2016 was an interesting year for me to try and expand my knowledge of the local environment. Purchasing field guides to spiders, aquatic invertebrates and cloud formations inspired me to head out into the wild and learn what I could. I hope to get better at nocturnal surveys in 2017 however; some outings this year were very successful (Meldale), but others were underwhelming (Petrie, Boreen Point).
Location: Bennett Bushland Park, Morningside, Brisbane
Location: Bennett Bushland Park, Morningside, Brisbane
Date: Sunday 24th January 2016; 14:00-15:00
Habitat: Revegetated dry eucalypt and rainforest, surrounded by suburbia
Weather: Partly cloudy and humid, gentle breeze, 30C; thunderstorm on previous night breaking otherwise dry conditions
Focus: Reptile survey
(*) Exotic
Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) *
Elegant Snake-eyed Skink (Cryptoblepharus pulcher)
Garden Skink (Lampropholis delicata)
Total species: 3
Other interesting species:
Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)
Location: North Pine River (One Mile Creek reach), Lawnton, Moreton Bay Shire
Date: Saturday 13th February 2016, 14:50-16:00
Habitat: Tidal freshwater with gravel/stony bottom
Weather: Overcast, light showers (3.8mm), 26C, fresh breeze; falling tide
Focus: Fish survey
(*) Exotic
Eastern Gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki) *
Pacific Blue-eye (Pseudomugil signifer)
Estuary Glassfish (Ambassis marianus)
Common Silverbiddy (Gerres subfasciatus)
Yellowfin Bream (Acanthopagrus australis)
Striped Scat (Selenotoca multifasciata) –juveniles
Common Toadfish (Tetractenos hamiltoni)
Total species: 7
Other interesting sightings:
Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa) –with six ducklings
Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis)
Location: Perrin Drive Bushland, Underwood, Logan
Date: Friday 25th March 2016, 12:00-13:45
Habitat: Riparian vegetation
Weather: 29C, mostly sunny, calm; end of a dry summer
Focus: Spider survey
Leaf-curling Spider (Phonognatha graeffi)
Red Dewdrop Spider (Argyrodes miniaceus)
Huntsman (Heteropoda species) –shed skin
Brown House Spider (Badumna longinqua)
Wolf Spider (Lycosidae family) –juvenile, white spots
Wolf Spider (Lycosidae family) –juvenile, iridescent
Elegant Lynx Spider (Oxyopes elegans)
Lean Lynx Spider (Oxyopes macilentus) –green morph
White Flower Spider (Thomisus spectabilis) –male
Crab Spider (Tmarus species) –tentative ID
Bleeker's Jumping Spider (Euryattus bleekeri)
Total species: 11
Other interesting sightings:
Red-browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis) –constructing nest
Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii)
Gold-winged Earwig (Elaunon bipartitus)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Blue Range Drive Park, Algester, Brisbane
Date: Sunday 17th April 2016, 12:15-13:15
Habitat: Suburban creek
Weather: Mostly sunny, 28C, gentle breeze
Focus: Tadpole survey
(*) Exotic
Cane Toad (Rhinella marina) *
Total species: 1
Other interesting sightings:
Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus)
Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys)
Indian Myna (Acridotheres tristis) *
Wandering Percher (Diplacodes bipunctata)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Bullock Creek Road, Meldale, Moreton Bay
Date: Monday 2nd May 2016, 19:00-19:55
Habitat: Disturbed paperbark swampland
Weather: Showers, 24C, humid with light fog, calm
Focus: Frog survey
(*) Exotic
Rocket Frog (Litoria nasuta)
Striped Marshfrog (Limnodynastes peronii)
Great Brown Broodfrog (Pseudophryne major)–heard
Cane Toad (Rhinella marina) *
Total species: 4
Other interesting sightings:
Keelback (Tropidonophis mairii)
Slender Orb Weaver (Larinia species)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Home Garden, East Brisbane, Brisbane
Date: Wednesday 8th June 2016, 10:30-11:30
Habitat: Garden
Weather: Clear, sunny, 20C, fresh breeze
Focus: Invertebrate survey
(*) Exotic
Southern Worm (Aporrectodea trapezoides) *–tentative ID
Coastal Golden Orb-Weaver (Nephila plumipes)
Lynx Spider (Oxyopes species)
Long-spinneret Ground Spider (Molycria species)
Domestic Container Mosquito (Ochlerotatus notoscriptus)
Fruit Fly (Drosophila species)
Large Greenbottle (Chrysomya rufifacies)
Small Brown Paper Wasp (Ropalidia revolutionalis)
Coastal Brown Ant (Pheidole megacephala) *
Tropical Pedical Ant (Technomyrmex sophiae)
Total species: 10
Other interesting sightings:
Garden Skink (Lampropholis delicata)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Keperra Bushland Reserve, Keperra, Brisbane
