Hi all,

 

Just some random shots from January. Enjoy.

 

A relaxed Brolga enjoying a preening session.

 

A group of Magpie Geese takes to the air

 

Christmas Beetle. Townsville

 

Crocodile guarding her nest. We had a flood (more about that later) and we

assume all of the croc eggs on the river have drowned, since water was

1m deep over the nests.

 

Nobbi dragon (Amphibolurus nobbi.) Common around the rocky headlands

 

Another view. Due to the red tail, this looks like a breeding male.

 

No prizes for guessing this...First redback I have seen

in North Queensland.

 

Closeup of a cicada. In QLD you say

"SICK-AH-DAH" as opposed to the Victorian way

"SICK-AY-DER"

 

A Mayfly from Tully. Mayflies live most of their lives

underwater as a wingless larva, emerging as an adult

that will only last long enough to breed before dying-

a few hours at best. Adult mayflies have no

mouthparts so cannot feed as anyway.

Mayflies are the only insects to have two adult stages.

This is the first of the two adult stages. It is dull and

well camouflaged. It will shed the skin (including

the skin covering the wings) and emerge as a colourful

breeding adult, then die as soon as it has bred.

 

The fastest animal on the planet in relation to body size is said by some to be this

diminutive creature. Tiger Beetles are the cheetahs of the insect world.

Sharp eyesight detects prey and the beetle makes a lighting fast dash

to run it down, too fast for the human eye to follow. Powerful jaws do the rest.

Tiger Beetles are ready fliers, taking to the air as easily as a housefly, unlike the 

clumsy attempts of other beetles. They are common in sandy areas,

especially in the tropics. Many species are iridescent, like this one.