Diario del proyecto Yellingbo and surrounds

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
It's a time of year when there's not a lot flowering in the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Area bush, but that didn't dull our enthusiasm! On a mild, still day our purpose today was to record the summer orchids before they go into their dormant phase at a site where Monash Uni reptile surveys will happen this year. We're mapping the summer flowering orchids, to ensure they're protected. Hyacinth Orchids, Large Tongue-orchids, Onion Orchids, Caladenia's and Elbow Orchids were recorded. There were beautiful butterflies on the wing and ants busy shifting mulch to lay around their kingdom's entry holes in the ground. With heads down scanning the ground and friendly chatter it was a joy to be out in the bush with a fabulous group of volunteers, taking it all in, whilst achieving something purposeful. Thank you team. Great job!!

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
The frogs were quiet today, with just a lone Common Eastern Froglet sporadically calling, and one other species that we weren't sure about. Nine of us headed out into a part of Yellingbo NCA that we haven't included in our bird surveys to date. With the Conservation Area on one side, and open farmland on the other, it's often an interesting spot for seeing birds who live on the boundary of 2 worlds - bush thickets and open grassland. With smoke filled air from planned burns happening in the region, and the warm day, we felt a little lethargic as a group and perhaps the birds did too! We recorded 28 species, with highlights being a flock of Blue-winged Parrots, a Swamp Harrier soaring gracefully above Cockatoo swamp, lots of Superb Fairy-wren's and Karin's chocolate truffles :)

Notes from: a Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater hosted citizen science event.
Like last month, it's a time of year when there's not a lot flowering in the Yellingbo Nature Conservation Area bush, but that didn't lessen our enthusiasm! It was an overcast but warm, still morning. Perfect for a walk. We hit one of the tracks that I haven't walked in years, and others have never been on, meandering past swampy areas on one side and open pasture on the other. There were plenty of birds around so we recorded those too - 36 species in all, with 3 Wedge-tailed Eagles overhead, a male Mistletoe Bird feeding in the Grey Mistletoe, a Jacky Winter and 4 Willie Wagtails hunting for insects together being highlights. A Southern Water Skink was out basking on the swamp edge, whilst the butterflies mostly flew off before we could get photos. How hard are they to photograph?! The Ringed Xenica's stood still long enough for a photo, but none of the other species did - there's always next time!
Lots of friendly chatter just added to the joy of being out in the bush. Thank you team :)