Category Archives: Activities

2012

February

Mt Horror with Sean Blake

March

Black Sugar-loaf, Birralee

Birds: Button quail, yellow-throated honeyeaters, and golden whistlers. Slime moulds on rotting logs and stumps, moist and often brightly coloured

April

Mt Stronach

May

Waterhouse Conservation Area lead by Mike Douglas

From the top of Hardwickes Hill a birds-eye view of the Reserve and Waterhouse Island. Clearly discernible are the linear Pleistocene dunes formed during the last glacial advance, at its peak 20,000 years ago. The main objective of the day was to look at the salt-resistant plants (halophytes), most belonging to the saltbush family.

June

Mt Scott

July

Waterhouse

September

In the Fingal valley

At Evercreech Reserve are the giant Eucalyptus regnans, the tallest tree species in Australia. We looked at the impressive Mathinna Falls, then made our assault on Mt Young.

October

Federation Weekend

Mt Cameron and Cape Portland

November

Cascade River

Exploring the Chinese history in the area between the Cascade Dam and Mt Paris Dam.

2024

January 13th, Mt Michael

Craig Searle lead this fascinating circular walk which follows various old roads, marked tracks and creek-sides, through mature myrtles to a 810m summit boasting 360 degrees views.
Click here for the report and lots of photos from the day

February 10th, Narawntapu

Anne Witherden lead an exploration of the Narawntapu National Park near the Rubicon River and the Asbestos Range.

Here’s the report, and photos

March 9th, Mt Horror and more

A visit with Mike to the top of Mt Horror on a very murky day, and then to the historic areas of Forester and Pearly Brook.
Here’s the report

April 13th East Sandy Point

Ross lead us on an expedition to East Sandy Point, part of the Double Sandy Point Conservation Area. We explored the dunes and discovered rhizoliths, structures formed when a root becomes encased with calcium carbonate and then exposed when wind blows away the sand.
Here’s the report, and photos

May 11th Briseis Water Race: Flumes and fungi

Lloyd lead us on a 10km walk along the remains of the race, built in 1902 to transport water from the Ringarooma River to the Briseis Tin Mine at Derby. There were a lot of fungi too.
Here’s the report

8th June
Sloop Lagoon and Big Lagoon

Led by Alex, the group botanised, learning the history of the area and listening to local environmental hero, Todd Dudley, explain his revegetation of a degraded landscape.
Here is the report

14th September

Cape Portland, Musselroe Wind farm

Highlights were seeing the technology at work to protect the Wedgetail Eagle and White bellied sea eagle from the blades of the turbines. And the discovery of two orchids.
The report is here.

12th October

Orchid hunting at Ansons Bay

A very pleasant walk along the bay and the river and on the tracks above. At least 10 different orchids were found. Here’s the report

9th November

Exploring the foothills of Mt Arthur.
Here’s the report

14th December

A ramble along the foreshore at Bridport with Mike Douglas providing lots of interesting information about coastal plantings, the altered shoreline, cobble beaches, meteotsunamis and a rock called granidorite.

2023

February 11th

Bridport

We had a walk through 4 varied environments: a salt marsh; the modified landscape along part of the foreshore; the granite Point Conservation Area; and The Bridport Wildflower Reserve

March 11th

Low Head with Marita Bodman

A walk from Bellbuoy Beach to Low Head, along a basalt cobbled shore, then a sandy beach collecting seaweed. A visit to the Low Head Community Garden, and a talk by Marita about a woman ahead of her time – Florence Perrin.
Here is a link to Marita’s talk
And a link to the seaweed we collected.

April 22nd

Fungi foray at Diddleum with Dr Genevieve Gates.

Over 60 fungi were spotted.

A link to what we found

And a link to a report of the day

May 13th

A walk up Mt Scott

Mike Douglas lead us on the walk, through beautiful forest to the summit ridge.

Here is a link to the walk

June 10th

Binalong Bay to Dora Point

A coastal walk featuring blue gums, granite coastline, She-oak forests, sandy beaches, and huge rocks. Led by Pam Bretz.

Here is a report from the day

September 9th

Waterhouse Conservation Area

A beautiful and fascinating walk through Allocasuarina forest, then heathland, from Blizzards landing to Ranson’s Bay

Here’s the report

October 14th

Humbug Point Nature Recreation Area

A circular walk from Moulting Bay campgrounds, over the hill and eastwards to Dora Point mostly through open peppermint forest.

Here is the report

November 2023

Wind farm, Cape Portland

From the Little Musselroe River, across paddocks to the coast, a day with a wide variety of flora, some pelicans, and a clear view of Cape Barren and Flinders islands.

