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.

Blog Action Day

Today is Blog Action Day and for this event I intend to raise

awareness for our coastal environment.

Being a country with massive coastlines, and much coastal development,

these areas have come under increasing pressure.

Right to the shore in many cases.

As a child, some 30 or more years ago, I was fascinated by

the life that existed in the rockpools at the tidal edge.

Filled with creatures of all manner of shape and size, it provided an

environment for learning within usually limited areas

affording a good view at what was going on.

From that time, 30 years ago, I have watched a slow decline

due to pollutants and the action of people on the area.

Pollutants devastated the weed beds that are the basis of this platform of life

and from that came a wholesale reduction of the variety that once existed.

In recent times, a reduction of industrial pollutants has seen the weed beds return somewhat,though the variety of creatures is slower to recover due to people.

Recently I had to rescue a large red octopus from a group of youths with sticks.

Such is the uneducated disregard that is often shown.

New housing developments close to the area in Shellharbour called by locals "The Farm" will undoubtedly have similar effects to the neighbouring tidal communities, as did previous efforts such as the devastation of the mangrove areas at Minnamurra...once a place with a thriving oyster lease, it is my opinion you would be lucky to find anything more than sand flies, due to the removal of most of the mangrove swamp that played host to the breeding activities of many species.

It was still in good shape till the bypass was put in.....

.......through the middle of it.

Take a look at the few photos below, as there is a fire sale on...and everything must go.