Even More Odds and Ends.

With the continuing dry weather the local Macalister Wetland Reserve is drying out fast with only a couple of inches of water in many areas. However this has produced excellent feeding conditions for many species of birds, twenty eight at a recent count. Spotted and Spotless Crakes, and Latham’s Snipe have been viewing highlights over recent days, with binoculars replacing the camera for the sheer pleasure of just watching these birds going about their business.  However a heads up from a friend, thanks AM, saw the camera with short zoom come out of the cupboard with the object of getting a snap of a male Mistletoe Bird.

A Spotted Crake and a Swamphen also decided to get in the picture.

Back in the garden the Corymbia watsoniana is coming into heavy flower and is attracting flower wasps, subfamily Thynninae. Many are mating pairs, with the wingless females being towed around by their spouses. It is interesting to note that the male wasps facilitate nectar feeding by the females, one seen in close up here.

A tiny but attractive non biting midge spotted on a leaf.

Finally, a Short-winged Robberfly, genus Bathypogon perched for the night.