Date: Saturday 16th July 2016, 10:15-12:15
Habitat: Open forest
Weather: Overcast, increasing rain, 18C, calm
Focus: Bird survey
(*) Exotic
Australian Brush-Turkey (Alectura lathami)
Bar-shouldered Dove (Geopelia humeralis)–heard
Topknot Pigeon (Lopholaimus antarcticus)–distant flock
Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus)
Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus)
Pale-headed Rosella (Platycercus adscitus)
Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus)
White-throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea)–heard
Variegated Fairy-Wren (Malurus lamberti)
Lewin's Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii)–heard
Yellow-faced Honeyeater (Caligavis chrysops)
Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)
Scarlet Honeyeater (Myzomela sanguinolenta)
Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta)
White-throated Honeyeater (Melithreptus albogularis)
Noisy Friarbird (Philemon corniculatus)
Spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus)
Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus)
Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen)
Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina)
Grey Shrike-Thrush (Colluricincla harmonica)
Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis)
Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris)
Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys)
Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa)
Torresian Crow (Corvus orru)
Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)
Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum)
Total species: 29
Other interesting sightings:
Golden-tailed Sugar Ant (Camponotus aeneopilosus)
Forest Red Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis)–flowering
Spotted Gum (Corymbia citriodora)–flowering
Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan) *
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Lockyer Creek, Helidon, Lockyer Valley
Date: Wednesday 31st August 2016, 9:45-10:45
Habitat: Mid-catchment freshwater pool
Weather: Partly cloudy, light breeze, 19C
Focus: Aquatic invertebrate survey
(*) Exotic
Gilbert's Ram's-horn Snail (Gyraulus gilberti)
Fountain Snail (Physa acuta) *
Water Mite (Hydrachnidiae suborder)
Small Waterboatman (Micronecta species)
Predacious Diving Beetle (Dytiscidae family)–larva
Water-skating Fly (Ephydridae family)
Total species: 6
Other interesting sightings:
Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida)–heard
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)
Eastern Dwarf Treefrog (Litoria fallax)–heard
Striped Marshfrog (Limnodynastes peronii)–heard
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Smith Park, Woodend, Ipswich
Date: Thursday 22nd September 2016. 14:30-16:00
Habitat: Revegetated dry eucalypt forest, riparian vegetation
Weather: Sunny but with showers earlier in the day, 22C, moderate breeze
Focus: Fern survey
Mulga Fern (Cheilanthes sieberi)
Binung (Christella dentata)
Total species: 2
Other interesting sightings:
Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus)
Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis)
Common Stink Bug (Poecilometis patruelis)
Cheese Tree (Glochidion ferdinandi)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Kurwongbah Park, Petrie, Moreton Bay
Date: Thursday 20th October 2016, 19:50-20:20
Habitat: Wooded parkland
Weather: Fine, light breeze, 21C
Focus: Mammal survey
Black Flying-Fox (Pteropus alecto)
Total species: 1
Other interesting sightings:
Centipede (Scolopendromorpha order)
Wolf Spider (Lycosa species)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Duncans Road, Flagstone Creek, Lockyer Valley
Date: Wednesday 23rd November 2016, 9:30-10:30
Habitat: Gently undulating foothills, mostly cleared for farming
Weather: Fine, mostly calm, 27C
Focus: Cloud survey
Cumulus fractus
Cumulus humilis
Total formations: 2
Other interesting sightings:
Brown Falcon (Falco berigora)
Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides)
Channel-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops novaehollandiae)
Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata)
Yellow-winged Locust (Gastrimargus musicus)
Caper White (Belenois java)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Boreen Point Campground, Boreen Point, Noosa
Date: Saturday 3rd December 2016, 22:30-11:10
Habitat: Disturbed areas, paperbark woodland, estuarine lake
Weather: Thunderstorm, fresh breeze, 24C
Focus: Frog survey
* (Exotic)
Graceful Treefrog (Litoria gracilenta)–heard
Cane Toad (Rhinella marina) *
Total species: 2
