Namadgi National Park is located to the south of Canberra and extends all the way to the southern border of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) where it merges with the Kosciuszko National Park on the New South Wales (NSW) side of the border. Unfortunately, Namadgi suffered extensive damage in the 2019-20 summer bushfires, with some parts of the park still undergoing regeneration work even now. However, the area that is open makes for a beautiful place for a visit. I visited the park twice in February, although I could not do the walk that I wanted on the second visit because that trail was still shut for bushfire recovery work. However, I was still able to photograph a family of Australasian Grebes swimming in the pond at the visitors center as well as some interesting insects, including a pair of mating damselflies. I hope that you enjoy the photographs below.
On the first weekend, I decided that it may be interesting to see what life there was around the Murrumbidgee River that flowed behind the visitor centre. There was an access trail that descended a hill from the visitor centre down towards the river. That first weekend there was a bit of fog but not too much, with the sun eventually breaking through.
While walking down the trail I heard the typical rollercoaster call of a Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa), with two or three of them flying constantly through the trees beside the access trial. They made a lovely start to the walk.
Grey Fantail
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
The trail opened up a little presenting a good view of the far hills on the other side of the river. In the distance I could just see the morning sun shining directly on a distant ridge with rolling hills. The fog was trying to maintain its grip on the hillside but the sunlight was determined to shine through.
Looking at the sun rays shining on the far hills
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 188mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
The rising sun was also lighting the dew soaked spider webs that still dotted some of the taller areas of ground vegetation. The sun was shining from behind the webs, through drops of dew lining the fragile threads making a truly lovely effect.
Dew on a spider web
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/250 SEC])
The trail curved around as it started to run parallel to the Gudgenby River. I could not reach the river bank initially because the vegetation was too thick. I did not mind because I was enjoying my walk. In my efforts to find a place to access the bank I crossed a little stream and saw some nice looking orange fungi, which I had to photograph.
Fungus beneath a log
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/200 SEC])
Continuing along the path I watched this lone Common Bluetail (Ischnura heterosticta) damselfly land on a plant. The damselfly held its position long enough for me to take a photo. I did like how the colours came together in the shot.
Common Bluetail
(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])
After photographing the damselfly I wandered along the side of the Gudgenby River but I was having trouble finding any subjects and the river was still in the shadows while the sun rose above the surrounding hills. I decided that the river was not the place to find shots so I headed back through the break in the vegetation that I had used to get to the river.
Coming back through that little area of cleared scrub I watched a Robber Fly (Colepia ingloria) land on a bush. The fly was very calm, not moving while I shot it with my long lens. I then swapped cameras to use the macro lens to take a few shots from very close range, and the fly stayed put the whole time. In most cases I have noticed that these flies can be incredibly patient if approached slowly.
Robber Fly
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 160, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC])
While walking back up from the river I got very distracted by a small damselfly on some grass. The reason that I was distracted was because I thought that I may be able to take one of those classic shots of two bulbous eyes on either side of a plant stalk. I carefully laid down on my stomach taking shots as I inched closer, all the time hoping that the small insect would not be disturbed by this largish, ungainly animal edging closer to it. Indeed the damselfly was very patient, staying still on the plant but apparently keeping me under observation. Unfortunately, due to shadows, one of its eyes came out brighter than the other but I was reasonably happy with the shot. Certainly it was fun taking It and it was good practice for another attempt at it. Sorry, I can’t tell you what type of damselfly it was because I was so obsessed with getting the ‘two eyes shot’ that I forgot to get any other pictures.
Damselfly on a plant stem, looking like it is keeping a watch on me
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/160 SEC])
In addition, to the damselfly, while I was laying in the grass I noticed this Garden Orb Weaver (Eriophora sp.) male on a different grass stem starting a web. I could not see any obvious females but the sun was coming out so maybe the female’s web was already gone or this male was still trying to find a mate.
Garden Orb Weaver male, seen while photographing the damselfy
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/160 SEC])
A percher dragonfly was also flying around the area, but was not as accommodating as the damselfly, it did not want me to get close, but I did try to get some shots with my long lens. I did appreciate that it landed facing me and the sun making my task a bit easier.
Percher dragonfly
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 320, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
I also took the opportunity to attempt some drone shots. The top one was of a fallen pine tree among the rocks. The second shot was a fence running through a grass field that formed a nice boundary blocking a grass road from getting to the field.
Dead, fallen tree among the rocks
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 100, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/320 SEC]
Grass road to a grassy field
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 100, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/320 SEC]
Walking back up to the visitor centre I saw the unmistakable colours of a European Wasp (Vespula germanica). This wasp landed on a leaf of a eucalyptus when I wandered past. Unfortunately, this feral pest continues to spread and the colonies in the bush are harder to detect because they are not noticed until they are firmly established. There was no indication of a colony nearby but it is unlikely that this was a lone wasp existing far from a colony.
