Bird stealing Insects from a spider

I was able to get this footage recently of a bird who has learnt that a quick meal is to be had removing small insects from spider webs.
It would hover for some time, collecting as many insects as it could.
I was able to see it collect some 20 in one attempt.
Although the video is quite quick...so is the bird.
I hope to get some more footage of this behavior soon.

Amphibians make a splash

Frogs of many different species have been calling for some time now at the nearby dam, though of late it has been deafening.
I have managed to make out at least four types of calls, and managed to photograph this little one after disturbing him while working on my greenhouse.



I believe it to be Crinia signifera (The common eastern froglet), though it is hard to tell as this species has a large range of colour variations. The size (30mm) and the lack of webbing between the toes are distinctive characteristics though.
A good site to check frogs out is here.
It includes calls to help with identification.

A Black Soled Frog ( Lechriodus fletcheri) may have taken up residence in my carport.
The call is quite distinctive (and loud). These amphibians apparently do not need water to breed, preferring damp shaded conditions. I am hoping to get a picture soon as I live a little south of its recorded habitat.

End of the world...or a brave new one?

Well yesterday saw the much celebrated first test of the Hadron Collider ..and we are all still here.
That's a relief :)
If you are not aware of this new scientific toy (costing around $Au 11 billion) perhaps you slept well last night.
Located at the French/Swiss border, it is the largest particle accelerator ever built and should be able to move atomic particles at 99.9999991% the speed of light...impressive eh?
The concerns over it operation relate to, amongst other things, the spawning of mini black holes that could swallow the earth.
As only basic operational tests have been performed we are still yet to feel the ramifications, scientific or otherwise, of this mammoth undertaking.

Why blog this info on a nature site?
Because the very nature of the very universe could be unlocked

It is possible, from one of the particle detectors that record the microscopic collisions, that 100,000 CDs per second of information could be recorded.

It seems small things amuse large minds.

If you wish to know more, check out this link.
I found some interesting facts on the make up and size of the accelerator...as well as the photo I used. :)

Reptiles on the move

With the hot pre spring weather of late my snakes have begun to awaken.

This shot is of Ruby out for a "walk" on the lawn.

Being part Diamond Python she needs her UV rays, as lack of them will cause problems with bone formation...a problem specific to this member of the python family.

Although she has a UV light in her enclosure, nothing beats the real thing.