This Saturday’s Paluma After Dark walk along Lennox Cr and the start of the H-Track was a success with a small but enthusiastic group of residents and a bit of luck with the inclement weather. Colwyn Campbell was able to joint the group, together with Michele Bird, Jodie Pace, Juanita Poletto and myself. Fortunately, the rain paused just before our scheduled walk and started up again just as we finished. The wet forest floor was covered in gleaming droplets lit up by our torches, but we were still able to see eyeshine from some huntsman spiders and a nocturnal moth. There were several larger items on display as well, including a medium-sized amethystine python crossing the path in front of us, a native rat glowing bluish in our UV lights, a small colony of glow worms (and a minute luminous mushroom) along Lennox Cr. and a large log covered in brilliantly fluorescing liverworts.
One of the things we learned on the walk was that when it comes to using UV light to bring out fluorescence, “torches ain’t torches”. The common inexpensive UV torches available in Townsville stores emit light that is only just within the UV range and also produce substantial visible violet light that can mask or mute the fluorescence. A recently purchased (but more expensive) UV light that emits more light fully in the UV range (365nm) induced more brilliantly blue fluorescence in the liverworts, but also created stunning red fluorescence in some mosses and the new leaves of small seedlings in the forest floor.
Here are a few photos from the walk that will hopefully inspire others to join our next walk in June.
The second “Paluma After Dark” night walk is scheduled for this Saturday at 7pm, starting at Potters Park (27 Lennox Cr).
In the weeks since the inaugural walk in March, there have been a number of unofficial night walks around the village that has uncovered some additional features that can be easily seen along Lennox Cr or the H-track. The most spectacular is the discovery of brilliant green fluorescent liverworts along the H-track. These small moss-like plants are not normally visible in the dark, but suddenly glow electric blue when illuminated with UV light. On the H-track, these liverworts can cover entire logs, mostly as an understory plant beneath and between moss and other non-fluorescing liverworts. Andi Cairns, who is a local expert on liverworts organized a dedicated collecting trip with me and Will Cairns as collectors (the most conspicuously fluorescing logs were just out of wheelchair access range for Andi.) Andi has identified the species as Bazzania vittata.
A rotten log on the H-track. Top left: Illuminated by normal torchlight. Top Right: Illuminated with a UV torch. Bottom: Using both torches to show how the fluorescent species is a relatively inconspicuous component of the surface of the log, which is dominated by a moss and a larger liverwort, Photos by Will Cairns.
After consulting her network of experts from other states and countries it appears that this phenomenon is a recently discovered property of just a few species. And her posts and pictures have motivated other bryologists to go out with UV torches to see what they can find! There is active speculation (but no firm conclusions) on what adaptive advantage this fluorescence confers on the liverwort. It is possible that it provides some protection against UV damage as the fluorescence serves to absorb potentially harmful UV and re-emit it as safe visible light, but there may be other possible explanations.
Another log glowing brightly under UV illumination. Left: under normal torch light. Right: Illuminated with UV torch only. Photos by Jamie Oliver
I have been out on 4 occasions over the last month and have seen these glowing liverworts each time, so I am pretty sure they will be visible during our next Paluma After Dark walk this Saturday.
The other discovery (at least for me personally) is that there is a small colony of glow worms living on a low vertical earth cutting just before the first left-hand bend in the crescent (starting from Potters Park). Several residents have mentioned to me that they have seen glow worms in the past around Paluma, but it’s great to find some right along the road near my house. unlike the fluorescent liverworts, glow worms are bioluminescent and emit light during the nighttime to attract small insects that they feed on. Glow worms are actually the larval phase of a small fly (several species of fungus gnat) belonging to 3 genera. In Australia & NZ there are nine species belonging to the genus Arachnocampa. Here in Queensland the predominant and endemic species is Arachnocampa tropica, which can be found throughout the wet tropics. The larvae of all glow worms produce a series of horizontal and vertical threads with viscous droplets that act as a fly trap for small insects. The larvae live and grow for about 6-11 months while the adult is very short-lived.
Left: No torch lighting-Close up of the luminous larvae (top centre) and adjacent threads and droplets . Right: the entire trap illuminated by torchlight with larva top centre. Photos by Jamie Oliver
I will certainly ensure that we check these out as well during our next night walk.
Text by Jamie Oliver, photos as indicated
The next Paluma After Dark walk will be at 7 pm, Saturday, April 23, at Potters Park (27 Lennox Cr). Bring a head torch and a UV torch if you have one. I will have several UV torches to share.