European Wasp
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
After the wasp I headed back to the car, already thinking about what I would do next weekend. I knew that I wanted to return to the park but I was not sure where.
It took me a little while the following week to figure out what I would do during the next weekend but I eventually settled on walking to Cypress Pines Lookout to photograph the wildlife I saw along the way. So, the next Sunday I drove back to the visitor centre. I was running a little later than planned but I figured that I was not aiming to get to the actual lookout, just photograph things along the way, so I would turn around when I thought that I had spent long enough walking. I expectantly followed the trail that led from the back of the visitor centre to where I exited the environs to cross Naas Road to the start of the walk. Before even crossing the road I was able to read the very clear words, “trail closed”. I should have done more research.
I figured it was too late to go to another spot and I did not want to retrace my steps from last week so I simply started walking around the trail behind the visitor centre.
There were the ubiquitous Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), who had plenty of food to eat with the long grass. One of therm had a joey in her pouch but I could not get a good angle on her because of the vegetation.
Eastern Grey Kangaroo and joey
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Walking around I could hear a lot of birds and I could see many leaves moving as the birds leapt through the foliage but most of the time they were just fleeting views of small birds. The only shot that I was able to get was of a Striated Thornbill (Acanthiza lineata) but even that bird was deep inside the leaves, so very much in shadow.
Striated Thornbill
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Behind the visitor centre was a bit of local history, it was a scarred tree that was probably used by the local Aborigines. It was cut down in the 20th century and moved to a different location but the ACT Government returned it to the area of the visitor centre, close to where it was located while it was still alive. The scarring on the tree can be see on the side of the tree pointing to the top of the photo.
Scarred tree returned to nearby its original location
DJI Mavic Air 2 [ISO 100, 4.5mm, f/2.8 and 1/400 SEC]
The scarred tree was at the furthest distance from the visitor centre before the path curved around and headed back towards the centre. The path headed towards a pond where I could see some Australasian Grebes (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae).
There was at least one adult and then at least three juveniles. The adult was still in its breeding plumage and as soon as I came into view it slowly started moving further out into the pond while calling. Most of the juveniles continued foraging not far from my location, with one coming much closer than I would have expected. The juveniles were competent divers, repeatedly heading underwater for several seconds before popping up a short distance away. When they dived, they would plunge their head in first then their body would curve downwards and they would disappear with only rings of water emanating out from an empty space that the bird had just filled.
Australasian Grebe adult in breeding plumage
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Australasian Grebe chick
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 400, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
While walking around the side of the pond I must have disturbed a Tau Emerald (Hemicordulia tau) that had recently emerged from its aquatic nymph stage, because it tried to fly but went straight into the water, where it laid on its side. I fished the poor insect out and noticed that one of its forewings was folded over a back wing but it quickly flapped its wings to rectify that problem. It was very subdued on the stick I had used to rescue it, not trying to fly away. It used its forelimbs to wipe its eyes a few times but was unable to dislodge a large water droplet on the front of its face. Its colouration had still not fully developed either, with the blue being very light. I propped the stick in the reeds with the insect facing the sun to let it dry out and warm up while I continued my walk around the pond.
Tau Emerald dragonfly with a water droplet on its face
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 640, 100mm, f/10 and 1/400 SEC] two shot focus stacked)
A different angle showing other water droplets on the dragonfly
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 640, 100mm, f/10 and 1/400 SEC])
A full shot
(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 640, 100mm, f/10 and 1/400 SEC])
After only a few steps I saw a lone Common Bluetail clasping a reed. It was staying perfectly still down low and may have been a female given its dark, subdue tone.
Only a few steps more and I was immediately drawn to two more Common Bluetails that were in the process of mating. They had formed the classic wheel with the male on top and the female below. The male had gripped the female behind her head using his anal appendage, while she had bent her long, slim abdomen forward to contact where the male had stored the semen in his second genitalia. While I was trying to photograph them, and probably disturbing them, they flew around locked in this shape. They did not rush from plant to plant but the male seemed to choose where he was going to land. The female would sometimes also grasp the plant but at other times not. They stayed in the wheel formation for several minutes while I had them under observation. I eventually left them to themselves but I was thrilled to have seen the ‘wheel’ and to have been able to photograph it. This is very common behaviour, they are breeding after all, but it was my first time photographing it so I was excited to see it.
Common Bluetail
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 100, 400mm, f/11 and 1/250 SEC])
Common Bluetails mating, male on the top and female on the bottom
(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 320, 400mm, f/14 and 1/400 SEC])
The meting Bluetails were the last things that I photographed before getting back to the car. While it was not the morning that I had planned I did thoroughly enjoy what I photographed, especially getting the shots of the damselflies mating. I was also reminded about just how lucky Canberra’s residents are to have Namadgi National Park so close by.
Thanks for reading this post 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.