Category Archives: Nature Observations

Winter–and a backward look

Posted on 3 July, 2017 by fobif

So it’s been the driest June on record around much of Victoria. Castlemaine weather station recorded 7 mls of rain for the month, compared to long term average of 56 mls. The previous lowest June rainfall was 13 mls in … Continue reading →

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Small group of walkers braved the heat

Posted on 20 March, 2017 by fobif

Despite the unseasonably warm weather a small but select group of nine kicked off the 2017 walks season by visiting Mt Alexander. Starting from Coopers Lane we climbed to Roxanne Pass, then off track we contoured above Laytons Quarry and up … Continue reading →

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Looking back to 1770 and beyond…

Posted on 16 January, 2017 by fobif

The beetle below is quite famous, and worth considering for a few reasons. One is that it’s a handsome creature. Another is that it’s played a modest role in the history of science. It’s a Botany Bay Weevil [aka Diamond … Continue reading →

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Luvverly, but…

Posted on 19 December, 2016 by fobif

There are two basic truths about weeds. First, they’re often pretty [and maybe even useful in some way], and second, they’re bullies that shoulder aside other plant species to create boring monocultures. Both things are true of St John’s Wort, … Continue reading →

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Call for photos!

Posted on 7 November, 2016 by fobif

The theme of the next FOBIF photo exhibition is Mountains and Waterways. TOGS Cafe in Castlemaine will host the exhibition in November 2017. So if you have a favourite photo/s of Mount Alexander, Mount Tarrengower or other mountain in Mount Alexander region (you … Continue reading →

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Update to FOBIF Chewton walk

Posted on 26 September, 2016 by fobif

Elaine Bayes and Damien Cook who were the leaders on our recent Chewton bush walk showed us that by looking closely at a small area you can often see an amazing number of plants. They identified 25-30 in the square metre they selected. … Continue reading →

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OK: Now it’s a lake, sort of…

Posted on 14 September, 2016 by fobif

Another 40 millimetres of rain on Monday, added to the previous week’s drop, gave a bit of extra push to local waterways, which at the time of writing had approached, but not quite reached, the levels of the flood years. … Continue reading →

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Water

Posted on 12 September, 2016 by fobif

Forty five millimetres of rain fell at the Castlemaine Prison over the two days September 9 and 10. After good winter rains [63 mls in June, 73 mls in July and 63 in August] the streams were ready to run, … Continue reading →

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Fire

Posted on 12 September, 2016 by fobif

DELWP seems to be expanding and varying its community consultation processes on fire. A ‘listening post’ was conducted by fire officers in Castlemaine on Saturday; and last Wednesday representatives of the Castlemaine Field Naturalists toured the district with the Department’s … Continue reading →