Olive backed Oriole

A bird we hear alot around the property is the olive backed oriole. Indeed one was calling  repeatedly as we were having lunch today.

Binomial name : Oriolus sagittatus
Common name : Olive-backed Oriole

The name Oriole basically equals the call which is written as "orry-orry-oriole" in the bird book.

http://birdsinbackyards.net/images/audio/oriolus-sagittatus.mp3

The bird has a streaked breast when seen front on that reminds me of the English thrush that occurs in New Zealand.

Oriole seen high in dead tree

The picture we took is a bit indistinct  so included is one that my bird expert sent back  after he had identified it.  It eats berries and small fruits so that is probably why it is around here.

Silver leaf desmodium

In reference to the post on Monday  15/11/10  the Invasive Species Officer  at Brisbane City Council has identified it as Silver leaf Desmodium

Binomial name : Desmodium uncinatum
Common name : Velcro plant or Velcro vine.

The common name is quite apt as both the plant and seeds are very sticky to clothing and shoes.

The invasive species officer mentioned other varieties of this plant, and Glycine, that includes some natives so I will need to check carefully tomorrow to make sure I have the ID correct before committing plant murder with Glyphosate.

The link to the reply and also a plug for the BCC weeds forum that I only recently discovered :

http://202.148.140.166/Topic2284-107-1.aspx

or Google: Brisbane City Council weeds forum.

Also the grandchildren were around for dinner - home grown strawberries and icing sugar for dessert.

Cane toads

Did a cane toad hunt last night -  this pest species is nocturnal and with the warmer weather they have been hopping around again.  I collected 60 last night and interestingly the behaviour of some of them is changing. In previous years, just about all simply squatted or "posed" when a torch was directed at them. Last night quite a few ran to try and escape.  Collection is simply by picking up and putting into a used chicken feed bag which is tied off to prevent them escaping until the morning. This morning they were dispatched - I use the side of a garden trowel to almost decapitate them and they are then buried in the vegetable garden as a fertiliser.  If you are careful and avoid cutting through the poison glands  on the neck and have the mouth of the toad facing away from you, no fluid comes anywhere near your hands or face.  On one occasion I did get some fluid onto my lips which went numb for awhile even though I washed it off straight away. Strictly speaking one should wear eye goggles, long sleeves and gloves as they do have quite a toxic poison.

Bufo marinus

Other methods of dispatch are putting them into the freezer if you are a bit more squeamish than I am.

Siratro

Binomial name :  Macroptilium atropurpureum
Common name:    Siratro

Another weed species that occurs here in summer is Siratro. It is a rampant creeper and climbing vine with a large tap root that can be difficult to pull out if the ground is dry. The flowers are pea type and a dark red purple colour. The leaves occur in 3 broad leaflets/node and are 2-7cm with small silky hairs.
It was introduced as a stock feed, as it has about 15% protein but has become another just another weed species to be managed!  I dislike it as it smothers other plants  and can damage them - for example we have a young Bunya pine that was infested with it last year and it took  a ladder, gloves and much effort to free the tree from it. Then the top was bent over and I needed to run a length of rope around it to strain it to become straight again.

The Queensland DPI  link is :

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/4790_7356.htm

I don't use this plant for anything around the yard but I guess the chooks would eat it.

Still picking peaches and nectarines - one of our best crops ever this year.
I am on a mission this morning to buy more jars for bottling as we have run out of our old Agee jars.

Glycine

 These two images are here so I can upload them to the BCC weed forum for help with ID.

One is glycine and the other looks like glycine.

Both are a nuisance on my property and I would like to learn more about them.  So more about them later when I know a bit more

March fly

There have been some March flies around when working outside -  they are a fairly slow moving fly that are fairly easily swatted when they settle to bite.

Binomial name : Cydistomyia doddi
Common name : March fly     ( overseas they are called Horse flies)


It is the female that bites to get some blood for egg production, whereas the male feed on nectar and pollen and thus are useful for pollination. They bite mammals and also birds, reptiles and amphibians. The larvae live in damp/wet soil and feed on other soil invertebrates.  Here is the link to the Queensland Museum site.

http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/Find+out+about/Animals+of+Queensland/Insects/Flies/Common+species/Horse+flies

Interestingly, they do not spread disease like mosquitos to humans - Macropods (such as Kangaroos and Wallabies) however can be infected by a nematode by these flies.

I was taken by the pattern on the wings.

Otherwise - finally completely finished the physical work on the old dam site. It is now another "room" in our garden  with sweet potato beds, berry patches, dry creek bed, old gold mine/root cellar , water shute and old shipping container made to look like a maori whare.  It is  all mulched, top soil spread where grass is to grow back and only needs some planting. Overall, we are happy with the outcome.

Corky Passionfruit and Dietes

Another weed with edible fruit is Corky passionfruit  - however it is a very nondescript flavour, unlike the Stinking passionfruit which is quite sweet.
Indeed, I would almost suggest not bothering with this one unless there was no other options around!

binomial name : Passiflora suberosa
common name : corky passionfruit

This plant is a perennial vine that climbs on other vegetation up to about 6m high. The lower stems have a corky appearance -thus the common name. The leaves are three lobed up to about 10cm and it has globe shaped fruit 1-1.5cm diameter. The fruit is green and turns dark purple/black when ripe.
A butterfly called the Glasswing feeds on this plant :

http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_nymphs/Glasswing.htm

I have noticed this butterfly around in the past on our property.

Pubmed - nil of interest

The Dietes have been flowering profusely this past week. We have 2 types and 1 cultivar.  It is a tough strappy plant a little like Lomandra but with more prominent and colouful flowers.  Dietes robinsoniana is one we do not have, but I will definitely get if I come across it sometime

Dietes iridiodes

Dietes bicolor