Today we head east of Esperance along Fisheries Road until we reach our first planned location, Boyatup 1 (Mud Map SE40). Making our way along the track, then along the edges of the gravel pit, next along the track up to the Hill and finally checking the low granite areas to the SE of the hill/west of the track. Many orchids were found and I have listed them with at least 1 photo for recording purposes.
Jug Orchid
(Pterostylis recurva)
A common species found from Geraldton to Israelite Bay.
Flowers from August to October.
Dancing spider orchid
Caladenia discoidea
A distinctive species found from Kalbarri to Israelite Bay.
Flowers between August and early-October.
Blue Beard
Pheladenia deformis
Common species found from Murchison River to Israelite Bay.
Flower between mid-May and October.
Boyatup china orchid
Cyanicula sp. “Boyatup”
A restricted orchid growing from Condingup to Boyatup Hill.
Flowers in August and September, though usually only in the season following a summer fire.
Green Range donkey orchid
Diuris littoralis
Occurs in coastal and near coastal habitats from Denmark to Esperance.
Flowers between July and early-September.
Common bee orchid
Diuris decrementum
Common species found from Wongan Hills to Israelite Bay.
Flowers between August and early-Octpber.
Esperance king spider orchid
Caladenia decora
Common species found from Bremer Bay to Cape Arid.
Flowering between mid-August and October.
Common spider orchid
Caladenia varians
Widespread orchid found from Kalbarri to Esperance.
Flowers between July and mid-October.
Mosquito orchid
Cyrtostylis robusta
Widespread species found from Perth to Israelite Bay.
Flowers between June and August.
Beautiful donkey orchid
Diuris pulchella
Widespread eastern range from Salmon Gums to Israelite Bay.
Flowers between July and September
Mallee banded greenhood
Pterostylis arbuscula
Short-statured species found from Dalwallinu to Eyre Bird Observatory.
Flowers between June and September.
Cream spider orchid
Caladenia horistes
Common species found from Fitzgerald River N.P. to Balladonia.
Flowers between August and early-October.
Western tiny blue orchid
Cyanicula aperta
Common species found from Dumbleyung to Mt Ragged.
Flowers between August and early-October.
After two and a half hours and 13 species found, we make tracks for the next spot, which is totally unplanned. In the location of Howick we find a new location. (Howick1) Refer to next post for details>>
So today I am heading out orchid hunting with another orchid enthusiast. We connected via the South East WA Orchid Group on Facebook. Luc has kindly offered to use his vehicle for the adventure. We have decided to head out east of Esperance and will be sharing our locations and techniques for finding orchids.
Our first location is Mount Ridley. He we pull up on the track, near a low granite outcrop, on the drive in from Dempster Road. This proves a fruitful location as we find multiple species within say 50sqm.
First picture taken is of the Cream spider orchid (Caladenia horistes). They are endemic to WA and are distributed between Southern Cross, Fitzgerald River N.P. and Balladonia. Grow in woodland and mallee scrubs, in damp locations on or around granite outcrops and along seasonal drainage lines.
(Caladenia horistes)
A nice triple headed donkey orchid is then captured in pixels. The Yellow granite donkey orchid (Diuris hazeliae) as the names suggests, grows in shallow soil pockets on granite. Also occurs in deeper sandy-clay soil along drainage lines. Distributed between Paynes Find and Balladonia.
(Diuris hazeliae)
Next up the Sugar orchid (Ericksonella saccharata) is found scattered across the site. These endemic white orchids are distributed between Paynes Find and Israelite Bay although absent on the West Coast and in the far South West. They grow in a variety of habitats including heaths, woodlands, mallee scrubs and granite outcrops, on sandy to clay to gravelly loam soils.
(Ericksonella saccharata)
Time for a blue orchid to be recorded. The Blue beard (Pheladenia deformis) is also known as the Blue fairy orchid. In WA they are found growing from Murchison River to Israelite Bay. They also occur in SA, Vic, Tas, and NSW. Varied habitats from the coast to inland plains and foothills.
(Pheladenia deformis)
And the last orchid found at this location is the Small mantis orchid (Caladenia attingens subsp. gracillima). Found between Jerramungup and Israelite Bay growing in sandy and sandy-clay soils in woodlands and shrublands.
(Caladenia attingens subsp. gracillima)
We move onto the main parking area and head into the bush adjacent to the granite outcrop. After quite some time of not finding anything in flower I stumble across a patch of small orchids. Very excited as I have only found these particular orchids once before. Back in 2018 at Wattle Rocks along the Holland Track.
The Dwarf zebra orchid (Caladenia pachychila) is found growing between Nerren Nerren Station and Mt Ragged. Typically, an inland species growing in mallee heaths and scrubs, on sandy to clay loam soils, also in shallow soils on granite outcrops, usually sheltered under shrubs
(Caladenia pachychila)
Intermixed with the dwarf zebra orchids were some small spider orchids. They appear to be more Cream spider orchids.
