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

February 4

At last!,ideal conditions to venture outdoors so I visited Billy Light’s Pt,and I was amazed at the dry condition of the scrubland.Shrubs dead or dying,Eucalypt branches down due to lack of moisture and flexibility and the new growth on the tips burnt by the wind.The only flowers sighted were Dryland tea tree and Alcock’s wattle (see Wattles ),both appear to thrive in the dry environment.The top soil is dry and powdery,resulting in the wheelchair being bogged,and me being stuck in the scrub for an hour waiting for a passer by, with with no phone and the bush flies for company.



DRYLAND TEA TREE Melaleuca lanceolata Also called Moonah,a shrub or tree to 5M,leaves alternate,linear to narrow-elliptic,5-15mm long,1-3mm broad.Flowers creamy-white,barrel-shaped,Summer months.Fruit smooth,spherical,4-5mm diam.Found in S.A,W.A,Vic,Qld,N.S.W. (Photo-Billy Light’s Point )

The beach was quieter than normal,apart from a few terns,gulls and ducks.I never reached the Point where the main activity is because of the soft conditions.The arrival of bait-fish in Porter Bay ,probably Anchovies,which appear every Summer,has attracted the terns.There are 3 terns common in Lincoln Cove

CASPIAN TERN                                   

Hydroprogne  caspia

The worlds largest tern,with a

length of 50-60 cm,a wingspan

of 130-145 cm and an average

weight of 650 g.Adult birds

have black legs and a thick red

bill.Food is mainly fish and it

breeds locally on offshore

islands.Found Worldwide.

(Photo-Billy Light’s Beach )

Note the size compared with

the Silver Gull

 

CRESTED  TERN   Thalasseus  bergii
Our most common Tern,breeding in large colonies on offshore islands.Upper parts are grey,bill yellow and the distinguishing crest black.This crest recedes in Winter and is used for breeding displays.
Photo shows Crested Terns with Silver Gulls resting amongst Neptunes Necklace ( Hormosira  banksii ) at low tide,Billy Light’s Pt.
Note the non breeding adult with the baldy head at the back.




 
                                                                        FAIRY  TERN  Sternula nereis nereis   Australia’s smallest tern,22-27cm in length, wieghing 70g and a wingspan of 45-53cm.It has a white forehead,yellow beak and legs.Breeds locally,feeding on small bait –fish caught by plunge diving.Sexes similar and usually found in pairs.
( Photo – Billy Light’s Beach )