The wetlands (Part 1)

Formerly Salt Creek,the remaining environment is sadly nothing similar to the one I recall.Gone are the Mangroves,the crab burrows and fish nursery.The water is now toxic but supports algae growth,which in turn supports a variety of aquatic life,attracting local and migratory waders.Mullet can survive in this environment and these fish are preyed on by cormorants, pelicans and herons.

 SECTION OF REMAINING NATIVE VEGETATION

The surviving saline flora will disappear as stage 3 progresses,work has already begun on the housing estate,this will lead to an influx of introduced weeds such as the African Daisy (dead vegetation in foreground of above photo ),soon displacing native flora.

 SWAMP PAPER BARK  Melaleuca halmaturorum

A dense shrub,maturing to straggling tree,2 – 7M high.Leaves narrow,lanceolate,3-7mm long.Flower clusters are creamy white,flowering in Spring.Fruit 3-4mm diameter with horn-like spikes on rim.The bark resembles paper and is peeled off by WHITE-BROWED BABBLERS  Pomatostomus superciliosus (below),searching for the insects,spiders and small lizards that hide beneath it,also it provides excellent nesting material. Photo – Lincoln Cove.

         WHITE – BROWED BABBLER  Pomatostomus superciliosus

Also called Hopping Jenny,Happy Family and Cat-bird,it is endemic to mainland Australia,it is usually found in small family groups,feeding on the ground under leaf litter or in the trees,stripping peeling bark.The constant chattering can be heard well before the birds are sighted.Nest building and the feeding of the young are communal activities.Photo – Parnkalla Trail.

 SHRUBBY GLASSWORT  Tecticornia abuscula

The name derived from burning similar species to produce soda-ash used by 14th Century glass makers.It is a perennial,branching shrub to 2M tall,branchlets consist of short segments.Usually inhabits the intra-tidal zone and can be found on the coastlines of all Australian States.This environment is the favourite habitat of White-fronted Chats  Epthianura albifrons (below). Photo – Lincoln Cove.

        WHITE-FRONTED CHAT   Epthianura albifrons

A small finch-like bird,also called Tin-Tack,which feeds on small insects found on the ground on the edges of salt marshes.It will feign a broken wing to distract intruders when the nest is approached.Breeds locally,females are duller.Photo – Lincoln Cove.

 BEADED GLASSWORT  Sarcocornia quinqueflora

A edible succulent,growing to 0.5M high,often used as a salad vegetable to compliment fish dishes.Also called Samphire or Sea Asparagus.The seeds are eaten by Rock Parrots Neophema petrophila  (below) Photo – Lincoln Cove 

        Rock Parrot  Neophema petrophila

A medium size parrot,difficult to locate till in flight,as it blends well with the surrounding vegetation when feeding on the seeds.Sexes are similar and it breeds locally on off-shore islands in crevices in rocks or cliffs.Photo –Lincoln Cove

 AUSTRAL SEABLITE  Suaeda australis

A common perennial,succulent to 75cm high.It is native to all Australian States and favours the intra-tidal zone of sheltered bays and inlets.the leaves were pickled and used as a vegetable by early settlers.Photo-Lincoln Cove

Ecology of a beach

The beach at South Point,Lincoln Cove is a typical example of the areas beaches,protected at both end by rock groynes which halt the erosion by prevailing winds,it is composed partly by introduced sand and natural processes.Above the high water mark various coastal vegetation flourishes,helping to prevent erosion by their spreading root systems.

 TAPE WEED  Posodonia australis    Coastal  plants are in turn fertilised by dead and decaying sea grasses,washed ashore during rough weather and broken down by seaweed worms,sand hoppers and wave action.

 South Point beach,Lincoln Cove 

 NITRE BUSH  Nitraria  billardierei  A perennial salt tolerant shrub flowering mainly in Spring,the fruit is edible and was a valuable source of Bush Tucker for local indigenous Australians during Summer.

 COASTAL SPINIFEX   Spinifex hirsutus  This grass is useful in preventing drift in coastal sand dunes.The female flower heads break away on maturing and roll along the sand,even floating to other beaches and starting new colonies.

COAST CUSHION-BUSH  Leucophyta  brownii  Also called Snow-bush,a round shrub to 1M,found on all coastline dunes and cliffs.It is often used in landscaping dry areas.

 KNOBBY CLUB RUSH  Isolepis nodosa Grows to 1M high and 1.2M diam,native to all States, it prefers margins of saline lakes and beaches.

 COASTAL BONEFRUIT   Threlkldia diffusa   An attractive,succulent perennial herb,occurring in saline areas of Australia.Plants are mainly prostrate but may grow to 40cm

 COAST BITTER-BUSH  Adriana  klotzchii  Occurs on beaches and sand dunes of S.A and Vic,flowers all year ,but mainly Spring.The male and female flowers are on separate plants, grows to 3M.

AMERICAN SEA ROCKET*  Cakile edentula  An introduced plant native to North America,found on most beaches in Australia above the high water mark.The seeds are buoyant and drift to other beaches and become established.

 SEA SPURGE*  Euphorbia paralias  An invasive beach weed,native to Europe,found on beaches from W.A to N.S.W.The seeds are salt tolerant and live for years at sea and once established on a new beach they displace the native plants.

pigface

PIGFACE

These succulent ground cover plants are quite showy when in flower.They prefer a dry,saline location near the coast,two species are common here.

ANGULAR  PIGFACE  Carpobrotus  rossii  

A spreading succulent 2 -3M wide,name derived from the triangular cross section 

of leaves.Stems to 1 m or more long, 3-11 mm thick; leaves glaucous, often slightly 

thicker than wide, mostly 3.5-10 cm long, 6-11 mm wide. Flowers 3.5-5.5 cm diam.

 light-purple, white at base, Aug. — Oct. Fruit purplish to red. Predominantly coastal. 

S.Aust; W.Aust.; Vic.; Tas. 

( Photo - Lincoln Cove )

ROUND - LEAVED  PIGFACE    Disphyema  crassifolium

Stems prostrate,to 1M or more long,leaves clustered along stems,green-tinged reddish.
Flowers 2 - 5cm diameter,bright pink,October - Feb.Fruit 5 - 12mm diam,valves at first
red and succulent,becoming dry and hardened.Occurs along the coast or in other saline
locations.S.A,W.A,Vic,Tas,N.S.W,Qld.  ( Photo - Billy Light's Point )