Beaumont Common –Burnside

As part of our project Activating Citizen Scientists, engaging older Australians through citizen science and supported by the Department of Health, we held our second excursion was to Beaumont Common. Beaumont Common is an urban park in the Adelaide suburb of Burnside that a small urban park in Burnside Council (4.9 ha), established in 1843. the park has remanent Grey Box (Eucalyptus macrocarpa) and SA Blue Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon) with one original Native Pine. The Common has over the past 20 years undergone revegetation with native vegetation being re-established creating a refuge for native birds, small mammals and insects, a place worth exploring for the nature enthusiast.

Beaumont Common is in an affluent area and the park is well used with more biodiversity information recorded iNaturalist than Carriageway Park with only 103 observations of 50 species prior to our efforts on the weekend. These observations were made by 18 observers, this 2-3 times the levels observed in the previous park. Reflecting on the previous weeks I suggested a challenge to the group of at least doubling the data. While our numbers were depleted due to the long weekend, the group agreed to the plan and we set about investigating this new environment.

I got to talking to Ian about some "hoverflies" we noticed and I suggested that he try capturing an image in flight. I mentioned that I often challenge myself to photograph a hoverfly inflight while out walking. Ian was a little sceptical but after I gave it a clumsy go and he was encouraged to make an effort, and clearly made the observation of the day. This was not the first time this species has confused me, thy are not hoverflies, in spite of their behaviour they are a different family altogether Family Rhiniidae this is not the first time I have been tricked by these guys.

Stomorhina pollinosa © fossil1513,

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The numbers of observations within the Beaumont Common doubled by our efforts while the number of species recorded within the park also doubled the number of species since. Interestingly most of the new species observed were invertebrates.

Below are some of the observation from the day