About 30 metres below the Park Avenue gates in Memorial Park at Blackheath is a huge thicket of invasive weeds; blackberries, ivy, scarlet montbretia, red hot pokers etc. A lone Japanese maple struggles to survive in the centre. The irony is that satin bowerbirds, wattle birds and eastern rosellas spend a lot of time feeding here.

Weeds in Memorial Park, Blackheath.
A TANGLE OF INVASIVE PLANTS

The male bowerbirds call in on the way to their bowers, secreted around the park.

Male Satin Bowerbird.

Above all, the area has become a paradise for smaller birds. The thick understory offers great protection as they feed on nectar and ripening berries.

Eastern spinebills have the perfect beak length for probing red hot poker flowers.

Montbretia is second choice, but still a good source of nectar.

GHASTLY WEED, BUT……

New Holland Honeyeaters boss the spinebills around, but to be honest there is plenty for everyone.

WHICH FLOWER SHALL I CHOOSE NEXT?

Tiny silvereyes prefer the blackberries. If only I had known that this one was calling out, ‘Wasp approaching Pauline….beware, beware!’ In my ignorance I continued clicking away as a European wasp made a surprise, unprovoked attack, stinging me below my eye.

LOOK OUT!
LITTLE BLIGHTER!

Oh good grief, the pain! I have reported her to the council for assault (yes, it’s the females that sting). The silvereye did appear to be regarding me with great sympathy.

FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE WOMAN! SORRY, BUT I TRIED TO WARN YOU!

On a positive note, sweet tempered honeybees were there in abundance and not causing any trouble at all.

HONEYBEE VISITING MONTBRETIA
MONTBRETIA IS A BEE MAGNET
Bee on seaside daisy flower
WASPS COULD LEARN A LOT ABOUT TEMPERAMENT FROM BEES!

These weeds really have to go, but birds do not discriminate between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ plants, native or exotic, especially after bushfires have impacted the area. I do my little bit of weed eradication by picking the flowers.

 

3 Comments
  1. Gorgeous post!! Loved this …but sorry about that sting..little devils. Thanks so much Pauline!

  2. Beautiful

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