Australian Painted Lady Butterfly sunning itself in Canberra
Australian Painted Lady Butterfly sunning itself in Canberra
 Meadow Argus at The Pinnacle Nature Reserve
Meadow Argus at The Pinnacle Nature Reserve
 A Common Brown butterfly on the leaf litter
A Common Brown butterfly on the leaf litter
 Common Brown butterfly
Common Brown butterfly
 Common Brown catching the sunlight
Common Brown catching the sunlight
 Common Brown butterfly on a thistle
Common Brown butterfly on a thistle
 Common Grass Blue
Common Grass Blue
 Cabbage White drinking from a flower
Cabbage White drinking from a flower
A different angle on the mating Greenish Grass-darts
A different angle on the mating Greenish Grass-darts
Fine-waved Bark Moth
Fine-waved Bark Moth
 Long-nosed Epidesmia
Long-nosed Epidesmia
 Pasture Day Moth caterpillar possibly getting ready to go underground
Pasture Day Moth caterpillar possibly getting ready to go underground
The Giant Green Slantface that almost landed under my boot
The Giant Green Slantface that almost landed under my boot
 Gumleaf Grasshopper
Gumleaf Grasshopper
Head shot of a Wingless Grasshopper on a leaf
Head shot of a Wingless Grasshopper on a leaf
 Common Bluetail Damselfly at Mount Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve
Common Bluetail Damselfly at Mount Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve
 Orange Threadtail Damselfly
Orange Threadtail Damselfly
 Ringtail Damselfly frozen with the morning frost
Ringtail Damselfly frozen with the morning frost
Orange Threadtails mating and laying eggs, male on the top female on the bottom
Orange Threadtails mating and laying eggs, male on the top female on the bottom
Damselfly on a plant stem, looking like it is keeping a watch on me
Damselfly on a plant stem, looking like it is keeping a watch on me
 Common Bluetails mating, male on the top and female on the bottom
Common Bluetails mating, male on the top and female on the bottom
 Metallic Ringtails mating with the male at the top of the photograph
Metallic Ringtails mating with the male at the top of the photograph
 Wandering Percher above a creek
Wandering Percher above a creek
Tau Emerald in flight
Tau Emerald in flight
Close-up of a Tau Emerald head
Close-up of a Tau Emerald head
 Water droplet on the face of a Tau Emerald dragonfly
Water droplet on the face of a Tau Emerald dragonfly
 Tau Emerald flying above the water of Clarks Bay
Tau Emerald flying above the water of Clarks Bay
 Female Wingless Soldier Fly, Hughes
Female Wingless Soldier Fly, Hughes
 A close-up of a Wingless Soldier Fly female on a broom handle
A close-up of a Wingless Soldier Fly female on a broom handle
European Bluebottle defecating on a leaf
European Bluebottle defecating on a leaf
 A European Bluebottle may not appeal to everybody but I love the contrasting metallic blue with the rust red eye
A European Bluebottle may not appeal to everybody but I love the contrasting metallic blue with the rust red eye
Brown Blowfly on a tree stump
Brown Blowfly on a tree stump
 Hover Fly
Hover Fly
Murid fly with fungus spores that have killed it
Murid fly with fungus spores that have killed it
Muscid Fly on a leaf catching the morning sun rays
Muscid Fly on a leaf catching the morning sun rays
 Robber Fly
Robber Fly
 Tasmanian Lacewing
Tasmanian Lacewing
 Black-headed Bull Ant
Black-headed Bull Ant
 Bull Ant focussing on my son
Bull Ant focussing on my son
 Banded Sugar Ant eating manna on a gum leaf
Banded Sugar Ant eating manna on a gum leaf
 Long-nosed Lycid Beetles laying eggs
Long-nosed Lycid Beetles laying eggs
 Red Eye Cicada
Red Eye Cicada
 Red Eye Cicada - front view
Red Eye Cicada - front view
 Redeye Cicada
Redeye Cicada
 Clicking Ambertail
Clicking Ambertail
 Cicada shell on a burnt tree meaning that these creatures must have survived underground
Cicada shell on a burnt tree meaning that these creatures must have survived underground
Female Flower Wasp possibly spreading sent to attract a male
Female Flower Wasp possibly spreading sent to attract a male
 Trying to get the iconic head shot of a False Garden Mantis with the pseudo pupils
Trying to get the iconic head shot of a False Garden Mantis with the pseudo pupils
 Appears to be looking at me while she tends to an injury (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/11 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)
Appears to be looking at me while she tends to an injury (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/11 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)
 Large Brown Mantis female while laying her eggs and very aware of my presence
Large Brown Mantis female while laying her eggs and very aware of my presence
 Lage Brown Mantid noticing me getting closer
Lage Brown Mantid noticing me getting closer
 Pink-margined Bug on a tree trunk
Pink-margined Bug on a tree trunk
Common Eastern Litter Runner on our garden shed
Common Eastern Litter Runner on our garden shed
Bark Cockroach moving along our wooden fence
Bark Cockroach moving along our wooden fence
European Earwig female on a leaf
European Earwig female on a leaf
Adult water striders mating on a brackish creek
Adult water striders mating on a brackish creek
 I liked this poised Water Strider on the pond surface
I liked this poised Water Strider on the pond surface
Twig-like Katydid
Twig-like Katydid
 Halictid bee on a plant with purple flowers
Halictid bee on a plant with purple flowers
 Spotted Amber Ladybird pupa
Spotted Amber Ladybird pupa
Australian Painted Lady Butterfly sunning itself in Canberra
