June Nature Notes from Judith

We are now in the depths of winter at Bungendore. But the depths are not as deep as they used to be. So far winter has been comparatively mild, with only about 8 proper frosts on the ground for the month and above-average maximum temperatures. The warm conditions have created a problem for the ski resorts in the Snowy Mountains: very little snow so far.

Compare that with June 2025, when we experienced 15 frosts including a -6 C and several -5 C nights. So far this month there has been 30 mm of rain recorded here, but we may score a few millimetres in the gauge tomorrow (30^th June) if the BOM predictions are accurate.

As I'd expect, there's not much flowering on Millpost right now, apart from various Grevilleas, and Banksia marginatas. We've never found a naturally-occurring Grevillea on this land; presumably they were here until, like so many other native shrubs (such as Melaleucas, Hakeas, Prostantheras), over-grazing wiped them out. We have planted many Grevillea species over the years and most of them have been very successful here, reproducing by seed or vegetatively, particularly in windbreaks. Mostly they are local species or they're hybrids of local species, so they are well-suited to our somewhat challenging climatic conditions.

While many avian species have migrated to warmer climes, Magpies, Currawongs, Butcher-birds and Choughs, Crimson and Eastern Rosellas, Superb Blue Wrens and Scrub Wrens and Shrike-Thrushes are scratching a living from our pastures and woodlands.

We've been lucky enough to spot groups of Scarlet Robins several times this month; nearly always they are perched on fences, swooping down occasionally to pick up some morsel from the ground. There is one Satin Bower-bird popping into our garden from time to time.

I hope to find time soon to venture into some of the remnant native forest areas of Kowen Forest in the hope of hearing the Lyrebirds calling as it's their mating season.