Ant Power

When in Northern Queensland I was able to get shots of some very interesting creatures.

These Green Ants are building a nest.

By using brut strength and numbers they curl the leaves and fix them with excretions.

The resultant nest is waterproof and strong.

Although they have a nasty bite, they are quite tolerant - which is good, as they are found in vast numbers throughout rainforest areas.

A feast of forms

After traveling over 7000Km up to Cape Tribulation on the Queensland North Coast and back over the last month, I was able to collect a variety of creatures some of which are shown below.

This Star Fish was shot at Arlie beach, surfacing from the sand with the influx of the tide.

These birds inhabit the far north in profusion and nest overnight in the branches overnight.

Unafraid of people, they scour the campsites for morsels without fear.

Salt Water Crocs prowl the waters, this specimen over 3 metres in length and over 70 years old.

This Rino Beetle was quite big and aggressive, having bit my finger whilst I attempted to photograph it.

Preying Mantis were in abundance, and as curious as ever.

This Manta Ray was off the beach at Fraser Island, crusing the shallows for crabs.

Kookaburras provided a loud waking call in the early morning chorus.

A Kadadid hunts at night.

This Jeweled Spider was a long way north of those I photographed years back in the Southern Highlands of NSW.

Honey eaters were many and varied.

The Goanna seen in Queensland were smaller than their southern relatives

This Gecko was out for the hunt one night for moths at Wonga Beach near Daintree Rainforest.

Fraser Island had many species of fish, these captured in shallow waters of the Champagne Pools on Fraser Island.

Dingos also prowl the Island, and are to be walked warily amongst.

This unusual bird was photographed Near Emerald Qld.

A Fascinating Holiday with many shots taken of scenery and wildlife in abundance.

I hope to post more as they are processed.

Is there a doctor in the house?

I have been fishing with my father since I was 5.

Occasionally we would find what he called "Doctors".

These strange creatures often lived with the gill space of a fish.

I was always led to believe that they were parasitic, though helpful, to their host.

Below is pictured the creature in question.

This specimen was the largest I had ever seen, measuring over 25mm head to tail.

The multitude of appendages makes it most unusual indeed.

It was found within the innards of its host, a Leather-jacket, whilst I was cleaning my catch from a fishing trip.

I would welcome any input on this strange creature.

Goannas of Cuttagee

In relation to my previous post on Goannas , Here is a short vid of one.

This reptile measured over 2 Metres in length.

Many are to be found in the surrounds of lakes and rivers in the NSW South Coast.

This one would like to eat a dog that belongs to friends of mine, though keeps itself busy around the area foraging for scraps and is welcome for the interest and diversity it affords to the bushland surroundings it shares with its human neighbours.

It was not worried at all by my videoing it and it was obvious that any further encroachment on its space would be challenged.

A good example of one of Australias largest reptiles.

Big storms on the far south coast

A Picture says a thousand words.

This shot, down the south coast of NSW, gives an idea of the ferocity of the storms of the last few days.

A little further south we had the power off for 2 days, due to fallen trees like this one.

While there was less rain than the storm experienced in February, the wind was much stronger.

A dense low pressure system was responsible for the havoc that saw disruption over more than 200Km of coastal towns.

A Dangerous Dance

Although the weather has cooled somewhat, there is a mass of insect life around - in sizes ranging from mosquitoes to dragonflies.

This could be partially due to the massive rains recieved earlier.

Welcome Swallows buzz the nearby dam in flocks approaching fifty in mumber, showing that lavae of all sorts are there for the taking.

Our resident spider species have been taking advantage of this fact also, catching masses of small annoying insects before they gain entry to our home.

There has even been a little time for them to do one of the most dangerous dances of all for a spider - the act of mating.

These two are engaged in that dance.

"Palps" of the male spider, the smaller of the two in the foreground, place sperm into openings in the female while, at least with this species, they face to face as though locked in some mortal combat.

The female spider often eats the male after mating, and sometimes during the act, dependant on the species and how quick the male can make a run for it afterwards.

A danerous dance indeed.

Port Jackson Sharks

This strange form is the egg case from the Port Jackson Shark.

It forms this twisted spiraling shape once dried.

The juvenile shark escapes from the far end, leaving an opening in the top

I found a number of them on Blenheim Beach (Marine Bay), located near Jarvis Bay area within the marine park.

Pictured with the fine white sand as a backdrop below

The area is located just south of Nowra on the south coast of NSW, Australia.

A map of the surrounds, and the area visited shown here.

The beach has a small creek running to it, with temperate coastal rainforest at its fringes.

The Marine Park was established some time ago, as the area was recognized as a significant bio-diverse region warranting protection.

Along with the casings found, a number of sea slugs were found nearby amongst sea weed and a dragonfly nymph located in the fresh water of the creek within 25 meters of the surf.

While we enjoyed the surf, a pod of dolphins cruised close by.

A very pleasant and diverse place indeed.

Adaptation of Design

Arachnids never cease to amaze me.

I photographed this orb spiders web the other day with a strange adaptation.

The center of the web is inline with the wire, thus giving the spider some cover from the prying eyes of predators.

In case you might feel this has a degree of chance involved, the web is fixed to the wire only at the center point, with the rest of the intersection floating freely so as to catch prey.

This design would offer both protection and stability of the web.

An example of evolution at work through design adaptation.

Kookaburra on the hunt

It was with some degree of relief that I heard a number of Kookaburra calling last week. Since then they have been making their world famous call each morning and evening.

A bird that I remember well from my youth ( I cared for one once while its wing healed), it has been sadly lacking in numbers over the years following.

Many bird species are on the decline due to a number of factors and I recall a recent report stating that the beloved Kookaburra was on that list.

A few posts ago I photographed a young Red Bellied Black snake in my backyard. This is not the only one I have seen. It seems that this years breeding season was a good one for snakes. Hot and dry.

It also seems that the Kookaburra, who are fond of snake for dinner, are aware of the fact.

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A shot of a Black Snake being swallowed whole is on my wish list.

Next time you see an inoffensive snake on its way, remember that a bird song we associate with all things Australian depends largely on snake populations.

Fun time for Fungi

All the rain we have had over the last month has seen an explosion in the number of fungi of late.

Fields that were inundated have seen a number of forms sprout forth.

While the variation is nothing like the profusion I have seen at places like the Robertson Reserve, with many species per metre squared, I feel it worth documenting nonetheless.

The local bushland may have further groups to photograph as cooler, damper and darker conditions lead us into Autumn.

Visits after the rain

Massive rain of late has been a boon for amphibians.

Local swampland has been alive with the calls of many species, though one species is visiting in mass. The Emerald Spotted Tree-frog.

Attracted to insects drawn by the light from windows we have had as many as five at a time on one window, curiously studying me I photographed them.

I thought I would include this shot, as the way the legs are positioned make the creature look more alien than it already does, when I noticed something strange.

The frog has two mosquitoes on it and they seem to be feeding.

The shots are a little rough, though show the little mozzies seemingly feeding on an amphibian. Perhaps someone may say it happens all the time, though it was news to me.

Mozzies are an unwelcome visitor to many, it seems.

Here is another.

Looking cute and alert, this years baby Red Bellied Black Snake was checking if the rains had finished.

Driven from the spot where it lived in our yard by rising water, it found shelter in the shed.

It proceeded to the garden where I watched it catch some small skinks for lunch.

Many animals have had to relocate with the rains.

Meetings, both welcome and unwelcome, with we humans are at a high.

In Australia, as in any other place we are graced by the natural world, its a matter of learning how to coexist and share our space.

No, the Red Belly cant come inside.

The shed will have to do.