Caravan Head, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Caravan Head is a locality in southern
Sydney
, in the state of New South Wales
, Australia
. It is located in the north-eastern part of the suburb of Oyster Bay
. It is situated on the southern bank of the Georges River
.
On the eastern side of the reserve a dense Callitris woodland exists (Callitris rhomboidea
/Port Jackson Pine) under which grow extensive native pasture and an open shrubbery. The majority of the site consists of semi-disturbed woodland dominated by Red Bloodwoods(Corymbia gummifera
), Sydney Rosegum (Angophora costata
)and Scribbly Gums (Eucalyptus haemastoma).
The majority of the site is on a very slight slope with few exposed rock and deep sandy soils except for the northern edge where massive sandstone boulders protrude from a more steep hillside which has acted to preserve a more diverse groundcover. The southern edge and the center of the site have all been revegetated by Bushcare to a near natural state with a variety of species and other species from the surrounding bushland are re-colonising these areas. A total of nearly 150 species of native flora have been recorded in the reserve.
Some common shrubs found in the reserve include; Silky Hakea (Hakea sericea
), Broad-leaved Hakea (Hakea dactyloides
), Pink Spiderflower (Grevillea sericea
),Waxflower (Philotheca scabra), Conesticks(Petrophile pulchella
), Sunshine Wattle (Acacia terminalis
), Sweet Scented Wattle (Acacia suaveolens
), Flax-leafed Wattle (Acacia linifolia), Trunkless Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea arborea
), Dwarf Apple (Angophora hispida
), Riceflower (Ozothamnus diosmifolius
), Hairpin Banksia (Banksia spinulosus), Laurel Geebung (Persoonia laurina
), Broad-leaved Geebung (Persoonia levis
), Native Pea (Dillwynia sieberi), Blueberry Ash(Elaeocarpus reticulatis), Cheese Tree (Glochidion ferdinandi
)and Black She-oaks (Allocasuarina littoralis
).
Some common understorey herbs include; Pomax umbellata, Platysace linearifolia
Purple Twining Pea (Hardenbergia violacea
), Native Sarsaparilla (Smilax australis
), Dusky Coral Pea (Kennedia rubicunda
), Blue Flax Lily (Dianella caerulea
, Dianella revoluta
), Screw Fern (Lindsaea linearis
), Guinea Flower (Hibbertia riparia
), Raspwort (Gonocarpus teucrioides), Zieria tridentata, Native Parsley (Lomatia silaifolia
), Plectranthus parviflorus
, Lesser Flannel Flower (Actinotus minor
) and Glycine clandestina
.
Some common grasses include: Weeping Meadow Grass (Micrloaena stipoides), Native Panic (Entolasia sp.), Juncus usiatus, Hedgehog Grass (Echinopogon caespitosus), Aristida vagrans, Barbed-wire Grass(Cymbopogon refractus), Dichelachne crinita and Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra
).
Several species of tiny orchids grow in this reserve, their leaves are so tiny as to be mistaken for a piece of grass when not in flower and often die back to a tiny little bulb in hot weather. Orchid species recorded include; Theylmitra pauciflora, Cryptostylis erecta
, Calochilus paludosus
and Pterostylis
sp.
Native birds that frequent or inhabit the reserve include; Pied Currawong
s, Australian Magpie
s, Noisy Miner
s, Laughing Kookaburra
, Pied Butcher Birds, Rainbow Lorrikeets, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
s, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Magpie Larks, Koels, Tawny Frogmouths and Australian Ravens. Birds that once did use the site but are now recently extinct from this locality include Superb Fairy Wrens, Spotted Pardalote
s and Silver-eyes.
Native mammals that inhabit or visit Caravan Head reserve are more or less limited to Ringtailed Possums, Brushtailed Possums (Threatened Species), Grey-headed Flying Foxes (Threatened Species), native rodents as wells as a variety of micro-bat species many of which are threatened with extinction.
