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.