Here is the report from the day

2022

29th January

Four Springs Lake

Dragonflies and Damselflies with Nigel Forteath, Professor of Aquaculture UTAS.

Four Springs Lake was established in the 1990s for recreational fishing, and 16 species of dragonflies and damselflies have been seen here. Nigel and the Nats caught dragonflies, then chilled them for a few minutes so they could be identified and photographed.

12th February

Ben Lomond alpine circuit

The Field Nats traversed the Little Hell pole line circuit, reaching a height of 1546 metres. Flowering snow gentians were abundant, and the most striking wildflowers were the beautiful silver snow daisies (Celmisia). The views were magnificent, with evidence of previous glaciations and later intensive shattering of the heavily jointed dolerite rock by frost action. The great block fields and screes of Ben Lomond are said to be the most extensive in the world.

March 12th

Birds at Native Point

Seen and/or heard: Brown falcon, Brown thornbill, Brush bronzewing, Corella, Crescent honeyeater, Crested tern, Dusky raven, Flame robin, Forest raven, Golden whistler, Green rosella, Grey butcher bird, Grey fantail, Kookaburra, Little pied cormorant, Little wattlebird, Magpie, Olive whistler, Pacific gull, Silvereye, Spotted pardalote, Striated pardalote, Sulphur-crested cockatoo, Tasmanian native hen, Wattlebird, Welcome swallow, White-bellied sea eagle, White-faced heron, Yellow-throated honeyeater.

April 9th

Ferns at Northeast Park, Scottsdale

Lead by Deb Searle, and armed with fern flips, the Nats discovered an amazing variety of species for such a small area.

Ferns of NE Tasmania field notes by Deb Searle

June 11th

Fungi foray, East Diddleum Plains

In the rainforest we saw lots of entoloma species, and Clavulinopsis amoebeae and Ascocoryne sarcoides amongst others.

September 10th

A walk along the Supply River to the Flour Mill ruins

The banks of the Supply River were lined at times with tussock grass – Poa labillardierei. Also noted were the native cranberry – Astroloma humifusum; storksbill – Pelargonium australe; the fungus Anthracophyllum archeri, and beyond the ruins: Pinkwood – Beyeria viscosa. This is in the Euphorbiaceae genus, the defining feature being a white milky sap in the stems.

October 8th

Palaeontology at Liffey and Poatina. Leader Phil Tattersall

Here is Phil’s report of the day

November 12th

Cape Portland

A visit to the Musselroe wind farm, notably to observe the flora and fauna at the Tregaron Lagoon : a mob of Forester kangaroos, and extensive areas of samphire, dodder laurel, and bower spinach

December 10th

Bare Rock, Fingal

A rocky climb in vehicles to a plateau above Bare Rock, studded with an amazing variety of flora. The native clematis and blue love creeper were still in flower, and we saw about a dozen members of the daisy family, and several species from the family Ericaceae.

2021

February 13th

Ascent of Ben Nevis

Mike Douglas lead us up the steep track to the summit at 1368 metres. From dense regrowth forest of Eucalyptus delegatensis, through a belt of Eucalyptus archeri, then above 1200 metres alpine vegetation, including the beautiful Tasmanian snow gentian. The grand vista from the summit took in Mt Maurice, Mt Albert, Mt Victoria and Mt Saddleback.

March 13th

Whale Rock, Mt Cameron

Whale rock, on Mount Cameron’s south West peak, is a spectacular boulder resembling a breaching whale emerging from the granite slab. We walked through open woodland of bracken, dotted with large stringybark and black peppermints, their trunks blackened by bush fires. Also common were caterpillar acacia, bulloak, banksia, kunzea and tea tree. Then we passed between massive sculptural boulders with drifts of the rock orchid Dockrillia clinging to them. From the huge steep granite slab beside Whale Rock, where we stopped for lunch, there are breathtaking views to the west across the Mt Cameron Regional Reserve, and north to the coast and the mouth of the Ringarooma river at Boobyalla.

April 10th

Paradise High Plain

Views of Ben Nevis, and Mts Victoria and Albert; an old pine arboretum, vestigial rain forest, 2 huge 200 (at least) year old myrtles, sub-alpine vegetation, and even a bit of wind-driven snow.

May 8th

Two properties at East Diddleum

We visited two properties, the first with sub-alpine grassland, and both with native rainforest. The highlight of the day was the wide range of fungi to be seen and photographed.

June 12th

Notley Fern Gorge

A richly satisfying fungi foray in the remnant rain forest.

