Category Archives: Nature Observations

A bit of care, and everyone wins

They’re out: snakes, we mean. Which means: look out. It’s important to be careful when in areas likely to be frequented by snakes, for obvious reasons. This is virtually an annual preoccupation, so, at the risk of repeating ourselves, we … Continue reading

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Spectacular spring this year

It has been a unusual spring both in terms of the abundance of wildflowers and the number of people out there walking and enjoying the bush. Greenhoods have been particularly impressive. This was one of many patches in the bush … Continue reading

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Short video on fungi by Alison Pouliot

Alison Pouliot has given us the link to her terrific new video on fungi. Check it out if you’d like a neat summary of fungi in under 5 minutes from an expert.

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New find in Muckleford Forest!

A small population of a daisy-bush never found in Mount Alexander Shire before (as far as we know) has been discovered in bushland to the north of Newstead. Found growing under Grey Box and Yellow Gum trees, the erect daisy-bush … Continue reading

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OK, it’s not a cascade, but it’s the best we can do…

The gouged and eroded gullies of our region are a heritage of the gold rushes, a time when an unknown quantity of topsoil was lost through deforestation and creeks were scoured for gold. There are a few reminders, however, of … Continue reading

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A couple of ways to stay connected . . .

Andrew Skeoch, is live streaming his morning bushwalks each day on his listening earth FB page – starting 7.30am. Andrew is a well-known environmentalist and nature sound recordist who lives on a large bush block in Strangways. Watching his daily … Continue reading

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Decline or blip?

Most of our readers will be familiar with Geoff Park’s blog, Natural Newstead. If you haven’t read his recent posts on local bird numbers, it’s worth having a look: During the week I paid visits to Rotunda Park and Mia … Continue reading

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And while we’re on the subject, here’s a little reason to slow down

That little blob below is an echidna. We think the pictures speak for themselves.

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Three reasons to visit the Loop and Wewak Tracks

Last Friday walkers came across these unusual flowers near the Loop Track at the southern end of the Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage Park. Frances Cincotta identified the plant as Rosy Baeckea Eurymyrtus ramosissima. According to Ern Perkin’s database it is … Continue reading

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The remarkable world of wild orchids

Newstead Landcare are delighted to present a talk by Emily Noble on ‘The remarkable world of wild orchids’ at 8.00pm on Thursday 21st March at Newstead Community Centre. As the Secretary of the Field Naturalists’ Club of Ballarat, Business Manager … Continue reading

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