Australian Painted Lady Butterfly sunning itself in CanberraThis Australian Painted Lady (Vanessa kershawi) Butterfly landed very near me, before opening its wings. It was very patient, allowing me to get very close with my lens, even though it was a telephoto lens. It appeared to be warming up in the sun. Even when I covered it in my shadow a couple of times it did not fly off. It was only when I stood up after photographing it that it took off. (Full blog post)
Meadow Argus at The Pinnacle Nature Reserve
Meadow Argus at The Pinnacle Nature ReserveThis Meadow Argus (Junonia villida) flew onto a flower as I was starting to leave. It angled around to the sun and opened its wings. Even though I was very close it did not fly off, seeming to enjoy the rays of the suns. (full blog post)
A Common Brown butterfly on the leaf litter
A Common Brown butterfly on the leaf litterOn the leaf litter in some sunny patches of the Cork Oak Plantation itself there were a number of Common Brown (Heteronympha merope) butterflies. They would fly around for a while then land on the leaf litter. (Full post)
Common Brown butterfly
Common Brown butterfly
Common Brown catching the sunlight
Common Brown catching the sunlight
Common Brown butterfly on a thistle
Common Brown butterfly on a thistle(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 250, 400mm, f/11 and 1/400 SEC])
Common Grass Blue
Common Grass BlueWalking from the car park to the actual plantation there is a small pond on the right. On the banks of the pond there were at least three Common Grass Blue (Zizina labradus) butterflies. They were were on the wet soil with their proboscis in the ground itself, mud puddling, that is extracting liquid nutrients out of the soil. (Full post)
Cabbage White drinking from a flower
Cabbage White drinking from a flower (Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 160, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/320 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/12/25/nankeen-kestrel-rainbow-bee-eater-and-some-wonderful-insects-photographing-at-gigerline-nature-reserve-in-november-2020
A different angle on the mating Greenish Grass-darts
A different angle on the mating Greenish Grass-darts (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 300, 100mm, f/14 and 1/200 SEC])
Fine-waved Bark Moth
Fine-waved Bark Moth
Long-nosed Epidesmia
Long-nosed Epidesmia
Pasture Day Moth caterpillar possibly getting ready to go underground
Pasture Day Moth caterpillar possibly getting ready to go underground (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/6.3 and 1/80 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/9/15/honeyeaters-rufous-whistler-and-a-multitude-of-small-birds-photographing-at-paddys-river-on-sundays-6-and-13-september-2020
The Giant Green Slantface that almost landed under my boot
The Giant Green Slantface that almost landed under my bootWhen I was walking back along the river path this Giant Green Slantface (Acrida conica) jumped onto the ground just where I was about to put my boot. These insects are apparently not very good jumpers with their main defence being camouflage, which does not help if they jump where a human is about to step. As they are not very good jumpers their long legs are normally used for walking. These grasshoppers are more commonly seen in their green form and they can have a stripe as well. They are a common insect with a very descriptive name. The photograph below shows the slantface. (Full post)
Gumleaf Grasshopper
Gumleaf Grasshopper (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 1250, 100mm, f/6.3 and 1/160 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/7/20/australian-pelican-blue-faced-honeyeater-lace-monitor-and-other-amazing-wildlife-photographing-north-of-newcastle-australia-in-november-2019
Head shot of a Wingless Grasshopper on a leaf
Head shot of a Wingless Grasshopper on a leaf(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])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/10/8/speckled-warbler-orange-winged-sittella-and-at-last-frogs-photographing-at-cuumbeun-nature-reserve-on-sunday-4-october-2020
Common Bluetail Damselfly at Mount Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve
Common Bluetail Damselfly at Mount Mugga Mugga Nature ReserveWhen I saw this Common Bluetail Damselfly (Ischnura heterosticta) at rest I could not believe my luck as I have been trying to photograph these beautifully coloured insects for a while. This was probably a male given its blue colour, thick stripe on its thorax and blue dots on top of the eyes. This damselfly was very placid, staying still while I took a few photographs. When it finally took off it almost got caught in the spider web but was strong enough to break free before the spider could react. it was flying around the reeds for a while landing on some other stalks but not staying long, and not being still enough for another photograph. These are common, being found throughout Australia. (full blog post)
Orange Threadtail Damselfly
Orange Threadtail DamselflyThere were Orange Threadtail Damselfly (Nososticta solida) everywhere when I went to Casuarina Sands in January 2019. I came across a pair as I was getting ready to crawl under a large tree that had toppled across the path. The one in this photograph I took a bit later on, down at the small weir. These insects were only a few centimetres long making them easy to lose if you took your eyes off them. I am still confused how they are differentiated, as the colours on the wings are stated as being indicators of both either one or the other sex depending on which reference I read.
