Heading east out of Canberra towards the coast most of Canberra’s residents will use the Kings Highway. We all know that highway well as it winds its way to the refreshing coastal waters during a Canberra summer. I also decided to go for a drive one Sunday morning in October but with the intent to stop much closer to Canberra. I probably expect that most people who drive that road think that the bit of natural bush land on the southern side of the highway just after it climbs out of Queanbeyan is an uncleared development waiting for Queanbeyan to expand. I also had not really given it much thought until I became curious as to what the land was and whether I could photograph on it. The land is part of the Cuumbeun Nature Reserve, which is open to the public. It is a 709 hectare reserve only created in 2001.
The reserve was well worth a visit, indeed I visited it twice on that Sunday because I so enjoyed my morning visit that I went back for some night time photography as well. During the morning I saw a Speckled Warbler and my first sittella. I also enjoyed sitting beside the pond made by an earthen dam just watching the dragonflies and finding photographic compositions. Later that night I finally was able to take some more frog photographs, including of a Peron’s Tree Frog. I hope you enjoy the photographs below.
To actually get to the reserve from Queanbeyan I had to drive past it then use Weetalabah Drive to turn around to get onto the other side of the highway where the reserve was. The entrance to the reserve I was using was directly off the highway and was not signposted. I was worried that I was actually on private property but the ever faithful Google Maps said that I was on the Scabbing Flat Trail, although there was a low, but very substantial gate between me and the trail. I believed the gate was actually part of an anti-dumping attempt because the gate was easy enough to step over but would have stopped a vehicle. Indeed there was a sign that was part of the Report Illegal Dumping or RID campaign right at the gate. Further along the trail I could understand why that sign was there because I saw a fridge, a cut up car and a burnt out vehicle in an area where the trail widened out below an embankment on the highway.
Initially I was planning to follow Scabbing Flat Creek for a while but that would have been a bit challenging so I stuck to the trail. When I was approaching the creek along the trail I saw my first wildlife.
My approach to Scabbing Flat Creek spooked a Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) that was probably drinking at the creek. I did not see it until it started hopping up the hillside on the other side of the creek. It stopped after a few hops to look back at me. I took that opportunity to take some photographs but the southern aspect of the hill, where the wallaby stood, was still in shadow as the sun rose to the north east. The wallaby did not stay put long but followed the contour south into the bush, where I quickly lost sight of its dark fur in the shadows. I was happy to see the wallaby as it seemed to bode well for my visit.
Swamp Wallaby spooked by my presence
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1000, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/200 SEC])
In this same area beside the creek with the dumped objects I could hear some small birds that turned out to be White-browed Scrubwrens (Sericornis frontalis). They were moving among the trees, with very little undergrowth around where I would have expected to see them.
White-browed Scrubwren in a gum tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/7.1 and 1/160 SEC])
The trail curved south up a small incline past the burnt out vehicle. It was only at the top of that rise that I came to a sign that said Cuumbeum Nature Reserve. There was another gate there that was locked but nothing saying to keep out. The fence wire seemed loose enough to cross so I entered that way. I kept following the path south to where there was a dam.
When I reached the earthen dam wall there was a pair of Australian Wood Ducks (Chenonetta jubata) walking along the top on the embankment. They increased the distance from me, with the female leading the way down the other side of the wall from me. I was able to get a shot of the male from a distance, more as a record of the sighting than for any other reason.
Australian Wood Duck male on the dam wall, the female’s head is just visible to the left down the slope
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/7.1 and 1/160 SEC])
I ended up spending a bit of time at the pond created by this dam. In itself there was nothing remarkable about the dam, it was very standard as a way to store water in land like this. I was just impressed with the life that was around it. I also flew my drone to get a vertical shot, although the sun was not high enough to light the water surface properly. The flat water was interrupted by a dead tree at the southern end, where the feeding stream gently flowed into the dam. I ended up sitting for awhile on the sandy spit that formed the western edge of that creek mouth so that I could watch the natural world go by.