(Caladenia horistes)
Moving a little further west along the rock edge, still in the bush, I come across a larger spider orchid. I believe this to be the Rigid white spider orchid (Caladenia longicauda subsp. rigidulus). They are located between Ravensthorpe and Israelite Bay and inland to Balladonia growing in woodland and mallee scrubs, usually on or around granite outcrops. Also occurs on winter-wet flats and along watercourses.
(Caladenia longicauda susbp. rigidulus)
Where the track hits the granite in an isolated patch of vegetation I find another Yellow granite donkey orchid. Before we drive on, I quickly check out the Resurrection bush growing on the flat granite for any orchids. Here I found some more Cream spider orchids.
(Diuris hazeliae)
(Caladenia horistes)
Ok so now we jump back into the 4WD and take the track along the edge of the granite that leads up to the Aboriginal Rock Art.
Under the surrounding scrub a single Western tiny blue orchid (Cyanicula aperta)is found. Located between Dumbleyung and Mt Ragged growing in mallee scrubs and woodland, on sandy to clay loam soils, also on and around granite outcrops in shallow gravelly soils.
(Cyanicula aperta)
Another solitary orchid found was the Jug orchid (Pterostylis recurva). These occur between Geraldton and Israelite Bay growing in sandy, sandy-clay and lateritic soils in forests, woodlands and shrublands. In inland areas it is also known to occur on granite outcrops in shallow soil pockets.
(Pterostylis recurva)
The Little laughing leek orchid (Prasophyllum gracile)was found growing in the moss on a shallow soil pocket in the granite rock. These orchids occur between Shark Bay and Eyre also growing in sandy, sandy-clay and granitic soils in woodlands and shrublands. Near the coast they also occur in seasonally wet flats.
(Prasophyllum gracile)
In the scrub above the rock art Luc stumbles across a great bunch of Rigid white spider orchids, so I just have to share a pic of these.
(Caladenia longicauda subsp. rigidulus)
Also found nearby was a single Hairy-stemmed snail orchid (Pterostylis setulosa) still in flower. In WA these occur between Nerren Nerren Station and Balladonia. They also are found in SA and western NSW. They are a common orchid growing in shallow soil pockets on inland granite outcrops as well as sandy, sandy-clay and granitic soils in woodlands and shrublands.
(Pterostylis setulosa)
Also found was a Sugar orchid, more Cream spider orchids and Yellow granite donkey orchids.
Another first found for the day was a Lemon scented sun orchid (Thelymitra antennifera)growing in the middle of a resurrection plant. These are found between Shark and Israelite Bays, growing on creek margins, seasonally moist flats and granite outcrops.
(Thelymitra antennifera)
Time to move on so Luc takes us to a spot where he has found many Blue beards. It is along the track to the secondary parking area. There we found many Blue beards but many had finished the season already. We did have a quick look around for anything else. Alas nothing else found.
Blue Beards are found in various shades of blue/mauve and can even be found in white.
(Pheladenia deformis)(Pheladenia deformis)
Moving south down Dempster Road to one of my spots (Wittenoom hills3) in the Mt Ridley Nature Reserve which is a location new to Luc. It was here I found shell and greenhood orchids on a previous visit. It will be interesting to see what is found this time.
First up Luc finds the Midget greenhood (Pterostylis mutica). In WA these orchids are found between Wongan Hills and the SA border, whilst also being found in SA, Vic, NSW, Tas and southern QLD. They grow in sandy, sandy-clay and loamy soils in woodlands and scrublands.
(Pterostylis mutica)
Then a small spider is seen hiding in the dry gum leaves and sticks. I had not found this species at this location before, so that was exciting.
The Sigmoid spider orchid (Caladenia sigmoidea) is found between Mts Jackson and Ragged growing in mallee woodland on or around rocky outcrops, on heavy clay to lighter sandy loam and sometimes gravelly soils.
(Caladenia sigmoidea)
Found the shell orchid again but not in the numbers previously found.
The Dwarf shell orchid (Pterostylis brevichila) is found between Hyden and Mt Ragged growing in sandy-clay and clay soils in woodlands and shrublands.
(Pterostylis brevichila)
Close to the shell orchid more Sigmoid spider orchids were found. A very special one was discovered. It appears to be a hypochromic/lutea version. These lack certain colour pigments and usually appear yellowish white in colour.
Lutea (Caladenia sigmoidea)
Moving east along Norwood Road we pull into Mt Burdett which unlike Mt Ridley is found within the boundaries of the Nature Reserve bearing its name. We make our way around the base of the rock first, before climbing up to the Telstra tower. Orchids are found sparsely scattered around.
I will list those found at this location that had been found elsewhere today.
Jug Orchid Cream Spider Orchid Yellow Granite Donkey Orchid Western Tiny Blue Orchid
I have also included a video of the Cream spider orchids blowing in the wind, to provide you some idea of how hard it can be to get a good photo !!
Now for the more exciting finds here at Mt Burdett.
Firstly, comes the colourful Beautiful donkey orchid (Diuris pulchella)which occurs between Salmon Gums and Israelite Bay growing in shallow soil pockets on granite outcrops and deeper soils in surrounding shrublands.