Other interesting sightings:
Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles)
Naskrecki's Bush Katydid (Ozphyllum naskreckii)
Habitat: Revegetated dry eucalypt and rainforest, surrounded by suburbia
Weather: Partly cloudy and humid, gentle breeze, 30C; thunderstorm on previous night breaking otherwise dry conditions
Focus: Reptile survey
(*) Exotic
Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) *
Elegant Snake-eyed Skink (Cryptoblepharus pulcher)
Garden Skink (Lampropholis delicata)
Total species: 3
Other interesting species:
Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: North Pine River (One Mile Creek reach), Lawnton, Moreton Bay Shire
Date: Saturday 13th February 2016, 14:50-16:00
Habitat: Tidal freshwater with gravel/stony bottom
Weather: Overcast, light showers (3.8mm), 26C, fresh breeze; falling tide
Focus: Fish survey
(*) Exotic
Eastern Gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki) *
Pacific Blue-eye (Pseudomugil signifer)
Estuary Glassfish (Ambassis marianus)
Common Silverbiddy (Gerres subfasciatus)
Yellowfin Bream (Acanthopagrus australis)
Striped Scat (Selenotoca multifasciata) –juveniles
Common Toadfish (Tetractenos hamiltoni)
Total species: 7
Other interesting sightings:
Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa) –with six ducklings
Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Perrin Drive Bushland, Underwood, Logan
Date: Friday 25th March 2016, 12:00-13:45
Habitat: Riparian vegetation
Weather: 29C, mostly sunny, calm; end of a dry summer
Focus: Spider survey
Leaf-curling Spider (Phonognatha graeffi)
Red Dewdrop Spider (Argyrodes miniaceus)
Huntsman (Heteropoda species) –shed skin
Brown House Spider (Badumna longinqua)
Wolf Spider (Lycosidae family) –juvenile, white spots
Wolf Spider (Lycosidae family) –juvenile, iridescent
Elegant Lynx Spider (Oxyopes elegans)
Lean Lynx Spider (Oxyopes macilentus) –green morph
White Flower Spider (Thomisus spectabilis) –male
Crab Spider (Tmarus species) –tentative ID
Bleeker's Jumping Spider (Euryattus bleekeri)
Total species: 11
Other interesting sightings:
Red-browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis) –constructing nest
Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii)
Gold-winged Earwig (Elaunon bipartitus)
 |
| Bleeker's jumping spider, Underwood. |
Location: Blue Range Drive Park, Algester, Brisbane
Date: Sunday 17th April 2016, 12:15-13:15
Habitat: Suburban creek
Weather: Mostly sunny, 28C, gentle breeze
Focus: Tadpole survey
(*) Exotic
Cane Toad (Rhinella marina) *
Total species: 1
Other interesting sightings:
Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus)
Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys)
Indian Myna (Acridotheres tristis) *
Wandering Percher (Diplacodes bipunctata)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Bullock Creek Road, Meldale, Moreton Bay
Date: Monday 2nd May 2016, 19:00-19:55
Habitat: Disturbed paperbark swampland
Weather: Showers, 24C, humid with light fog, calm
Focus: Frog survey
(*) Exotic
Rocket Frog (Litoria nasuta)
Striped Marshfrog (Limnodynastes peronii)
Great Brown Broodfrog (Pseudophryne major)–heard
Cane Toad (Rhinella marina) *
Total species: 4
Other interesting sightings:
Keelback (Tropidonophis mairii)
Slender Orb Weaver (Larinia species)
 |
| Rocket frog, Meldale. |
Location: Home Garden, East Brisbane, Brisbane
Date: Wednesday 8th June 2016, 10:30-11:30
Habitat: Garden
Weather: Clear, sunny, 20C, fresh breeze
Focus: Invertebrate survey
(*) Exotic
Southern Worm (Aporrectodea trapezoides) *–tentative ID
Coastal Golden Orb-Weaver (Nephila plumipes)
Lynx Spider (Oxyopes species)
Long-spinneret Ground Spider (Molycria species)
Domestic Container Mosquito (Ochlerotatus notoscriptus)
Fruit Fly (Drosophila species)
Large Greenbottle (Chrysomya rufifacies)
Small Brown Paper Wasp (Ropalidia revolutionalis)
Coastal Brown Ant (Pheidole megacephala) *
Tropical Pedical Ant (Technomyrmex sophiae)
Total species: 10
Other interesting sightings:
Garden Skink (Lampropholis delicata)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Keperra Bushland Reserve, Keperra, Brisbane
Date: Saturday 16th July 2016, 10:15-12:15
Habitat: Open forest
Weather: Overcast, increasing rain, 18C, calm
Focus: Bird survey
(*) Exotic
Australian Brush-Turkey (Alectura lathami)
Bar-shouldered Dove (Geopelia humeralis)–heard
Topknot Pigeon (Lopholaimus antarcticus)–distant flock
Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus)
Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus)
Pale-headed Rosella (Platycercus adscitus)
Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus)
