Bellminer

They say that these birds are more often heard than seen, but I managed to spy out a few today at Brisbane Forest Park. I heard many more. They actually sound like submarines "pinging" each other.

Nikon d70 : 1/160 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso200

Shieldbug

I've been a bit slack lately. Enjoying holidays and not having to worry about work or any other commitments.

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/4.2 : 90mm : iso320

Weevil?

I'm not 100% sure, but I think this is a weevil. Found it and a mate on a wattle tree in the Bank Street Reserve. This photo was taken before the mating commenced!

Nikon d70 : 1/200 : f/7.1 : 90mm : iso200

Willie Vs Kookaburra

These two Willie Wagtails were upset with this Kookaburra for some reason (probably territory rights) and took turns snapping at its tail feathers.

Nikon d70 : 1/500 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso200

Damselfly

I can't seem to get away from these guys. I was walking through swarms of them today around Kedronbrook.

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/11 : 90mm : iso200

Native Bee

This bee is coming back to the hive in a tree trunk. Also known as the Stingless Bee and Sugar Bag Bee. It is very small, measuring in at 4mm and while they don't sting, they defend the nest by swarming and biting. And for those of you who like macadamias, you can thank these guys for their job of pollination.

Nikon d70 : 1/100 : f/4.5 : 90mm : iso200

Caterpillar

Posting this for no other reason than I like the colours.

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/7.1 : 90mm : iso200

Damselfly

There are so many different species of these guys in South East Queensland (about 130 infact), I never know which one I've seen and taken photos of and which one I haven't. They all look nice anyway.

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/4 : 90mm : iso200

Spangled Drongo MKII

I don't usually post a photo of a something I've already featured on my blog, but after my comment yesterday about always getting a better image after I've put up a post, I just had to let you see that Murphys Law is still in play! This was one of the first photos I took today.

Nikon d70 : 1/160 : f/6.3 : 300mm : iso200

Spangled Drongo

I'm still trying to get a shot of this bird front on and in full sun. No doubt, as is the case most times, I'll post this photo and end up getting a better image in the next few days. Oh well.

Nikon d70 : 1/500 : f/5.6 : 230mm : iso200

Giant Grasshopper

I featured a baby version of this grasshopper last month. Apparently it has several life stages or "instars" where it sheds its skin and grows bigger. This one is about half way grown. They start off being around 5mm and grow to 60-90mm, making it the largest grasshopper in Australia. Also known as a Hedge grasshopper or Giant Valanga.

Nikon d70 : 1/200 : f/11 : 90mm : iso200

Beetle

There were a couple of these guys on the plant neighbouring the praying mantid that I showed yesterday. I haven't made a positive ID yet, but I'm guessing it'a a leaf beetle.

Nikon d70 : 1/100 : f/5 : 90mm : iso200

Praying Mantid

I saw this little guy on the day that I got drenched in the rain, and given the prevailing conditions, I was too scared to change my lens to get a photo. When I went back the next day, when the rain had stopped, it was still waiting.

Nikon d70 :1/320 : f/10 : 90mm : iso200

Hunting Flight Sequence

Just thought I'd share with you the whole sequence I shot yesterday of the White-bellied Sea Eagle hunting a bat.

I recommend you click on the photo to view the larger file.

White-bellied Sea Eagle

Getting this photo was case of being at the right place at the right time. I was actually on the other side of the river, when I heard the bats on Indooroopilly island making a commotion. I paddled across and spied this White-bellied Sea Eagle sitting in a dead tree. I managed to get my camera up in time to catch it taking off and I kept snapping shots as it dived into the mangroves and came out the other side carrying a bat. Awesome!

Nikon d70 : 1/1600 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso400

Red-backed Wren

This is the male partner of yesterday’s bird. It had started raining by this stage and you can see a few streaks of rain the background. My 300mm lens actually copped it a bit, when I went to use it today, I discovered that moister had gotten into the lens at fogged it all up. A few hours in a plastic bag with some desiccant and it's was good as new. Phew!

Nikon d70 : 1/200 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso200

Female Red-backed Wren

The Red-back wren has the distiction of being the smallest of Fairy Wrens, and the female has the added title of being the plainest coloured wren. I took this photo moments before being caught in a down pour of rain. The camera gear managed to survive, but I was soaked to the bone!