(Diuris pulchella)
Next, we find the Pink bunny orchid (Eriochilus scaber subsp. scaber)still in flower. These small orchids are found between Jurien Bay and Cape Arid National Park usually after a previous summer bushfire. They prefer moist habitats, and our little patch is found growing in the moss on the granite rock.
(Eriochilus scaber subsp. scaber)
A single flowering Brittle snail orchid (Pterostylis timothyi)is the final orchid found at this location. They occur between Mt Lindesay and Mt Ragged and inland to Merredin, growing in sandy, sandy-clay, and clay soils in woodlands and shrublands
(Pterostylis timothyi)
Next stop is one of Lucs locations where he has found Curly locks before. This location is in Neridup2 along Coolinup Road.
Luc found the Southern Curly-locks (Thelymitra uliginosa) in flower which confirmed this was the correct spot. They are found between Busselton and Esperance (This location is over 50kms northeast of Esperance) growing in seasonally damp areas surrounding peaty swamps and granite outcrops.
(Thelymitra uliginosa)
Pics of orchids found here as before in previous locations: Jug Orchid Western Tiny Blue Orchid Cream Spider Orchid
I have also included a pic of the typical habitat we find the Southern curly-locks growing in.
(Pterostylis recurva)(Cyanicula aperta)(Caladenia horistes)Typical habitat for Southern Curly-locks
Another snail orchid is found, however due to its stature and bloated appearance I believe it to be another new species for the day: The Fawn snail orchid (Pterostylis parva). Found between Albany and Eyre and inland to near Lake King, growing in sandy, sandy-clay and clay soils in woodlands, shrublands and soil pockets on granite outcrops.
As the name suggests they are located between Bremer and Israelite Bays growing in clay and sandy-clay soils in seasonally moist woodlands and shrublands.
(Caladenia longicauda subsp. crassa)
A bright yellow orchid comes into view. The Common bee orchid (Diuris decrementum) is found between Wongan Hills and Israelite Bay growing in sandy-clay soils in open woodland and shrublands.
(Diuris decrementum)
Another donkey orchid found, however a different species thus time.
The South coast donkey orchid (Diuris brockmanii)is found between Ongerup and Esperance growing in sandy, sandy-clay and lateritic soils in mallee woodlands and shrublands.
(Diuris brockmanii)
Another smaller spider orchid is found, which is also whitish in colour.
This one appears to be the Common spider orchid (Caladenia varians)which is found between Kalbarri and Esperance growing in coastal heaths, woodlands, mallee scrubs, on granite outcrops and around salt lake margins, usually on well-drained sandy loam soils.
(Caladenia varians)
Final orchid for this location is the Dancing spider orchid (Caladenia discoidea).
This orchid is found between Kalbarri and Israelite Bay growing in a variety of woodland and heath habitats, usually on sandy soils.
(Caladenia discoidea)
We move onto what will be our last location of the day. This is another new location for me and is further up Coolinup Road so is now a Mt Ney1 location.
First up we are astounded as to the numbers of spider orchids found in a small open area under the trees.
The Cream spider orchid is found singularly and in clumps all over whilst the Rigid white spider orchid appears as isolated individuals.
Next up is an exciting find. A Blue china orchid is found with another one turning up within 30mins of searching. Not 100% sure of the ID so posted then separately on iNaturalist. Appears they may be 2 different species. First one is confirmed as the Boyatup china orchid (Cyanicula sp. “Boyatup”) which has yet to be formally named. As the name suggests they have a restricted range east of Esperance.
(Cyanicula sp “Boyatup”)
And the 2nd orchid is confirmed as being the Granite china orchid (Cyanicula nikulinskyae) which is found between Fitzgerald River and Cape Arid National Parks. As the name suggests they can be found growing in shallow soil pockets on granite outcrops, however, are also found growing amongst low shrubs or in open herbfields, on well drained gravelly loam soils.
(Cyanicula nikulinskyae)
Another orchid found in quite good numbers was the Short-sepaled spider orchid (Caladenia brevisura).
These occur between Jerramungup and Israelite Bay growing in woodland, mallee scrubs and on granite outcrops, in sandy to gravelly and clay loam soils.
(Caladenia brevisura)
Stumbled across an orchid that commences its season in August, so it is not fully open, however pic taken for recording purposes.
The Purple enamel orchid (Elythranthera brunonis)is found between Kalbarri and Israelite Bay, growing in heaths, woodland, open forest and malee scrubs in sandy, sandy-clay and lateritic soils.
(Elythranthera brunonis)
Orchids found previously today were also found at this location. Pics taken for recording purposes.
Common bee orchid South-coast donkey orchid Small mantis orchid Blue beard
Well what a day it has been. I took my first pic at 9.47am and my final pic at 4.07pm. Time to head back to Esperance 28 species recorded with a Lutea thrown in Plus 2 species of China orchids in 1 location An amazing day Thanks for the company, Luc