Yellingbo and surrounds's Journal

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
What a fabulous morning to be outside, walking the tracks of Yellingbo Nature Conservation Area. Great people, a top of 17 deg C expected with sunny blue skies, wet and muddy under our feet, but no wind... We recorded 39 bird species today, with highlights being Grey Goshawks, an Australian Pelican and a Striated Thornbill busily building an advanced nest in a low branch of a Eucalyptus. Two frog species were calling, the Southern Brown Tree Frog and Common Eastern Froglet. No platypus spotted today, but noone came away disappointed. Taking time out to quietly watch the creek was reward in itself :)
A great team effort, thank you!!

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
A fabulous team of Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater citizen science volunteers hit the tracks on two balmy nights last week to survey for nocturnal species in Yellingbo. It was great to see quite a number of moths and other insects buzzing around, a sign of spring warmth coming. Zali, Issy and Zali from our Youth Reference Group took the lead for our frog survey on the 2nd night, with up to 5 species recorded (Common Eastern Froglet, Southern Brown Tree Frog, Striped Marsh Frog - all confirmed, and TBC Whistling Tree Frog and Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog). The whole team recorded 6 mammal species (Common Wombat, Ringtail Possum, Brushtail Possum, Sugar Glider, Yellow-bellied Glider and Swamp Wallaby) and 21 bird species including at least one Tawny Frogmouth and a Southern Boobook heard calling. Plus, some invertebrates, including a land slug species (TBC Milky Slug), and another species hitching the occasional ride - 4 leeches. Although none of us loved the latter, no-one hated them either!! What a joy to be in the bush with people who have so much respect for all species in this special part of the world. A special thank you to Erica, Karin and Amy for taking notes on the species observed. Thank you everyone - a great team effort 🙂

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
It was a cool, overcast start at just 4 degrees, but beautiful blue skies opened up by 11am :)
A team of 7 flora survey volunteers hit the ground running. With thanks to the generosity of a local wholesale nursery, Carawah Nursery, we planted some donated Epacris impressa, then continued on from last month, learning how to ID emerging orchids, then finding and protecting them. Amy had a great find - the first known record of Small Tongue-orchid in Yellingbo Nature Conservation Area, reinforcing why we were doing what we're doing! Some of the orchids were now flowering, so we could confirm those ones as Mayfly Orchids, Common Bird Orchids and Nodding Greenhoods. These orchids will become dormant before upcoming management works begin, so identifying where they are will ensure they don't get disturbed, and unintentionally lost. In amongst the orchids were all sorts of other fabulous plants and fungi, all recorded!
Great job Amy W, Bruce, Rachel, Linda, Robert, Sue B and Sue T!!
Thanks also to Robert for a fabulous raspberry slice, fresh from the oven. We all went back for a 2nd piece - or was that just me?? Thank you Robert 😊💓

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
The vote was 9:10. We retreated to Yellingbo General Store for coffee while the heavy rain band passed, then emerged to a calm, almost warm mid morning to set off on our survey. What a fabulous morning to be outside, walking the tracks of Yellingbo Nature Conservation Area. We recorded 26 bird species today, with highlights being Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Rufous Fantail and a low-soaring raptor that was too quick for us to ID. Three frog species were calling, the Southern Brown Tree Frog, Common Eastern Froglet and Striped Marsh Frog. No platypus spotted today, but no-one came away disappointed. Taking time out to quietly watch the creek was bliss :)
A great team effort, thank you!!