The one pictured today is golden bush-pea, photographed in Enfield forest a few weeks ago.

This species is one of many local bush-peas (Pultenaea). It has certainly made a fine display at Enfield this year, with the one-metre shrubs making a sea of orange under the trees. It has made similar colourful displays around Scarsdale, Linton, Snake Valley and Ross Creek.

Golden bush-pea is identified by its tiny leaves, its height (up to one metre), and its prime flowering time in late September and early October.

Close up, the flowers are yellow and red, but the overall colour of a mass of flowers is orange.

It has now finished flowering, but similar plants are still going, including the narrow-leaved bitter-pea (pictured right). It is thought that some native orchids mimic these pea flowers in an attempt to attract pollinators.

Golden bush-pea is a relatively short-lived plant, but it responds positively to fire, with numerous seedlings appearing afterwards and growing quickly to produce the orange display in the forest.

Last weekend, at the Woowookarung Regional Park at Canadian, several “egg-and-bacon” flowers were found during a wildflower walk.

Golden bush-pea was one of these, as well as grey parrot-pea, narrow-leaf bitter-pea, dwarf bush-pea, penny-leaf flat-pea and smooth parrot-pea.

The annual “lake walk” to look for birds on the west shore will take place at Lake Wendouree this Sunday.

Led by members of Birdlife Ballarat, the easy walk will commence at 9am at the cannons alongside Piper’s Restaurant. Everyone is welcome to join in for all or part of the walk.

Birds to be seen include at least seven species of ducks, whiskered terns, two or three species of cormorants, swamp harrier, three species of grebes and sacred kingfisher. Binoculars will be helpful, but not necessary.

Two weeks ago we mentioned a scarlet honeyeater making a rare visit to Invermay. There are now three or more of these birds at that property, as well as several along the Yarrowee River at Brown Hill, several at Buninyong and a recent report from Linton.

Many local bird observers have made visits to see these unexpected visitors, and a number of photographs have been taken. Scarlet honeyeaters continue to be found in many parts of Victoria, with Linton the western limit of the reports.