mid September 2020 — Life in a Southern Forest

Wonga Vine

Pandorea pandorana … a species we’d never recorded here before the fire, now growing on the rocky cliffs above the river.

Australian Painted Lady

Vanessa kershawi

Feeding on Pimelea flowers

Vanessa kershawi

Yellow-banded Day-Moth

Eutrichopidia latinus, tongue coated yellow with pollen grains

Yellow-banded Day-Moth

Eutrichopidia latinus. Feeding on Stackhousia flowers.

Braconid wasp

Family: Braconidae

Yellow-faced Honeyeater

Caligavis chrysops … with nesting material

Pollen-feeding fly

I’m still working on the identity of this little fly. There have been lots about lately. They’re small than the common hover flies. They don’t seem to hover. A mystery for later.

Grass Triggerplant

Stylidium graminifolium, a single plant in flower.

Grass Triggerplant

A close-up of the flower shows the “trigger” in its cocked position, folded downwards between the petals at 8 o’clock

Green Lacewing

Lacewings have appeared in recent days, including this Green Lacewing Pseudomallada edwardsi, seen here during daylight, hiding under a leaf blade.

Button Everlastings

Coronidium scorpioides

Fishing Spider

It was good to see that our resident Fishing Spider (Dolomedes sp.) survived the rebuild of the frog pond. Here she is with her front legs touching the surface of the pond.

Fishing Spider

Same spider, two weeks later.
Dolomedes sp.

Eye-shine at the pond

See if you can spot the fishing spider eye-shine. I often see it when I’m standing on the deck grilling dinner on the Weber.

Peron's Tree Frog

Litora peronii. It’s breeding season! There are at least five of these large frogs visiting our small pond each night.

Peron's Tree Frog ... in log colour

Litora peronii …. like many frogs, these guys seem to quickly adapt their colour to their surroundings.

Peron's Tree Frog ... in sand colour

Litora peronii

Red-bellied Black Snake

The first snake we’ve seen here since the fire. It was basking on a sandy patch near the frog pond early in the morning. Disturbed by our presence, it quickly disappeared under water. Sun, water and plenty of frogs = snake paradise.