September 11th

Mount Cameron with Mike Douglas

We walked a network of 19th century water races from tin mining days, some dug by hand by both Chinese and European miners. We took a scrambled diversion across Deep Creek (aka Galloway Creek)

October 9th

Upper Scamander and Granite Knob

November 13th

Mt. Barrow Discovery Trail with Len Gillett

We explored the Trail in vehicles, interspersed with short and interesting walks. Remains of the timber industry going back to the mid 1800s were seen, as well as the mightier destruction caused by forestry happening right now. We picnicked at the rather neglected discovery centre, and found many orchids in bloom. Our last stop was at the Weaver’s Creek Waterfall.

December 11th

Cape Portland – Petal Point and Wind farm

Looking for threatened species.

2013

February

Black Creek pools and Derby tunnel

Lunch and a ramble at the pools. Then to the 3.7 metre-long tunnel cut through solid granite in the early 1880s by the Briseis Tin Mining company. We saw glow-worms, Arachnocampa tasmaniensis, and the cave spider, widely distributed in Tasmania – a top-level predator maintaining a stronghold around the entrance zones to caves and tunnels.

March

Bush-food day at Little Musselroe

April

Mt Cameron Range – the Skywalk

May

Tomahawk walk and talk with Aboriginal elder Patsy Cameron

Patsy shared her extensive knowledge of Aboriginal culture, local plants and animals, and bush tucker.We were introduced to “cunnygong” (pigface), the natural aloe vera for burns and ant bites. Also of note was the native cranberry, Astroloma humifusum, Diplarrena moraea, the white flag iris, a favourite plant for basket weaving. And an unusual species of native cherry, Coastal Ballart, Exocarpus syrticola,

June

Blackman’s Lagoon

Blackman’s Lagoon covers 28 ha. And is an important site for the rare State and Commonwealth protect-ed dwarf galaxias Galaxiella pusilla. This is a small scaleless species which grows to a maximum of 40mm and can survive in the substrate even when the water dries up. A list of native species and bird-life is here

July

Rocky ramble Mount Cameron

A small band of nine members enjoyed this walk partway up the Wedgetail Peak Track, starting from the Field Study Centre. The track wandered through a woodland of gnarled black peppermints, stringy barks and white gums and then climbed up rocky slopes dotted with granitoid monoliths resembling abstract sculpure

September

Harridge Falls

After a scramble down the steep, humus-rich and damp hillside we slid and wended our way over fallen logs covered in beautiful fungi such as the “curtain crisp” until we reached the Weld River and the falls.
We disturbed an echidna at his ant lunch and caught a glimpse of the prized pink robin. We also spotted some maroon hoods, Pterostylis pedunculata, thriving in the sandy damp conditions.

October

Federation of Field Nats get-together Port Sorell

November

W.A.G. Walker Rhododendron Gardens, Lalla

In the gullies Tree ferns, dogwoods, Bursaria, white gums and various species of rhododendrons. Higher up, Eucalyptus obliqua and a stand of Eucalyptus viminalis,
On the ground, maroonhoods, the curtain crisp fungus, and the dogs vomit slime mould. Above, the crescent honeyeater, the golden whistler, pardalotes, thornbills, cuckoos, the shrike thrush, and everywhere wrens and robins.

2014

February

Vale of Belvoir

The Tas. Land Conserv-ancy held an open day for exploring the Vale of Belvoir with TLC staff and expert supporters as guides.
The Vale of Belvoir is a large open limestone valley located about 15 km NNW of Cradle Mountain, in the lee of the Black Bluff Range. It is about 10 km long by 2 km wide, trends NE-SW, and has an open grassy floor flanked by strips of ancient rainforest and eucalypt forest.

March

Shoreline monitoring, Weymouth

We chose a site for counting and measuring near a launching ramp at Weymouth. It consisted of rocks. It looked unlikely. But it was actually an extremely rich and diverse area: Rosette barnacles, common sea urchins, eleven-armed seastar, sea apple, decorator crab, hairy-stone crab, even a blue-ringed octopus.

September

Scottsdale – Burrowing crayfish

We celebrated National Threatened Species Day with a visit to the habitat of the Scottsdale Burrowing Crayfish, at Northeast Park (Scottsdale) then on the Old Waterhouse Road

October

Searching for the stag beetle, Goshen

Ian and Kim Matthews have a bushland block at Goshen, north-west of St Helens. In October 2014 they hosted our club for a fascinating day during which we heard the story of the discovery of this rare stag beetle, met the widow of George Bornemissza, after whom the beetle is named, and were guided by Mike Bouffard on our search to find a live specimen

November

Exploring Anson’s Bay

We ambled along Jenny Bicanic’s favourite paths looking for orchids, listening for birds.

