Category Archives: Nature Observations

A Spectacular Orchid

Posted on 2 November, 2012 by fobif

Three FOBIF members recently went to Old Coach Road in the Fryers Ranges to have a look at the Giant Sun Orchid Thelymitra aristata. In contrast to our normal small orchids this one was 81 cm (32 in)  and can apparently reach … Continue reading →

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Honeyeaters raise the alarm

Posted on 25 October, 2012 by fobif

Sitting quietly in my garden I get to watch Silvereyes as they go about their foraging. These beautiful little birds are quite common in local gardens. If you remain still you can often be rewarded with very close views. Silvereyes … Continue reading →

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Woolley Bear munches on a Greenhood

Posted on 15 October, 2012 by fobif

Doug Ralph has taken another terrific photo of a Woolly Bear, this time upon a Greenhood. The two holes you can see suggest feeding has begun. The caterpillars of the Arctiidae are mostly covered in dark hairs, which gives them the name … Continue reading →

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Garden birds around Castlemaine

Posted on 20 September, 2012 by fobif

Damian Kelly was the guest speaker at the FOBIF AGM in August. His presentation was about observing local birds in our gardens and he included many excellent photos, including the three below, of birds from his Lyttleton Street garden. Damian … Continue reading →

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‘The only effective way of measuring change’

Posted on 11 September, 2012 by fobif

The August meeting of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club featured a talk by Ern Perkins on systematic environmental monitoring over time: ‘the only effective way of measuring change.’ The following report is based on a more detailed account in the … Continue reading →

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Little Monster?

Posted on 16 August, 2012 by fobif

The beautiful creature pictured below is an early instar caterpillar, from the genus Doratifera, probably Doratifera oxleyi. These moths are commonly called cup moths. It was found in suspended by a thread in an area of severely damaged bushland in … Continue reading →

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Forests under attack from leaf miner

Posted on 6 August, 2012 by fobif

Visitors passing along the Porcupine Ridge Road in recent weeks have noticed that trees on both sides of the road, both in the National Heritage Park and the Upper Loddon State Forest, are looking extremely stressed, presenting a desolate sight.  … Continue reading →

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CFNC Meeting: Native Grasses and the Moolort Plains

Posted on 4 July, 2012 by fobif

On the evening of 13 July there will be a special Castlemaine Field Naturalist Club meeting where Ern Perkins Central Victoria Grasses Identification Guide CD will be launched and Geoff Park will give a presentation on the Moolort Plains. To find out … Continue reading →

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Maniac?

Posted on 17 February, 2012 by fobif

The endearing creature below is a Peron’s Tree Frog, sometimes uncharitably called the Maniacal Cackle Frog, owing to its distinctive ‘machine gun’ cackle. It’s not uncommon for frogs to be seen in household gardens in our district, and for that … Continue reading →

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Parasites aren’t always bad

Posted on 28 December, 2011 by fobif

The red box tree pictured below, on the east side of the Great Dividing Trail as it passes through the Spring Gully Mine site, is interesting for a couple of reasons. One is that it’s sprung up out of the … Continue reading →

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