The dam
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 100, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/120 SEC]
The dam seen from the back near the creek looking forward past the dead tree
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF40mm f2.8 STM [ISO 200, 40mm, f/14 and 1/50 SEC])
As you can see I was a bit taken with the dead tree that curved out of the water like the neck and head of a lake monster. Form the look of the cracks and absence of branches I think the tree had been there for a while. I was interested by the yellow marks around the trunk that appeared like some fashionable branding, I think that they were probably left by layers of pollen that was floating on the surface of the dam when the water level had been higher in the past. This tree now stood as a record of the drying of the Canberra environs. While this summer is forecast to be a wet one, it is unlikely the water level will recover to previous highs. There were other indications of the changing water level at the dam. When I was walking along the bank I noticed the old burrows of freshwater crayfish the entrances of which were now out of the water with new burrows in the pond itself. It is always interesting, and sad, to see reminders of what the climate used to be.
Past water level marks on the dead tree from pollen on the water surface
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC])
While I was beside the pond, I took the opportunity of using the heavily eroded bank, that was almost vertical to be able to stand while I photographed the grass on the un-eroded top of the bank. With hardly any bending I could stand on the gently sloping part of the bank, while resting my elbows on the ground that was at my chest height from where the bank had eroded. In doing so I got a ground-eye view of the life in the vegetation. I noticed this Muscid Fly sitting on a bit of grass with small drops of dew on the plant. The sun was just rising over a hill catching some of the fly in the light.
Muscid Fly on a leaf catching the morning sun rays
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/5.0 and 1/80 SEC])
I also noticed this exposed rock with quartz veins running through it. I know very little about rocks or the geology of the Canberra region but I was wondering if this was connected with the Pittman Formation that is exposed east of Queanbeyan. This area of the formation is composed of graywacke, a dark solid sandstone that contains a lot of angular quartz in it.
Quartz-laden rock
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF40mm f2.8 STM [ISO 400, 40mm, f/8.0 and 1/100 SEC])
While I was enjoying the moment at the dam I saw a small bird high in a eucalyptus tree, it was an Orange-winged Sittella (Daphoenositta chrysoptera). It was looking for food, showing tree-creeper style dexterity the way it moved around branches, although it generally pointed down while treecreepers point up. It appeared to find a small insect or spider before flying off with the morsel. This was one of the five sub-species of the Varied Sittella.
Orange-winged Sittella looking for food in a tree
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC])
While I was photographing the sittella above, my attention was drawn by a flash of blue out of my peripheral vision when a male Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) landed in the grass, I was again assisted by the erosion of the pond bank that had me almost standing at eye level with the low vegetation growing on the ground. The fairy-wren appeared to be looking for a meal but I liked the way his blue contrasted with the green of the plants, especially as I knew the fore grown grass would be blurred in the photograph. I was able to get one shot before the noise of my camera drew his attention to me. He looked briefly at me before he flew rapidly away.
Superb Fairy-wren male in the grass beside the dam
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC])
Another bird that was making its way through the trees was a Speckled Warbler (Chthonicola sagittata). The bird was high up in the canopy so it was hard to get a good shot as it was moving from branch to branch. Unfortunately these birds are listed as vulnerable in NSW/ACT, mainly due to habitat clearance. Even local populations are not secure because introduced threats and other dangers can destroy them.
Speckled Warbler
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC])
As I said, I spent some time by the pond. Much of this was because I was trying to take some photos of dragonflies in flight. I also looked at other things around the dam, including another muscid fly perched on a reed that was getting some of the morning sun.
Muscid Fly on a reed
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 320, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/640 SEC])
There were possibly two Tau Emerald (Hemicordulia tau) dragonflies shooting around the dam. They were doing circuits around the southern end of the dam, often hovering in the same or similar locations in between short legs around the dam. I used those moments when the dragonfly was hovering to see if I could get photographs of them in flight. I thought that I saw one of them flying with its tail bent down but It went past quickly so I was unable to take a photograph. The dragonfly in the photograph was probably a male given its rear appendages.
