On the 7th of February, Janet Stein showed a group of 15 field naturalists a surprisingly diverse patch of bushland at Dryandra St., O’Connor. It is sandwiched between three main roads, and until recently had been long-neglected.
We spent more than two hours there on pleasant summer morning. It was warm enough for insect activity, but not too hot for bird activity.
There were stands of Eucalyptus mannifera at the start of the walk, which gave way to E. rossii and then E. marchrorhynca as aspect changed. Mid-storey was dominated by acacias. In the lower landscape we followed a creek line where a few Crinia signifiera (Common Eastern Froglet) were calling.
Goodenia hederacea (Ivy Goodenia) was in flower, as were a few Dillwynia phylicoides (Parrot-pea), and where there was no canopy cover, Xerochrysum viscosum (Sticky Everlasting) and Chrysocephalum apiculatum (Common Everlasting) daisies were flowering in profusion. Also, some Einadia nutans (Climbing Saltbush) were seen bearing small red fruit.
Claudia provided a special highlight by pointing out a likely Indigenous marker tree. It was an old E. rossii with two branches that had been fused together when they were young.
The species observed on the day are listed below. They are a small subset of those documented on Canberra Nature Map:
https://canberra.naturemapr.org/locations/sightings/10459
– John Stein
SPECIES LIST
PLANTS
Local native:
Acacia buxifolia subsp. buxifolia (Box-leaf Wattle)
Acacia genistifolia (Early Wattle)
Acacia mearnsii (Black Wattle)
Acacia sp hybrid (baileyana x mearnsii?)
Cassinia longifolia (Shiny Cassinia, Cauliflower Bush)
Cassinia quinquefaria (Rosemary Cassinia)
Cassinia sifton (Sifton Bush, Chinese Shrub)
Cassytha sp. (Dodder)
Cheilanthes sieberi (Rock Fern)
Chloris truncata (Windmill Grass)
Chrysocephalum apiculatum (Common Everlasting)
Coronidium oxylepis subsp. lanatum (Woolly Pointed Everlasting)
Daviesia mimosoides (Bitter Pea)
Dianella revoluta var. revoluta (Black-Anther Flax Lily)
Dillwynia phylicoides (Parrot-pea)
Einadia nutans (Climbing Saltbush)
Eucalyptus macrorhyncha (Red Stringybark)
Eucalyptus mannifera (Brittle Gum)
Eucalyptus rossii (Inland Scribbly Gum)
Exocarpos cupressiformis (Cherry Ballart)
Goodenia hederacea (Ivy Goodenia)
Grevillea alpina (Mountain Grevillea / Cat’s Claws Grevillea)
Hardenbergia violacea (False Sarsaparilla)
Hydrocotyle laxiflora
Panicum effusum (hairy panic)
Pimelea linifolia (Slender Rice Flower)
Indigofera australis subsp. australis (Australian Indigo)
Senecio sp. (Fireweed)
Stylidium graminifolium (Grass Triggerplant)
Themeda triandra (Kangaroo Grass)
Vittadinia sp (New Holland Daisy)
Wahlenbergia sp.(Bluebell)
Xerochrysum viscosum (Sticky Everlasting)
Non-local native:
Austrostipa aristiglumis (Plains Grass)
Grevillea “Canberra Gem” (Grevillea rosmarinifolia x juniperina (Hybrid))
Hakea sp.
Weeds:
Amaryllis belladonna (Naked Ladies, Belladonna Lily)
Briza maxima (Quaking Grass, Blowfly Grass)
Centaurium sp. (Centaury)
Eragrostis curvula (African Lovegrass)
Hypericum perforatum (St John’s Wort)
Ligustrum sinense (Narrow-leaf Privet, Chinese Privet)
Paspalum dilatatum (Paspalum)
Photinia serratifolia (Chinese Photinia)
Rubus anglocandicans (Blackberry)
Erigeron sumatrensis (Tall Fleabane)
FUNGI
Trametes versicolor (Turkey tail)
Trametes coccinea (Southern Cinnabar Polypore, previously Scarlet Bracket)
One other
BIRDS
Acanthiza pusilla (Brown Thornbill)
Cacatua galerita (Sulphur-crested Cockatoo)
Cormobates leucophaea (White-throated Treecreeper)
Eopsaltria australis (Eastern Yellow Robin)
Corvus coronoides (Australian Raven)
Grallina cyanoleuca (Magpie-lark)
Malurus cyaneus (Superb Fairywren)
Manorina melanocephala (Noisy Miner)
Neochmia temporalis (Red browed Finch)
Platycercus elegans (Crimson Rosella)
Cracticus torquatus (Grey Butcher Bird)
Rhipidura albiscapa (Grey Fantail)
INSECTS
Apoidea: Bees
Apis mellifera
Lasioglossum sp (Chilalictus)
Lepidoptera: Moths and Butterflies
Heteronympha merope (Common Brown Butterfly)
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus)
Zizina labradus (Common Grass-Blue Butterfly)
Clania lewinii (Lewin’s case moth)
Clania ignobilis (Faggot Case Moth)
Geometridae sp caterpillar (Geometer moth)
Macrobathra chrysotoxa
Scopula rubraria (Plantain moth)
Coleoptera: Beetles
Aporocera consors
Paropsisterna fastidiosa
Paropsisterna cloelia
Dicranosterna immaculata
Ecnolagria grandis
Perperus Genus (weevil)
Chauliognathus lugubris
Hemiptera: True bugs
Amorbus rubiginosus – various instars
Oechalia schellenbergii – 2 different instars
Rayieria acaciae
Ocirrhoe unimaculata
Orthoptera: Grasshoppers etc
Macrotona securiformis
Conocephalomima barameda
Diptera: Flies
Odontomyia hunterii
3 types of Robber Flies
Crane Fly
Stomorhina sp
Leptotarsus clavatus
Odonata: Dragonflies
Orthetrum caledonicum
Other:
Drymaplaneta communis (cockroach)
Melanococcus sp (mealy bug)
Chaetophyes compacta
Perga affinis (spitfire)
Planthopper – unidentified
REPTILES
Skink – unidentified
AMPHIBIANS
Crinia signifiera (Common Eastern Froglet)