Huntsman Spider

No. Jan 05 - 002154
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Huntsman Spider, Dacelo gigas are very common in the Launceston Area, and throughout Tasmania.

Habitat and Biology:
The badge huntsman is nocturnally active and occasionally comes into houses, but less frequently than other huntsman spiders. Outside it can be found hunting for prey on the trunks of trees or in foliage. During the day it will retreat beneath the bark of a tree. A silken retreat is built in a similar situation for moulting and egg laying. Some species of Neosparassus build a silken retreat in foliage by gluing several leaves together, whilst others construct shallow burrows. The egg sac, which is a flattish silken capsule, is guarded by the female. During this period she can be quite aggressive and will rear up in a defensive display if provoked. Young Neosparassus are often green in colour.

Colour:
Male: Similar to female.
Female: Fawn to orange or pinkish brown. Black shield shaped marking with two white spots on underside of abdomen.

Form:
Body flattened, though less so than other huntsman groups. First two pairs of legs distinctly longer than hind two pairs.

Body Length:
Male: 16mm
Female: 20mm

Web type:
Does not build a web.

A Walleby Trail along a Fern Glade at the Liffy River Falls

No. Jan 05 - 002417
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

A Fern Glade at the Liffy River Falls

No. Jan 05 - 002408
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

A Fern Glade at the Liffy River Falls

No. Jan 05 - 002399
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Second Cascade on the Liffy River Falls

No. Jan 05 - 002381
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Second Cascade on the Liffy River Falls

No. Jan 05 - 002356
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Second Cascade on the Liffy River Falls

No. Jan 05 - 002349
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Second Cascade on the Liffy River Falls

No. Jan 05 - 002339
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

A Fern Glade at the Liffy River Falls

No. Jan 05 - 002337
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Second Cascade on the Liffy River Falls

No. Jan 05 - 002324
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

A small Cascade on the Liffy River Falls

No. Jan 05 - 002317
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

First Cascade on the Liffy River Falls

No. Jan 05 - 002293
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Fungi Growing on a Mirtle Tree at Liffy Falls

No. Jan 05 - 002289
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

A small Cascade on the Liffy River Falls

No. Jan 05 - 002274
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

A small Cascade on the Liffy River Falls

No. Jan 05 - 002174
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

A small Cascade on the Liffy River Falls

No. Jan 05 - 002273
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

A small Cascade on the Liffy River Falls

No. Jan 05 - 002262
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Top of the First of the Liffy River Falls

No. Jan 05 - 002228
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Fungi Groving on a Mirtle Tree at Liffy FAlls

No. Jan 05 - 002207
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Liffy River above the Falls

No. Jan 05 - 002169
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

A Laughing Kookaburra Pays a Visit

No. Jan 05 - 002140 (4)
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Laughing Kookaburra, Dacelo gigas are very common in the Launceston Area.
I have two juviniles visiting my garden daily.

Description:
410-470mm in length. One of the worlds largest Kingfishers. Bill long and robust, head and breast cream-white, dark-brown crown and brown mark through eye; pale-blue mottling on brown wings; tail rufous, margined white and barred black; eye brown. Males often have some blue-green in centre of rump, in females much reduced or abscent. Short dark bill, base of tail tinged blue, fine brownish margins to white feathers. Pairs or family parties consisting of a mated pair and one or two auxiliaries and/or young. Such groups 'laugh' together in noisy territorial display. Normal flight rather heavy and direct; note large white patch on wing; raises tail on alighting. I winter and spring, has conspicuous high display-flight over territory with deep, stiff wingbeats.

Vioce:
Famed boisterous 'laugh' - a chuckle or repeated 'kook-kook-kook' developing into a rising staccato shouted 'kook-kook-kook-ka-ka-ka', then fading. Usually taken up by other members of group in chorous, inciting other groups to respond. Heard usually morning and evening. Also a raucous staccato squark, usually when attacked.

Habitat:
Open woodland, forests, clearings, farming country with trees; orchards, gardens, city parks. Frather inland, mostly confined to timbered watercourses.

Breeding:
Nest: on decayed debris; in hollow trunk or limb up to 20m high. Occassionally in a creek bank, termite-nest or tree, haystack, cavity in a wall. Eggs: 2-4; white, roundish.

Range and Status:
Origianlly confined to Eastern Australia: from Cape York through eastern Queensland inland to Longreach-Eulo; in New South Wales inland to th Darling River system; throughout Victoria in suitable habitat; in south east South Australia to Port Augusta; Common throughout Tasmania after being introduced in 1905; introduce into Westen Australia in 1897. Common to uncommon.

