Although the Australian Owlet-Nightjar is stated as widespread and a relatively common nocturnal bird, it is rarely observed. It is a small bird, between 20 and 25 cm in length, with the female slightly larger than the male. Its colouring is of excellent camouflage.
The Black-tailed monitor is commonly found within the Shire of Toodyay, often living in the roofs of buildings and rocky crevices, hollow logs or holes in the ground.
The Toodyay Naturalists’ Club will commence its program for 2026 on Saturday February 21 with a ‘member’s night’.
As is evident, the changing weather is welcoming reptiles from their winter rest. When visiting friends in suburban Perth, a West Coast Ctenotus appeared for a very short period.
The Toodyay Naturalist Club’s (TNC) final meeting for the year last month was a special gathering in more ways than one. It was not only a chance to look back on the year’s activities and events but also an opportunity to celebrate former president Bob Frayne’s 90th Birthday.
The Darter is often called the Snake Bird because of its long, sinuous neck. This species floats very low in the water with only its head and neck visible.
The Clawless Gecko is Australia’s smallest gecko and often found in our houses and sheds.
As spring morphs into summer most wildflowers are starting to wane but not so the Feather Flower (Verticordia) species which are at their blooming best during late October into November.
The TNC recently released an extraordinary collection of member articles for Newsletter #47, covering everything from Rain Moths to an Antarctic voyage. The club also enjoyed a successful spring meeting and wildflower walk at the Ray Paynter Reserve and is planning an end-of-year celebration for Bibbulmun Track pioneer, Bob Frayne.
It is exciting to receive observations from those in the community, especially when the observation is unusual. The sighting of a Western Netted Dragon in the Toodyay area is one such sighting.
The Little Black Cormorant is more common on inland waters than coastal. However, it can also be found on coastal estuaries and is quite prolific in the southwest of the state.
We celebrated a new co-patron and enjoyed a members’ night featuring spectacular East African wildlife photos and rare footage of the club’s 1974 efforts to clear the massive Salvinia infestation at Tomato Lake. The club also honours the legacy of Doug Blandford, whose geological expertise powered local conservation campaigns.
Please submit the form below to register your interest and receive a notification when the new edition is available for purchase.
"*" indicates required fields
