December

Animal of the Day 341 Dec 7

The Inland Dotterel (Peltohyas australis) is one of Australia's most elusive birds because of its nomadic nature and preference for remote, arid habitats. The best chance of finding one is to search at night along remote outback roads in the arid interior of Australia. Its preferred habitat is low country with sparse, low vegetation (like saltbush or bluebush, 20–40 cm tall). Key areas include gibber plains, claypans and gravel flats.

Its range includes arid zones of South Australia, Western Australia, western New South Wales, and the south-western corner of Queensland. Successful sightings are often reported along famous outback routes, such as the Birdsville Track and the Strzelecki Track.

Animal of the Day 340 Dec 6

This fabulous beetle is a species of Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus genus), which is a type of scarab beetle. Its striking, entirely metallic green colouration is characteristic of species found in Tropical North Queensland. The dazzling, shimmering sheen is structural, created by special layers of reflectors in its hard shell. Adult Christmas beetles are voracious leaf-feeders that prefer Eucalyptus trees and are often found clustered on them.

The appearance of this beetle around Christmastime is what gives the genus its common name. The adults emerge from the soil after spending about a year (or longer) underground as c-shaped grubs. I photographed this one in Cairns so if you are up north at this time of year, keep an eye out for them.

Animal of the Day 339 Dec 5

The Hutton's Shearwater (Puffinus huttoni) is a New Zealand bird known as Kaikōura Tītī in Māori, is an extraordinary seabird due to its unique breeding grounds and its critically endangered status. They only breed in the Seaward Kaikōura Range on the South Island of New Zealand and are the only seabirds in the world known to nest in an alpine environment, digging burrows in steep, tussock-covered slopes at extremely high altitudes, generally between 1,200 and 1,800 meters (4,000–6,000 feet) above sea level.

Outside of the breeding season, the birds are migratory and are mostly found in Australian waters. Geo-locators have tracked them completing an anti-clockwise circuit around Australia. Young, non-breeding birds will often stay in Australian waters for the first 4–5 years before returning to New Zealand.

Despite the total breeding population being estimated at over 100,000 pairs, the Hutton's Shearwater is classified as Endangered because its breeding range is critically limited and vulnerable to various threats.

Animal of the Day 338 Dec 4

This is an interesting Lionfish. They get their common name from their distinctive physical appearance, which suggests the flowing, elaborate look of a lion's mane. Although they are venomous, their system is passive and purely for defence. A lionfish has up to 18 venomous spines located in three different fins.

When a predator (or a human diver/fisherman) encounters the fish, the lionfish often displays its spines as a warning. Thankfully, although a lionfish sting is one of the most painful stings a person can receive from a marine creature, it is very rarely fatal to healthy adults.

Animal of the Day 337 Dec 3

The Copperback Quail-thrush is primarily a ground-dwelling bird of the arid and semi-arid woodlands and shrublands of southwestern Australia. F found in the arid landscapes west of the Flinders Ranges, they favour areas with sandy soils and a well-developed layer of low shrubs, often with spinifex grass.

They are considered elusive and difficult to find as they blend in perfectly with the sparse, dry ground cover of their habitat (despite their colourful plumage). I was lucky enough to find a courting pair on the edge of the Nullarbor Plain and spent several hours watching and listening to them.

Animal of the Day 336 Dec 2

The Nobbi Dragon is a small, agile Australian lizard belonging to the family Agamidae. Their name is derived from a local, common name used for the species in a specific part of its range. They are relatively small, compared to larger dragons like the Bearded Dragon. The body is generally grey to brown with dark blotches for camouflage. The colouration can vary significantly across its range. A key distinguishing feature is the presence of two distinctive pale, often yellowish stripes running longitudinally down the back. These stripes can sometimes be broken or notched by dark crossbands. During the breeding season, males develop bright secondary colouration, often displaying mauve, pink, or red flushes on their flanks and on the sides of the tail base, and their yellow stripes become brighter.

Animal of the Day 335 Dec 1

The Musk Lorikeet is a beautiful Australian bird. Not as successful as the more adaptable and aggressive Rainbow Lorikeet, it is still as interesting. They are only found in south-eastern Australia and are considered a nomadic species, with movements dictated by the availability of flowering eucalypts.

The tongue of the Musk Lorikeet has a brush-tipped appendage that is specially adapted to efficiently lap up nectar and collect pollen from native flowers. They primarily feed on the blossoms of Eucalypts, Banksias, and Grevilleas. However, they will also eat fruits, seeds, insects and their larvae and young shoots and buds. As they usually feed at the top of the canopy, they can be difficult to see and photograph.