Metallic Cool-skink

No. Jan 05 - 002093
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Metallic Cool-skink, Leiolopisma metallicum are very common throughout Tasmania.

Description:
The Metallic Cool-skink occurs in the cool southern ranges of Victoria (from an altitude of 'about 1500 metres to sea-level); on almost all Bass Strait islands; and in Tasmania to about 1100 metres altitude. It is brown to grey-brown above, sometimes with black flecks, which in some specimens may be so numerous as to form into irregular dorsal lines. The upper sides are blackish brown, the lower sides brownish grey: the entire sides are evenly pale-speckled. Some specimens, especially from Victoria, are pale-speckled above. Some Tasmanian females have a distinct pale midlateral line.

It forages for insects and spiders on the ground amongst and on rocks, logs, tussock grass and litter. It basks on low elevated sites, often in wind sheltered pockets: in forested areas it sometimes climbs high up sloping trunks. Overnight and longer-term shelter sites are usually in holes and deep crevices in rotting wood.

Males are slightly smaller than females and mating occurs in autumn. From one to eight (mostly four) young are born in early to midFebruary.

Habitat:
Ranges, slopes and plains in most vegetation types (forest, woodland, heath and grassland), often in close association with clearings, canopy openings and rocky outcrops
Size:
Head to 6.6 cm and Total lenght to 17.5 cm

Metallic Cool-skink

No. Jan 05 - 002090 (1)
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Metallic Cool-skink, Leiolopisma metallicum are very common throughout Tasmania.

Description:
The Metallic Cool-skink occurs in the cool southern ranges of Victoria (from an altitude of 'about 1500 metres to sea-level); on almost all Bass Strait islands; and in Tasmania to about 1100 metres altitude. It is brown to grey-brown above, sometimes with black flecks, which in some specimens may be so numerous as to form into irregular dorsal lines. The upper sides are blackish brown, the lower sides brownish grey: the entire sides are evenly pale-speckled. Some specimens, especially from Victoria, are pale-speckled above. Some Tasmanian females have a distinct pale midlateral line.

It forages for insects and spiders on the ground amongst and on rocks, logs, tussock grass and litter. It basks on low elevated sites, often in wind sheltered pockets: in forested areas it sometimes climbs high up sloping trunks. Overnight and longer-term shelter sites are usually in holes and deep crevices in rotting wood.

Males are slightly smaller than females and mating occurs in autumn. From one to eight (mostly four) young are born in early to midFebruary.

Habitat:
Ranges, slopes and plains in most vegetation types (forest, woodland, heath and grassland), often in close association with clearings, canopy openings and rocky outcrops.

Size:
Head to 6.6 cm and Total lenght to 17.5 cm

Meadow Argus Butterfly and Wingless Grasshopper

No. Jan 05 - 002060 (1)
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Meadow Argus, Junonia villida are very common in the Launceston Area.

Description:
Wingspan: d 40 mm, 4 43 mm.
Similar species: none.

The Meadow Argus has on the upperside of each wing two prominent eyespots, each broadly ringed with orange that may coalesce. Variation: two seasonal forms in tropics, with intermediate forms. Behaviour: adults fly fast within about 1 m of the ground, their flight comprising 1-2 rapid beats interspersed by a short glide with wings outspread; they frequently feed from flowers; during cooler weather they settle on the ground to bask with the wings widely opened. Males frequently perch in a cleared or open spot on the ground to establish territories. Several generations completed annually.

Females stop breeding during the dry season in the drier tropical areas. Adults migratory.

Habitat
A wide variety of habitats, particularly woodland, open-woodland and grassland, both in coastal and inland areas; also suburban gardens.

Status
Common and widespread.

Larval food plants
Usually native Herbs in South East Australia.

Meadow Argus Butterfly and Wingless Grasshopper

No. Jan 05 - 002059
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Meadow Argus, Junonia villida are very common in the Launceston Area.

Description:
Wingspan: d 40 mm, 4 43 mm.
Similar species: none.

The Meadow Argus has on the upperside of each wing two prominent eyespots, each broadly ringed with orange that may coalesce. Variation: two seasonal forms in tropics, with intermediate forms. Behaviour: adults fly fast within about 1 m of the ground, their flight comprising 1-2 rapid beats interspersed by a short glide with wings outspread; they frequently feed from flowers; during cooler weather they settle on the ground to bask with the wings widely opened. Males frequently perch in a cleared or open spot on the ground to establish territories. Several generations completed annually.