Weed species found in the reserve include: Panic Veldt Grass (Erharta ercta), Paspalum Grass, Ochna, Pittosporum undulatum
(technically a native which is out of control due to changed conditions), Lantana camara
, Fishbone Fern, Asparagus Fern (Protoasparagus sp.)and Paddys Curse. Feral animals present in the reserve include Red Fox
es, Domestic Cats, Domestic Dogs and Indian Miners.
Southern Sydney
This article refers to an area the same as a combination of St George and SutherlandSouthern Sydney is a general term which is used to describe the southern metropolitan area of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia....
Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, in the state of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is located in the north-eastern part of the suburb of Oyster Bay
Oyster Bay, New South Wales
Oyster Bay is a suburb in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Oyster Bay is located 26 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the Sutherland Shire.-Location:...
. It is situated on the southern bank of the Georges River
Georges River
The Georges River is a waterway in the state of New South Wales in Australia. It rises to the south-west of Sydney near the coal mining town of Appin, and then flows north past Campbelltown, roughly parallel to the Main South Railway...
.
Caravavan Head Nature Reserve
Caravan Head Reserve contains a diverse array of native ridgetop native vegetation due to the fact the land was put aside for a proposed school that was never built eventually its ownership was transferred and a development proposal was put forward in the 1990s after local uproar and political support the land was bought by the state government and it was turned into a nature reserve. During the reserves early history it was severely damaged when the centre of the site was gutted of vegetation and bike tracks cut the remaining vegetation into smaller fragments. After over a decade of regeneration efforts by the local Bushacare volunteer members the site has been nearly restored to its former glory even though it will always need constant attention into the future.On the eastern side of the reserve a dense Callitris woodland exists (Callitris rhomboidea
Callitris rhomboidea
Callitris rhomboidea, or Oyster Bay Pine, is a species of conifer in the Cupressaceae family.It is found only in Australia. It is native to South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, and has also naturalised in parts of Victoria and Western Australia.-References:* Conifer...
/Port Jackson Pine) under which grow extensive native pasture and an open shrubbery. The majority of the site consists of semi-disturbed woodland dominated by Red Bloodwoods(Corymbia gummifera
Corymbia gummifera
Corymbia gummifera, commonly known as Red Bloodwood, is a hardwood tree native to eastern Australia.-Description:It usually grows as a tree, but may take the form of a mallee in very poor soils. As a tree it typically grows to a height of 20 to 34 metres and a trunk diameter of one metre dbh....
), Sydney Rosegum (Angophora costata
Angophora costata
Angophora costata is a common woodland and forest tree of Eastern Australia and is known by a variety of names including smooth-barked apple, rose gum, rose apple or Sydney red gum. It grows primarily on sandstone soils, usually on headlands, plateaus or other elevated areas. A...
)and Scribbly Gums (Eucalyptus haemastoma).
The majority of the site is on a very slight slope with few exposed rock and deep sandy soils except for the northern edge where massive sandstone boulders protrude from a more steep hillside which has acted to preserve a more diverse groundcover. The southern edge and the center of the site have all been revegetated by Bushcare to a near natural state with a variety of species and other species from the surrounding bushland are re-colonising these areas. A total of nearly 150 species of native flora have been recorded in the reserve.
Some common shrubs found in the reserve include; Silky Hakea (Hakea sericea
Hakea sericea
Hakea sericea, commonly known as Needlebush or Silky Hakea, is a large species of shrub native to Australia. It is native to New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania but is found outside these states. It grows up to as a spreading and bushy shrub, flowering from winter to early spring.H...
), Broad-leaved Hakea (Hakea dactyloides
Hakea dactyloides
Hakea dactyloides, commonly known as the Finger Hakea, is a shrub of the Proteaceae family native to southeastern Australia. Two subspecies are recognised,...
