Don with halo 
Photo: Amanda Thomson 
A couple of rare finds included a Masked Lapwing nest 
with 5 eggs, and another with 4. 
Els alerted us to the rare plant Cuscuta tasmanica or 
'Golden Dodder' the only known parasitic native herb to 
be found in saltmarshes. Leafless, it grows on host herbs 
(often Wilsonia) whose nutrients it absorbs through 
special attachments 'haustoria'. (Ref: A Guide to the 
Plants of Saltmarsh Wetlands, by Vishnu Prahalad.) It 
formed bands of bright yellow twisted tendrils on parts 
of the shore. 
Cuscuta tasmanica, or 'Golden Dodder' 
Photo: Amanda Thomson 
From Goats Bluff we walked along Hope Beach where 
we were privy to a dispute on nearby Betsey Island 
between a pair of Sea eagles and a pair of Wedge-tailed 
eagles! Kevin was very pleased to make the rare find of a 
Plump Cowrie - Notocyprae subcarnea\ 
List of observations 
Hairy, red mite 
Moth, - unidentified Geometrid Larentidae 
Salt Lagoon Snail - Coxiella striata 
Shield Stink bug - Anaxilus vesiculosus 
Welcome Swallows - pair 
Amanda Thomson 
Hairy red mite with salt lagoon snails, Coxiella sp. 
Photo: Amanda Thomson 
Bird List ( Els Wakefield) 
South East side Calverts Lagoon 10am to 11:50 
Superb Fairy-Wren 
Kelp Gulls 10 
Yellow-throated Honeyeater 
Black Swan 19 
White-faced Heron 3 
Masked Lapwing 2 
Common Starling circa 50 
Laughing Kookaburra 2 
Australasian Shoveler 5 
Noisy Minor 
Grey Butcherbird 1 
Kelp Gull skeleton 
Hooded Plover 2 
Tasmanian Native Hen 3 
Also, a Brown Froglet 
Dam 
Tasmanian Native Hen 3 
Superb Fairy-Wrens 
Australian Magpie 4 
Pied Oystercatcher 1 
Masked Lapwing 1 
Wood Duck 4 
Forest Raven 1 
Chestnut Teal 13 
Australasian Shoveler 3 
Grey Teal 4 
Pacific Black Duck 2 
Flame Robin 1 m 
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo 3 
Galah 3 
Masked Lapwing 1 
Swamp Harrier 1 
Tasmanian Field Naturalists Club 
Page 5 
BULLETIN 364 September 2016 
