Stick insect that swims

 Found what I thought was a normal stick insect in the pool and thought I should rescue it before it drowned. Scooped it out and placed it in the pool edging, then noticed it was not like any stick insects that I had observed. Took a photo and later uploaded to iNaturalist for identification and found what I suspected was the correct Id "Water Stick Insect or Needle Bug" Ranatra dispar .

( The front legs of bugs in Ranatra are strong and used to grasp prey. They typically eat other insects, tadpoles and small fish, which they pierce with their proboscis and inject a saliva which both sedates and begins to digest their prey. They are sit-and-wait predators that reside among water plants and position themselves head-down with their grasping legs extended out to surprise passing prey. "wikipedia")

I regularly find the more common Water Scorpion  (Laccotrephes tristis is a species of water scorpion also commonly known as a toe-biter, that occurs Australia-wide and is part of the family Nepidae.pion "wikipedia")

Surround sound of Cicadas

 We have the sound of summer following the emergence of cicadas after their years underground a nymphs. As we have Eucalyptus trees all around our property the cicadas are here in huge numbers. Previously I have posted various cicada species from earlier seasons when they were in large numbers. I won't repeat those, but I have found other species I have not photographed previously which is exciting.

The first of these is a small cicada, Red Tree-ticker one of many similar species found in various regions of Australia.

Another first is the cicada that reputedly has the loudest noise of any insect in the world, up to 120 dB. It is the Eastern Double Drummer, largest cicada in Australia and its range if from North Queensland to the south Coast of NSW. 

Another first, both sighted and photographed is the Yellowbelly Cicada, Psaltoda harrisii, 
It is a relative of the larger and more sighted Black Prince, although I haven't seen one of those on our property. The range is the eucalyptus fores of the east coast.

 

 

 

Unexpected sighting

 

 My son was doing some work on the roof of the cottage and disturbed an Owlet Nightjar that was sleeping in the roof cavity where it had entered through a hole in the fascia.
Rudely awakened it flew to the garden where I managed a photo before it sort a more secluded spot to rest.

They range throughout Australia but as a night bird usually seen in car lights when hunting their prey or by chance finding a roosting spot.

 

Pool Visitor

 It has been some time since I have posted anything on the blog so I thought I should have a look at what has been missed.

Doing the morning check of the swimming pool I found a visitor had come in for a dip as a change from the nearby dam.

 

An Eastern Long-Neck Turtle one of a number that we see on the property but the pool is not a good place for them to have a swim as it is difficult for them to get out. Relocated to the dam for a much safer option.
 

Repeated calling gave the location

I have heard this bird calling in the vicinity for quite a few weeks but never close enough to see  or photograph. However it repeats its distinctive call often an I I identified it as a Bar-shouldered Dove. Today the calling seemed reasonably close and I saw the bird fly from one tree into another.Fortunately it stayed in position long enough for a photo, although the light was behind it which required the back ground to be over exposed to see the bird's features. 

 

These birds' habitat is eucalyptus woodlands, mangroves, scrubby bush and some urban areas. Their range is from the wooded areas of the top end down the east coast woodlands into NSW.

Heart shaped insect

Photographed and unusual looking insect that I hadn't seen before and was able to identify it as a Silky Lacewing Psychopis insolens  a delicate insect found in coastal regions of Queensland and NSW.

 

Out of the swamp

 First day of 2024 and a photo of a snake that I have seen a few times on the property but this was the first photo opportunity.

It is a Black-bellied Swamp Snake Hemiaspis signata also called a Marsh Snake, a smallish venomous snake with a painful bite but not considered dangerous. As their names suggests their habitat is generally marshy land or around water like farm dams, creeks etc where they feed on frogs insects and small rodents.

However they are also found in garden areas around homes, as was the case with this one, on a path between two garden beds.
 

They are quite widespread on the east coastal regions from tropical Queensland though to southern NSW.