‘Colwyn’s Track’ was sign-posted and opened over the Easter long weekend on Sunday 17 April 2022. This upgraded walking track commences at the western end of Paluma Village taking walkers through to the end of Hussey Road and then on to Ethel Creek Falls. Wilfred and his merry band of track volunteers including Colin, Jamie and others have spent many long hours clearing fallen trees and debris from the once disused track, so that it is now safe and accessible for walkers to enjoy.
The Track was named in honour of Colwyn Campbell, one of Paluma’s long-time residents, an avid track walker, nature lover and artist. The story goes that Colwyn walked the track some time ago, before the final upgrading work was completed. She commented to Wilfred that the track was ‘a bit rough’ and needed some further work. That further work took place, much to Colwyn’s satisfaction and final approval.
The installation of the new sign for ‘Colwyn’s Track’ took place on Saturday 16 April. Wilfred and Colin undertook the hard work under the expert supervision and direction of Jill and Michele. The opening of the Track then took place on Sunday afternoon at 4 pm. Despite the incessant rain all day on Sunday, a sizeable crowd gathered with umbrellas and raincoats at the newly erected sign. Colwyn unveiled the very attractive new signage and cut the ribbon (pink surveyors tape) to ‘officially’ open the new track. The Klumpps kindly hosted celebratory drinks and snacks on their veranda (out of the rain) after the track opening.
Colwyn has asked me to pass on the following message to the Paluma Community:-
“I feel overwhelmed by the generosity and support my wonderful Paluma ‘family’ has given me over the years. And now, I feel especially honoured to have a walking track named for me. I admire the work Wilfred and the team have done and are doing, in opening and maintaining the old timber and tin trails; allowing people a glimpse of this fascinating environment and its history and am thrilled to be associated, vicariously with their hard work. THANK YOU EVERYONE“.
Special thanks to Wilfred for this initiative and the naming of ‘Colwyn’s Track’ in acknowledgement of one of Paluma’s most beloved residents and nature lovers.
Below are photographs of the Saturday (16 April) installation of the new track signage by Wilfred and Colin and the Sunday (17 April) opening ceremony with the community. (My apologies for the somewhat blurry images from Sunday, but it is a bit challenging to take good photographs in the pouring rain).
Whilst gardening at her Smith Crescent property last weekend, Jodie came across this beautiful Ocellated Velvet Gecko (or OVG for short!). Scientific name Oedura monilis.
These relatively large geckos are found in north eastern Australia from near Townsville, south to the New South Wales border. They are common in forested areas, sheltering by day in crevices of rock outcrops, in tree hollows or beneath loose bark.
My research suggests that Jodie’s specimen is a sub-adult due to the bright yellow dorsal markings. In adult geckoes these markings are said to be variable, but they tend to be darker brown to grey in colour. Individuals usually dwell on a home tree from which they forage widely in search of food. References indicate that these geckoes prefer dry woodland and dry sclerophyll forests rather than high altitude rainforest.
Has anyone else spotted these stunning geckoes in and around the Paluma village?
References: Stephen Swanson – Field Guide to Australian Reptiles and Stephen Wilson & David Knowles – Australia’s Reptiles: A Photographic Reference to the Terrestrial Reptiles of Australia.
Long-time resident of Paluma Colwyn Campbell is a renowned artist whose life’s passion has been to paint and capture on canvas the wonders of nature and the natural environment. Her rainforest paintings inspired by the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and other places across northern Australia have been exhibited several times in Darwin and throughout North Queensland.
In 1995 whilst living in Darwin, Colwyn spent just over a year creating a rainforest-inspired painting of a large python or carpet snake. Colwyn says that the painting was basically inspired by her love for the rainforests of Australia and the creatures of the forest. Her chosen theme for her artwork in 1995 was to paint snakes! The result of Colwyn’s long year of painting is an enormous and impressive piece of artwork, measuring nearly 2 metres in height and more than 2.5 metres in width.
The full canvas of Colwyn’s stunning representation of a python in the rainforest.
Colwyn exhibited her painting at an art show in Darwin in 1996. A close friend of Colwyn’s purchased the painting and he has enjoyed it in his home in Darwin for the past 25 years. In recent months, Colwyn’s friend has moved house and in down-sizing to an apartment he no longer has the room to hang this rather sizeable artwork. The painting was offered back to Colwyn and was subsequently rolled up and shipped to Townsville.
