I went out for my usual walk around Red Hill Nature Reserve on Saturday, 22 December 2018, although I slightly varied my route to see what I could see. I was lucky from the start seeing some insect life, including interactions between ants and treehoppers. I also saw a pair of beautiful Laughing Kookaburras. It was a wonderful walk with the weather being kind with good lighting but not too hot. I hope you enjoy the photographs.
An interesting pattern I found on a fallen and scorched tree
The first birds I saw were four Australian Wood Ducks (Chenonetta jubata), two couples. These ducks are early breeders with one clutch probably already complete this breeding season, so this breeding behaviour may indicate some birds are trying for a second attempt. This will add more competition for the tree hollows on Red Hill.
One of the Australian Wood Duck couples potentially looking for a second clutch of off-spring
I saw a Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) in the area behind the old Deakin Telstra building. The bird flew east towards Red Hill, where there was another kookaburra. They leap frogged from tree to tree eastwards in a deliberate but slow way. Pausing on branches to look around.
The first Laughing Kookaburra I saw
The second kookaburra I saw, a more mottled bird but I do not think it is a juvenile given the bill colour is normal
There were a pair of Crimson Rosellas (Platycercus elegans) examining a hollow, possibly for nesting.
A Crimson Rosella checking out a tree hollow
I saw a pair of Gang-gang Cockatoos (Callocephalon fimbriatum), a male and a female. The female was high up first, with the male lower down but checking the hollow on top of the main trunk of a tree that in the past has been used for nesting. He then heard another Gang-gang and flew a circuit further up the hill before returning to a tree nearby. The female stayed in the original tree but checked out all three hollows very carefully, including going all the way into the top hollow, but being able to turn around as she came out head first. Of note, the male Gang-gang has a few distinctive black tuffs in his crown and I am sure I have photographed him a couple of times before, he always seems to be chased off by other Gang-gangs from trees. The female appeared to have a damaged left eye. I have not noticed that before in my photos but I will pay attention in future.
The male Gang-gang Cockatoo at the top hollow
The female checking out one of the hollows
Checking a different hollow
The female emerging after going all the way into the third hollow
I saw a lone Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis) among the tops of the trees on the ridge leading down to Hughes. I only saw one but it was moving between several trees in that location. It chased a magpie that landed on the lower branches of a tree. Later the magpie took an opportunity to return the favour when the Dollarbird flew to another tree. I saw a Dollarbird, possibly the same one as above, chased by two Noisy Miners when it came down close to near the golf course. I also saw a Dollarbird, again, could be the same one, flying near where the Hughes nature corridor meets the golf course.
The original Dollarbird high in a tree
There were a number of Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) around the hill.
An Eastern Grey Kangaroo having a scratch
A mother with a joey
I saw the two caterpillars os what will become White-stemmed Gum Moths (Chelepteryx collesi) on a young gum tree. They were stationary when I was observing them. They rely on their bright colours to deter birds from feeding on them as those hairs have poison that can even cause a rash in humans.
The two White-stemmed Gum Moth caterpillars in the tree
A close-up of the bottom caterpillar
On the same tree there were a number of Meat Ants tending a nymph stage of a Gumtree Hopper (Eurymeloides pulchra). The hopper would probably exude a substance the ants like to eat, in turn the ants keep the hopper safe from other insects and arthropods.
Further up the hill I saw this Australian Oedaleus grasshopper which stayed completely motionless even when I was close with my lens.