Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve, 2011-12

The images below were taken in 2011 and 2012. The most recent are towards the top.
For more recent photos, please see Yellingbo 2013. I intend to make a page for 2014, but have to find the time.
For more photos of Helmeted Honeyeaters please click here.

Above image: Helmeted Honeyeaters sunbaking on a warm spring day.


White-necked Heron and Purple Swamphen chick and adult.

Fly on buttercup.
    Southern Boobook. December 2012.
Laughing Kookaburras.


     Cocoons of moths from the Anthelidae family, possibly
    Anthela nicothoe, brown hairy caterpillar.

 
Galls on Eucalyptus leaves, presumably caused by larvae of gall forming insects, possibly wasps.
       Helmeted Honeyeater.


  This Dusky Antechinus was feeding in the open on a track.
   It ignored me, allowing me to approach quite close to it.
   Eventually it disappeared suddenly when a bird gave an
   alarm call.
   Bassian Thrush, beautifully camouflaged for foraging on the ground. These birds seem to be much more easily
    found in the open on cold damp days like this (winter 2012).
       After this Eastern Yellow Robin caught a huge worm, it spent much
          time hitting it on a log. Eventually the worm broke just below the
          bird's bill. A second Robin, that had been watching nearby, flew
          in instantly and grabbed the prize, but...


... the worm proved hard to swallow.   
                                                                  Winter 2012.    


   Helmeted Honeyeater, back of head, with yellow tufts and
    helmet apparent.
Helmeted Honeyeater with tip of tongue protruding from bill.
   Trametes versicolor, rainbow fungus, growing on an old log, winter 2012, .
More fungi growing nearby. My expert adviser
says they appear to be a Gymnopilus species.
   Striated Thornbill, from the front...
       ...and from the side.
     Bushy Hakea Hakea decurrens on a very rainy and leechy 
     autumn day, 2012 (see leech image below).

    Silver Banksia Banksia marginata, autumn 2012.
           Occasionally these land planarians (turbellarian flat worms) can be seen during the day
           in damp areas. Amazing colour. This one was photographed in early autumn 2012.
           Leech on the prowl. At times these are fairly numerous in wet areas of Yellingbo, but are
           seldom a problem really. The worst experience I have had with them here was on a
           rainy day when one found its way into my eye. It wriggled out from under my eyelid about
          45 minutes later, full of blood, of course.
   Helmeted Honeyeater 'Blue D' in late summer 2011-12.
         Shadow of fronds in the afternoon.
 Eucalypt leaves.
          Helmeted Honeyeater.
 Brown Thornbill.
Red-browed Finch; too young to have
the red brow or bill (but see adult below). These birds are doing very well at present (late summer 2011-12).
I emailed some photos of this beetle to the Discovery Centre at Melbourne Museum where it was identified as a Black Scarab: family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Dynastinae. Thank you, Simon.
    Helmeted Honeyeater stretching.
    More stretching.


















Helmeted Honeyeaters; aggressive at times.


















                        The same birds a moment later.
      Blotched Blue Tongue, late summer 2011-12. This species is not common in the reserve.


      Satin Flycatcher with Emerald Dragonfly, late summer
      2011-12.
      The Satin Flycatcher has removed the dragonfly's wings,
       presumably to make it easier to eat.
  Eastern Yellow Robin, mid summer 2011-12. This is a youg bird. Some of its
   brown juvenile feathers can still be seen on its head.
   Sweet Bursaria Bursaria spinosa
    flowers and fruit, mid summer 2011-12.
     Common reed Phragmites australis.
   Helmeted Honeyeater.
   Rufous Whistler; female or young male?.
       Brown Thornbill in the middle of preening.
  White-eared Honeyeater.
      The above Brown Thornbill still preening.
   Red-browed Finch. These birds are abundant at present
    (mid summer 2011-12).

 
      Striated Thornbill.
      Young Helmeted Honeyeater.

           Beetle clinging to grass.
    Tree-fern frond unfolding.
             Adult and young Eastern Whipbird, early summer 2011-12. These birds are extremely
             elusive and very active so are quite a challenge to photograph.
Tree trunks: Eucalypt.                   Eucalypt with new shoots.          Old stump with Black Rock Skink.     Blackwood with lichen.