Females stop breeding during the dry season in the drier tropical areas. Adults migratory.

Habitat
A wide variety of habitats, particularly woodland, open-woodland and grassland, both in coastal and inland areas; also suburban gardens.

Status
Common and widespread.

Larval food plants
Usually native Herbs in South East Australia.

A Young Kookaburra Pays a Visit

No. Jan 05 - 002121 (1)
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Laughing Kookaburra, Dacelo gigas are very common in the Launceston Area.
I have two juviniles visiting my garden daily.

Description:
410-470mm in length. One of the worlds largest Kingfishers. Bill long and robust, head and breast cream-white, dark-brown crown and brown mark through eye; pale-blue mottling on brown wings; tail rufous, margined white and barred black; eye brown. Males often have some blue-green in centre of rump, in females much reduced or abscent. Short dark bill, base of tail tinged blue, fine brownish margins to white feathers. Pairs or family parties consisting of a mated pair and one or two auxiliaries and/or young. Such groups 'laugh' together in noisy territorial display. Normal flight rather heavy and direct; note large white patch on wing; raises tail on alighting. I winter and spring, has conspicuous high display-flight over territory with deep, stiff wingbeats.

Vioce:
Famed boisterous 'laugh' - a chuckle or repeated 'kook-kook-kook' developing into a rising staccato shouted 'kook-kook-kook-ka-ka-ka', then fading. Usually taken up by other members of group in chorous, inciting other groups to respond. Heard usually morning and evening. Also a raucous staccato squark, usually when attacked.

Habitat:
Open woodland, forests, clearings, farming country with trees; orchards, gardens, city parks. Frather inland, mostly confined to timbered watercourses.

Breeding:
Nest: on decayed debris; in hollow trunk or limb up to 20m high. Occassionally in a creek bank, termite-nest or tree, haystack, cavity in a wall. Eggs: 2-4; white, roundish.

Range and Status:
Origianlly confined to Eastern Australia: from Cape York through eastern Queensland inland to Longreach-Eulo; in New South Wales inland to th Darling River system; throughout Victoria in suitable habitat; in south east South Australia to Port Augusta; Common throughout Tasmania after being introduced in 1905; introduce into Westen Australia in 1897. Common to uncommon.

Nile River Central Northern Tasmania

No. Jan 05 - 001990
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

A Forest Giants Skeleton is all that Remains

No. Jan 05 - 001542
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

A Baby Welcome Swallow's First Flight

No. Jan 05 - 002019 (2)
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Welcome Swallow, Hirundo neoxena are common throughout Tasmania.

Description:
15cm in Lenghtbelonging to the familiar hirundine.

Adult and immature dark glossy blue-black over much of upperparts, with white spots around margin of deeply-forked tail conspicuous in flight. Underparts white, with face, throat and upper breast rich chestnut. Tail streamers very long in male, shorter in female and immature, which are also generally duller. Fast, swooping flight.

Voice
Call a sharp 'chep'; shrill 'seet' in alarm (often indicates oncoming bird of prey), strong twittering song.

Habitat
catholic, but avoids densest forests and most arid parts of interior. Widespread; locally common.

Tasmanian Native Ducks

No. Jan 05 - 001929
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

A Stream Cascading of Rocks at Dusk.

No. Jan 05 - 001852 (1)
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Harliquin Beatles

No. Jan 05 - 001795
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Australian Admiral Butterfly Feeding on Blackberry Flowers

No. Jan 05 - 001620
Photographed by Sparra Mc ©

Yellow Admiral, Vanessa itea are common in the Launceston Area.

Description:
Other names: Australian Admiral.
Wingspan: 45 mm.
Similar species: none.

Behaviour
adults fly rapidly and frequently settle, with head directed downwards and wings outspread or closed, on leaves or tree-trunks; they often feed from flowers or sap flows. During the mid or late afternoon males hilltop and establish territories by perching, with wings outspread towards the sun, on rocks, bare patches of ground or foliage of low shrubs. Adults migratory.

Habitat
wide variety of habitats, preferring damp slopes, gullies, banks of creeks and rivers; also suburban areas.

Status
generally common and widespread.

Larval food plants
Woody Weeds (Parietaria debilis, Parietaria judaica, Soleirolia soleirolii, Urtica urens).