moloch05
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Here are photos of various plants and animals from the Wollongong region. These photos were mostly taken from late summer to autumn. I have not been out all that much recently due to work commitments.
A shot of typical habitat near Wollongong. The coastal forest is damp with eucalyptus forest on the slopes and subtropical rainforest is some of the protected drainages.
Here are a few photos from the southern highlands. The climate here is much cooler than on the coast and this is the closest place to Wollongong where I have seen Highland Copperheads.
Three-toed Skink (Saiphos equalis):
Cunningham's Skink (Egernia cunninghami) -- common in some areas.
Eastern Water Skink (Eulamprus quoyii) -- common lizards in my area.
Mainland She-oak Skink (Cyclodomorphus michaeli) -- I see a few of these nice skinks every summer.
Broad-tailed Gecko (Phyllurus platurus) -- These lovely geckos are one of my favourites. They are common lizards near the 'Gong.
Mustard-bellied Snake (Drysdalia rhodogaster) -- I had a good year with this species and found four. This was by far the largest of those encountered.
Highland Copperhead (Austrelaps labialis) -- This snake was in the southern highlands and about about a half hour's drive from where I live. I don't often see these responsive snakes. This one hurtled itself at my legs a moment after taking the photos.
Eastern Small-eyed Snake (Cryptophis nigrescens) -- the most common snake in my area. These little snakes remain active through the winter.
Marsh Snake (Hemiaspis signata) -- this one was on the road at dusk last week. The evening was cool and I was surprised to see one still active at this time of the year.
This is good butterfly habitat. Lantana grew along the margins of this open area. Butterflies would often sip nectar from the lantana flowers and then bask on the ferns.
Maclay's Swallowtail
Orchard Swallowtail and Meadow Argus
Australian Admiral
Painted Lady
Wonder Brown -- I don't have any good photos of the males. Females tend to sit along the trails but the orange males usually remained high in the canopy. This species exhibits a pronounced sexual dimorphism.
Sword-grass Brown -- beautiful butterflies that I see mostly near the top of the escarpment.
Common Brown females
Common Brown males?
Common Ringlet
Blues
Skippers:
Ctenucha -- one of the day flying moths. These are highly variable in pattern.
Coreid and a strange grasshopper
Pied Lacewing -- I only noticed these for the first time this year. I saw them on my garage about a month ago but have never yet seen them in a natural setting.
Garden Mantis -- I like the lovely azure patch on the forelegs.
spider -- interesting "shaggy dog" face.
huntsman
Darwinia fasicularis
Banksia ericifolia
Banksia marginata
Banksia serrata
Banksia spinulosa
Waratah and Drumstick -- both members of Proteaceae as are the Banksia.
Mountain Devil and Flannel Flower
Epacris longifolia and Goodenia sp.?
Pattersonia sp. and Native Violet
Orchid and Wattle
Hyacinth Orchid:
Styllidium sp.
King Parrot
Sugar Glider -- I hear this whenever I look for Broad-tailed Geckos but they are not so easy to see. This one was busy yapping and allowed me to walk beneath the tree where it was sitting.
Spotted Owl -- Often heard and sometimes seen in the Broad-tailed Gecko habitat.
Regards,
David
A shot of typical habitat near Wollongong. The coastal forest is damp with eucalyptus forest on the slopes and subtropical rainforest is some of the protected drainages.
Here are a few photos from the southern highlands. The climate here is much cooler than on the coast and this is the closest place to Wollongong where I have seen Highland Copperheads.
Three-toed Skink (Saiphos equalis):
Cunningham's Skink (Egernia cunninghami) -- common in some areas.
Eastern Water Skink (Eulamprus quoyii) -- common lizards in my area.
Mainland She-oak Skink (Cyclodomorphus michaeli) -- I see a few of these nice skinks every summer.
Broad-tailed Gecko (Phyllurus platurus) -- These lovely geckos are one of my favourites. They are common lizards near the 'Gong.
Mustard-bellied Snake (Drysdalia rhodogaster) -- I had a good year with this species and found four. This was by far the largest of those encountered.
Highland Copperhead (Austrelaps labialis) -- This snake was in the southern highlands and about about a half hour's drive from where I live. I don't often see these responsive snakes. This one hurtled itself at my legs a moment after taking the photos.
Eastern Small-eyed Snake (Cryptophis nigrescens) -- the most common snake in my area. These little snakes remain active through the winter.
Marsh Snake (Hemiaspis signata) -- this one was on the road at dusk last week. The evening was cool and I was surprised to see one still active at this time of the year.
This is good butterfly habitat. Lantana grew along the margins of this open area. Butterflies would often sip nectar from the lantana flowers and then bask on the ferns.
Maclay's Swallowtail
Orchard Swallowtail and Meadow Argus
Australian Admiral
Painted Lady
Wonder Brown -- I don't have any good photos of the males. Females tend to sit along the trails but the orange males usually remained high in the canopy. This species exhibits a pronounced sexual dimorphism.
Sword-grass Brown -- beautiful butterflies that I see mostly near the top of the escarpment.
Common Brown females
Common Brown males?
Common Ringlet
Blues
Skippers:
Ctenucha -- one of the day flying moths. These are highly variable in pattern.
Coreid and a strange grasshopper
Pied Lacewing -- I only noticed these for the first time this year. I saw them on my garage about a month ago but have never yet seen them in a natural setting.
Garden Mantis -- I like the lovely azure patch on the forelegs.
spider -- interesting "shaggy dog" face.
huntsman
Darwinia fasicularis
Banksia ericifolia
Banksia marginata
Banksia serrata
Banksia spinulosa
Waratah and Drumstick -- both members of Proteaceae as are the Banksia.
Mountain Devil and Flannel Flower
Epacris longifolia and Goodenia sp.?
Pattersonia sp. and Native Violet
Orchid and Wattle
Hyacinth Orchid:
Styllidium sp.
King Parrot
Sugar Glider -- I hear this whenever I look for Broad-tailed Geckos but they are not so easy to see. This one was busy yapping and allowed me to walk beneath the tree where it was sitting.
Spotted Owl -- Often heard and sometimes seen in the Broad-tailed Gecko habitat.
Regards,
David
