Random Natural History

This post is a selection of photos and witterings about recent sightings in te Mallacoota area.  It begins in Gipsy Point cemetery, which we visited briefly on the way back from Canberra.

When we visited the Cemetery with the Mallacoota and District Historical Society there was some commentary about the "bloody orchids".  This followed a comment about how good it was that much of the site was not mowed during orchid flowering season.  The speaker explained that the late Alan Peisley - a trustee of the Cemetery, who spent a lifetime studying orchids - considered that the orchids needed the open habitat provided by mowing.  (That is supported by the great display currently, near the Gun Club.)  The key point is to avoid doing this in Spring!

On our visit (28/9) there were a good crop of Glossodia major, several Diuris pardina, and quite a few buds of Thelymitra sp.  The big deal was a flower of Caleana minor, the Little Flying Duck Orchid.

An orchid expert friend has pointed out that as the labellum os folded  against the column the flower has probably been pollinated.  The ID was assisted by the red leaf. 

On the 29th we saw an Australian White Ibis taking breakfast.  The eel would probably have preferred it to be raiding garbage bins.

Along the bike path there was an impressive clump of Kennedia prostrata  (aka Running Postman).

For some reason I have always pronounced the genus name as Ken-needier.  A friend prefers  - I now think correctly- Kennedy-ugh.  Whatever, it's pretty in close up.

The Melaleuca armilaris is hitting its straps.

It is a very low tide at present which exposes a lot of interesting marine life in the pools at Bastion Point.  On this large rock I counted 36 Shield limpets (plus 3 Abalone).

An interesting Brittle Star with about 10 arms.

One of a pair of Sooty Oystercatchers.

On the 30th there was a fall of virga, leading to an aerial rainbow over Karbeethong.  No reports of pots of gold have been received thus far.