Again it’s looking like a dry autumn which is bad news for fungi hunters but good news for sunny days to enjoy the trails in our region and surrounds! Here are a few snippets of interesting things spotted out in the parks and reserves this past month. And if you look really closely, you’ll still see some fungi popping up here and there!

If you’re into local history, trains, nature, walks, bike rides, or all of the above… then get yourself along to the High Country Rail Trail! There are several old trestle bridges to admire along the route, such as this one, the Darbyshire Hill (Chambers Creek) bridge, which is the highest on the line at 21 metres! What a beauty!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While we are in the middle of the firewood collection season, it’s a good time to be reminded that fallen timber is an important piece of the ecosystem puzzle, such as these logs on McFarlanes Hill. It provides habitat for lots of creatures and substrate for fungi, helps to stop erosion, stores carbon, and returns nutrients to the soil. So please consider using sustainable choices when obtaining firewood!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you seen these bundles of grass stems when out walking? They often occur in prickly shrubs such as this kangaroo thorn (Acacia paradoxa). They are likely the nests of thornbills (Acanthiza spp.) who take advantage of the shrub’s prickliness to deter predators Several nests may occur in one shrub, such as this one spotted along the Murray River Red Gum Trail in Wodonga.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s that time of year again when the rain moth or bardi moth (Abantiades spp.) cases can be seen on the ground after a rain event. They are hard to miss as they can be up to 19 cm long! The adults only live for around 24 hours as they have no mouthparts and cannot feed and after mating, will simply drop the eggs on the ground during flight. The larvae then burrow underground, awaiting rain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Murray River Red Gum Trail is currently available to walk in several sections that follow the Murray River and associated creeks. You can access it from the Crossing Place Trail on Lemke Rd., Wodonga and it follows the Murray River and then Wodonga Creek. It is a flat and easy walk with beautiful water views. You can get a detailed look at this particular section in our ‘Focus on Trails’ article here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Orchids not only occur in the spring, but several species flower over the cooler months. This one is commonly known as Parson’s bands (Eriochilus cucullatus) and is endemic to Australia and is mainly found in VIC, NSW, and Tasmania. Up to five small white to pale pink flowers occur on a slender stem. The common name refers to the white (or pink) lateral sepals resembling a clerical collar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The native pale vanilla lily (Arthopodium milleflorum) is reaching the end of its flowering out at Swainsona Conservation Reserve. These lilies have a strong vanilla fragrance which is noticeable on warmer days. The fleshy tubers were eaten by Aboriginal people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This strange-looking critter is the autumn scorpion fly (Chorista australis). The genus Chorista is known only from Australia in Victoria, NSW, and the ACT. These insects are commonly called scorpionflies as the genitals of males are enlarged and raised over the body, looking like a scorpion’s stinger. The majority of species inhabit moist environments such as forests and areas near water. Adult scorpionflies can be scavengers, feeding on decaying vegetation and dead invertebrates, although some are predators and catch their prey with their hind legs, and some consume nectar. The larvae of this species are found in moss mats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The yellow rush-lily (Tricoryne elatior) is also known as the yellow autumn-lily. It is native to Australia and found in all states and territories in sclerophyll forests, heaths and woodlands, and sometimes in swamps. This one was spotted at Swainsona Conservation Reserve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The saffron milkcap (Lactarius deliciosus) mushroom is native to Europe but has been introduced to Australia along with pine trees, with which the fungus has a symbiotic relationship. Hence, many can be found among pine plantations but they also pop up in other places such as this one which was spotted along the Murray River Red Gum Trail.