September

Animal of the Day 266 Sep 23

The European Hare was introduced to Australia by European settlers for sport hunting and to make the new country feel more like home. After establishing mostly in Victoria, they spread rapidly throughout southeastern Australia. However, they have not reached plague proportions like rabbits have in many places. They are still classed as pests as they can cause significant damage to agriculture and the environment. 

I always enjoy seeing them as they are so different to rabbits, despite the superficial similarities. I was on a rural track in Victoria and saw it through the scrub around a bend. I initially thought it was a roo as it was so large. I crouched down as it came towards me. It saw me and froze so I got the shot before it vanished.

Animal of the Day 265 Sep 22

The Red-footed Booby is an attractive seabird with a global distribution in tropical and subtropical waters. It is a highly pelagic species, spending most of its life far out at sea, only coming to land to breed. They have a wide range from across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Significant breeding populations exist on islands such as the Galapagos, Hawaii, and Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

The Red-footed Booby is considered a resident bird in Australia, breeding on cays in the Great Barrier Reef and on Australian territories like Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Christmas Island is a globally important breeding site, hosting over 12,000 breeding pairs, and North Keeling Island is home to an estimated 30,000 breeding pairs.

I have only seen them on Michaelmas Cay, off the coast of Cairns. I haven’t seen them breeding there, just single birds flying past. I know they have been seen flying close to the Cairns shore and sometimes they are blown in after storms, causing much excitement amongst local birders.

Animal of the Day 264 Sep 21

The Red-bellied Black Snake is native to eastern Australia and can be found from Cairns, down through New South Wales, Victoria and into south-eastern South Australia. They are good swimmers and often hunt for prey in and around water. So, you may run into them around swamps, creeks, rivers, and wetlands. They are also present in forests, woodlands, and grasslands, and can be found in disturbed or rural areas, often near drainage ditches and dams.

I was delighted to see this one in Victoria, as I was safely sitting in my van at a small dam in a state forest. I had bug nets on the open back door and sat as dozens of birds came unconcerned to the water to drink and suddenly the snake slithered along the side of the van, down to water and across it. It was beautiful but there were no more birds for a while!

Animal of the Day 263 Sep 20

The Pictorella Mannikin (or Munia or Finch) is only found in northern Australia. It is easily identified by the scaly pattern on the breast. It is a ground-foraging seed-eater, often found in small flocks. They prefer dry savannas and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grasslands and can often be seen foraging on recently burnt ground or near wetlands. The best time to see them is during the dry season, when water sources are scarce.

I have only seen the Pictorellas once at a rather unpleasant rest area in the Northern Territory. As is sometimes the case, these unremarkable spots produce the most remarkable of bird experiences. There were many other species of finch, honeyeater and a gaggle of Apostlebirds at the spot but the highlight were these beautiful finches. They were only passing through, however, and I only got a few shots. Still looking!

Animal of the Day 262 Sep 19

The Long-necked Turtle is a freshwater reptile native to southeastern Australia. As its name suggests, it is characterized by an exceptionally long, narrow neck that can be as long as its shell. Its shell, or carapace, is typically a flattened oval shape and can range in colour from light to dark brown or black, with a creamy or yellow underside. These turtles are a medium size, with a shell length of up to 25 cm.

I was very amused when I saw this one in Victoria. I often see road signs warning of native fauna as I travel. I then get all excited about the possibility of seeing a Koala or an Echidna, only to drive miles without seeing anything! On this occasion, I had just passed such a sign for the Long-necked Turtle and there was one, right in the middle of the road. I took a few photos and then moved it to safety.

Animal of the Day 261 Sep 18

The Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) is a large, migratory shorebird with a long, downward-curved bill. It has brownish plumage with a distinct head pattern—a dark crown with a pale stripe down the middle, and a dark eyestripe. They typically arrive in the late winter/early spring and depart for their breeding grounds in the Northern Hemisphere in March and April.

They are often confused with the Eastern Curlew but that has a much longer bill.

