Whitecross environmental reserve Bli Bli

Article and images by Judith Hewett, volunteer.

On Wednesday 20th April 5 wetlands members joined the Whitecross Road environmental reserve bushcare group and visitors on a guided walk through the reserve. We gathered at Bottlebrush Avenue park for the start of the walk.

Most of the group were able to see the fairy gerygones that were flitting around in the tree canopy. These dainty birds are more often heard than seen.

At this end of the reserve there has been extensive weed removal and the planting of 2,800 assorted plants, shrubs and trees. Most of them appear to be thriving. The site covers 7.5 hectares. We walked the track that commences at Bottlebrush Avenue park area and finishes at the Perren family park area. Along the way we were shown assorted indigenous food and medicinal plants that are endemic to this area. We identified about 20 bird species and several butterflies. The day was somewhat overcast which meant the walk was pleasant but the birds and butterflies were scarce.

This area is a hidden gem and provides an easy walk for most people. The gully crossings with stairs may be a challenge for some.

We finished the outing with a pleasant light picnic lunch at Perren family park. Thank you to Nadia and her team for sharing this area with us:

• birds, seen and/or heard: brown cuckoo-dove, fan-tailed cuckoo, laughing kookaburra, rainbow lorikeet, Lewin’s honeyeater, dusky honeyeater, brown honeyeater, blue-faced honeyeater, white-browed scrubwren, fairy gerygone, eastern whipbird, grey butcherbird, Australian magpie, pied currawong, black-faced cuckoo-shrike, Australasian figbird, olive-backed oriole, spangled drongo, golden whistler, willie wagtail, magpie-lark, grey fantail, spectacled monarch, eastern yellow robin
• butterflies: Brown ringlet, purple crow, orchard swallowtail, grass yellow
• fungi and slime moulds: Cantharellus sp. Microporus xanthopus, Cymatoderma elegans, Auricularia mesenterica, Stemonitis aff. splendens.

This is just my record, others may have seen, heard additional species.

This walk was hosted by Sunshine Coast Council's BushCare Sunshine Coast program. If you would like to care for your local bushland visit our BushCare website for more information.