Dinner time

A St Andrews Cross has taken care of dinner for the day.

Nikom d70 : 1/60 : f/10 : 90mm : iso200

Bug

Found this bug the other week, haven't had time to ID thought.

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

White Caper Butterfly

It has been a while. Baby arrived mid September, so I've been a bit busy. For the record, we had a baby girl, and no, I wont punish you all with baby photos.

Instead, here is a White Caper Butterfly (Anaphaeis java) taken yesterday.

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

Soon to be dad

Sorry I've been away for so long, but my wife and I are expecting our first child any day now. We have been spending all our time catching up with friends and family, getting ready for baby, making the most of our last months of "coupledom" and trying to stockpile sleep! As a result, I haven't been bush for a while.

I hope to get back to nature with the camera when I can take the little one for walks with me.

Till then, thanks for dropping by.

Giant Green Huntsman

Giant green huntsman from Greenbank.

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/13 : 90mm : iso200

Unknown

Another gritter from Mt coot-tha, only, I have now idea what it is. I looked on the web, in my books and I even had a quick look in at the local museum, still no ID. Anyone out there who can give my a heads up?

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

Thin Jumping Spider

Opisthoncus necator found just up the creek from where I took the last two photos at Mt Coot-tha. The flash was held from above and behind, which, I think does a nice job of showing off its hairy legs and the silk from it rear end.

Nikon d70s : 1/60 : f/9 : 90mm : iso200

Butcherbird

This is the same bird from the last post. It was sitting on my knee when I took this photo. For a bird in the wild, it certainly wasn't shy.

Nikon d70 : 1/125 : f/3.8 : 90mm : iso200

Butcherbird Feathers

I was having a picnic at Mt Coot-tha today, when a Butcherbird joined us. It sat on my knee while I got a few close-ups with my macro lens. This one is of the feathers on the back of its neck.

Nikon d70 : 1/400 : f/5 : 90mm : iso200

Fiji Parrotfinch

Bula! I've just spent 7 days relaxing in Fiji and one of the spoils was seeing lots of these finches. According to Post Fiji, who feature it on one of its stamps, it is "one of the Fiji's most attractive birds".

I'm off on more travels, this time staying domestic though. See you in a week.

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

Paradise

No photos from me for about seven days. I'm off to relax in a place similar to this, and hopefully take plenty of photos while I'm there. Paradise

Nikon d70 : 1/500 : f/11 : 70mm : iso400

King Parrot

This female King Parrot didn't appreciate having her photo taken!

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso200

Black-fronted Dotterel

This Black-fronted Dotterel was feeding at the edge of the ever receding waters of the dam at Biambi Yumba Park. My flash shorted out before I got this shot, so I was glad it stood still long enough for me to get a sharp shoot.

Nikon d70 : 1/1.6 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso320

Zebra Blue

The Zebra Blue (Syntarucus plinius) is a measures in at a small 25mm. I found this one fluttering around my local sports field.

Ulysses butterfly

The Ulysses butterfly (Papilio ulysses) is found through out the world in tropical regions. The male is attacted to blue objects, such as blue foil, thinking them to be female. It is one of the largest butterflies to be found in Australia. I snapped this one while I was at Airlie Beach last month.

Nikon d70 : 1/320 : f/8 : 250mm : iso200

Rainbow Lorikeet

Those who a familiar with my blog will be well aquanted with the Rainbow Lorikeet. This photo however, is one of my first of the bird in flight.

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

Hawk Moth

This Hawk Moth (Gnathothlibus erotus) didn't spread its wings all the way out for me, but if it did, you would see its bright red/orange hindwings. Next time maybe.

Nikon d70 : 1/320 : f/4. : 90mm : iso200

Bug

I know this is a bug, but which bug? I think it is the last instar of the Pod-sucking bug, also known as the Brown bean bug.

Nikon d70 : 1/500 : f/14 : 90mm : iso200

From the Spiders Lair

Spider emerges from its lair for a night time hunt.

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/14 : 90mm : iso200

Scarlet-sided Pobblebonk

Went wandering around a friends yard at Greenbank with a torch the other night and came across this Scarlet-sided Pobblebonk (Limnodynastes terraereginae). It also goes by the alias' of Northern Banjo, Northern Pobblebonk, Red-thigh Pobblebonk and the Scarlet marsh frog.

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/14 : 90mm : iso200

Lemon Migrant

Yellow Migrant (Catopilia pomona)flicks back its proboscis. And what is a proboscis? It's a straw like structure that acts as the butterflies mouth.

Nikon d70 : 1/1600 : f/8 : 300mm : iso200

Green Tree Ant

This Green tree ant (Oecophylla smaragdina) stopped to pose for a photo at Airlie beach.

Nikon d70 : 1/125 : f/6.3 : 90mm : iso400

Brown Thornbill

Another shot from Mt Coot-tha. The Brown Thornbill is from the "red-eye" family of thornbills. They like to hang out with warblers, silvereyes and honeyeaters.

Nikon d70 : 1/125 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso200

Blue Tiger

The Blue Tiger (Tirumala hamata) is rare in Brisbane, except every couple of years when large migrations of adults pass through town. Must be one of those years. Lucky me!

Unknown Bug

I've been night walking again. Spotted this small bug (5mm) on a stem of wild grass.

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/10 : 90mm : iso200

Wanderer

The Wanderer came to our shores in 1871, from North America, where it is known as the Monarch.