Tau Emerald in flight
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 320, 371mm, f/8.0 and 1/640 SEC])
I almost got a head on shot
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 320, 371mm, f/8.0 and 1/800 SEC])
I ended up spending more time than planned trying to photograph the dragonflies and also enjoying sitting by the pond. A quick look at my watch told me that I needed to get moving. In walking away from the dam I came across a web of a Foliage-webbing social spider (Phryganoporus candidus). These spiders hatch in these nests where they have a period of cohabitation. The females mature faster, so disperse in early summer, where as the males mature slower so do not disperse until early autumn. This staggered dispersal means that siblings are unlikely to mate with siblings. These nests are usually founded by the females at around this time of year. I did see a spider in the web but I was unable to photograph it through all the silk.
Foliage-wedding social spider web
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/200 SEC])
I followed a small, perennial stream in the direction to the exit that also seemed to be more of a bog at times because its waters inundated grass-high vegetation with the water pooling at the base but barely moving. I could hear frogs in this stream but I could not see them.
I found a place to cross this dampness, which then allowed me to climb up a small incline. At the top of the incline I scared two Yellow-rumped Thornbills (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa) that were probably foraging on the ground. They both flew to the nearest tree, although one of them quickly returned to the ground a little distance from me to continue foraging. These birds tend to look for food on the ground, more so than most other thornbills but will stay near to a tree for safety.
Yellow-rumped Thornbill
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 400mm, f/7.1and 1/400 SEC])
Almost back at the car two Australian Painted Ladies (Vanessa kershawi) flew away from the path but one landed very close by. These are beautiful looking butterflies and the the sun really set off their colours. I used my telephoto lens rather than a macro as I was not sure if I would get close to the butterfly with a macro. These are seasonal migrants flying south and south-west from the coast at this time of the year. According to the Australian Museum in the late 1880s the migratory numbers of these butterflies would block out the sun and make train rails slippery from the butterflies on the tracks. I suspect that there may be some exaggeration there but it likely indicates a major decline in numbers, probably due to habitat loss in recent decades.
Australian Painted Lady
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 400mm, f/7.1 and 1/400 SEC])
WIth the sighting of the painted lady I was back at the car, my morning visit completed. However, I was so taken with the place I felt that it would be worth a night-time visit, which I decided should not wait, so I would return that night. That was how I found myself back with my car in the same spot with darkness around me and just the lights of cars along Kings Highway providing ambient light. I retraced my exit path from that morning as I wanted to return to that small stream or bog in the hope of finding frogs to photograph.
When I got back to the area of the stream I could hear so many frogs but I was having trouble seeing a single one among the vegetation, however, one frog sounded louder than the rest and was close by. Its calls were making the water ripple a little so I was able to zero on the spot, which was at the base of some plants. I could not get a decent shot before it decided to depart but in doing so it crawled over a Spotted Grass Frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis) that was just under the water. These are very common frogs across their range so it was appropriate that I saw one at this reserve. It was not very big with the adults being less than 5 cm in length.
Spotted Grass Frog in a small creek
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)
Following the stream back towards the dam I disturbed a Black Geometrid Moth (Melanodes anthracitaria) near the pond’s edge. The moth flew around it tight circles before resting on some reeds sticking up from the mud on the dam’s shore. These moths can either be a slate grey or black.
Black Geometrid Moth
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)
Circling around the dam I came across a Peron’s Tree Frog (Litoria peroni) sitting quietly high up on the shore. It was very calm, allowing me to get in very close with my macro lens. Although they are tree frogs they do head towards water in the evenings and prefer to lay their eggs in dams or temporary water sources, even garden ponds - I could only wish. One interesting fact I read about these frogs was that they can change colour in about an hour.
