Exploring Orchids in Esperance: A Solo Adventure

Esperance, Helms Arboretum, List of Orchids Found, Myrup

09/08/2024

Debbie is working this afternoon. I am now retired, so I decided to explore two locations close to Esperance solo.
Helms Arboretum and Myrup.⁹
Not much to report so I will just list the orchids found.

?? Snail orchid
(Pterostylis sp.)

Found at Helms and is un-named. Have posted numerous pics of orchid flower, full plant and the rosettes to assist identification.

Esperance king spider orchid
(Caladenia decora)

Distribution: Bremer Bay to Cape Arid

Flower: mid-August to October

These orchids vary in their appearance. This can make positive ID difficult as the co-occurring (C. heberleana), also flowers during September and October.
They also hybridise with (C. longicauda subsp. crassa) producing various coloured flowers. This also confuses identification

Banded greenhood
(Pterostylis vittata)

Dark banded greenhood
(Pterostylis sanguinea)

Both flower into September. They both have ranges that extend east to Esperance.

Grass-leafed spider orchid
(Caladenia graminifolia)

Distribution: Mt Manypeaks to Israelite Bay

Flowering: August and September

Specimen found had been nibbled and was hanging upside down. This proved interesting to photograph as it was blowing in the gusty wind.

Cowslip orchid
(Caladenia flava subsp. flava)

Distribution: Northampton to Israelite Bay

Flowering: July to early December

Common helmet orchid
(Corysanthes recurva)

Distribution: Mandurah to Albany, with numerous disjunct populations. Not recorded in Esperance though.

Flowering: June to early-September

Western tiny blue orchid
(Cyanicula aperta)

Distribution: Dumbleyung to Mt Ragged

Flowering: August to early-October

Esperance king spider orchids

Also found these at the Myrup location. No other orchids found though at this location.

Orchid season reset @ Helms Arboretum after Birthday Cruise

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

07/08/2024

Well, it has been quite a while since we went orchid hunting.
A holiday to celebrate my 60th Birthday was enjoyed from mid-July to yesterday. No orchids included LOL.

So, what better place to see how the season is progressing than to pop out to Helms.
We were not disappointed!!

Esperance king spider orchid
(Caladenia decora)

Flowers: mid-August to October

Distribution: Bremer Bay to Cape Arid

??snail orchid
(Pterostylis sp.)

Un-named snail orchid species found at Helm’s

Cowslip orchid
(Caladenia flava subsp. flava)

Flowers: July to early-December

Distribution: Northampton to Israelite Bay

Grass-leafed spider orchid
(Caladenia graminifolia)

Flowers: August to September

Distribution: Mt Manypeaks Bay to Israelite Bay

Common helmet orchid
(Corysanthes recurva)

Flowers: June to early-September

Distribution: Mandurah to Albany with many disjunct populations, although Esperance is not listed as one of these

Western tiny blue orchid
(Cyanicula aperta)

Flowers: August to early-October

Distribution: Dumbleyung to Mt Ragged

Banded greenhood
(Pterostylis vittata)

Flowers: late-April to early-September

Distribution: Perth to Israelite Bay

Jug orchid
(Pterostylis recurva)

Flowers: August to October

Distribution: Geraldton to Israelite Bay

Zebra orchid
(Caladenia cairnsiana)

Flowers: August to early-November

Distribution: Lancelin to Esperance

Esperance white spider orchid
(Caladenia longicauda subsp. crassa)

Flowers: August to early-October

Distribution: Bremer Bay to Israelite Bay

10 species found with a possible hybrid between Esperance king and white spider orchids (pics below)

Birdwatching and Picnics: A Day at Monjingup Reserve

Esperance, Western Australian Orchids

05/07/2024

Another school holiday day with the grandkids. We decide to go out and check Monjingup Reserve.
First up we check out the reserve on the town side of Telegraph Road. Here we have a picnic lunch and check out the large chess game. It had seen better days.

After a quick look around, we move onto to the Lake part of the reserve. Located on the other side of Telegraph Road.
Here we take the boardwalk to the bird hide. As the water level is low the birds were a long way away so could not tell what they were. However, there was a nest in the bird hide, which was a good find. The grandkids decide to play on the lake banks for a bit.
Then we continue on the walk trail which goes over the lake via a boardwalk. Here we see some little colourful birds.

Disappointingly only one orchid species was found flowering. The Banded greenhood (Pterostylis vittata) is a common widespread orchid which flowers from late April to early September. The are listed as occurring between Perth and Israelite Bay.

To finish the day off with the grandkids we took them to the creek crossing on Quarry Road. Here we attempted to catch some more fish for our outdoor pond. As these are introduced fish to Australia, we are happy to do this as an adventure.

Another wonderful day spent with the grandkids in the great outdoors.

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.

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!!!!!

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.

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.