More Spring flowers

When we last visited Shipwreck Creek our orchid expert guests spotted some large leaves that they identified as belonging to Prasophyllum sp. orchids.  Of course it wasn't possible to identify the species without the flowers.  So we took ourselves back there on 24 September to see if the flowers had emerged.  They hadn't but there were a few other things of interest.

The road down there is rapidly becoming somewhat ordinary.  That is a tad worse than "average".  At least Parks had cleared the fallen trees off the road in their section.  On the subject of fallen trees ...

 The information shed was very lucky not to have been hit by the falling branch.  Indeed it was very lucky no-one was using the picnic table at the time.

We saw a few Glossodia minor flowers at the start of the heath area but the images didn't come out well.  Burchardia umbellata (Milkmaids) was much more common than on previous visits.  (The black specks are the anthers.)

 A swathe of Tetratheca sp.

 I have mentioned previously Comesperma volubile, a climbing plant with blue flowers.  In the heath at Shipwreck the purple flowers of C. ericinum are more common.  When looked at closely the structure of the flowers is very similar.

 A bean!  I will go no further than that

 Leptospermum laevigatum was common.  I thought this blossom-covered bush was particularly attractive.

 We found various pink Caladenia sp.  Some were quite large and rated as C. carnea.  There were also some tiny ones such as this.  In view of the size and as the petals look to be rounded with the end of the labellum yellowish green, I believe this to be C. pusilla.

 The biggest excitement was finding two sun orchids (Thelymitra sp.).  This first image gives a view of the white tufts ...

 .. while this angle shows some spots.  I will thus call it T. ixioides.    It is a bit early but our book says they start flowering in late September near the coast.

 A view of the second plant .

 More research was needed on this one but I have concluded it matches Chaemaescilla corymbosa (Blue Stars - certainly apt).

 As we got back to the Melaleuca forest Frances noticed this tall Diuris in an open patch. It was very tall for this genus and ...

.. had an unusual pattern of dark markings, which match well to Diuris orientis.

Spring is sprung

The bush is alive with views of blossom (and other things).  Here are some snaps from the past few days.

Pittosporum undulatum is really hitting its straps on Lakeside Drive!

 I have concluded that this is Caladenia carnea.

I am normally averse to photographing Pomaderris as for 11 months of the year they are very boring plants.  (The criteria for IDing to species level also appear to be an art rather than a science, which excites some folk, but gives me the irrits.)  However when they are in flower they are pretty good to look at such as this P. elliptica, found on the Betka River walk.

 Pultenaea daphnoides

 This caused some grief to me, but Frances quickly nailed it as Comesperma volubile.

 This one was a puzzle also with spiky leaves.  But I eventually decided it was Aotus ericoides (the leaves being a strong hint, together with Joy Greig's comment ".. many stemmed shrub ...".

The next few photos come from a slashed area along Watertrust Rd.  Although it looks awful immediately after slashing this seems to encourage a great display of low plants in the next year or two.  We noticed the flowers along here after birding at the poo pits yesterday, but my camera was acting up (aka trying to be helpful in ways that weren't).  After adjusting some settings I rode back there this morning.

Lets start with some orchids.  Glossodia major.

 A Caladenia - it looked pinker than this in the field so I think C. carnea,

 Having beaten the camera into obedience it really delivers the goods.  A close up of the labellum above

 Lots of Diuris pardina.

 I am confident this is a small tree.  Probably Eucalyptus or Corymbia.  It had been slashed so deserves points for trying.

 As the leaves aren't opposite I don't think its an Angophora.

Stackhousia monogyna

 Euphrasia collina.

When we arrived at the poo pits on 22 September another birder was there and after discussing the denizens of the ponds said that they were on their home, but en-route were calling in to the Captains Creek Trail to inspect Flying Duck orchids reported to them by yet another birder.  Clearly all concerned are more than 'just' birders!

So on 23 September we loaded the shotgun camera and went duck hunting.  We started by finding some beaks: Lyperanthus suavolens the Brown Beak orchid.

 About 5 m further down the Track were the first specimens of Caleana major the Flying Duck orchid.  Some were flying to the right ..

 .. and others to the left.

 Leucopogon ericoides

 Boronia muelleri

 Drosera auriculata

 A sticky leaf iof the sundew with some prey being digested.

 A clump of Comesperma volubile.

 I think this is Ricinocarpos pinifolius.  If so it is a male flower.

 Platylobium parviflorum (?)

 Seed pods of Acacia mucronata (?)

 Epacris obtusifolia

 Platylobium and Tetratheca

Pimelea linifolia

 My best guess, from Joy Greig's book, is Amperea xiphoclada "Broom Spurge".

 We called in at the Information Bay to see what was going on there but the only interesting plant (other than a few Diuris pardina across the road) was this lily: Looking at the books for the South Coast of NSW by Don and Betty Wood, backed up by Flora of Victoria, we now think Thelionema caespitosum!

Reptiles are also around.  The Red-bellied Black Snakes are being a bit quick to hide but the skinks are being more cooperative.

Birds around the wharf

I rode my bike down to the wharf, mainly to turn my legs over after the drive yesterday.

On getting there I was surprised to see the flock of Royal Spoonbills hanging out in the caravan park. A couple more flew in after this, so I think the total count is now up to 16.  They really should be thinking about nesting sometime soon.

 On the other hand, perhaps they are - or should be -  more focused on getting their plumes under control!

 A few vehicles by the wharf seemed to be getting attention from Silver Gulls.

 No sign of Alfred Hitchcock.

There was a recent post about some cygnets at Bastion Point.  I was a bit worried this might have been the family from the vicinity of the Lakeside Lagoon.  However I'm pleaded to say they are both doing OK.