Dragonfly season

The wet summer has brought the insects out in large numbers and it is hunt and be hunted from the small flies to dragonflies and cicadas.

The dragonflies are very busy hunting, particularly in the morning where they are flitting to and fro catching any flying insect that takes their fancy. They are also being hunted as needle-tail swifts swoop down at speed twisting and turning to take the dragonflies on the wing.

Lots of different dragonflies and yesterday took some photos of ones that I haven't posted before.

Blue Skimmer (m) Orlhetrum caledonicum

Blue Skimmer (f)

 

Wandering Percher Ocplacodes bipunctata

Young hawk hunts more than sparrows

Recently we have seen a pair of hawks around the property, rapidly flying through the treetops on the hunt trying to scare birds to take flight to enable a strike.

Yesterday late afternoon I heard one calling and I found both birds were in the trees near the house but only one was on a branch in a clear area preening for a photo.

 It was catching the last of the sun and stayed for some time until its mate flew and then it followed. 

They are quite small hawks and I was not sure of the identification as there are a couple that are quite similar particularly in their young plumage.

On checking in my field guide it showed the distinctive feature, a tail with indented square shape and plumage that identified it as a young Collared Sparrowhawk Accipiter cirrhocephalus where as the similar Brown Goshawk has a rounded tail end.

 Today I heard them again calling nearby and found one had landed on a branch to feed on a bird that it had caught.

 It managed to get in a few bites before its mate came to get in on the feed but it was not going to share and took flight.

Collared Sparrowhawks are widely distributed through Australia in varied habitat.

Tiny Boxer

 Noticed a movement on the floor at the entrance to our garage and a closer look revealed a small Mantis hunting ants.

 At about 3cm in length it is one of the smallest mantis and as this is wingless it is a female and a very adept hunter as as I watched it quickly caught and devoured two ants.

It is one of the Boxing Bark Mantis of the genus Paraoxypilus, and the large forelegs when held out resemble boxing gloves and give its common name.

They are widespread around the coastal regions of Australia.

Many Blue Tigers seen today

Today we had numerous Blue Tigers Tirumala hamatus flying around and only alighting briefly to take in some sun. It was quite an occasion as I have rarely seen them on our property and I was keen to get a photo or two as the only time of managed to photograph one it was partly hidden by foliage. Today the first one that I saw taking a break from flying only stayed long enough for a shot with wings together.

 After some time seeing many flying around but not stopping I finally saw one rest on acacia foliage and spread its wings to the sun.

I only managed to get the one photo before it was on the wing again but pleased with the result. These butterflies are found from northern Australia to as far south as eastern Victoria, however they are more numerous in northern regions, sometimes in large numbers.

Return visit with partner

The ripening fruits on the Strawberry Guava Psidium cattleianum are proving attractive to the bower birds, the Regent and the Satin, but this visit it was the female bird that I noticed in the bush feeding on a piece of fruit.

However it until I looked at the photo I wasn't sure which species, as both are brownish but the Regent has the black patch on the crown and the mottled back where as the Satin is more olive coloured and mottled on the breast.

Shortly after she was joined by the male back to enjoy the fruit.