Peron’s Tree Frog
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/14 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)
Just after seeing the tree frog I noticed this Grey-patch Bark Moth (Scioglyptis chionomera) on an acacia. It seemed to be rotating slowly to the underside of the small branch.
Grey-patch Bark Moth
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/14 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)
I saw a number of fresh water crayfish that night but I could not photograph any, They saw or sensed me coming and disappeared in a floating cloud of mud into their burrows. Something much faster than me must have been catching them as saw at least two sets of discarded claws on different sides of the dam, although they did not look to be fresh so may have been there for days or weeks.
The last animal I photographed that night was this Fishing Spider (Dolomedes facetus). I wanted to get it on the water surface but it was moving too fast to get a decent photograph so I had to do with this one of it peering over a twig. They can form underwater retreats with air bubbles but I did not see that with this spider.
Fishing Spider at the edge of the pond
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/14 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)
The next day was a public holiday in Canberra so I took the opportunity to do some much-needed gardening around home to try to control the weeds that were conquering the yard.
I was distracted very early on by a Wingless Grasshopper (Phaulacridium vittatum), which had wings. About 60% of adults have short wings while the rest have normal size wings. The nymph of this species does not have wings, which one source said was the reason for the insect’s name while another source said that it was due to the short-winged adults. These grasshoppers can reach plague proportions in the right circumstances and target commercial crops. These events have probably happened because these crops provide the food the insects like in abundance, whereas in uncultivated areas they live on the leaf litter and small plants that can only support a smaller population. These grasshoppers can decimate commercial crops and will then turn to trees, because the vast numbers still need to eat, stripping them of leaves as well. I doubt that I will have an outbreak in my garden but I have seen a few over the last couple of years but definitely not plague numbers.
Wingless Grasshopper with wings
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/5.6 and 1/320 SEC])
A close-up on the head
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/5.6 and 1/320 SEC])
We have two eucalyptus trees in our backyard that like dropping branches, like most gum trees. I had a reasonable pile of these branches that I was turning into mulch ahead of summer. When I lifted up a branch from one of our trees that had been in the pile for a while a strange creature started running along it. Initially, I thought that it was a short centipede because its body seemed elongated with multiple legs. It was moving at a good pace so I could not get a good look at it. When it slowed down a little I realised that it was actually two creatures, probably two Longhorn Beetle (Ectosticta cleroides) that appeared to be locked together to mate. They eventually came to a stop in small hole in the branch. The front bettle, possibly the female looked like she was chewing into the wood while the beetle on her back, continued to hold on with amazing determination. I carefully dropped these two beetles off the branch in their conjoined state and wished them well. The branch, however, ended up as mulch.
Longhorn Beetles mating
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 2000, 100mm, f/9.0 and 1/80 SEC])
We had a lot of recent rain. While I was outside checking on things I glanced at our artificial pond. Along the pond’s side I saw some small black ‘seeds’ on the side that made me wonder what they were. When I examined them I found out that they were not seeds but New Zealand hydrobiid snails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum), an invasive species. We have never put them in the pond but they are there now and a closer look at the photograph below will show that they have been breeding, with newly hatched snails present in the photograph. I suspect that these snails arrived carried unwittingly by a bird after their larvae or eggs passed through the digestion system of the bird.
The other creatures in the picture were nematodes or round worms, a very large phylum of animals.
Freshwater nematodes and New Zealand hydrobiid snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) on a pond side
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/9.0 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)
I thoroughly enjoyed my day and night at Cuumbeun Nature Reserve, where I am sure I will head to again. I found a number of interesting animals there that really added to my understanding of the natural environment of Canberra. I am glad that reserve is not well known because it was nice just sitting there by the dam, on a quiet Sunday morning, in my own little world, watching nature go about its daily life, neither nature nor me caring what day of the week it was. It made for a very refreshing day.
Thanks for reading about my trip and thanks also for looking at my photos. I hope you come back again to read more about some of the wonderful natural things that the Australian Capital Territory has on offer. All the best until the next post.