), Pink Spiderflower (Grevillea sericea
Grevillea sericea
Grevillea sericea is a shrub endemic to New South Wales, Australia.-Description:It grows as a shrub from half a metres to two metres tall. It has angular, ridged branchlets and oval shaped leaves one to five centimetres long and two to nine millimetres wide.long, straight leaves from three to...
),Waxflower (Philotheca scabra), Conesticks(Petrophile pulchella
Petrophile pulchella
Petrophile pulchella, known as conesticks, is a common shrub of the family proteaceae found in eastern Australia. It is found growing on shallow sandstone soils, often in open forest or heathlands near the coast...
), Sunshine Wattle (Acacia terminalis
Acacia terminalis
Acacia terminalis is a shrub or small tree to 6 m in height. It's an Australian native whose range extends through New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania....
), Sweet Scented Wattle (Acacia suaveolens
Acacia suaveolens
Acacia suaveolens is a shrub species endemic to Australia.It grows to between 0.3 and 3.5 metres metres high and has smooth purplish-brown or light green bark and has straight or slightly curving blue-green phyllodes The pale yellow to near white globular flowerheads generally appear between...
), Flax-leafed Wattle (Acacia linifolia), Trunkless Grass Tree (Xanthorrhoea arborea
Xanthorrhoea arborea
Xanthorrhoea arborea a species of grasstree of the genus Xanthorrhoea native to New South Wales and Queensland. It was one of the many species authored by the Scottish botanist Robert Brown....
), Dwarf Apple (Angophora hispida
Angophora hispida
Angophora hispida grows as a malee, or as a tree to about 7 m in height.A. hispidas small size, especially when compared to its Angophora and Eucalyptus relatives, leads to it being known by the common name Dwarf Apple...
), Riceflower (Ozothamnus diosmifolius
Ozothamnus diosmifolius
Ozothamnus diosmifolius, or Rice Flower, is an erect shrub to 2 metres high which is native to New South Wales and Queensland in Australia.Other common names for this species include White Dogwood, Pill Flower and Sago Bush....
), Hairpin Banksia (Banksia spinulosus), Laurel Geebung (Persoonia laurina
Persoonia laurina
Persoonia laurina, commonly known as the laurel-leaved or laurel geebung , is a shrub native to New South Wales in eastern Australia. It was first described by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon in 1805....
), Broad-leaved Geebung (Persoonia levis
Persoonia levis
Persoonia levis, commonly known as the broad-leaved geebung, is a shrub native to New South Wales and Victoria in eastern Australia. It reaches 5 m in height and has dark grey papery bark and bright green asymmetrical sickle-shaped leaves up to 14 cm long and 8 cm wide...
), Native Pea (Dillwynia sieberi), Blueberry Ash(Elaeocarpus reticulatis), Cheese Tree (Glochidion ferdinandi
Glochidion ferdinandi
Glochidion ferdinandi, commonly known as the cheese tree, is a species of tree in the Phyllanthaceae family. It is native to eastern Australia, where it grows in rainforests and wetter sclerophyll forests...
)and Black She-oaks (Allocasuarina littoralis
Allocasuarina littoralis
Allocasuarina littoralis or Black Sheoak is an endemic medium-sized Australian tree . A...
).
Some common understorey herbs include; Pomax umbellata, Platysace linearifolia
Platysace linearifolia
Platysace linearifolia known as Carrrot Tops is a slender shrub, found growing on poor sandy soils in eastern Australia, north of Jervis Bay. It may form large colonies and is easily noticed in the late summer and autumn when covered in small white flowers. It grows from 40 cm to 1.5 metres tall...
Purple Twining Pea (Hardenbergia violacea
Hardenbergia violacea
Hardenbergia violacea is a species of Australian flowering plant, known in Australia by the common names false sarsaparilla, purple coral pea, happy wanderer, native lilac and waraburra . It often grows as a climbing vine, but also as a subshrub.It is used as a landscape plant in the southwestern U.S...