Nikom d70 : 1/250 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso200

Brown Paropsine Beetle

The Brown Paropsine Beetle is also known as the Acacia Leaf Beetle. When they sense danger, they hide their legs and antenna under their body. This guy must have gotten a fright from me shoving my camera in its face!

Nikon d70 : 1/200 : f/7.1 : 90mm : iso200

Juvenile Striated Heron

This is the young version of the Striated Heron I posted up the other day. The Striated Heron can been found in coastal regions from Shark Bay in WA, up and all the way around the other side of the country to southern NSW.

Nikon d70 : 1/640 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso200

Silver Orb Spider

Quite a pretty looking spider I reckon, reasonably friendly too, as there are no recorded bites (to humans anyway!). Weaves a circular web (hense "orb"), which tends to be weak.

Nikon d70 : 1/160 : f/6.3 : 90mm : iso200

Striated Heron

Another one from the kayak. The Striated Heron is also known as the Mangrove Heron or Bittern. It is seldom seen upright, but rather it keeps its body horizontal while skulking among the mangrove roots.

Nikon d70 : 1/400 : f/5.6 : iso200

Crane Fly

I been down in the creekbed again, it is mostly dry now,but there are still plenty of insects about. When I first saw this Crane Fly, I thouhgt it was a giant mutant mozzie!

Nikon d70 : 1/80 : f/4.5 : 90mm : iso200

Australian Darter

I went kayaking with the camera again this morning and came across this Darter sunning itself on a dead tree that had fallen into the river.

Nikon d70 : 1/640 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso200

Flowers

I don't know what flower these are, but they are planted all over town.

Nikon d70 : 1/125 : f/5.6 : 65mm : iso200

Shieldbug

This is one of 4 baby shieldbugs I found in the back garden.

Nikon d70 : 1/100 : f/4.8 : 90mm : iso200

As an aside, I entred my first photo comp recently and got a highly recommended. The photo was of a flying galah that I posted in August. Save Our Waterways Now ran the comp.

Grasshopper

This guy is quite small, only about 1cm in lenght. I havent been able to ID it, unless it is a baby Giant Grasshopper, as the colour and markings are similar.

Nikon d70 : 1/80 : f/4.5 : 90mm : iso200

Striped Ladybeetle

Posting this shot more for artistic merit, than anatomical study.

Nikon d70 : 1/80 : f/4.8 : 90mm : iso200

Gottcha!

This Jumping spider is only about 10mm in body length and it had no trouble taking down this fly!

Nikon d70 : 1/80 : f/4.5 : 90mm : iso200

Hide and Seek

I'm thinking that the grass hopper is the aggressor here, other insects seemed keen to get out of its way!

Nikon d70 : 1/80 : f/4.5 : 90mm : iso200

Flower

More flowers, been one of those weeks.

Nikon d70 : 1/125 : f/5.6 : 90mm : iso400

Grey-headed Flying Fox

I finally got the guts to take my camera for a paddle in a kayak. I've wanted to for months, but I've always been too scared of tipping in with the camera. I got one or two good shots this morning near Indooroopilly Island, this picture of some Flying foxes being one of them.

Nikon d70 : 1/800 : f/7.1 : 130mm : iso400

Frangapanny

I've noticed that the ladies like to pick these flowers in the summer time and put it in their hair, often as they walk along the street to work or where ever.

Nikon d70 : 1/160 : f/4.8 : 102mm : iso200

Damselfly

I was down at the mostly dry creek bed of Ithica Creek, noticing several Damsel flies making a meal out of the swarming mozzies. This one sat still enough for me to get in nice and close and take a few shots.

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/25 : 90mm : iso400

Orchid

No real reason for posting this photo, other than to say its been a quiet photo week. So flowers it will be for the next few days. Hope you enjoy.

Nikon d70 : 1/200 : f/4.5 : 90mm : iso200

Night Swinger

Sorry I can't give you an id on this spider. It's not in my book and the web site I usually refer to is down at the moment. For now I'll nick name it "Tarzan".

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/4 : 90mm : iso200

Pheasant Coucal

I've heard this guy more than I've seen him. It's got a booming "coop-coop-coop" call. Usually a ground dewellar, you can often see it running across a road or path. It is a laboured flier.