December

Bird watching, Greens Beach

The December activity involved bird-watching on the property of Don and Barbara Pitt, 340 hectares at Friend Point, near Green’s Beach, where the Tamar River meets Bass Strait.

The complete list of birds is here

2020

February 8th

Ben Lomond

Mike Douglas lead us up a rocky path across an extensive dolerite block field, with impressive hexagonal columns vanishing into the mist. Many alpine plants were in flower. We had lunch on the plateau of the Plains of Heaven, where the massive roche moutonnée rose behind us.

March 14th

Merthyr Park and Mt Direction

Len Gillett lead us on these two walks which are approximately 16 kms apart. The highlight at Merthyr Park was seeing the humungous ghost fungus omphalotus nidiformis, which glows in the dark. At the summit of Mount Direction we saw the interesting remains of a semaphore station from the early 1800s – a signal system which sent information about Tamar River traffic between Low Head and Launceston.

July 11th

Myrtle Park Forest Reserve, Springfield

We measured, photographed and counted over 100 living stumps of Douglas firs cut down over 40 years ago

August 9th

Paradise Plains Reserve

Discovering bryophytes with Dr. Perpetua Turner at Paradise Plains

September 10th

A trip to Eddystone Point

Eddystone Point, also known by its
Aboriginal name Larapuna, is in the Mount William National Park and marks the northernmost tip of the Bay of Fires region. Larapuna is the homeland of the Palawa (indigenous Tasmanian) people, and features the historic Eddystone Point Lighthouse.

October 10th

Winifred Curtis Reserve, Scamander.

The reserve is an 80 hectare ecosystem adjacent to Henderson Lagoon, with dry sclerophyll bushland, heath, marshland, wetland, dunes, and abundant bird life. Unfortunately It was too wet underfoot for the Field Nats to get to dunes or lagoon.

Winifred Curtis, 1905-2005 was Tasmania’s most distinguished professional botanist.

November 14th

A field trip to Upper Scamander.

After walking from the washed-out bridge at Brilliant Creek, and lingering over a wealth of orchids along the road-side, we crossed the Scamander River, and left the road, walking through dry open sclerophyll forest dominated by Eucalypts (including E. amygdalina – black peppermint, and E sieberi – iron bark).

December 12th

Cape Portland

A trip to the Musselroe wind farm to explore the northern coast of Cape Portland, and watch for migratory sea birds.
More about the wind farm here

2019

February

Beach walk to Five Mile Bluff rock platform

This rock platform is little known since it doesn’t have road access. During the walk, the keen naturalists identified seven species of seaweed. Two species of Boobyalla were also observed.

March

Mutual to Moorina

A gentle 5km walk along the banks of the beautiful Ringarooma River. We passed some fine stands of myrtle, blackwoods, man ferns, mother shield ferns and kangaroo fern. Also native edible fruiting plants – the native currant, raspberry, cherry, and purple appleberry.

April

A leisurely look at three gardens in the Bridport area which have been managed as habitats for wildlife.

May

Fungi Foray, Skemps, Myrtle Bank

The Launceston Field Naturalists Club owns and operates the John Skemp Field Centre. It is situated on approximately 60 hectares (148 acres) of wide open spaces, wet and dry sclerophyll forest, fern gullies and ponds on Skemp Creek. A number of nature trails have been developed over the whole property.

June

A 12 km walk along the North East Rail Trail from Kamona Station to Tonganah.

There were fungi, there were orchids and such a richness of vegetation. Facing north, tall trees- Eucalyptus obliqua. At the foot of embankments plants that thrived in wetter conditions. Excitement when we found colonies of Mosquito orchids – Acianthus pusillus, and the fringed helmet orchid – Corybas fimbriatus.

September

Cape Portland

Our tour of Cape Portland, which now hosts the Musselroe Wind Farm, highlighted the natural features of the Cape and the efforts of the management team to manage and enhance the natural resources there.

October

Federation of Tasmanian Field Naturalists weekend

In October it was the North East Field Naturalists turn to welcome members of other Tasmanian field naturalists clubs for the biennial weekend get-together. We hosted visitors in our homes, provided a meal on the Saturday night and organised two walks.

Read more about the weekend here. And see photos here

November

Scamander : A Day with Todd
Todd Dudley focused on the Skyline Tier project. We visited a plantation site that had been logged, exhibiting the first step back to native forest. We looked at some regeneration sites to see progress after burning and weeding, and heard about the detrimental effects of mono-culture associated with plantations.