), Native Sarsaparilla (Smilax australis
Smilax australis
Smilax australis is a vine in the family Smilacaceae, endemic to Australia. It has prickly climbing stems that are up to 8 metres long with coiled tendrils that are up to 20 cm long...
), Dusky Coral Pea (Kennedia rubicunda
Kennedia rubicunda
Kennedia rubicunda is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, endemic to Australia. It occurs in the states of Victoria and New South Wales and Queensland....
), Blue Flax Lily (Dianella caerulea
Dianella caerulea
Dianella caerulea, commonly known as the Blue flax-lily, blueberry lily, or paroo lily, is a perennial herb of the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae, found across the eastern states of Australia and Tasmania. It is a herbaceous strappy perennial plant to a metre high, with dark...
, Dianella revoluta
Dianella revoluta
Dianella revoluta, commonly known as the Black-anther Flax-lily, Blueberry Flax-lily or Spreading Flax-Lily, is a perennial herb of the family Hemerocallidaceae found across the eastern states of Australia and Tasmania....
), Screw Fern (Lindsaea linearis
Lindsaea linearis
Lindsaea linearis is known as the Screw Fern, as the fronds may have a twisting appearance. A small fern of widespread distribution in many parts of Australia. Found in a variety of habitats, often near swamps or moist places. By rocks, heathland or open forest.The screw fern was first described by...
), Guinea Flower (Hibbertia riparia
Hibbertia riparia
Hibbertia riparia, commonly known as Erect Guinea-flower, is a small shrub that is native to Australia. It grows to 60 cm high and has yellow flowers which appear in spring and summer....
), Raspwort (Gonocarpus teucrioides), Zieria tridentata, Native Parsley (Lomatia silaifolia
Lomatia silaifolia
Lomatia silaifolia, commonly known as crinkle bush or parsley fern, is a shrub native to Australia.-Taxonomy:English botanist James Edward Smith first described this species as Embothrium silaifolium in 1793. At the time, Embothrium was a wastebasket taxon to which many proteaceae were assigned...
), Plectranthus parviflorus
Plectranthus parviflorus
Plectranthus parviflorus, known as Cockspur Flower is an shrub, occurring in Hawaii, Polynesia and Australia. Non aromatic, between 10 and 70 cm high. The habitat is shady moist areas, including eucalyptus forest and rainforest. A widespread species, in rocky areas and beside streams...
, Lesser Flannel Flower (Actinotus minor
Actinotus minor
Actinotus minor, the Lesser Flannel Flower is a common plant growing in heathland in moist areas not far from Sydney, Australia.A small shrub, 15 to 50 cm tall, with white flowers, similar to the related and more famous Flannel Flower....
) and Glycine clandestina
Glycine clandestina
Glycine clandestina, commonly known as twining glycine or love creeper, is a scrambling plant in the bean family, found in Australia....
.
Some common grasses include: Weeping Meadow Grass (Micrloaena stipoides), Native Panic (Entolasia sp.), Juncus usiatus, Hedgehog Grass (Echinopogon caespitosus), Aristida vagrans, Barbed-wire Grass(Cymbopogon refractus), Dichelachne crinita and Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra
Themeda triandra
Themeda triandra is a perennial grass widespread in Africa, Australia, Asia and the Pacific. In Australia it is commonly known as kangaroo grass, in East and South Africa it is known as "red oat grass" or red grass, in Afrikaans, rooigras.The species has a tuffted habit and can reach up to 1.5 m...
).
Several species of tiny orchids grow in this reserve, their leaves are so tiny as to be mistaken for a piece of grass when not in flower and often die back to a tiny little bulb in hot weather. Orchid species recorded include; Theylmitra pauciflora, Cryptostylis erecta
Cryptostylis erecta
Cryptostylis erecta, commonly known as the Bonnet Orchid or Tartan Tongue Orchid , is an orchid native to south eastern Australia....
