Polystigma punctata

Whilst most of the beetles in this family are dung feeders, these dudes have found their way out of the crap and into the soft sweet smelling bursaria flowers

Black Saturday

I have no words for what happened in Victoria on the 7/2/09.

Black Birds

Although they sing a beautiful song, Blackbirds were introduced into Australia and are Vermin. We should NOT encourage these birds to nest in our back yards, by removing their nests as soon as they are located.

Duelling Banjo's (Limnodynastes dumerili)

One of my favourite frogs, the Pobblebonk, or Banjo frog.

Crab Spider - Sidymella

Crab Spiders can be easily identified by their pose. Whilst waiting in ambush they position their front four legs out in front of their body. Most are no bigger than 8mm in length.

Purple Swamphen - Porphyrio porphyrio

The Purple Swamp Hen loves swamps, lake margins and shallow slow-moving rivers. Its loud screeches can be heard way before it is seen.

Black Bear

In Canada during late fall (October) Black Bears like this one can be frequently seen engulfing themselves with berries - fattening themselves up for the upcoming winter hibernation.

Black Tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)

Their population was once as high as 5 billion, now due to massive poisoning programs from farmers and the cropping of their land, this animals population has plummeted! Naturally these guys numbers were controlled by a wide range of predators including weasels, badgers, rattlesnakes, hawks and eagles. A interesting disease also affects the prairie dogs, the bubonic plague - carried by fleas at the base of their burrow, the same disease that wiped out so many people in the 14Th century.

Prairie dogs alert each other of approaching predators through a series of "yaps" explaining the dog part of their name.

Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis)

Upon visiting the hibernaculum in the grasslands national park here in Canada, we stumbled across 50 or more rattlesnakes like this one, As summer ends, up to 1000 rattlesnakes all venture back to these over wintering places where they go underground and intertwine with each other. Other snake species also use the same caves including bull snakes, garter snakes and racers. In days (hopefully) gone farmers used to blow these hibernaculums up with dynamite effectively killing up to 1000 snakes at once and leaving up to 10km square snake free. (not hard to eliminate a species that way eh?

Nutalls Cottontail Rabbit

Coming from Australia where rabbits are a serious pest species, its hard to believe that these guy's are not only native but considered rare here in Canada!! These Nutall's Cottontail rabbits are not the same as the European Rabbit although it would take a trained eye to tell the difference!!!

Northern Racoon (Procyon lotor)

These guys are amazingly cheeky! I went for a walk last night at about midnight, when i found a family of Racoon's squabbling on a hay bail. After they scattered, i positioned myself on their hay bail and waited. it did not take long until they came back and jumped up on the hay bail next to me (one came within a foot before it saw me). They make a strange purring noise as they walk.

Spring Is Here!!!!

With Spring comes the first glimpses of colour in the bush! This Diuris is a small orchid that was once common around Melbourne.

Chamaeleo calyptratus

The Veiled Chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus), is a large species of chameleon found in the mountain regions of Yemen and Saudi Arabia. It is also sometimes referred to as the Yemen Chameleon. Unfortunately as was the case with this dude, many are smuggled into Australia, where most perish. This one was lucky!

Spider boldly declare's Christ!

Well the title says all doesn't it? This is a Sunburst Huntsman (Neosparus spp).

I believe they are a rain forest dwelling species, however i could stand corrected. There is very little information available on this species, but i think it speaks for its self as it displays the cross so boldly on its abdomen.

The Eye of the Predator

American Alligator's eye's relfect the touch of a true artist God the Creator!

Morelia spilota

Carpet Pythons range extends throughout most of Australia, with the exception being Tasmania. They vary in colour and size, these variations in colours and sizes together with the location determine the sub species. There are six recognised sub species (Centrilian, Jungle, South-Western, Coastal, Inland and North-Western) The one photographed here is the Inland or Murray Darling Carpet Python sub species.

Brown Falcon (Falco berigora)

Although clumsily, the Brown Falcon will chase after small animal prey on foot on the ground. This one however had other prey in mind.

Nephrurus amyae

The Knob tail Gecko (Nephrurus amyae).

What could this be??

Yes, Jack Frost has paid us a visit!

Litoria ewingi Southern Brown Tree Frog

Within the depths of Neil and Liz's garden resides the rambrotious brown tree frog. This little dude enjoys feeding on the insects that are attracted to the lights around their house!

Harlequin Bug (Dindymus versicolor)

These little dudes, feed on a variety of vegetation including native and exotic garden varieties. Pairs are often encountered where they are joined at the tail, the female dictating the direction that they walk.