December

Exploring Musselroe Bay.
We explored the coastal area east of the settlement, and the tracks along the edge of the Musselroe River.

2018

February

Constable Creek wade and walk – St Helens.

A warm watery stroll up the creek, where many ferns were identified, and a variety of other vegetation including dogwood, silver wattle, bulloak and native cherry. A Tasmanian water spider, Megadolomedesjohndouglasi, was also seen.

March

Explore Scamander River

We looked at the river’s catchment characteristics, geomorphology and social history.

April

Dorset Dredge – Gladstone

A walk through the bush to this relic of mining history. Historians and Geologists told the story.

Click here for an article from the NE Advertiser in 1950

May

Scott Bell’s devil enclosure

Scott told us how the project has progressed. Steve Cronin shared some information on many different habitat types in the area. A bonus was the chance to see a carbonised piece of pine between 20 and 23 million years old revealed by an excavator whilst digging a dam.

June

Brid River Reserve at Duncraggen Hill

A walk through a narrow Crown river reserve extending along the Brid River for 3.5 Kms. It is surrounded by State forest, and is a dry-to damp sclerophyll forest dominated by stringy bark and black perppermint, with a scattering of fine old whitegums.

September

Fern Foray, Little Chook bike trail, Weldborough

The Little Chook mountain bike trail, arguably one of the most beautiful trails in the Blue Derby network. The easy grade 6 km circuit walk, wending through a myrtle forest, is a hotspot for ferns.

October

Mt William National Park – Boulder Point

Mt William rises above a plain which is near the coast and contains heathland vegetation, grass trees (Xanthorrhoea) and black peppermint (Eucalyptus amygdalina). Three plants of special interest were observed on this walk. Dockrillia striolata (streaked rock orchid), Hibbertia aspera (rough guinea flower) and Pterostylis dubia (blue tongued orchid). A family of five or six fledgling dusky woodswallows (Artamus cyanopterus) was also seen.

November

A walk up Mount Maurice

Climbing to an altitude of 1100 metres, we saw three main types of forest: wet sclerophyll (mainly Eucalyptus delegatensis, or whitetop), mixed forest (whitetops with a predominantly myrtle understorey), and rainforest. At the summit, with it’s 360 degree view, was more flora, including Richea scoparia, a prickly plant endemic to Tasmania.

December

Diddleum Plains

The track, which started at East Diddleum, followed the route which the Camden irrigation pipeline now takes, and we were disappointed to realise that soon many beautiful manfern glades, myrtles and sassafras will have to be cleared to make way for the pipeline. The shady manfern gullies give way to the radiata pine forest, then the track meanders through mature native forest, An interesting discovery was a largeforest land snail, Anoglypta launcestonensis.

February

Mt Horror with Sean Blake

March

Black Sugar-loaf, Birralee

April

Mt Stronach

May

Waterhouse Conservation Area lead by Mike Douglas

June

Mt Scott

July

Waterhouse

September

In the Fingal valley

October

Federation Weekend

November

Cascade River

January 13th, Mt Michael

February 10th, Narawntapu

March 9th, Mt Horror and more

April 13th East Sandy Point

May 11th Briseis Water Race: Flumes and fungi

8th JuneSloop Lagoon and Big Lagoon

14th September

Cape Portland, Musselroe Wind farm

12th October

Orchid hunting at Ansons Bay

9th November

14th December

February 11th

Bridport

March 11th

Low Head with Marita Bodman

April 22nd

May 13th

June 10th

Binalong Bay to Dora Point

September 9th

Waterhouse Conservation Area

October 14th

Humbug Point Nature Recreation Area

November 2023

Wind farm, Cape Portland

29th January

Four Springs Lake

Dragonflies and Damselflies with Nigel Forteath, Professor of Aquaculture UTAS.

12th February

Ben Lomond alpine circuit

March 12th

Birds at Native Point

April 9th

Ferns at Northeast Park, Scottsdale

June 11th

Fungi foray, East Diddleum Plains

September 10th

A walk along the Supply River to the Flour Mill ruins

October 8th

Palaeontology at Liffey and Poatina. Leader Phil Tattersall

November 12th

Cape Portland

December 10th

Bare Rock, Fingal

February 13th

Ascent of Ben Nevis

March 13th

Whale Rock, Mt Cameron

April 10th

Paradise High Plain

May 8th

Two properties at East Diddleum

June 12th

Notley Fern Gorge

September 11th

Mount Cameron with Mike Douglas

October 9th

Upper Scamander and Granite Knob

November 13th

Mt. Barrow Discovery Trail with Len Gillett

December 11th

8th June
Sloop Lagoon and Big Lagoon