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A Timeline for the Upper Blue Mountains, for Mountain Plateau areas 900 to 1200 metres Wentworth Fails to Hassan's Walls, Lithgow. Compiled by Jim Smith, 2002.

SPRING (September, October, November)

WEATHER:
September is the driest month. Equinox on 22 September.

MAMMALS:
Spring peak of Bush Rat, Rartus fuscipes, and Swamp Rat, Rattus lutreolus, numbers. Many juveniles born Aug/Sept.
Female Antechinuses with young till October.
Echidnas wander.
Brushtail Possums call (Spring till Autumn), mating.
Ringtail Possums, Sugar Gliders, Yellow-bellied Gliders and Pygmy Possums born (till summer)
Nov: Antechinuses weaned.
Road kills as juvenile mammals disperse.

REPTILES AND FROGS:
Sep: Many lizards active; chasing, mating.
First snakes to emerge: Copperhead and Red-bellied Black Snake.
Afier equinox, Perons Tree Frogs call at night. In a good year Whistling Tree Frogs will call a few weeks afier equinox too. i.e. calls can overlap.

INSECTS:
Oct: Common Jezebels, Delias nigrina, white butterflies active.
Imperial White Butterflies, Delias harpalyce, active (larvae feed on mistletoe).
Red Ichneumonid Wasps, Neiclia producta swarm. Larvae is parasite of moths.
Nellies Glen Butterflies mating on hilltops (Sept till Nov) e.g. at Pulpit Hill. Cicadas emerge.
Nov: Common Brown Butterflies, Heicronympha merope, mating, eggs dropped from air to grass
Swordgrass Brown Butterflies, Tisophone abeona. Larvae on Ghania (swordgrass).
Caper White Butterfly migration to north-east (approx 22 Nov to December) Tachinid Flies (mid November).
Whistling Moths, Hecatesia fenestrata, begin to call on hot nights before rain. Larvae feed on Dodder, Cassytha sp.
Christmas Beetles emerge. Termites fly.

NOTE: Timing of events may vary considerably from year to year
due to seasonal conditions.

AQUATIC:
Female Crayfish with "berries" (young)
Sep: First major hatching of Galaxias fry (in warmer Springs).
Nov: Second major hatching of Galaxias fry.

BIRDS:
September:
Migrants return: Rufous Whistlers from Qld, Sacred Kingfishers from Qld, NG.
Southwards honeyeater migration peaks.
Satin Bowerbirds display, mate, lay eggs.
Rose Robins return to gullies.
Kookaburra calls increase.
Many juvenile New Holland Honeyeaters dispersing.
Channel-billed Cuckoos arrive.
October:
Satin Flycatchers arrive from QId, NG.
Black-faced Monarchs and Rufous Fantails arrive, from Qld, NG.
Koels arrive from Indonesia
November:
Many young birds being fed.
Satin Bowerbirds hatching.
Silvereyes feed on Cedar Wattles, Acacia elata extra-floral nectaries.

PLANTS:
Grevilleas: Grevillea phylicoides, Grevillea mucronulata flower.
Epacridaceae flowers: Woolsia, Epacris microphylla, Epacris puichella flower.
Leucopogon flowers perfume the air from September/October.
Peas flower: e.g. Bossiaea rhomboides.
Orchids: Sun Orchids, Thelymitra; Caladenia (Aug till Dec); Flying Ducks (Nov)
Endemics: Alania endlicheri; Sprengelia monticola; Epacris reclinata flower.
Miscellaneous: Mistletoes, Casuarinas, Grass Trees, Hibbertia sp. flower.
Boronia floribunda (Oct.)
Kunzia and Isopogon (late Oct.)
Black Ash, Eucalyptus sieberi, flowers (Oct/Nov).
Peppermint Gum, Eucalyptus piperita, flowers (Nov).
Introduced Elm trees release their winged seeds.
Nov: Native Current fruit drops. Christmas Bush flowers. Waratahs flower.
Rainforest canopy:
Coachwood, Sassafras flower (Sept), Wonga Vine (Oct)
New growth leaf of Coachwood is purple
New growth leaf of Possumwood is pink.
New growth leaf ofAcacia elata is silvery.

SUMMER (December, January, February)

WEATHER:
December/January: hottest months, hot NW winds can fan bushfires.
December: hailstorms.
February: wettest month, violent storms; high rainfall helps to disperse seeds (in Sydney March is the wettest month)
MAMMALS:
Young mammals disperse - road kills.
Baby Ringtail Possums on mothers' backs.