White-throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea)–heard
Variegated Fairy-Wren (Malurus lamberti)
Lewin's Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii)–heard
Yellow-faced Honeyeater (Caligavis chrysops)
Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)
Scarlet Honeyeater (Myzomela sanguinolenta)
Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta)
White-throated Honeyeater (Melithreptus albogularis)
Noisy Friarbird (Philemon corniculatus)
Spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus)
Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus)
Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen)
Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina)
Grey Shrike-Thrush (Colluricincla harmonica)
Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis)
Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris)
Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys)
Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa)
Torresian Crow (Corvus orru)
Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)
Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum)
Total species: 29
Other interesting sightings:
Golden-tailed Sugar Ant (Camponotus aeneopilosus)
Forest Red Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis)–flowering
Spotted Gum (Corymbia citriodora)–flowering
Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan) *
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Lockyer Creek, Helidon, Lockyer Valley
Date: Wednesday 31st August 2016, 9:45-10:45
Habitat: Mid-catchment freshwater pool
Weather: Partly cloudy, light breeze, 19C
Focus: Aquatic invertebrate survey
(*) Exotic
Gilbert's Ram's-horn Snail (Gyraulus gilberti)
Fountain Snail (Physa acuta) *
Water Mite (Hydrachnidiae suborder)
Small Waterboatman (Micronecta species)
Predacious Diving Beetle (Dytiscidae family)–larva
Water-skating Fly (Ephydridae family)
Total species: 6
Other interesting sightings:
Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida)–heard
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)
Eastern Dwarf Treefrog (Litoria fallax)–heard
Striped Marshfrog (Limnodynastes peronii)–heard
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Smith Park, Woodend, Ipswich
Date: Thursday 22nd September 2016. 14:30-16:00
Habitat: Revegetated dry eucalypt forest, riparian vegetation
Weather: Sunny but with showers earlier in the day, 22C, moderate breeze
Focus: Fern survey
Mulga Fern (Cheilanthes sieberi)
Binung (Christella dentata)
Total species: 2
Other interesting sightings:
Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus)
Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis)
Common Stink Bug (Poecilometis patruelis)
Cheese Tree (Glochidion ferdinandi)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Kurwongbah Park, Petrie, Moreton Bay
Date: Thursday 20th October 2016, 19:50-20:20
Habitat: Wooded parkland
Weather: Fine, light breeze, 21C
Focus: Mammal survey
Black Flying-Fox (Pteropus alecto)
Total species: 1
Other interesting sightings:
Centipede (Scolopendromorpha order)
Wolf Spider (Lycosa species)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Duncans Road, Flagstone Creek, Lockyer Valley
Date: Wednesday 23rd November 2016, 9:30-10:30
Habitat: Gently undulating foothills, mostly cleared for farming
Weather: Fine, mostly calm, 27C
Focus: Cloud survey
Cumulus fractus
Cumulus humilis
Total formations: 2
Other interesting sightings:
Brown Falcon (Falco berigora)
Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides)
Channel-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops novaehollandiae)
Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata)
Yellow-winged Locust (Gastrimargus musicus)
Caper White (Belenois java)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Location: Boreen Point Campground, Boreen Point, Noosa
Date: Saturday 3rd December 2016, 22:30-11:10
Habitat: Disturbed areas, paperbark woodland, estuarine lake
Weather: Thunderstorm, fresh breeze, 24C
Focus: Frog survey
* (Exotic)
Graceful Treefrog (Litoria gracilenta)–heard
Cane Toad (Rhinella marina) *
Total species: 2
Other interesting sightings:
Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles)
Naskrecki's Bush Katydid (Ozphyllum naskreckii)
Excellent roundup Christian. There is so much to see and learn about. A mistletoe survey would be interesting. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteAhaha I have that field guide too, so I better get on it! Thanks Sri, hope you had a merry Christmas too :)
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