This reserve is one that I have visited with varying regularity since the 1980’s. It is a 231ha (570 acres) island surrounded by semi-rural residential. It is mostly open forest with some gallery rainforest elements along the creek and contains a wealth of interesting flora and fauna.
On the morning of my most recent visit the temperature was about 6°C on arrival and probably made it to 9°C by the time I left , and overcast for the most part and looking like a small cyclone had been through with fallen trees and branches littering the tracks. I entered at Phelps Road and walked clockwise around the circuit until I reached the top of the ridge before Macginley Road access whereupon I headed bush to intersect with Ironbark Ridge trail. The purpose of this was to check for flowering of Helmet (Corybas sp) and Greenhood (Pterostylis sp) Orchids. I didn’t find any flowering and the colonies of Helmet Orchids, noted by the presence of leaves, seemed to be less common than normal possibly due to the very dry preceding year. After intersecting the Ironbark Ridge track near its northern confluence with the Grey Box circuit, I proceeded along its length to the south hitting the circuit again which I followed back to Phelps Road.
There was enough Narrow-leaved Ironbark (Eucalyptus crebra) flowering to keep several Rainbow, Scaly-breasted and Little Lorikeets and plenty of Noisy Friarbirds happy. Some flowering of Grasstree (Xanthorrhoea latifolia) and Early Black Wattle (Acacia leiocalyx) was also noted. Forest Red Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis) was in heavy bud near the entrance. Saw Sedge (Gahnia aspera)was recorded fruiting.
On the bird front, 38 species were recorded with honeyeaters well represented with numbers of resident Fuscous Honeyeaters and one of the reserves specialties – Black-chinned Honeyeater – as well as other more common and numerous species. The winter return of Dusky Woodswallow was nice to see as well as another autumn and winter visitor , Rose Robin. An area of very fresh feeding platelets of Painted Button-quail was found but no birds were sighted or heard.
Click here to see my eBird list for the morning visit
Mammal wise there was a single Eastern Grey Kangaroo on arrival, a couple of Yellow-footed Antechinus and a few of the resident Black-striped Wallaby.
