HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Three poor creatures with bad press: Australian Golden Orb-Weaving Spider (Trichonephila edulis); Grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus), Australia's largest native bat species; and a poisonous Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus). They're all getting ready for a Halloween party.

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

WAITING...

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BLUEBOTTLE FLY

The bluebottle fly or bottlebee (Calliphora vomitoria) is a common blow fly found in most areas of the world and is the type species for the genus Calliphora. Similar species include the greenbottle fly, a close relative that can be distinguished by its bright green metallic colouring. Bluebottle fly adults feed on nectar, while the larvae feed on carcasses of dead animals. Adults are also pollinators to some flowers with strong odour.

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SPRING WALKIES

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AQUARIUM

At the Melbourne Aquarium.

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QUOKKA

The quokka (Setonix brachyurus), the only member of the genus Setonix, is a small macropod about the size of a domestic cat. Like other marsupials in the macropod family (such as kangaroos and wallabies), the quokka is herbivorous and mainly nocturnal.

Quokkas can be found on some smaller islands off the coast of Western Australia, in particular on Rottnest Island just off Perth and Bald Island near Albany. A small mainland colony exists in the protected area of Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, where they co-exist with the critically endangered Gilbert's potoroo.

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GOOD DOG!

A friendy golden retriever quietly waiting for his owner outside a shop.

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SULPHUR CRESTED COCKATOO

A sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita) perched on a tree branch, displaying its prominent yellow crest. It is a large white parrot with a dark grey-black bill and a striking, erectable yellow crest. Raising the crest often signals excitement, curiosity, or alertness. This bird is often seen in urban areas, common in our neighbourhood, in the Darebin Parklands.

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MASKED LAPWING

The masked lapwing (Vanellus miles) is a large, common and conspicuous bird native to Australia (particularly the northern and eastern parts of the continent), New Zealand and New Guinea. It spends most of its time on the ground searching for food such as insects and worms and has several distinctive calls. It is common in Australian fields, open land and where there is lots of water, and is known for its defensive swooping behaviour during the nesting season.

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PIGEON

A feral pigeon or rock dove (Columba livia), displaying iridescent green and purple neck feathers and reddish-brown wing pattern variations. This species is stout-bodied with short legs, a small head, and characteristic pinkish-red feet. Feral pigeons are common urban and suburban residents worldwide, highly adaptable and foraging primarily on seeds and scraps.

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AUSTRALIAN RAVEN

This is an Australian raven (Corvus coronoides), about 45 cm long and characterized by glossy black plumage and a pale white iris. These birds possess all-black glossy feathers with greyish bases hidden underneath. Distinctive white irises surrounding a dark pupil, indicate an adult bird. Strong, heavy black bill and perching posture typical of the Corvus genus.

Australian ravens are exceptionally intelligent birds. Like other corvids, they possess a high brain-to-body mass ratio and cognitive problem-solving abilities that closely rival primates and young children. They have been observed actively shaping and using sticks to extract insects buried deep within tree bark. In urban areas, Australian ravens work together collaboratively to pull heavy plastic liners out of public rubbish bins to access food. They are also famous for stalking bushwalkers and successfully unzipping backpacks to steal snacks.

They can accurately recognize individual human faces and categorize them as either a threat or a friend. They can hold these memories—and potential grudges—for several years. They easily pass vital safety information down through generations, effectively teaching their young which specific neighborhoods or humans are dangerous to approach.

This post is part of the Nature Notes meme,
and also part of the Saturday Critters meme

HORSE, RELAXING

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CATERPILLAR AND BUTTERFLY

Papilio anactus, the dainty swallowtail, dingy swallowtail or small citrus butterfly is a medium-sized butterfly from the family Papilionidae, that is endemic to Australia. For protection against predators, this non-poisonous butterfly mimics the poisonous male Cressida cressida, another swallowtail butterfly that obtains its toxic properties through its host plant, the Dutchman's pipe.

Papilio anactus is endemic to Australia. It was originally only present in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, but due to the growing of citrus, a larval food plant of this species, in orchards, the species spread to South Australia in the late 1920s. Papilio anactus is not present on Kangaroo Island or elsewhere in Australia, as there are currently too few citrus trees. Sadly this butterfly is much less common than it once used to be. Dingy Swallowtail It also occurs on New Caledonia. There, it may be an introduced species or a vagrant.

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POSSUM

The common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula, from the Greek for "furry tailed" and the Latin for "little fox", previously in the genus Phalangista) is a nocturnal, semi-arboreal marsupial of the family Phalangeridae. It is native to Australia, and the second largest of the possums.  Like most possums, the common brushtail possum is nocturnal. It is mainly a folivore, but has been known to eat small mammals such as rats.

In most Australian habitats, leaves of eucalyptus are a significant part of the diet but rarely the sole item eaten. The tail is prehensile and naked on its lower underside. There are four colour variations: Silver-grey, brown, black, and gold.  It is the Australian marsupial most often seen by city-dwellers, as it is one of few that thrives in cities, as well as a wide range of natural and human-modified environments.

Around human habitations, common brushtails are inventive and determined foragers with a liking for fruit trees, vegetable gardens, and kitchen raids. This is Fred and he raids our garden every night, having a liking for oranges and grapefruit.

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LADYBIRD

The ladybird is a small beetle with a domed back, typically red or yellow with black spots. Both the adults and larvae are important predators of aphids. The North American term for the insect is ladybug. The common European seven-spotted ladybird is seen as symbolising the seven joys and seven sorrows of the Virgin Mary.

Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home!
Your house is on fire, your children all gone.

All but one, and her name is Ann,
And she crept under the pudding pan

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KOI POND

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WINTERWEAR

As the temperature drops in Winter, we mustn't forget our canine friends who also need some winterwear!

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RED HEELER

This is a Red Heeler, often referred to as an Australian Cattle Dog.The dog is wearing a clear plastic cone, commonly known as an Elizabethan collar, typically used to prevent pets from licking or biting wounds while they heal. These dogs are high-energy, versatile, intelligent working dogs that require significant daily physical activity.

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BRONZEWING

The common bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera) is a species of medium-sized, heavily built pigeon. Native to Australia and one of the country's most common pigeons, the common bronzewing is able to live in almost any habitat, with the possible exception of very barren areas and dense rainforests.

Males of the species have pale-yellow to yellow-white foreheads, and pink breasts. Both males and females have an easily discernible white line around and proximate to their eyes. Common bronzewings also have patches of red, blue and green on their wings, a feature which is characteristic of all bronzewing pigeons. Young birds are usually duller in colour and browner than the mature common bronzewing.

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AUSTRALIAN MAGPIE

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Australian Magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen), are native black and white passerine birds. They are known for their intricate song and high intelligence, and are a common sight in Australian parks and backyards. During breeding season, which typically peaks around September, they can be territorial and may swoop to defend their nests.