Nikon d70 : 1/1250 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso200

Night Prowler

One of the many spiders I saw last week at Mt Coot-tha in the dark of night. Tought it would be a fun photo for today. Sweet dreams!

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/8 : 90mm : iso200

Juvenile Red-browed Finch

Part of the "firetail" family of finches, this juvenile hasn't yet developed its red eyebrow feathers. There was a flock darting back and forth of the walking track in Brisbane Forest Park.

Nikon d70 : 1/80 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso200

Eastern Water Skink

After walking the dog past these skinks for the last few weeks, I finally got around to taking my camera with me today get a shot.

Nikon d70 : 1/125 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso200

Butterfly Pupa

I haven't been able to ID the Butterfly that this pupa will turn into. There weren't too many images that I could find to compare it to. Maybe someone could drop me a line if you know.

Nikon d70 : 1/250 : f/4 : 90mm : iso200

Wolf Spider

Found a couple of these female Wolf Spiders (family LYCOSIDAE) while spotlighting at Mt Coot-tha. This one is carrying her young on her abdomen. It is a roving spider, building retreats in shrubs, or, like this one, building trapdoors.

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/14 : 90mm : iso200

Red-necked Wallaby

You can often seen these guys at sunset as you turn from the Ipswich highway onto the Centenary Highway coming into Brisbane.

Nikon d70 : 1/200 : f/8 : 300mm : iso200

Golden-eyed Lacewing

I think this is Itaochrysa insignis, from the "Green" or "Golden-Eyed" lacewing family. You can find these Australia wide throughout the year, just turn on an outside light and wait to see if you can spot one.



Bye the way, this photo is upside down, for easy viewing.


Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/8 : 90mm : iso200

Tawny Frogmouth

I went spotlighting with a friend last night at the Bank Street reserve at Ashgrove. We managed to spot three of these Tawny Frogmouths. I took advantage of the extra hands by taking the shot with the flash unit held to the side, giving a bit more of a dramatic effect.

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/5 : 120mm : iso200

Queensland Fruit Fly

We have a young orange tree in the backyard, it's not doing too well in the drought, but this Queensland fruit fly(Bactrocera tryoni) still seem to like it.

Nikon d70 : 1/320 : f/4.2 : 90mm : iso200

Moth Silhouette

Nature in the inner city limits. This moth, resting on the underside of a leaf, is silhouetted by one of the many lights blazing away in the city every night.

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

Rainbow Lorikeet

These Lorikeets are regulars on my blog, but being in Brisbane, there're just so many of the buggers, it's hard not to keep photographing them. This one was taken from the balcony of a friends place at Sandgate.

Nikon d70 : 1/20 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso200

Banksia Moth Caterpillar

This is an early instar (life stage) of the Banksia Moth Caterpillar (Danima banksiae). Found it as I was about to go home from the Bank Street reserve at Ashgrove.

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/9 : 90mm : iso200

Doing the Splits

I've not been able to get a quick ID on this one. I just like the photo as I find it slightly childishly amusing how it is doing the splits.

Nikon d70 : 1/40 : f/8 : 90mm : iso200

Royal Spoonbill

This Royal Spoonbill is a breeder. Note the long plumes on the back of its head.

Nikon d70 : 1/320 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso200

Royal Spoonbill

Non-breeding Royal Spoonbill stands at the edge of Enoggera Creek, Ashgrove.

Nikon d70 : 1/1000 : f/5.6 : 270mm : iso200

Magpie-Lark

Magpie-larks are common through out Australia, except in Tasmania. Usually seen in pairs or small family groups, but in winter the young gather in large flocks to feed in wetland or pastures. This is a male, the female doesn't have a white marking under it eye.

Nikon d70 : 1/320 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso200

Antlion Lacewing

Can you see it? If hadn't seen it land on this twig, I wouldn't have noticed it at all.

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

Great Egret

Great Egret tries to hide from me on the waters edge at Biambi Yumba Park. This one is a non-breeder, a breeder would have a black bill.

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

Brown Bunyip Cicada

Cicadas or more often heard rather than seen, with the males singing from the trees on summer days. The young cicada (nymph) lives underground where it sucks the roots of trees, shrubs and grasses. When it is fully grown, the nymph emerges and climbs a treetruck, which it grips to enable it to spit its skin and emerge as a winged adult.

Nikon d70 : 1/100 : f/5.6 : 300mm : iso200

Narrow-brand Grassdart

This is a butterfly from the sub family known as skippers or darters (FAMILY HESPERIIDAE). They get their name from their rapid and jerky flying style. They are mostly yellow, white or dark brown in colour.

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

Little Friarbird

This Juvenile Little Friarbird will loose its yellow throat feathers when it matures. Photographed at Biambi Yumba park in Fig Tree Pocket (Brisbane).

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

Orchard Swallowtail

This is the underside view of the the caterpillar from the privious post. Apparently these guys are noisy eaters, so loud, that you can locate them by listening to them eat!

Nikon d70 : 1/60 : f/10 : 90mm : iso200

Orchard Swallowtail Caterpillar

This is a rather large caterpillar, as it should be, because it turns into a rather large butterfly (one of the largest in the Brisbane area at 110mm). When disturbed, it extrudes red tentacles from its head and emits a strong smell.

Nikon d70 : 1/160 : f/10 : 90mm : iso200

Three Sisters

This is a fairly typical image of the Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains, taken from the vantage of Echo Point lookout. I could hardly travel all that way and not take the photo could I?

Nikon d70 : 1/200 : f/8 : 38mm : iso200