Esperance

Locations within 20kms of town.

Tadpole Discoveries and Orchid Sightings with Grandkids

Esperance, Western Australian Orchids

03/07/2024

As the grandkids were disappointed with not finding any tadpoles on our last adventure, today we head east.
Orchid hunting will again play a secondary role for the day.
First stop for the day is our Neridup1 location as it fills up with water during winter.
No tadpoles found however the grandkids had fun in the water and also climbing the blue metal pile.
I did locate a Brittle snail orchid (Pterostylis timothyi) nearly fully formed. I took some pics for recording purposes. These orchids flower July through September over a range extending between Mt Lindesay and Mt Ragged.
The Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata) was also found. It flowers from April through September. Its range extends between Perth and Israelite Bay.

Moved onto a random puddle along Scaddan Road. No tadpoles found though we did find some fungi and more Banded greenhoods.

Next, we move onto Dempster Road where we try another roadside puddle. No tadpoles but further Banded greenhoods. This is becoming repetitive.

We need to find a better location on the way home. Otherwise, this will be another lost day concerning tadpoles.

I noticed a spot with water pooled so we turnaround and make one last attempt.
Deb and the grandkids explore the shallow but clear water whilst I bush bash for orchids.
We break the pattern; I find nothing whilst they catch 3 small tadpoles.

Success.

A successful afternoon for the grandkids in finally catching some tadpoles. Orchids though are proving elusive other than Banded greenhoods which appear everywhere. LOL

School holiday fun with Grandad and Nana… I feel they enjoyed themselves as we certainly did.
Life is wonderful in the great outdoors.

Orchid Hunting and Nature Outing with Grandkids

Esperance, Helms Arboretum, Western Australian Orchids

What to do with the grandkids on school holidays?
Go for a drive out to Helms Arboretum to let them run around and also look for tadpoles.
Plus, why not squeeze in a little orchid hunting.
LOL

Alas, no tadpoles were found. We did have fun climbing trees and finding fungi. We also enjoyed collecting pinecones and gum flowers snipped off by the Black cockatoos.

In between all the fun I did manage to take some quick snaps of two orchids. Both are common so nothing too spectacular.

Firstly, is the White bunny orchid (Eriochilus dilatatus). Flowering occurs April through June over a large range, Dirk Hartog Island to Israelite Bay.

The other orchid found was the Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata). This orchid flowers April through September and it ranges from Perth to Israelite Bay.

A wonderful 3 or so hours spent in the outdoors with the grandkids.

Life is great

A Mother’s Day Adventure at Helms Arboretum

Esperance, Helms Arboretum, Western Australian Orchids

12/05/2024

It is Mother’s Day, so we head out to the Esperance Bird and Animal Park for breakfast. We are joined by our two son’s and their little families.

After a very enjoyable morning with family, we decide to check out Helms Arboretum. As we are in the Corolla, we will stick to the gravel tracks only. It will be interesting to see what orchids make an appearance.

As expected, the first orchids found are the bunny orchids. These little orchids flower from March in some areas all the way to June in others.

The White bunny orchid (Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. dilatatus) is the most widespread of the species. They are found between Shark Bay and Israelite Bay.

Leaf is sometimes red backed

The only other orchids found were those of the Greenhood family.

The also widespread Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata) is found flowering in a few isolated spots.

They flower from April till September between Perth and Israelite Bay.

Not too many orchids currently to be found out at Helms Arboretum. Rather a slow start to the season.

New Orchid Discovery at Helms Arboretum – 2023 Season Finale Highlights

Esperance, Helms Arboretum, List of Orchids Found, Western Australian Orchids

14/10/2023
Well time stops for no man and the orchid season is nearing its end. For Deb and I this will be our last planned orchid hunt for the season. Later flowers do bloom right though to Feb. However, we call it quits now that the snakes are active, and the orchid pickings are slim.
So, what better place to finish the season than at Helm’s Arboretum? It is a part of the 4000 ha Helms Forestry Reserve.
There is not much of a tale to tell initially. I will just post pictures of the many Sun orchids found flowering.
NOTE: Access to Florabase for info on each orchid is linked via the scientific name.

Slender sun orchid

(Thelymitra vulgaris)

Scented sun orchid

(Thelymitra macrophylla)

Shy sun orchid

(Thelymitra graminea)

Leopard orchid


(Thelymitra benthamiana)

As is normal for Helms there are other species found that are not sun orchids. I will now list these below.

Common mignonette orchid

(Microtis media subsp. media)

Elegant donkey orchid

(Diuris concinna)

Esperance spider orchid – Hybrid

(Caladenia decora x longicauda)

We check out a newer area of the arboretum where the soil is mainly white sand. This is to see if this habitat turns up anything new or more of the same.
OMG we are very excited to find our very first Flying Duck orchids. These orchids belong to their own genus: Paracaleana of which 15 species are found in WA.
4 of which are found in the Shire of Esperance.
From these 4 I feel these to be the Broad-billed duck orchid (Paracaleana triens) which flower Sept-Oct.