I have seen the Whimbrel across the coasts of Australia, usually alone. I find them to be a very attractive and interesting wader. While they look like they use their bill for digging into the sand to get small critters (and they do), they also use it to crush crabs and scoop up other invertebrates from the surface.

Animal of the Day 260 Sep 17

The Red-legged Pademelon is a small species of wallaby known for its compact body, short and thick tail, and soft, thick fur. Its name comes from its distinguishing features: a grey-brown body with rusty red coloration on its face, forearms, and hind legs. They are generally shy and solitary but can be found in loose groups, particularly when feeding.

This shot is actually of 4 pademelons. It was taken in the garden of Kingfisher Park, a wonderful oasis for wildlife in Far North Queensland. The mother is seen with her last year baby, a youngster not long out of the pouch AND she had another in the pouch. It was quite remarkable and this photo remains one of my favourites.

Animal of the Day 259 Sep 16

The Peregrine Falcon (Falcoperegrinus) is a large and powerful raptor known for being the fastest animal on Earth. It can reach speeds of over 300 km/h during its hunting dive, known as a stoop. Adults are distinguished by a slate-blue back, a creamy-white throat, and a black hood that includes a distinctive mask or moustache on the cheeks. Females are noticeably larger than males.

These incredible falcons are found across Australia, but they are not common anywhere. They are largely sedentary and maintain their territories year-round. They can be found in a wide range of habitats, from coastal cliffs and forests to arid inland areas.

I have seen them around Australia, including the middle of a town on a lamppost (no camera with me!). It always seems to be that you need to catch them very quickly before they vanish. Even when I know about nesting sites, I seem to be on the other side of the country. I am still working on getting better shots.

Animal of the Day 258 Sep 15

The Long-nosed Bandicoot is a small, nocturnal marsupial. It has a slender body with grey-brown fur, a creamy-white underbelly, and a prominent, long, pointed snout. They are best known for the distinctive, conical holes they leave behind in the soil as they forage for insects and other invertebrates with their long, sensitive snouts and powerful claws.

Long-nosed Bandicoots are found along the eastern coast of Australia, from far north Queensland down through New South Wales and into Victoria. They inhabit a range of environments including rainforests, wet and dry woodlands, and grasslands, and can also be found in suburban gardens.

I think bandicoots are a really interesting animal but the long-nosed species is almost cartoon-like. I have only seen them once and feel very privileged.

Animal of the Day 257 Sep 14

The White-eared Honeyeater is a medium-sized Australian bird known for its distinctive appearance and foraging habits. It has an olive-green body, a grey cap, and a black face and bib, all highlighted by a prominent white patch on its ear.

They prefer dry eucalypt forests and woodlands with a well-developed understory, as well as heathlands, shrublands, and scrub habitats. They can be found from the coast up to the treeline in the Southern Alps.

I always love seeing them. Even though their plumage is quite striking, they are quite cryptic and I usually hear them first. I find them often in more rural areas, on their own in the foliage. They are a stunning and unusual honeyeater.

Animal of the Day 256 Sep 13

The Graceful Tree Frog is a medium-sized frog, typically reaching up to 4.5 cm in body length. Its skin is lime-green or olive-green with a bright yellow belly and sides. A notable feature is the pale green or yellow stripe that runs from its nostril, over its eye. It has an orange iris and bright yellow hands and feet. The backs of its thighs are a purplish or reddish-brown colour.

In Australia, the Graceful Tree Frog can be found along the coast from Cape York in northern Queensland down to Gosford in New South Wales. It inhabits a variety of environments, including moist forests, woodlands, and even suburban gardens, often found near bodies of water.

These frogs are most easily seen and heard during spring and summer, especially after heavy rainfall. Males will form noisy choruses, calling with a long, drawn-out "waaa" sound to attract females for breeding. They lay their eggs in temporary pools, flooded grasslands, and ponds.

Animal of the Day 255 Sep 12

The Ruddy Turnstone is a small, stocky migratory shorebird with a slightly upturned, wedge-shaped bill and short, bright orange legs. Its plumage changes significantly between seasons. In breeding plumage, it has a striking pattern of black and chestnut-brown on its back, and a bold black-and-white pattern on its head and chest. Non-breeding adults are duller, with a brownish-grey back and a less distinct brown pattern on the head and chest. In flight, a unique pattern of white stripes on the back, rump, and wings, along with a black tail stripe, is visible.

