The birdlife around Hughes-Garran finally had some clear skies to enjoy on this Tuesday after all the bushfire smoke. I was out on a different day than normal not because of the blue skies but because I had been away over the Christmas period so had missed my usual walk. I did not go too far this morning as somebody was showing me some birds they had noticed so I could take photographs. I had an enjoyable morning, seeing a pair of Gang-gang Cockatoos and a group of Superb Parrots. I also saw Dillwyia, the kangaroo I photographed on 30 November. I hope you like the photographs below.
A pair of Gang-gang Cockatoos (Callocephalon fimbriatum) were sitting quietly in a Yellow Box Tree. They had not been there when we initially passed a few minutes before. This was the same pair of Gang-gangs reported by Flutteringsparrow2 on Canberra Nature Map. The two birds were on seperate branches with the female higher than the male. They were on the opposite side of the tree from the hollow Flutteringsparrow2 had seen them using. The male was preening himself but the female was just perching quietly. The male and the female did make the occasional low ‘graw’ but were certainly not calling out loudly. After about five minutes the female flew to another branch that was closer to the hollow but still higher. The male stayed put. After about another five minutes they both flew off to the east calling loudly where I lost sight of them.
Male Gang-gang Cockatoo
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/250 SEC])
Female Gang-gang Cockatoo
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/250 SEC])
Four Superb Parrots (Polytelis swainsonii) flew on to a dead tree where they perched while calling. There was at least a male and female, although I am not sure about the other two.
Male Superb Parrot
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 300mm, f/8.0 and 1/800 SEC])
Female Superb Parrot
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 300mm, f/8.0 and 1/800 SEC])
The Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) named Dillwyia, which I photographed on 30 November 2019, was still in the same area. She still had a joey in her pouch but she appeared to be tired or weak. She was originally standing when I approached but she reclined when I stopped short of her. I circled around her to get a better position and she stayed reclined the whole time. When I approached a little close she unsteadily got up but did not move, she waited and reclined again in the same spot when it was clear I was not getting any closer. I am unsure if it was her age or just that the heat and smoke, combined with a lack of water, that is making the kangaroos feel weak. There were a lot of kangaroos that were reclining, not unusual in itself, but they did not seem to be in a hurry to move as I walked pass them.
A tired looking Eastern Grey Kangaroo, named Dillwyia, and her joey
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/10 and 1/250 SEC])
There was an infestation of Plague Soldier Beetles (Chauliognathus lugubris) on one tree. I first noticed them on the trunk before I saw the ground around the tree was moving with all these beetles. The name of the beetle makes them sound worse than they are as they are not really a threat to plants. The adult beetle feeds on nectar while the larvae feeds on other insects. According to an old blog post by the CSIRO it is not clear why these beetles do come together in a mass. When they do come together their intent is to mate not to destroy plants, although the collective weight of the infestation may damage weaker vegetation. As proof of this amorous objective, the article linked to at the start of this paragraph stated that in one infestation 92% of the beetles were involved in copulation. These beetles are not dangerous to humans but can excrete a poisonous substance if animals grab them, hence their colouration acts as a warning. It was an interesting sight to see, especially when I thought the ground was squirming around me.
Plague Soldier Beetles massing on a tree trunk
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 100mm, f/11 and 1/250 SEC] with internal flash)
There were even more at the base of the tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 100mm, f/11 and 1/250 SEC] with internal flash)