REPTILES AND FROGS:
Lots of baby lizards, e.g. Mountain Dragons and Blue-tongue Lizards. (Jan/Feb)
Broad-headed Snakes move from rock shelters to tree hollows, e.g. in Peppermint Gums, vulnerable to fire (Jan/Feb)
Many snakes born. (Feb)
Perons Tree Frogs and many other species call and breed.

INSECTS:
December:
Painted Skipper, Hesperillapicta, feeds on Gahnia - small brown butterfly.
Klugs Xenica, Geitoneura klugi klugi - brown butterfly. (late Dec/Jan)
Buprestids (Jewel Beetles) on Leptospermum sp.
Mud Wasps nesting, Crickets call, Sawfly larvae feeding.
European Wasps.
Male Funnel-web Spiders wander, looking for females.
Jan/Feb:
Brown butterfies:
Bright-eyed Brown, Heteronympha cordace cordace - larvae feed on Button Grass sedge, Carex appressa.
Rock Ringlet, Hypocsyta euphemia, near caves and cliffs.
Skipper, Trapezites symmomus, appears after thunderstorms. Larvae feeds on Lomandra sp.
Bush flies

BIRDS:
Dec: White-throated Needletails arrive from Asia. Cuckoos call louder and more frequently. Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos break up into smaller groups.
Jan: Many young birds. Baby cuckoos fed by hosts (e.g. Channel-billed Cuckoos by Currawongs).
Red Wattlebirds and Noisy Friarbirds feeding on Banksia serrata flowers. Immature Bowerbirds form mixed sex flocks.
Feb: Mixed species feeding flocks begin to form till Spring.

PLANTS:
Sundew flowers (early summer).
Persoonia leavis and Persoonia chaemaepitvs flower.
Gums flower: Sydney Peppermint (Jan), Scribbly Gum (late Jan)
Miscellaneous flowers: Callistemon, Banksia serrata, Trigger Plants, Flannel Flowers, Cymbidium suave orchid.
Mistletoe fruits.
Gums shed bark;
Angophora costata'. new bark orange, darkens later. (late summer)
Scribbly Gum; new year's pattern of moth larvae trails. (late summer)
Grey Gum; new bark orange. (late summer) Rainforest canopy changes:
Acacia elata flowers carpet ground at Christmas; Coachwood sepals exposed (after Xmas) February rains: Christmas Bush/Coachwood sepals drop, seed dispersal,
wattle flowers destroyed.

AUTUMN (March, April, May)

WEATHER:
March is one of the wetter months. Equinox is 22 March. There are still cloudless days in April.

MAMMALS:
Greater Gliders born in April.
Bush Rats, Rattus fuscipes born (March-May), numbers peak in May, many juveniles present.

REPTILES AND FROGS:
Whistling Tree Frogs begin to call (March to September).

INSECTS:
Blue Jewel Butterfly, Hypocrysops dehca delica (March/April) - ants attend caterpillars on wattle.
Solender Brown Butterfly, Heteronympha solandri solandri (March/April)
Banks Brown Butterfly, Heteronympha banksii banksii (March/April)
"Easter Moth", Chalepteryx felderi, (family Anthelidae) - large brown moths bump on window panes at night.
"Ghost Moth", Aenetus eximius (May), Swift Moth family-pink and green.

AQUATIC:
Crayfish moult at Easter (related to the lunar cycle?)
Eels migrate to sea.

BIRDS:
March: Highest bird species diversity. Silvereye migration to north.
Tree Martins, Satin Flycatchers leave for Queensland, New Guinea. Rose Robins, Thrushes, Brown Gerygones to open forest areas (and lawns, ovals, etc).
Red-browed Finches flock.
Fledgling birds sometimes get cold and wet.
Gang Gangs feed on Scribbly Gum and Peppermint Gum seeds. Currawongs flock.
ApriI: Yellow-faced Honeyeater and White-naped Honeyeater migration to north. Spotted Pardelote migration through mountains to north.
First Lyrebirds call.
Crimson Rosellas often come down with virus, get sick, stagger, bump into trees, etc.
May: Hon eyeater migration continues.
Currawongs and Bowerbirds flock to towns (fruit eaters).
Tasmanian Silvereyes pass through mountains on migration to north.

PLANTS:
March/April: Red Bloodwoods flowering; Flying Foxes attracted. (till May)
March: Parson's Bands Orchids, Eriochilus cucullatus in flower, native bee pollinates it.
Banksia spinulosa flowers.
Acacia suaveolens flowers.
Fungi abundant after rain.