The rolled canvas made its way to Geoff Jensen at Top Frames in Townsville and it has been expertly stretched and mounted on a frame. The immense size of the framed artwork meant that it was a challenge to transport it to Paluma. None of us could fit it safely in our vehicles and Geoff recently made a special trip up the range in his large van to deliver the work to Colwyn.
In a remarkably kind gesture, Colwyn recently gifted the artwork to Wilfred who shares her love of the rainforest and the natural environment. Wilfred and Suzanne plan to hang the painting at the Cavilcade Guesthouse for locals and visitors to admire and enjoy for years to come. Indeed, there are probably few homes in Paluma that would have a wall big enough to accommodate this stunning but particularly large painting!
A more detailed view of the painting and the python.
It seems rather fitting that this splendid painting of a python will hang in Paluma to be enjoyed by many. Pythons are of course common in our village and the surrounding wet tropics rainforest. We see them on a regular basis, especially in the warmer months of the year. A sighting always generates great news, excitement and wonder amongst the local community. These amazing creatures are also of immense cultural significance to Aboriginal people and the original inhabitants of the wet tropics rainforest region.
The Paluma village lies within the homelands of the Nywaigi People. The Nywaigi People along with their neighbours to the south, the Gurambilbarra Wulgurukaba People from Ross River to Rollingstone and the neighbours to the east, the Manbarra People from the Palm Island Group and offshore islands, share a common creation story. The central creation story and myth cycle is focused on Gabul – the carpet snake, whose travels between the Herbert River and the Ross River created the coastline, the eastern coastal ranges and the offshore islands in Halifax Bay and Cleveland Bay. From the Traditional Owners point of view, Gabul created this landscape and Gabul looks after this country.
It’s great to know that Colwyn’s painting inspired so many years ago in Darwin will now hang in Paluma. It has travelled a long way to be here. Thanks to Colwyn’s generosity, we will have the opportunity to admire this artwork into the future and we have our own rather unique representation of ‘Gabul’ to remind us of the immeasurable natural and cultural values of this place. As Colwyn transitions to living on the coast in the coming months, we also have a rather special reminder of our talented friend, a mentor for many and a stalwart of this little community.
Text & Photos by Michele Bird with the kind permission of Colwyn Campbell & Wilfred Karnoll.
Last Sunday morning (6 March 2022) saw 22 people congregate outside the old Cavilcade Guesthouse, the occasion being a bush walk organised by the Townsville Bush Walking Club under the leadership of Wilfred Karnoll to Platypus Pool and Forgotten Falls. Even at 8 am the temperature was already rising, so after doing the administrative tasks some ten vehicles headed out to Chick’s Road which was the planned end point of the bush walk. Five cars were left at Chick’s Road and the other five transported the walkers to the start point at Clapham Junction, about 4 km along the Paluma Dam Road.
We headed off and about 200 metres in along the track we admired the ‘Grandfather Tree’, a giant Eucalypt some 2 metres in diameter at the base. Unfortunately Cyclone Yasi took off most of its crown, as it was well above the canopy of the surrounding rainforest trees. What is left standing of this majestic tree is still very impressive and it must be of considerable age.
We continued along the old logging road, first through rainforest then into more open sclerophyl forest with casuarinas, turpentines, stringy barks and rose gums the dominant tree species. From the logging road we turned onto a narrow bush track that took us down to Williams Creek and the Platypus Pool, so-named after the little critters that supposedly live in it. Unfortunately we didn’t see any platypus on the day, but perhaps 22 pairs of boots and lots of lively conversation gave them ample warning to go into hiding. It was time for a well earned refreshing swim and an early lunch to recharge weary bodies.
We then continued on to Forgotten Falls, one of the tributaries of Williams Creek. Unfortunately our wet season (what wet season you might ask?) hasn’t replenished the water flow over the big rock face and there was only a trickle at this time. In a good wet season there is a spectacular waterfall at this location. The temperature of the water in the pool at the base of the falls was too warm for even the keenest of dippers, as no refreshment was to be gained from it. The big exposed rock shelf above the falls heats up what little water comes down to make it rather uninviting just now.
