Corella In Flight

Even though I've featured the Corella a few days ago, I thought this would have to be my photo of the month. I took it at the time as the last Corella photo, and I couldn't beside which one to post.

Nikon d70 : 1/640 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso320

Blue-eye Lacewing

Nymphes myrmeleonides is common during October to March. Males may emit a pungent, musky odour when disturbed.

Nikon d70 : 1/200 : f/5.6 : 90mm : iso200

Little Corella

I found a little park in Stafford that had few trees, but lots of hollows in them. These hollows make great nests for the Little Corella (amoung others). These two were doing a lovely ying and yang love dance with each other.

Nikon d70 : 1/800 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso320

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