The Ruddy Turnstone is a non-breeding migrant to Australia. It breeds in the Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and travels south to Australia for the austral summer. They typically arrive in Australia from the Northern Hemisphere in August and September and remain until they begin their northward migration in March and April. Some younger birds may stay in northern Australia throughout the year. They are widespread along the Australian coastline and its offshore islands.

Animal of the Day 254 Sep 11

The Sugar Glider is a small, nocturnal, tree-dwelling marsupial. Its name comes from its diet, which includes sugary foods like nectar and sap, and its ability to glide through the air. They are known for their large eyes, which are an adaptation for their nocturnal lifestyle, and the gliding membrane, or patagium, that stretches from their wrists to their ankles, allowing them to glide distances of up to 50 meters between trees.

As they are nocturnal, the best time to see a Sugar Glider is at night. They spend their days sleeping in tree hollows, often in communal nests, and become active at dusk when they emerge to forage for food. This one was seen in the rainforests around Atherton in FNQ.

Animal of the Day 253 Sep 10

The White Tern (Gygis alba) is a small seabird with a distinctive, pure white plumage, including its wings, body, and tail. Its long, slender, and pointed bill, as well as the narrow ring around its eye, are black, creating a striking contrast against its white feathers. I always think of them as a kind of sausage shape as the body is a long, thick tube.

In Australia, the White Tern is a rare bird, with its main breeding population found on Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands. Vagrant birds may be sighted in coastal NSW waters. I have seen them in Norfolk Island and they are such unusual birds. They do not build a nest. Instead, they lay a single egg in a natural depression or on a bare, thin branch of a tree. Their chicks are born with strong feet to help them grip onto this precarious perch.

Animal of the Day 252 Sep 9

The Cairns Birdwing caterpillar is the larval stage of Australia's largest endemic butterfly, the Cairns Birdwing. The caterpillars are dark brown or grey with long, fleshy spines that are tipped with black and orange. They can grow up to 6.5 cm long.

They are found in the tropical rainforests of Far North Queensland, from Mackay in the south to Mount Webb and Cooktown in the north. They are often seen in areas with their host plants, including botanical gardens, wildlife sanctuaries, and even suburban gardens in this region.

Animal of the Day 251 Sep 8

The Little Woodswallow is the smallest of the family with a dark, smoky brown colour. The wings are a deep gunmetal grey and it has a bluish bill with a black tip and a short tail. Like other woodswallows, they are known for their social nature and often huddle together in groups on branches to rest.

The Little Woodswallow is found in most of mainland Australia, avoiding only the driest deserts and the southern coastal regions (within about 300 km of the coastline). They prefer rugged terrain, such as rocky outcrops and inland mountain ranges, and can be seen year-round as they are a sedentary species that generally does not migrate. Their breeding season typically runs from August to January or can occur after significant rainfall in arid areas.

Their tiny size and beautiful colouring makes them my favourite woodswallow species.

Animal of the Day 250 Sep 7

The Tree Kangaroo is a unique marsupial native to the tropical rainforests of northeastern Queensland, Australia, and New Guinea. Unlike their ground-dwelling cousins, they have adapted to an arboreal lifestyle. They have strong limbs with sharp, curved claws for gripping branches, and a long, bushy tail that helps them balance high in the treetops.

There are two species of tree kangaroos in Australia: the Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo and the Bennett's Tree Kangaroo. They are generally solitary and spend most of their time resting in the canopy, making them quite difficult to spot in the wild.

In Australia, the best place to see a tree kangaroo in the wild is in the Atherton Tablelands and the Daintree Rainforest regions of Far North Queensland. Since they are elusive and often found high in the trees, a good time to look for them is in the late afternoon or early evening as they begin to move around. Spotlighting at night with a low-wattage torch can also be effective, as their eyes will reflect a dull ruby-red colour.

