Friends of the Box-Ironbark Forests

The biggest group of the year fronted grey skies and damp forecasts for FOBIF’s September walk in the Muckleford Nature Conservation Reserve yesterday. There was no lounging around in the sun, but walkers were rewarded with an experience of this forest in its best condition for years. From slime moulds to Gnat Orchids, battalions of Greenhoods and other orchids, oceans of flowering wattle and numerous wildflowers, the bush put its best foot forward. Walk leader Geoff Neville kept a leisurely pace on a ramble from the Red White and Blue Mine to Dunns Reef  and back via an undulating off track route which showed the best of what this corner can offer.

Little orange fungi with old Ironbark flowers. Photo Frances Cincotta

Our thanks to Geoff,  who even managed to bring the group back to its starting point just as the downpours started to get under way.

Here’s a rough list of stuff observed along the way, supplied by Frances Cincotta:

7 species of orchids:

Dwarf, Nodding and Tall Greenhoods, Blue Caladenia, Leopard Orchids, Gnat Orchids and Pink Fingers.

5 species of wattle:

Thin-leaf Wattle, Gold-dust Wattle, Rough Wattle, Golden Wattle, and Spreading Wattle

Also; Purple Coral-pea, Yam Daisy/Myrnong, Early Nancies (or Ladies and Gentlemen), White Marianth, Gorse Bitter-pea, Pink Bells, …

And here’s a list of birds seen or heard on the walk, supplied by Euan Moore:

-Pacific Black Duck
– Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo
– Little Pied Cormorant
– White-throated Treecreeper
– Fuscous Honeyeater
– White-naped Honeyeater
– Black-chinned Honeyeater
– Spotted Pardalote
– Striated Pardalote
– Buff-rumped Thornbill
– Striated Thornbill
– Weebill
– Black-faced Cuckooshrike
– Gray Shrike thrush
– Olive-backed Oriole
– White-winged Chough
– Little Raven
– Mistletoebird

Next month’s walk is in the Fryers Forest. Check the program for details.

This Sunday’s 5 km walk will be in the Muckleford Forest. The walk will be leisurely with plenty of time to look at wildflowers including the many orchids that will be flowering now. We will be meeting at the Community House at 9.30 am or the Red White and Blue Mine at 9.50 am. Contact Geoff Nevill  0490 483 869 for more information.