Nikon d70 : 1/320 : f/11 : 300mm : iso400

Unknown

I've got no idea what this is. Just another insect from my night wanderings.

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/5.6 : 90mm : iso200

Brisbane Short-necked Turtle

I've been hanging around creeks lately, taking photos to enter in a photo competition. This photo wasn't entered, but it is of interest because I'd not photographed a turtle before.

Nikon d70: 1/500 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso400

Whip Spider

Still on the night shots. This is a Whip Spider, apparently common Australia wide, especially in the summer, but this was the first time I'd ever seen one. They only produce a web at night, and then it is only a single thread. Oh and it doesn't bite.

Nikon d70 : 1/125 : f/8 : 90mm : iso200

White-browed Scrubwren

It's amazing what you find at night. Saw this scrubwren the other night when I was spot lighting. I'm amazed that I was so close, but it was mostly a case of just turning around and having it right there infront of me, good thing to, as I only had my 90mm lens on. Scrubwren usually frequent thickets and feed on the the ground.

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/4 : 90mm : iso200

Shield Huntsman

I went out with the torch again last night, found more spiders and a few other things. This guy is the Shield Huntsman. It is what they describe as a "ready biter", with large fangs and if it gets you, expect mild to severe local pain and maybe some temporary cardiac complications. Sounds friendly doesn't it.

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/4 : 90mm : iso200

Silvereye

The Silvereye ( Zosterops lateralis) is found through out Austrtalia, but in different forms, depending on the region it is in. They measure in at 12cm. I photographed this one at the Bank Street reserve in Ashgrove.

Nikon d70 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso400

Tawny Frogmouth

I've been lucky enough to see this Frogmouth two days in a row. It is a nocturnal bird that hunts in a similar way to the Kookaburra. It usually roosts on branches close to the treetrunk in pairs or family groups, though I found this one close to the ground and alone.

Nikon d70 : 1/160 : f/6.3 : 150mm : iso200

Garden Orb-weaver mk2

This is the same type of spider as yesterdays, but with very different colouring. The Garden Orb-weavers will construct its web in the evenings and takes it down again at dawn. During the day, it rests on nearby foliage with its legs drawn under the body.

Nikon d70s : 1/125 : f/8 : 90mm : iso200

Garden Orb-weaver

Went bush last night with a torch strapped to my head looking to take photos of marsupials. Came home with a memory card full of spiders instead. This is a Garden Orb-weaver, which comes in many different colours, as I'll show tomorrow. Took this photo with a hand held flash angling up and slightly behind.

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/4 : 90mm : iso200

Yellow Spot Blue

I had some more "artistic" photos of this Yellow Spot Blue (Candalides xanthospila : FAMILY LYCAENIDAE), but in this photo, you can at least see some of the yellow spot.

Nikon d70 : 1/160 : f/5.6 : 90mm : iso200

Ladybeetle

I thought the name of this ladybeetle to be too long to use as the title. Its full name is the "28-spotted Potato Ladybird" (Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata : FAMILY COCCINELLIDAE) and it gets it name by...... you guessed it, the number of spots it has. While most ladybeetles are predators, this ladybeetle feeds on plants. It is also covered with dense short hairs on its body.

Nikon d70 : 1/500 : f/5.6 : 90mm : iso200

Brush Wattlebird

Ok, so I'm slipping back to holiday photo territory. Captured this Wattlebird on my last morning in Caloundra. I was actually taking macro shots of rain drops on the flowers when the bird flew up. I didn't have time to change my lens, but thankfully it landed close enough for me to snap off a couple of shots with my 90mm macro.

Nikon d70 : 1/320 : f/4.5 : 90mm : iso200

Weevil

Did you know that there are over 8000 named weevils in Australia? I didn't, until I went to look this one up. And no, I didn't get an id for this individual.

Nikon d70 : 1/160 : f/5.6 : 90mm : iso200

Leaf Beetle

Out with the holiday photos and in with the macro. Took this photo of a Leaf Beetle (family Chrysomelidae) this morning at the Ashgrove Scenic Reserve.

Nikon d70 : 1/320 : f/5.6 : 90mm : iso200