Broad-billed duck orchid

(Paracaleana triens)

What a way to end our 2023 Orchid season. We are adding a brand-new orchid to our list of species found.

Roll on the 2024 season!!!!!

Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata)

10/06/2023 ….. Banded greenhood stands alone.

Esperance, Pink Lake, Western Australian Orchids

Just a quick trip out to my Pink Lake lookout location to see what is currently flowering. Only one species found which is a bit disappointing however I am always happy to find the unassuming Pterostylis genus.
When I first starting my interest in native orchids, I was completely unaware of these very strange, usually green orchids. On first glance they blend in with their surroundings due to the unusual flowers being coloured the same as the stem and leaves.
The common name for the complex; Greenhoods, is very apt given the colouring and structure of the flowers. The flowers are usually green and white striped (more rarely fawn and white striped), with the joined petals and dorsal sepal forming a hood over the column.
The species found is the Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata) which is a common orchid found flowering over a wide distribution, between Perth and Israelite Bay from late April to early September. They can grow to over 450mm in height and can have up to 25 flowers per plant.
They were named way back in 1839, from specimens collected inland of Albany, from the Latin “vittatus” for longitudinally striped.

Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata)
Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata)
Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata)
Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata)
Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata)
Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata)

16/04/2023 ….. Bunnies found.

Esperance, Helms Arboretum, Western Australian Orchids

This time we have lunch rather than breakfast at the Esperance Bird and Animal Park. We enjoy the company of friends, Kim and Linda and I enjoy a beer 🙂 After a pleasant catch-up Deb and I decide to go check out one of our favourite orchid haunts, Helms Arboretum (Mud Map SE35). We are hunting the early season species such as the white bunnies, hare and leafless orchids.

After spending around an hour checking various locations, we struck out with the hare and leafless orchids, zero found 🙁

We did however find a few White bunny orchids (Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. dilatatus) in flower. These small orchids commence flowering in April and continue into May over a large coastal range from Lancelin to Israelite Bay. The labellum is usually a cream colour with purple markings, that can range in vividness to almost non-existence.

  • White bunny orchid (Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. dilatatus)
  • Small, hairy, purple marked labellum
  • Dorsal sepal forms hood over column
  • Spreading, forward projecting lateral sepals
  • Up to 7, rarely 10 flowers per inflorescence
  • Very small petals, appear as little hands.
  • Showing the single leaf growing well up the stem
  • Showing habitat found at Helms Arboretum
  • Stand up to 350mm in height.
  • White lateral sepals

22/10/2022 ….. Hop out to Helms

Esperance, Helms Arboretum, Western Australian Orchids

Breakfast enjoyed at the Esperance Bird and Animal Park with my sister Lorraine, brother in-law Ken and Tim, Tian and kids. It was then time to show L&K the Helms Arboretum orchids. Well, the one’s flowering in late October that is.

It has been raining so the orchids are covered in drops of water which makes for some great pictures. First up we find the small but colourful Elegant donkey orchid (Diuris concinna) which flowers from September to early December between Bremer Bay and Cap Arid.

  • Forward projecting lateral sepals hidden under labellum
  • Tapering dorsal sepal
  • Up to 400mm in height
  • Up to 5 flowers per orchid
  • Covered in water droplets

Also, very excited to find some orchids without any colouring other than yellow. These are likely to be lutea or hypochromic versions of the Elegant donkey orchid, as the visually similar Little Esperance bee orchid is listed as a very rare orchid, so is unlikely to be found at Helms.

  • Tapered dorsal sepal
  • Elongated petals
  • Forward projecting lateral sepals hidden under labellum.
  • Up to 5 flowers per orchid

Due to the damp and overcast weather the sun orchids are barely open. Firstly, the Leopard orchid (Thelymitra benthamiana) is found. These orchids flower from September to November between Northampton and Israelite Bay. Next is most likely the Scented sun orchid, however as I overlooked taking photos of the leaf, positive ID will not be possible.

  • Leopard patterning visible
  • ?? sun orchid (Thelymitra sp.)
  • ?? sun orchid (Thelymitra sp.)
  • Multiple flowers

Other random orchids found include the Purple enamel orchid (Elythranthera brunonis) which flowers August to early November between Kalbarri and Israelite Bay; the Rattle beaks (Lyperanthus serratus) which flower September to November between Perth and Israelite Bay; and the White fairy orchid (Caladenia marginata) which flowers late September to November between Juien Bay and you guessed it, Israelite Bay.

