It looked like the parks were beginning to change from green to brown early in November, but some rain in the second half of the month has kept things green for a little longer with plenty still to see!
Just a reminder that you can click the links in this article to access location information for all the parks and reserves including maps of trails and other useful things you might want to know before heading out, such as interesting things to keep an eye out for! And if you’re on our website, just head to the Explore Your Parks page where all the parks are listed.
The smooth darling peas (Swainsona galegifolia) were out in flower at Swainsona Conservation Reserve during November. While this species can be found in NSW and QLD where it is more abundant and has flowers that may range in colour from white, pink, mauve, or yellow, the population at Swainsona are a brilliant orange, especially bright against the lush green grass! And it’s not only the colour that makes the smooth darling peas at Swainsona extra special – in Victoria they are only known from two sites in the Wodonga region and are classified as critically endangered. They were certainly worth the trip to this hidden gem of a reserve!
Blue pincushions (Brunonia australis), also known as native cornflowers, are very pretty little clusters of blue to mauve flowers that can be found mainly at Swainsona and Castle Creek Conservation Reserves. It grows widely over Australia and can be found in woodlands, open forest, and sand plains. It provides nectar for native species such as butterflies.
Ryans Lagoon resembles an oasis at the moment thanks to cultural watering which has filled the lagoon to sustain it over the warmer months. This will benefit all the critters and plants that live and grow in this environment as filling of the lagoons in spring more closely resembles historic, natural water flow regimes. An ideal location for birdwatchers with over 50 species recorded here.
The blue-spotted hawker (Adversaechna brevistyla) is a large dragonfly and is the only representative of its genus. The colour bands are distinctive and mature males have blue eyes while females have brown eyes. Dragonflies are an ancient group of insects that evolved long before the dinosaurs were around. An early species that lived 250 million years ago was the largest insect to exist and had a wingspan of over 70 cm! Dragonflies are masterful fliers, being able to hover, zigzag, and even fly backwards. This, along with their excellent eyesight, makes them very successful hunters of other flying insects.
It doesn’t matter when you visit, the views from the lookout at Huon Hill Regional Park are always spectacular. The main summit is 263 metres above sea level and boasts views to Lake Hume, the Kiewa Valley, and the Victorian Alps. There are signs all around the lookout that identify the peaks in the distance as well as giving some insight into the history of the region. A little further along from the main summit is a picnic area with toilets and there are several walking tracks to enjoy, including ones that join the trail at Kiewa River Regional Park. Fun fact: did you know there’s a time capsule buried at the main summit to be opened by the Wodonga Rotary Club in 2055?! Wonder what’s inside…..?
How are your ears going? Been deafened by cicadas yet?! What you’re hearing is the call of the males attempting to attract the females. Among the species that we have locally is the clicking ambertail (Yoyetta robertsonae) which is relatively small with bright orange markings. Cicadas are the loudest insects in the world with 200 species found in Australia and many have interesting names as they were originally named by children! Love them or hate them, adults are generally only around for a few weeks after spending six to seven years underground as nymphs, feeding on sap from plant roots.
One of our more easily identifiable snakes, the red-bellied black (Pseudechis porphyriacus) is fairly distinctive with black shiny scales on the back and a bright red row of scales fading to a duller red on the sides and belly. These snakes are most generally associated with moist habitats near streams, swamps, and lagoons, and you stand a high chance of coming across one on the Kiewa River walking trail through spring and summer, although this one was seen on McFarlanes Hill! They are accomplished swimmers and hunt for prey both underwater and on land including fish, tadpoles, frogs, lizards, snakes (including their own species), and mammals. To control their body temperature, they alternate between sunny and shady spots and are mostly active during the day, however in warmer temperatures, they can be active into the evening and night. Males actively search for females during the breeding season and rival males will fight each other by becoming entwined in a battle of strength. Unlike most snakes, females give birth to live young four to five months after mating. This is an adaptive advantage as it gives the female more control over the temperature of her developing young.
In contrast, the eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textillis) prefers open landscapes such as woodlands, scrublands, and savannah grasslands and mainly has a land-based diet of frogs, reptiles, reptile eggs, birds, and mammals. These snakes search out their prey and will give chase and use both venom and constriction to subdue it. Like red-bellied black snakes, eastern brown males will engage in combat for access to females during the breeding season. Females lay an average of 15 eggs that can take up to 95 days to hatch in cooler conditions or as little as 36 days in warmer conditions. The sex of the hatchling is determined genetically, not by the temperature of incubation such as in crocodiles and turtles. Disturbance and clearing of habitat does not deter the eastern brown as this tends to attract large numbers of prey species such as rats and mice, hence this snake is one of the most common species encountered by people which leads to it holding the unfortunate title of causing the most human fatalities of any snake in Australia. Generally, bites can be avoided by leaving snakes be and by wearing long pants with thick socks and sturdy boots when out and about in snake territory. Did you know that snakes evolved from lizards and some snakes still have tiny, vestigial hind limbs? Also, the closest living relative to snakes are the monitor lizards, which are the only lizards to have a deeply forked tongue!
With the recent addition of a handy canoe launching ramp, Waterworks Regional Park is looking the goods for some time in the great outdoors this summer. Not only is there access to the Murray River for fishing, swimming, and canoeing, there are several picnic tables to enjoy your lunch at, and the extensive mowed lawn area is perfect for spreading out a picnic blanket.
That’s it for our Noticing Nature series for 2024 as we take a bit of a break over the warmer months. See you again in 2025!
