Category Archive

Notechis scutatus Tiger Snakes average about 1.2 m in length but may be as long as 2m. They are mostly olive brown to blackish brown with yellow to off white coloured cross bands giving them the name of Tiger Snake. “Most Australians know of Tiger Snakes and are aware of their fearsome reputation, though few people will ever encounter one. … Read More

Platycerus eximius (Birds of Drouin booklet p56) Description Size: 290-340mm Sexes alike, female a little duller. Scarlet red head, nape and chest. White cheeks. Back is mottled yellow and black. Blue shoulders. Underparts are a yellow-lime green colour. Bright green rump and red undertail. Call Sharp ‘pink-pink’ when flying and a slower three note ascending ‘pee-pee-pee’. Similar to Crimson Rosella … Read More

Chelodina longicollis The Eastern Long-necked Turtle or Snake-necked Turtle is very common in eastern Australia and into south-eastern SA. They have a long neck and live in freshwater environments in bodies of slow-moving water like farm dams, rivers and lakes. In Drouin they can be seen at Alex Goudie lake, McNeilly wetlands and Crystal Waters. They have shells to around 25cm … Read More

Wurmbea dioica https://grasslands.ecolinc.vic.edu.au/fieldguide/flora/common-early-nancy#location Early Nancy has small white flowers with six petals. Each petal has a pinky/purple arc on it which, when combined makes a complete circle. One of its common names is ‘Bulls eye’. It is easy to find and well spread throughout Victoria including Baw Baw Shire but with increasing urbanization its grassland habitat is under threat. Look … Read More

Galaxiella pusilla  Dwarf Galaxia are only found in southern Victoria from the Michell River Basin near Bairnsdale to Dandenong Creek (Including Baw Baw Shire) and the northeast and northwest corner of Tasmania. Females are up to 40mm and males up to 34mm. Dwarf Galaxia is a protected species in Victoria. https://www.swifft.net.au/cb_pages/sp_dwarf_galaxias.php Dwarf Galaxias are tiny, scaleless freshwater fish endemic to south-eastern … Read More

Artamus cyanopterus (Birds of Drouin booklet P44) Description Size: 170-180mm Sexes are similar. Extensive dark brown plumage, blue-steel grey wings with a white edge. Blue-grey bill tipped black. White underwings contrast with the brown body in flight. Juveniles are similar to adults but heavily streaked grey. Call A strident, repeated ‘zweeet’ in flight. Some soft ‘vut-vut’ and other sounds when … Read More