Loch Sport Environment.

By Beth Glasby

Greetings
I am Beth and I write a Nature Diary for our locally produced paper the ”Loch Sport Link”. I began this in response to the many stories people were telling me of things that they have seen in this wonderful natural place in which we are fortunate enough to live. Loch Sport is a small island of human habitation surrounded by native parklands and water.  Here are just a few of the natural joys, which make living in this area a constant delight.

BIRDS     With such great expanses of water and native bush land this is a paradise for birds and undoubtedly many more birds than humans enjoy this small section of our Earth's biosphere. I have had many stories of the pleasure gained from watching the antics at bird baths and feeders and many locals have magpies kookaburras and even noisy minors who are 'family'.  When the large banksias are in bloom black cockatoos fly in and their distinctive shrieks can be heard around the village.  Colorful Eastern Rosella’s, Rainbow Rosella’s and Little Lorikeets are always feeding as the banksias and other flowering natives plants come into bloom. Cormorants, gulls, terns, swans, pelicans, egrets and herons feed on and around the waters, and in the thickets you can hear and occasionally see the little wrens and Thom bills.  Here the dawn chorus is a full scale orchestral production and it is something we miss when away from home.

TREES

Loch Sport was carved out of the natural bush and there are many places around the outskirts of town, which are still unchanged. Banksias, boobiallas, coastal wattles, paper barks and Ti-trees predominate but there are a great variety of other shrubs, bushes and creepers. I love the old gnarled battle worn sawtooth banksias and another special favorite is Xanthorrhoea Austral, the Australian Grasstree.  Many wonderful examples of these unusual native plants can be seen and it is fascinating to watch their large stems begin; change from small moss velvet spikes to large golden spears; bloom in myriad's of creamy flowers and then, still handsome, brown and finally die. Another beautiful tree is the flowering gum. These are native Australian trees introduced to Loch Sport and in flower they are a riot of colours and a feast for the nectar eating birds. We are on a mission to plant more of these trees around town, as the pleasure they give is so great.

WILD FLOWERS

There are still patches of these around town but out on the golf course and around outskirt areas there are so many varieties that field naturalist clubs come to look for them. Heaths, green hoods, sun orchids, trigger plants and egg and bacons are common.  In spring the road into Loch Sport is virtually a native garden with the dense blooms of the pink and white ti-trees and thriptomine, the dazzling cream of wedding bushes and the splashes of blue from the ground hugging dampieras.

ANIMALS

We also share our living space with many native animals Coming in at night we can often be aware that there are strangers around But the kangaroos will just keep on munching.  At night it is their garden.  I get many stones of incidents involving the wombats, echidnas, and koala families which live in peoples yards and it is great to hear how caring everyone is for these There are also some unusual sights such as the occasional seal resting on the Ninety Mile, the enormous goanna's seen at times, and some people are convinced Tasmanian Tigers lurk around.

WATER SURROUNDS US

Lake Victoria, aptly named with as many moods as a woman, bright and sparkling, dark and somber, backed by the layers of mountains which change from blues to purples and sometimes disappear altogether, Lake Reeve with its edges of pink, orange, and yellow succulents, while its shallow waters reflecting perfectly the many wading birds.    The Ninety Mile Beach with its long expanse of virtual wilderness where it is still possible for you to make the only footprints on the wet sand as you walk the shore line to marvel at the beauty of the shells and fascination of the seaweed, sponges and many creatures left by the receding tide. Here I is possible to explore the dunes and experience a feeling of timelessness when you unexpectedly come across the bleached shells of the aboriginal middens and it is well worth rising early to see the sun rise over the water.

SUNSETS

Every place has these but to have the sun setting over water with a backdrop of layered ranges is very unusual. This is one of Loch Sports special treats and just as spectacular sunsets are almost impossible to paint so are they impossible to do justice to in words. Breathtaking is probably the best description of the prolonged ever changing display which continues long after as the sun sinks low over Lake Victoria and disappears behind the distant mountains. Pic; Courtesy of the Loch Sport Lodge

This is of course just an overview of the natural treasures to be enjoyed here. It is a special place for walking, looking and getting the feeling of being part of the natural world.

We look forward to seeing you here soon!

A large Leopard Seal visiting 90 mile beach at Loch Sport. Pic by L.Dwyer.