Mollymook, 1 Track 4 all, Wildflower R. Ulladulla

["boy nature" <>]

-Mollymook.

-Ulladulla Wildflower Reserve

-One Track For All (Cultural trail)

Mollymook Oval Reserve- Creek

[The Mollymook/ Narrawallee turnoff, from Mitchell Pde to Tallwood ave. The creek running through Mollymook Oval Reserve is drawn on most maps but without a name]

22 bird species, in only 20min 2 ha survey.

Habitat- varied from tall trees, (West), creek-lined veg to dune vegetation (East) (see below)

Bird highlights- A Lewins honeyeater, 2 whipbirds, butcherbird, 1 yellow robin, spotted dove in the West and in the East 2 yellow thornbills in casuarinas/ banksias, a male satin bowerbird building a bower under banksias,

Others- 1 wagtail (1 in site- 1 offsite), 7 little wattle birds, peewee, spinebill, 2 NHH, GST, 2 spotted pardalotes, (a family of kookaburras were also heard out of range.

 

[This creek starts on the West side of the road with tall trees with a mix of thick undergrowth lining the creek plus mown grassy areas. The creek passes under the road, then turns North and is now lined with Casuarina glauca. A board walk parallels the creek, then crosses it heading East over a sand dune, with banksia, then acacia, pigface, grasses, then the Mollymook beach, as you head East, respectively. The main problem with the site is a large septic tank in the carpark.]

 

Ulladulla Wildflower Reserve

South St- Warden St Ulladulla

George James Nature Walk- 1.3 km circular walk.

I probably should have visited this reserve first because it has nature signs, it lists plant species and has trees labelled with species names (Typical!) The main tree species are Eucalyptus, it is a tall open forest with a dense dry understory of roughly 1-3m shrubs and fairly consistent. Perhaps the coastal fires in ~ 2001 led to this less variable vegetation structure.

Bird Highlights- In total contrast to the Mollymook site, above, I only recorded 8 species in 1 hour over 500m radius. Perhaps this is due to the fairly uniform veg structure or because it was 3:30pm and bird siesta time.

 

One Track for all- Cultural trail

Ulladulla North Head- at the end of Dolphin St

Bird highlights- The highlight really was seeing 2 flocks of silvereyes (20 & 8) flying to the Headland from the East-SE. Where were they coming from??? Open ocean. My guess is they were flying North from Wardens Head but then diverted to North Head. They then headed NW. Still the wrong direction as they should be going SW. Only 8 other species were recorded but I had good views of tame yellow robins, scrubwrens and thornbills.

The real reason for doing this walk is the culture trail http://www.heritagetourism.com.au/one-track-for-all-ulladulla-nsw/ and headland views (seabirds/whales). The track follows a figure of 8 through the Headland. The vegetation is mainly 2-4m shrubs of Allocasuarina and Banksia, with some flowering westringia/ prostanthera, Banksia spinulosa, and Pimelea. The track is compacted gravel (suitable for wheel chairs) and is bordered by relief carvings discussing the cultural history, recent and past from an indigenous perspective, emphasising interactions with nature.

I finished the walk after two hours feeling totally deflated and depressed, so perhaps the name of the track is not quite right. Having said that I did find it fascinating, the carvings are really different and interesting and I would recommend anyone goes.

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-factsheet/ulladulla--places-to-see-20081126-6hv5.html

Benj Whitworth (from 9-10/4)