After taking some photos, onwards and upwards. A few keen walkers scrambled straight up the rock face, whilst the majority chose the safer track beside the falls. From there it was up a steady rise to the top of the plateau and along an undulating logging track, past an old sawmill site, still covered by lots of saw dust and discarded timber off-cuts. The cars were a welcome sight after hot and trying bush walking conditions.
A special mention and a big pat on the back to local Paluma resident Bruno, who in his mid-eighties never missed a beat all day and left some of the younger walkers well behind. Like they say – age is just a number! It was great to see some of the local Paluma residents joining in the walk to enjoy some of the unique treasures near our little village.
Article by Wilfred Karnoll and Photos provided by Jill Meads
On a recent trip up the Paluma Range Road local resident Jodie spotted the beautiful flowering herb below, growing along the roadside in deep shade towards the top of the range in the general area of Mountain Creek.
This is the Pastel Flower, also commonly called the Love Flower (scientific name Pseuderanthemum variabile).
It is described as a ‘small soft herb’ which grows in shady damp places, often near creeks or along gullies. It is said to be common and widespread in warmer rainforests from southeast New South Wales to Cape York in Queensland. In North Queensland it can be found growing at higher altitudes up to 900m. The plant grows only 15 to 30 cm in height and produces small heads of delicate flowers. The flower colour is variable, but most often they are white with a sprinkling of darker (purplish) spots on the lobes. It flowers over the spring and summer months. The opposite leaves are lance-shaped and often have a dark red blush on the under side.
Well spotted Jodie and thanks for sharing the Love (Flower)!
(References: Australian Rainforest Plants III, Nan & Hugh Nicholson1991 and Native Plants QueenslandVolume 1, Keith A.W. Williams 1979).
The inaugural Paluma After Dark walk around the Village occurred after several hot and dry days and my expectations for sighting of larger vertebrates were not high. There was a group of 5 including Julie Bligh, Juanita and two day-visitors (Russel and Joel) from Townsville who decided to delay their return in order to join us. Our brief walk took us out along the Witt’s Lookout track for ~100m and then to McClelland’s Lookout and the lower car park before returning to Potters Park via Lennox crescent.
There was plenty of eyeshine to be seen reflecting back from our torches, but they were almost exclusively from small wolf spiders roaming the ground in search of prey, and various moths resting on leaves. There were no frogs calling and only a few crickets faintly chirping. We were buzzed by several small insectivorous bats swooping past the street light at the back of Lennox Cr, but they were too fast-moving to identify.
Andi Cairns made a suggestion in the post for this event that we should bring UV lights to look out for fluorescent lichen, and Juanita was able to scrounge up 4 small lights from COVID RAT tests we have purchased. These were great fun to use on leaves and trunks, revealing distinctive red colours to the undersurfaces of some leaves and complex multicoloured patterns on trunks. No distinctly fluorescent lichens were found, but the highlight of the night came when Julie noticed that one of the thick smooth green vines that occur along village tracks (White Supplejack) was glowing brightly in the UV light and looking like some otherworldy snake winding its way up to the forest canopy. Words can’t really do it justice so I hope the picture shows why it was it was so memorable.
A White Supplejack Vine (Ripogonum album) fluorescing under UV light
You can never tell what interesting things will present themselves when you go out into the rainforest so I encourage everyone to come along on our next night walk in about 2 months. UV torches will be part of our standard kit from now on!
We have had two previous posts in 2020 and 2021 celebrating observations of the world’s biggest moth (Coscinocera hercules) here in Paluma. This wet season there have been two further reports from Michele Lando and Barry Smith. Comments from previous posts suggest that this striking moth used to be quite common in Paluma some twenty years ago but are now a rare sight.
Photo – Michele LandoPhoto – Barry Smith
Perhaps the local population is on the rise? It is plausible that the proliferation of preferred food plant (Bleeding Heart trees – Homalanthusnovo-guineensis) around Paluma since cyclone Yasi (2011) has provided an increase in the food source for the caterpillars. There are some empirical data to support this notion. A quick look at records from the Atlas of Living Australia shows the number of records of the Hercules Moth in Queensland has increased substantially since about 2011, which is the year that Yasi hit Queensland.
Recorded observations of Hercules Moth (primarily in Queensland) since 1991. Source: Atlas of Living Australia
This type of observational data needs to be interpreted very carefully, however, since it is also possible that the increase since 2011 is simply due to an increase in the number of people recording observations in the popular iNaturalist app.
If you see any more of these wonderful creatures around Paluma, please let Michele Bird or Jamie Oliver know.
