Bats move into their new home

This is a Chalinolobus gouldii or Gould's wattled bat (photo courtesy Joe Tonga) occupying a bat box that Joe installed in Shenton Bushland in 2007 (see Blog, November 2007).

Autumn is in the air

Not much rain yet, but the mood in the bushland is changing. There is a sense of waiting ... the rain is not far away, and life can resume.

Meanwhile ... John and I continued removing veldgrass.
Came across this brachychiton. Have to confirm with Dorothy that it is a weed, and then we will pull it out.



This oddly shaped grass tree is like an abstract sculpture erected in the bushland by an anonymous artist.



Came across these brown-painted pegs. Looks like someone is doing research here. One peg beside each Jacksonia furcellata... hmm, wonder what they are looking for?

Met up with Roz just as we were about to finish up for the morning. Planned a fungi foray for winter time.

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In search of gratiosa ...

The graceful sun-moth (Synemon gratiosa) is an endangered species of moth, found in only a few remnant bushlands in Perth. It emerges from underground in March each year, mates, lays eggs, and dies. The grubs that hatch from the eggs eat the roots of Lomandra species.

We searched through the bushland for 2 hours looking for this elusive moth. Lesley's sharp eyes found a moth, but we are not sure what it was. We also saw another (spotted) moth.

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Continuing veldgrass removal ...

I think we will be removing veldgrass until the rain comes - at least another month to go!

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Locked out!

Lack of maintenance I am afraid - couldn't get into The Shed because the lock wouldn't open. After some fiddling, the whole lock fell out (the screws were loose), and going home for a screw-driver, we were able to fix the lock and get into the shed.
Meanwhile, John and Kim were pulling veldgrass. We also removed a Flinders Ranges Wattle near Shenton College. John came across a Tagasaste about 2 m tall near the Lost Dogs Home - will cut it out next Sunday.

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