  • Purple enamel orchid (Elythranthera brunonis)
  • Rattle beaks (Lyperanthus serratus)
  • White fairy orchid (Caladenia marginata)

Then last but definitely not least, we locate some spider orchids. The Esperance white spider orchid (Caladenia longicauda subsp. crassa) is still found in fairly good numbers, given they are recorded as flowering August to early October. The other orchid is the Esperance king spider orchid (Caladenia decora) which flowers mid-August to October. Both orchids are recorded as occurring from Bremer Bay to as far east as Israelite Bay and Cape Arid respectively.

  • Esperance white spider orchid (Caladenia longicauda subsp. crassa)
  • Esperance white spider orchid (Caladenia longicauda subsp. crassa)
  • Esperance white spider orchid (Caladenia longicauda subsp. crassa)
  • Esperance king spider orchid (Caladenia decora)
  • Esperance king spider orchid (Caladenia decora)

With at least eight species located it turned out to be quite a successful hunt. Oh, I would love for the yellow orchids to be the Little Esperance bee orchid, however I would require a better person than myself to name them that. However even if they are just a single-coloured variety of D. concinna, that will still be fine. Tomorrow, we head north.

04/09/2022 ….. Father’s Day Findings Pt. I

Dempster Head, Esperance, Western Australian Orchids

Father’s Day breakfast enjoyed at my son’s home with his little family. After stuffing ourselves, we all venture up to Dempster Head to walk off the excess joules. 🙂 It is during our walk that we encounter the following orchids.

Often crossed lateral sepals

Spectacled donkey orchid (Diuris conspicillata)

Distribution & Habitat: Restricted to the Esperance area, growing in shallow soil pockets on coastal granite outcrops.

Up to 6 flowers per orchid
Stand up to 90mm in height.

Eastern granite snail orchid (Pterostylis voightii)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Albany & Israelite Bay, growing in shallow soil pockets on granite outcrops.

Thickened lateral sepals.
Very long sepals

White spider orchid ?? (Caladenia sp.)

Unknown species of spider orchid.

Greenish tones to petals and sepals
Up to 3 flowers per orchid

Esperance white spider orchid (Caladenia crassa)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Bremer Bay and Israelite Bay, growing in clay and sandy-clay soils in seasonally moist woodlands and shrublands. Flowers best in the season following summer fire.

Flowers are 80-140mm across
Standing 50-150mm in height

Western tiny blue orchid (Cyanicula aperta)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Dumbleyung and Mt Ragged, growing in sandy, sandy-clay and lateritic soils in woodlands and scrublands.

Bluish-mauve flowers
Short spreading petals and sepals

Pink fairies (Caladenia latifolia)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Kalbarri and Israelite Bay, growing in sandy and sandy-clay soils in forests, woodlands and shrublands. In inland areas the species grows on low rises beside salt lakes and occasionally on granite outcrops. Also found in SA, VIC and TAS.

Stand 120-450mm in height
Ground hugging leaf 20-30mm round

Crystal helmet orchid (Corybas limpidus) (Corysanthes limpidus)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Walpole and Israelite Bay, growing in sandy soils in coastal woodlands and shrublands.

Green and burgundy blotched flower
Broad labellum

Mosquito orchid (Cyrtostylis robusta)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Perth and Israelite Bay, growing in sandy, sandy-clay and granitic soils in forests, woodlands and shrublands. Northeast of Esperance the species occupies shallow soil pockets on granite outcrops.

Ground hugging leaf, 10-30mm round
Stands 250-500mm in height.

Esperance king spider orchid (Caladenia decora)

Distribution & Habitat: Found between Bremer Bay and Cape Arid, growing in sandy-clay and clay soils in woodlands and shrublands.

Four of more rows of calli

Saying goodbye to the kids, grandkids and Deb C, we head north for our next location. Here we check out the burnt patch north of Gibson.

17/07/2022 …. Dempster Head Wander

Dempster Head, Esperance, Western Australian Orchids

Another sunny winters day so what better thing to do than to look for orchids. However, this time I am accompanied on my wander by my latest grandchild, Bonnie and her mum of course. Not too much was found however I will list those found below with pics to confirm the sightings.

Mosquito orchid (Cyrtostylis robusta) is a species found between Perth and Israelite Bay. They flower June to August and can rise to 300mm in height. It has the largest labellum out of the 4 species found in WA.

Mosquito orchid (Cyrtostylis robusta)
Mosquito orchid (Cyrtostylis robusta) leaf
Mosquito orchid (Cyrtostylis robusta)
Mosquito orchid (Cyrtostylis robusta)

Curled-tongue shell orchid (Pterostylis rogersii) is a species found between Binningup and Esperance. They flower June to August and can rise to 200mm in height. It is one of the 7 species found in WA.

Curled-tongue shell orchid (Pterostylis rogersii)
Curled-tongue shell orchid (Pterostylis rogersii)
Curled-tongue shell orchid (Pterostylis rogersii)

Eastern granite snail orchid (Pterostylis voigtii) is a species with a restricted range between Esperance and Israelite Bay. They flower July to early September and only rise to 50mm in height. This species was only named in 2015.