ANPS Borrows Burra Burrow

After a couple of weather induced postponements (and, for me, other absences so numerous I was surprised people still recognised me) the ANPS Wednesday Walkers gathered at a property in Western Burra.

I wanted an alliterative title for this post so thought to use the name of the gathering place of intellectuals, movie stars (eg the nice Mr Crowe), leaders of the country (eg Mr Albanese) and movers and shakers of the corporate world  (eg the nice Mr Holmes a Court Jnr) at South Sydney Rugby League matches.  I don't think any of those gentlemen feature in this photo.

A highlight of the visit was the huge old Eucalypts.  This E. meliodora was very close to the cottage.

 Down by the dam was one (or possibly two) of the biggest E. bridgesiana I have ever seen.

 There were relatively few flowers around today, as is to be expected from the time of year.  Ros agreed that this was Wahlenbergia communis.

 This was also a Wahlenbergia but of uncertain specificity,  The swelling is probably a gall rather than just a swollen receptacle.

The next few images are all old favourites, but as they were kind enough to bloom for us, the least I could do was take a snap.

Melichrus urceolatus

 Hibbertia obtusifolia

 Vittadinia cuneata

The higher part of the block was well served in the matter of Allocasuarina verticillata (unfortunately without the attention of Glossy Black-Cockatoos).  The tree is the foreground is a female - those in the background not graced with cones are males.

Some of the male trees did initially appear to have cones, but when looked at closely they were galls, of which this was a pretty fresh example.  Suggestions of some Latin to attach to this would be welcome. ( A Googling suggested Cylindrococcus spiniferus but that has a more cylindrical gall.  Roger Farrow is looking into what these might be.  Watch this space.) 

 Other fruits seen included this Amyema pendula: I have highlighted the non-pendulous central fruit.

 Moving away from plants, an eagle-eyed observer pointed out this fungus.  It is the Arched Earthstar Geastar fornicatum (the specific name translates as meaning "arched" - I cant think of any other possible meaning).

My classic fungi book says these are typically found in arid environments, but the ALA shows at least one record (of the 77 they hold) in the Canberra area.  So a good sighting which has been reported to Fungimap.

This bat was clinging to a wall inside our host's cabin.  I think it is Chalinobolus gouldii.

This shows the ears rather better.

 Talking of eagle-eyed, here is the original.  Obviously a Wedge-tailed eagle.

This image is closer to being in focus and shows the light coloured primaries indicating that its a quite young bird.

 Some sawfly larvae, aka spitfires.

More laid-back larvae identified as those of Delia harpalyce (the Imperial Jezebel) dining on mistletoe leaves, as do the larvae of most species of that genus.

 A female orb spider had stretched her web across the track we wished to follow.  She was also laid back and posed nicely.

 This image doesn't do justice to the steepness of the slope but does show a few of the rocks.

 Here are some more rocks, arranged - apparently by convicts (from the distant past, not the Machonochie lot on day release) - into a wall.