Ringtail Damselfly frozen with the morning frost
Ringtail Damselfly frozen with the morning frost (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/13 and 1/100 SEC] three images focus stacked)https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/7/10/pink-eared-duck-black-swan-coots-and-a-frozen-damselfly-in-the-fog-photographing-at-mulligans-flat-nature-reserve-in-winter-2020
Orange Threadtails mating and laying eggs, male on the top female on the bottom
Orange Threadtails mating and laying eggs, male on the top female on the bottom (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 1250, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/250 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2021/1/27/nature-and-natural-beauty-of-shoalhaven-gorge-january-2021
Damselfly on a plant stem, looking like it is keeping a watch on me
Damselfly on a plant stem, looking like it is keeping a watch on me
Common Bluetails mating, male on the top and female on the bottom
Common Bluetails mating, male on the top and female on the bottom
Metallic Ringtails mating with the male at the top of the photograph
Metallic Ringtails mating with the male at the top of the photograph(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Wandering Percher above a creek
Wandering Percher above a creek (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF70-200mm f/4L IS II USM [ISO 500, 200mm, f/6.3 and 1/500 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/7/20/australian-pelican-blue-faced-honeyeater-lace-monitor-and-other-amazing-wildlife-photographing-north-of-newcastle-australia-in-november-2019
Tau Emerald in flight
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])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/10/8/speckled-warbler-orange-winged-sittella-and-at-last-frogs-photographing-at-cuumbeun-nature-reserve-on-sunday-4-october-2020
Close-up of a Tau Emerald head
Close-up of a Tau Emerald head(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 160, 100mm, f/10 and 1/180 SEC] with Canon 430EX III-RT flash)https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2021/1/5/grey-fantail-on-a-nest-superb-fairy-wrens-and-a-lot-of-insects-photographing-at-denman-prospect-on-saturday-2-january-2021
Water droplet on the face of a Tau Emerald dragonfly
Water droplet on the face of a Tau Emerald dragonfly
Tau Emerald flying above the water of Clarks Bay
Tau Emerald flying above the water of Clarks Bay(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 800, 400mm, f/11 and 1/1000 SEC])
Female Wingless Soldier Fly, Hughes
Female Wingless Soldier Fly, HughesThere were two of these female Wingless Soldier Flies (Boreoides subulatus) on the wall. The male of the species have wings while the females do not, a strange evolutionary development. These two insects were still on the wall, not moving up or down. Even when photographing the one in the picture it did not move. These insects are apparently not well studied. The adults may only have a single function, to breed. They appear in autumn, so this time of the year. The larvae stage tend to be around rotting vegetation. (Full blog post)
A close-up of a Wingless Soldier Fly female on a broom handle
A close-up of a Wingless Soldier Fly female on a broom handle (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/5/26/macrophotography-around-canberra-may-2020
European Bluebottle defecating on a leaf
European Bluebottle defecating on a leaf
A European Bluebottle may not appeal to everybody but I love the contrasting metallic blue with the rust red eye
A European Bluebottle may not appeal to everybody but I love the contrasting metallic blue with the rust red eye (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 Canon 430EX III-RT flash)
Brown Blowfly on a tree stump
Brown Blowfly on a tree stump
Hover Fly
Hover Fly (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/7.1 and 1/160 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/6/28/a-loving-pair-of-superb-fairy-wrens-wonderful-waterbirds-and-a-very-relaxed-gippsland-water-dragon-photographing-at-yarralumla-creek-on-sunday-21-june-2020
Murid fly with fungus spores that have killed it
Murid fly with fungus spores that have killed it (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/6.3 and 1/50 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite, 5 shot focus-stacked)https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/8/6/photographing-birds-in-a-heavy-fog-photographing-at-goorooyarroo-nature-reserve-on-sunday-2-august-2020
Muscid Fly on a leaf catching the morning sun rays
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])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/10/8/speckled-warbler-orange-winged-sittella-and-at-last-frogs-photographing-at-cuumbeun-nature-reserve-on-sunday-4-october-2020
Robber Fly
Robber Fly(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/10 and 1/180 SEC] with Canon 430EX III-RT flash)https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2021/1/5/grey-fantail-on-a-nest-superb-fairy-wrens-and-a-lot-of-insects-photographing-at-denman-prospect-on-saturday-2-january-2021
