Flowering Gums

Since the large rainfall event in early March (80mm) the gums at home in Wilby have budded up and have began flowering. Most of the gums were planted 15-20 years ago before I moved here and consist of Mugga and Red Ironbark (Eucalytpus sideroxlon and tricarpa), Round-leaved Moort (a Western Australian species, E. platypus) and Yellow Gums (E.leucoxylon). The Yellow Gums are not the dwarf shrubby plant that is common in gardens but full sized trees 15 metres high. Some local Western Grey Box (E.microcarpa) are also flowering too.

With the flowering has come a small influx on nectar feeding honeyeaters. The local White-plumed Honeyeaters have certainly been taking advantage of the nectar while Noisy Miners have visited from the Wilby Bushland Reserve over the road. The other day 4 Blue-faced Honeyeaters were in the Yellow Gum right next to the house, and in the same tree today a Noisy Friarbird was calling and taking nectar from the blossoms. A few Red Wattlebirds have been around as well. Attached is a photo of the Noisy Friarbird in the tree near the house and the flowers from the Yellow Gum it was feeding on.