Thursday, May 31, 2012

More from Queensland...




Northern Brown Bandicoot, Red Mill House, Daintree

Asiatic Blood Tail, I think

Red-browed Finch

Male Shining Flycatcher, Daintree

Graceful Honeyeater, Kingfisher Park, Julatten

Wompoo Fruit-doves, Daintree

Big and bigger


Lime (left) and Poplar Hawkmoths. The latter is the first female of the grey/purple morph I have seen. Ain't they beautiful?

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Sacred Kingfisher



Daintree, Queensland

Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher (digiscoped)



This was taken near Daintree (Queensland) while staying at the wonderful Red Mill House. You may (or may not) be surprised to hear that one of these photos was taken at 1/5 second and the other 1/8 second exposure times (as it was so dark in the forest). I used an elstoplast to lock the camera still and used the timer to take a hands-free/vibration-free shot.

Forest Kingfisher (digiscoped)



Taken just outside Kingfisher Park Birdwatchers' Lodge, Julatten, Queensland.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Muslin Moth



New for the garden, today, with a male in each of my two traps.

Laughing Kookaburra




Friday, May 18, 2012

Little Stint, Beeby's pits




A very nice find by Matt Webb this evening was this gorgeous Little Stink, which was in the company of 14 Dunlin and several Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers, and overlooked by a very dull-plumaged winter Grey Plover.

Eastern Osprey, Thala Beach Lodge, Port Douglas, Queensland





Considered by some to be a separate species, Pandion cristatus, the Ospreys of Australia are apparently smaller and non-migratory, compared to the rest. They look just like Ospreys to me!
This is one of a pair nesting very conveniently near the hide at Thala Beach Resort. The shots are all digiscoped from the hide.
Thala Beach Resort is a wonderful place with gorgeous gardens set right against aparadise beach. We were entertained to a superb meal there in the restaurant with Rainbow Lorikeets looking longingly toward the six textures of raspberries in the pudding...
We were shown around by the bird expert and guide David who knew the area like the back of his hand.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

St Andrew's Cross Spider



St Andrew's Cross Spider, one of a couple of closely related Argiope species which occur in eastern Australia. This was outside the kitchen at Cassowary House, Kuranda, Queensland