Tasmanian Lacewing
Tasmanian Lacewing
Black-headed Bull Ant
Black-headed Bull Ant
Bull Ant focussing on my son
Bull Ant focussing on my son(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 640, 100mm, f/13 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/4/29/a-large-australian-wood-duck-family-and-macro-shooting-including-my-first-frogs-photographing-around-canberra-in-april-2020
Banded Sugar Ant eating manna on a gum leaf
Banded Sugar Ant eating manna on a gum leaf(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)https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/4/29/a-large-australian-wood-duck-family-and-macro-shooting-including-my-first-frogs-photographing-around-canberra-in-april-2020
Long-nosed Lycid Beetles laying eggs
Long-nosed Lycid Beetles laying eggs
Red Eye Cicada
Red Eye Cicada
Red Eye Cicada - front view
Red Eye Cicada - front view
Redeye Cicada
Redeye Cicada
Clicking Ambertail
Clicking Ambertail
Cicada shell on a burnt tree meaning that these creatures must have survived underground
Cicada shell on a burnt tree meaning that these creatures must have survived underground (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])
Female Flower Wasp possibly spreading sent to attract a male
Female Flower Wasp possibly spreading sent to attract a male
Trying to get the iconic head shot of a False Garden Mantis with the pseudo pupils
Trying to get the iconic head shot of a False Garden Mantis with the pseudo pupils(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 400, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/100 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/4/29/a-large-australian-wood-duck-family-and-macro-shooting-including-my-first-frogs-photographing-around-canberra-in-april-2020
Appears to be looking at me while she tends to an injury (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/11 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)
Appears to be looking at me while she tends to an injury (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/11 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/11 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)
Large Brown Mantis female while laying her eggs and very aware of my presence
Large Brown Mantis female while laying her eggs and very aware of my presence(Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 148mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])
Lage Brown Mantid noticing me getting closer
Lage Brown Mantid noticing me getting closer(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/18 and 1/180 SEC] with a Raynox DCR250 Super Macro Lens and Canon 430EX III-RT flash)
Pink-margined Bug on a tree trunk
Pink-margined Bug on a tree trunk (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/16 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/5/26/macrophotography-around-canberra-may-2020
Common Eastern Litter Runner on our garden shed
Common Eastern Litter Runner on our garden shed (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 1000, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/80 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/5/26/macrophotography-around-canberra-may-2020
Bark Cockroach moving along our wooden fence
Bark Cockroach moving along our wooden fence (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/10 and 1/180 SEC] with Yongnuo YN14EX Macro Ring Lite)
European Earwig female on a leaf
European Earwig female on a leaf (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 100, 100mm, f/8.0 and 1/160 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2020/10/22/gang-gang-cockatoos-other-parrots-and-some-cute-jumping-spiders-photographing-around-red-hill-nature-reserve-and-hughes-in-mid-october-2020
Adult water striders mating on a brackish creek
Adult water striders mating on a brackish creek(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 640, 400mm, f/8.0 and 1/400 SEC])https://birdsincanberra.com/blog/2021/1/9/juvenile-striated-heron-pacific-black-ducks-and-life-in-the-mangrove-forest-paddling-and-photographing-along-cyne-mallowes-creek-on-thursday-7-january-2021
I liked this poised Water Strider on the pond surface
I liked this poised Water Strider on the pond surface (Canon EOS 7D Mk II with a Canon EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM [ISO 200, 312mm, f/8.0 and 1/250 SEC])
Twig-like Katydid
Twig-like Katydid
Halictid bee on a plant with purple flowers
Halictid bee on a plant with purple flowers(Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 200, 100mm, f/18 and 1/180 SEC] with a Raynox DCR250 Super Macro Lens and Canon 430EX III-RT flash)
Spotted Amber Ladybird pupa
Spotted Amber Ladybird pupa (Canon EOS 6D Mk II with a Canon EF100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM [ISO 250, 100mm, f/18 and 1/180 SEC] with a Raynox DCR-250 Super Macro Lens and Canon 430EX III-RT flash)
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