, Calochilus paludosus
Calochilus paludosus
Calochilus paludosus, the Red Beard Orchid or Red Beardie is a small Australian orchid found. Not a particularly common species, but it may be seen in swampy heathland, as well as dry ridges in mountain country. Flowering occurs in early spring. The specific epithet paludosus refers to marshy...
and Pterostylis
Pterostylis
Pterostylis is a terrestrial deciduous genus of some 100 or so species of orchids found mainly in New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia. The common name of this orchid is Greenhood - a number of species have green flowers with the dorsal sepal forming a "hood" over the rest of...
sp.
Native birds that frequent or inhabit the reserve include; Pied Currawong
Pied Currawong
The Pied Currawong is a medium-sized black passerine bird native to eastern Australia and Lord Howe Island. One of three currawong species in the genus Strepera, it is closely related to the butcherbirds and Australian Magpie of the family Artamidae. Six subspecies are recognised...
s, Australian Magpie
Australian Magpie
The Australian Magpie is a medium-sized black and white passerine bird native to Australia and southern New Guinea. A member of the Artamidae, it is closely related to the butcherbirds...
s, Noisy Miner
Noisy Miner
The Noisy Miner is a bird common to the eastern and southern states of Australia. It ranges from northern Queensland along the eastern coast to South Australia and Tasmania. Its typical diet consists of nectar, fruit and insects, and occasionally it feeds on small reptiles or amphibians...
s, Laughing Kookaburra
Laughing Kookaburra
The Laughing Kookaburra, Dacelo novaeguineae, is a carnivorous bird in the kingfisher family Halcyonidae. Native to eastern Australia, it has also been introduced to parts of New Zealand, Tasmania and Western Australia. Male and female adults are similar in plumage, which is predominantly brown and...
, Pied Butcher Birds, Rainbow Lorrikeets, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
The Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo is a large cockatoo native to the south-east of Australia measuring 55–65 cm in length. It has a short crest on the top of its head. Its plumage is mostly brownish black and it has prominent yellow cheek patches and a yellow tail band...
s, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, Magpie Larks, Koels, Tawny Frogmouths and Australian Ravens. Birds that once did use the site but are now recently extinct from this locality include Superb Fairy Wrens, Spotted Pardalote
Spotted Pardalote
The Spotted Pardalote is one of the smallest of all Australian birds at 8 to 10 cm in length, and one of the most colourful; it is sometimes known as the Diamondbird...
s and Silver-eyes.
Native mammals that inhabit or visit Caravan Head reserve are more or less limited to Ringtailed Possums, Brushtailed Possums (Threatened Species), Grey-headed Flying Foxes (Threatened Species), native rodents as wells as a variety of micro-bat species many of which are threatened with extinction.
Weed species found in the reserve include: Panic Veldt Grass (Erharta ercta), Paspalum Grass, Ochna, Pittosporum undulatum
Pittosporum undulatum
Pittosporum undulatum is a tree growing to 15m tall with wavy leaf edges. It is sometimes also known known as Sweet Pittosporum, Native Daphne, Australian Cheesewood, Victorian Box or Mock Orange...
(technically a native which is out of control due to changed conditions), Lantana camara
Lantana camara
Lantana camara, also known as Spanish Flag or West Indian Lantana, is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family, Verbenaceae, that is native to the American tropics. It has been introduced into other parts of the world as an ornamental plant and is considered an invasive species in many...
, Fishbone Fern, Asparagus Fern (Protoasparagus sp.)and Paddys Curse. Feral animals present in the reserve include Red Fox
Red Fox
The red fox is the largest of the true foxes, as well as being the most geographically spread member of the Carnivora, being distributed across the entire northern hemisphere from the Arctic Circle to North Africa, Central America, and the steppes of Asia...
es, Domestic Cats, Domestic Dogs and Indian Miners.