Endoxyla

The Witjuti grub is not just one such grub, they belong to many species. Some turn into Beetles others into moths like this one from the Endoxyla family. These moths are up to 3 inches in length and can be as thick as a man's thumb.

Vespula germanica - European Wasp.

I learned a valuable lesson whilst photographing these dudes.. Even when dead, they are still capable of inflicting a nasty sting that itches for days after!

Hair Pins

The hair pin Banksia's flower is quite amazing when viewed in macro.

Spit Fires!

The next time you see a bunch of spitfires on a gum branch, stop for a closer look at the harmless larval stage of some of Australia's wasps.

Garden Orb Weaving Spider - Eriophora biapicata

The Garden Orb Weaver is truly a master weaver! It carefully and skillfully constructs an amazing web every night only to carefully pull it down the following morning. Webs can be 3 metres in length! Feel privileged if you find these harmless spiders in your back yard!

Atractomorpha spp

Sorry for the reduction in the size of these images, but due to theft of the larger more detailed versions i have had to resort to reducing quality. If you would like the full sized, high quality version of any of my pics please drop me a email on jtscharke@optusnet.com.au

Danaus plexippus - Monarch

The Monarch larvae feed upon the introduced Swan Plant. Their life cycle is amazing, from this stage they shed their skin as they transform into a bright green chrysalis before hatching into the Orange Black and White butterfly!

The colour of the Floodplains

Lindsay Island in Far North West Victoria. The Thunderstorms broke for long enough to get this picture before the rain made sure the camera did not come out again!

Old Woman

The Old Lady, or Granny moth (Dasypodia selenophora) has a wingspan of 72mm It is often found in houses or under eaves. The Larvae feed upon wattles.

Murray Darling

The Murray Darling Carpet Python!

What a special encounter this is!

My Dad found this one near Echuca. It measured 1.5m and was probed to be a male.

Murray Darling Carpet Pythons are Endangered to extinction.

Litoria peronii

The Perons Tree Frog is the only frog in Australia with a cross in its eye.

Its Call is a loud penetrating long rattling sound.

Bandy-Bandy Snake (Vermicella annulata)

The Bandy Bandy Snake is a very special animal. It feeds exclusively on Blind Snakes (Ramphotyphlops). The bandy-bandy snake is a burrowing snake that is seldom encountered. It is well known for a defensive display in which it alternates between thrashing and contorting itself into one or more large, vertically oriented coils, apparently to frighten predators.

Tribute to the Eastern Brown Snake

The Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis) is one of Seven species found within the brown snake genus. Brown snakes though generally shy, are almost always nervous and defensive if provoked or cornered. The bottom photo shows typical colouration of the juveniles. They loose this colouring as they mature and although variable, most resemble that of the one photographed above.

Ode to the Tigersnake

The Eastern Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus) is one of Victoria's Best Known Snakes (Next to the Eastern Brown Snake- which will feature in the next post). The Tiger Snake is highly variable in both size and colour it can commonly reach sizes of over 1.5metres. The Tiger Snake feeds upon frogs, lizards birds and small mammals. Tiger snake venom contains potent presynaptic neurotoxins (toxins in venom that cause paralysis or muscle weakness). The Tiger Snake is the 4th most venemous snake in the world the most venamous snake being the Inland Tiapan closely followed by the Eastern Brown Snake (featured next post).

Despite all these amazing/daunting facts please take the time to look for the beauty in this snake as they are Gods creatures and have a very important purpouse in the world.

Swampy

Swamp Wallabies like this one are usually solitary animals, however during the breeding season you can find groups of up to four individuals together. This time of year is when you are likely to find a joey chasing after mumma!

Permission to Land??!

I pestered this Hover Fly for about 20 minuits until i finally caught him mid flight coming into land on an everlasting daisy. Hoverflies are not related to bee's, instead they belong to the same group as blowflies (Diptera).

I.D Unknown

I found this little ripper spider orchid on the weekend whilst on patrol. I have no clues to its I.D as yet.. am awaiting a expert opinion. Ill post the species as soon as i know it!

Covered in Milk Pollen

This little wasp was foraging around in a milkmaid flower.

Can you small Chocolate?

The Chocolate Lilly has a distinctive chocolate small to its flowers!

Flower Spider

Who are you calling Hairy Legs??!

Golden Moth

Poppeye the slipper orchid!

This is a Slipper Orchid. We recently purchased this variety from a orchid grower in Dingley (Plantworld Nursery).

Two Heads Are Better Than One

A doubble headder Nodding Greenhead (Pterostylus nutans) is a rare find, so naturally i jumped at this photo opportunity.