including a Wedge-tailed Eagle. Taking time out to quietly watch a Little Pied Cormorant fishing in the creek was bliss :)
A great team effort, thank you!!

Publicado el octubre 26, 2023 01:15 MAÑANA por regnans regnans | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

23 de octubre de 2023

20/10/23 Twilight survey: Yellingbo

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
A fabulous team of Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater volunteers from our Youth Reference Group and regular citizen science program hit the tracks on a still, warm, 22 deg C night to survey for frogs, birds and nocturnal species in Yellingbo. We were welcomed by a cloud of 1000s of flying ants and other insects on the wing, a sign of spring warmth.
Up to 4 species of frogs were recorded calling (Southern Brown Tree Frog, Striped Marsh Frog - all confirmed, and TBC Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog and Peron's Frog). The team recorded 5 mammal species (Ringtail Possums x3, Brushtail Possums x4, a Sugar Glider, a Swamp Wallaby and Micro bats x2) and 23 bird species including White-necked Heron, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Southern Boobook and Willie Wagtail. Plus, some fabulous invertebrates including 4 different species of Wolf Spider, a large, spectacularly coloured leech, an Emerald Moth, a Social Huntsman Spider, a Ground and Ant-mimic Sac Spider and a Giant Cockroach hitching a ride.
It's pure pleasure sharing this special part of the world with people who find joy and wonder in the natural world. Thank you everyone - a great team effort 🙂

Publicado el octubre 23, 2023 09:16 TARDE por regnans regnans | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario