Last month it was exciting to find a few specimens of basket fungi. They have been uncommonly seen in the area for many years. However, this month, there are so many of these fungi in places they could almost be described as “common”. The wetter conditions have certainly started to impact on the local vegetation, particularly now producing lots of interesting and colourful fungi.
An unusual bird sighting was a Buff banded rail. Unfortunately the bird was found as road kill on the Calder Highway just out of Wedderburn. This is a ground dwelling bird that normally inhabits swamps and wet grasslands. Another indication, that wetter conditions are creating changes in our local biodiversity.
Many birds have been seen gathering nesting material. Striated Pardalotes have been making noisy inspections of nesting boxes and prospective nesting sites. Honeyeaters have been observed wrestling with twiggy bushes to remove small sticks for their nest, and magpies flying to nesting trees with beaks full of wool.
An increasing number of plants are beginning to flower now. The Rosy Baeckea is particularly bright pink this year, with masses of flowers on small bushes. Some other flowers recently seen locally are: Early Nancy, Tiny Stars, Dwarf Greenhood orchids, Rice flowers, and of course the wattles, (Bentleaf, Ploughshare, Spreading and Golden in flower at present).
Observing our natural environment is only one of the activities enjoyed by members of the Wedderburn Conservation Management Network. If you would like to find out more about our Network visit : wedderburncmnnews.blogspot.com.
Wedderburn Conservation Management Network “Observers”
Photograph attached shows WCMN “Observer” taking photographic record of Rosy Baeckea in flower.
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