HUMAN ACTIVITY:
Tourist numbers peak in the mountains. (April/May)

WINTER (June, July, August)

WEATHER:
Jul/Aug: Coldest months frosts, snowfalls, waterfalls freeze.
Aug: Westerly winds, often have effects on plants growth and form and on bird behaviour
MAMMALS:
Jun: Swamp Rat, Rattus lutreolus, numbers peak (born May/June). Many young present.
Pygmy Possums and Feathertail Gliders in torpor. Quoll breeding season. Males wander.
Jul: Bush Rat and Swamp Rat, Rattus fuscipes and Rattus lutreolus, numbers lowest-adults die off.
Aug: Marsupial mice, Antechinus, mating. Males die at end of mating season.

REPTILES AND FROGS:
Broad-headed Snakes shelter under rocks. (will bask in sun).
Most reptiles in torpor.
Goannas bask in sun.
Whistling Tree Frogs continue to call.

INSECTS:
Ghost Moths fly
Nellies Glen Butterflies, Pseudalmenus chiorinda, pupate on wattles.
Gnats swarm over heaths.
Blue Spotted Painted Ladies, Vanessa kershawii, migrating south-brown butterfly. (late August)

AQUATIC:
Aug: Trout spawn.
Eels migrate from sea up Hawkesbury River to mountain streams (Aug-Sep). On upper Blue Mountains plateau only in Greaves Creek.
Mountain Minnows, Galaxias, hibernate in mud.
Clam Shrimps, Conchostracans, dormant in pools as eggs.

BIRDS:
Jun: Lyrebird calls peak-breeding season.
Flocking: Black Cockatoos, Satin Bowerbirds (males) and Red Wattlebirds. Crescent Honeyeaters seen on escarpments, influx from south, can
breed in area.
Breeding: New Holland Honeyeaters, Powerful Owls, Wedge-tailed Eagles. Influx of Eastern Spinebills (June to September). In lower mountains influx is in May to July.
Jul: "Spring" begins for birds.
Resident birds (insectivores) form territories, begin to breed.
Tree Martins return.
Male Superb Fairy Wrens turn blue.
Lyrebird eggs laid.
Jul: Manyjuvenile New Holland Honeyeaters.
Aug: Many breeding birds, territorial calls, eg. Fantail Cuckoo, Grey Shrike Thrush.
Night calls (Boobook Owls, Tawny Frogmouths, Masked Lapwings) till Nov.
Young Lyrebirds in nests.
Migrants reappear - Noisy Friarbirds, Grey Fantails, Flame Robins.
Major honeyeater migration back from north begins.
Magpie nesting and bombing can begin.

PLANTS:
Banksia spinulosa, Banksia ericifola nectar flow.
Winter wattles flower: Sunshine Wattle, Acacia terminahs, first, then Acacia longifolia.
Greenhood Orchids flower, e.g. Pterostylis longiflora, Pterostylis grandiflora.
Aug: Lady's Fingers Orchids, Caladenia catenata, flower.
Red bird pollinated flowers abundant - Styphelia, Epacris reclinata, some Lamberlia formosa, Grevillea acanthifolia.
Dracophyllum secundum flowers until spring.
Boronia ledifolia flowers.
Lilly Pilly berries carpet rainforest floor.
Foliage of Dilwynnia retorta and Isopogon anemonfolius turns red.

Preliminary list of birds which migrate into the Upper Blue Mountains.
Tree Martin
Noisy Friarbird
Grey Fantail
Flame Robin
Yellow-faced Honeyeater
White-naped Honeyeater
Shining Bronze Cuckoo
White-throated Gerygone
Rufous Whistler
Sacred Kingfisher Channel-billed Cuckoo Satin Flycatcher
Rufous Fantail Black-faced Monarch Leaden Flycatcher
Koel
White-throated Needletail

A Timeline for the Upper Blue Mountains: 1st Edition; November 2002
Acknowledgements: Observations were supplied by Jim Smith, Carol Probets, Peter Staton, Danny Wotherspoon, Jill Dark and Christine Davies.
This calendar is copyright free and may be reproduced with acknowledgement.
Please post suggestions for improvements and new observations to
Jim Smith, 65 Fletcher Street, Wentworth Falls, 2782.

INDEX ***Timelines Project*** Seasonal Calendars *** Observations *** Freebies *** Why? *** Links