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Belmont Hills, October 18, 1997.

A warm mid-spring morning greeted 15 starters (plus 3 juniors), and our hosts, Eric Vickerman and daughter Nancy Cramond. They led us on a tour of their property, which contains a significant remnant of the Belmont Scrub.

Initially we meandered through a Hoop Pine plantation, planted several decades ago by Eric and containing many mature millable specimens. Scrambling up several of these were two interesting and uncommon vines. The first of these, Prickly Tape Vine (Stephania aculeata), can be confused with the more common Stephania japonica, but has softer foliage and small, soft, recurved hooks on the stems. The second, Parsonsia brisbanensis, is a recently described species of Silkpod, previously collected only at Yarraman and Ipswich. This is a significant finding and confirms the appropriateness of the specific epithet.

Some of the other plants seen in this area included the Native Croton (Croton insularis), Yellow Wood (Flindersia xanthoxyla), Green-fruited and Purple-fruited Aspens (Acronychia pauciflora and A. laevis), and a grove of impressive, long, pinnately foliaged trees with the curious name of Bastard Crows Ash (Pentaceras australis)!

At this point we came upon three very interesting butterflies. The first, the Common Red-Eye, one of the Flats in the Skipper family, which is rarely seen, and then usually at dusk, was quite a find. We had obviously disturbed it in its daytime concealment. It flew a short distance and perched upside down with wings outstretched (as is usual for this species) under a lantana leaf. Most were able to glimpse its bright orange-red eyes before it took off again. It was no surprise that it occurs here, as its larval host plant, the Bolly Gum (Neolitsea dealbata), was quite common in the area.

Next, a male Hairy Line-Blue (Erysichton lineata) was seen alighting on the underside of a Croton. Some of its larval host plants, Macadamia integrifolia, Cupaniopsis anacardioides and Alectryon tomentosus were growing nearby. Finally, a male Trapezites praxedes skipper, recently emerged and resplendent with silver spotting on its underside, was seen perched on foliage beside the track, and not far from its local host plant, the mat-rush Lomandra longifolia.

We then dropped off the main track into a gully and passed through a large number of specimens of the shrub, Zieria furfuracea ssp. nov. this was only recently rediscovered by Glenn Leiper at this site and had been presumed extinct, as it had not been seen since late in the 19th century. As this is its only known locality, we must assume it to be endangered, as it no doubt will eventually be listed as such.

A little further along, after inspecting another uncommon tree, a large specimen of Cryptocarya macdonaldii, we found a Black Apple (Pouteria australis - formerly Planchonella) with some large fruit on the surrounding ground. As we were quite hungry by this time (or did we want some seed to plant?), an enthusiastic member commenced shaking the quite substantial tree. To our complete surprise, a large Powerful Owl flew out, clutching (for all of us to see) what was clearly the remains of its evening meal, a Squirrel Glider. It landed not far away and stayed a little longer; so we could confirm our identification.

Earlier in the morning we had seen a pair of Crested Hawks (Pacific Bazas) at their nest in a large Bloodwood above Nancys cottage (where we were being treated to a traditional billy tea and biscuits). A sighting of several Large-Tailed Emperor butterflies (Polyuria sempronius) dog-fighting overhead helped make this interlude memorable.

After leaving the owl to its meal, we pressed on to the Spring Creek area where we hoped to see the clay pools and observe the associated geology and vegetation. This is an area at present under threat from the poor planning and construction of a surrounding housing development.
We found the main spring where it emanated from under the red rocky substrate. The associated deep red laterite soil had resulted from the weathering of the underlying metamorphosed chert, part of the Devonian Neranleigh-Fernvale, quartzite deposit. The acidic water (pH 5.8) flowed over a waterfall into a hidden, cavernous pool, surrounded and supported by large Camphor Laurels (Cinnamomum camphora) and native Jackwoods (Cryptocarya glaucescens), with several magnificent Scaly Tree-Ferns (Cyathea cooperi) overhanging the water. We were unable to catch sight of the creature, but heard a loud plop as it entered the water. Was it a water dragon, river turtle, water rat, or even platypus as the locals would like to believe?

On an earlier recce to this area (earlier in the morning), several Macleays Swallowtail butterflies (Gnaphium macleayanum) were seen flying over and ovipositing on both Camphor Laurels and Jackwoods. However, the only butterfly of note found on this occasion was the uncommon Swamp Darter (Arrhenes marnas affinis) which was seen flying amongst and ovipositing on an as yet unidentified creekside native grass.

Nearby, another spring emanates from The Grotto, and this is less acidic (pH about 6.4). This water is able to support a colony of the very restricted Ornate Rainbowfish (Rhadinocentrus ornatus), which is not known on the mainland south of the Sunshine Coast (except for one record from a tributary of Tingalpa Creek at Daisy Hill State Forest). This subspecies (?) is a colour variety not seen elsewhere and is a very significant finding. We saw several of these in the clear clean water as we crossed over.

Hopefully, stormwater runoff from the housing development will not impact adversely on this unique tributary of Bulimba Creek, as downstream, where it joins the main stream (contaminated by stormwater), the fish does not survive.

This sighting completed our interesting and exciting morning of highlights. We crossed over a cow paddock, through the site of future housing, and returned optimistically to our vehicles, in the knowledge that nature still has some surprises for the observant, even in an ever-expanding suburbia.

We are most grateful to our hosts, the Vickerman family, for their time and interest in leading us on this successful excursion.

[Editors Note: Eric Vickerman is one of SGAP Qld. Regions earliest Honorary Life Members.]