Animal of the Day 249 Sep 6

The White-bellied Sea Eagle is a huge bird of prey. Adults are easily identified by their striking plumage: a white head, neck, belly, and tail, which contrast sharply with their slate-grey back and wings. They have a large, hooked, grey bill and dark brown eyes. The female is typically larger than the male, with a wingspan that can reach up to 2.2 metres. 

They can be found along the entire Australian coastline, including Tasmania. They are also seen well inland along major rivers, lakes, and wetlands, such as the Murray-Darling Basin. You can spot them year-round, as they are a resident species and typically form permanent pairs that inhabit a specific territory. They are often seen soaring high on thermals or perched on a prominent tree or cliff near a body of water. Their breeding season generally occurs between May and October, during which time they are particularly active with courtship displays and nest-building.

Animal of the Day 248 Sep 5

The Green Tree Snake is a non-venomous snake. Despite its name, its colour can vary widely, ranging from green to olive, yellow, brown, black, or even blue. Its belly is typically a pale yellow or cream, and the skin between its scales can be a light blue. It has a long, thin body, large eyes, and is an excellent climber.

This species is widespread and can be seen throughout Australia's northern tropics and eastern coast. Its habitat is diverse, including rainforests, woodlands, coastal heaths, and even urban and suburban areas like gardens and parks, especially where there are water sources.

They are a diurnal species and as they spend much of their time in trees and shrubs but will also forage on the ground, you stand a good chance of seeing them.

Animal of the Day 247 Sep 4

The plumage of the Varied Sittella is highly... well, varied, with several subspecies that differ in head and wing coloration, ranging from black-capped to white-headed or orange-winged. It typically forages in small, noisy family groups, spiralling up and down tree trunks and branches in a constant search for insects and spiders hiding in the bark.

I always think of them as upside down treecreepers and love to see them. I have never found a reliable spot for them, even though they are supposed to be sedentary. They are widespread across mainland Australia, inhabiting a variety of eucalypt forests and woodlands, particularly those with rough-barked trees and mature gums. I’ll keep looking!

Animal of the Day 246 Sep 3

The Striped Marsh Frog is a common and highly adaptable frog species native to eastern and southeastern Australia, including northern Tasmania. Its most defining characteristic is a pattern of brown or reddish-brown stripes that run longitudinally down its back, often with a paler stripe down the middle. Its limbs are covered in brown spots and squiggles. The frog has a black mask running from its snout, through the eye, and to the shoulder. The males have a distinctive pale yellow throat and enlarged forearms used in wrestling with other males.

While they can be heard calling in most months of the year, particularly after heavy rain, the best time to see and hear them is during their breeding season, which runs from spring to autumn (approximately September to April). This is when the males call to attract mates, and females lay their eggs in a distinctive foamy mass on the surface of the water, making them easier to spot.

Animal of the Day 245 Sep 2

The Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo is a fabulous southeastern parrot. The yellow seen on their tails is also present on their cheeks and on the edges of the body feathers, giving them a scalloped appearance up close. Males can be distinguished from females by their black beaks and pinkish eye-rings, while females have a bone-coloured beak and grey eye-rings.

The presence of these gorgeous birds is often announced by its loud, wailing contact call that carries a long distance. They are often seen in small family groups, but outside the breeding season, they can gather in flocks of 100 or more, especially when foraging. Their flight is slow and deliberate, with deep, lazy wingbeats.

The Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo is found in temperate forests, woodlands, and coastal regions of southeastern Australia. Its range extends from south-central Queensland, south through New South Wales, across most of Victoria, and into southeastern South Australia, including Tasmania and the islands of the Bass Strait.

Animal of the Day 244 Sep 1

The Glasswing Butterfly has partially transparent forewings with black veins and spots. Its hindwings are creamy-yellow with black markings. It is native to and most commonly seen in the tropical north of Australia, including northern Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and Queensland. It is a common resident in rainforests and coastal areas in these regions.

I find them very difficult to photograph, not least because they are always on the move! They are one of my favourite butterflies in Australia.