Northeastern New South Wales

[moloch]

Greetings everyone,

I have to apologize but I have not had much time for awhile to participate on the forum. My work is finally slowing so I hope to post a few reports.

I worked remotely in the northeastern corner of New South Wales a couple of times in the last few months. My son, Nicholas, moved to Ballina six months back so my wife and I try to get up to that area to see him when we can. While there, I always get out a little. I think that this area is one of the prettiest parts of the state with beautiful beaches and hills covered with subtropical rainforest.

This report will include photos from a week in December 2012 and then another week in April 2013. I headed to Mt. Warning and the Border Ranges NPs on both trips. December was hot and dry. I only saw a few species of butterflies and number were low. Richmond Birdwings were active but they never landed low enough for photos. I usually saw the green and gold males floating through the canopy. April was much cooler and there had been heavy rain from January through March so everything was lush and green. One of the storms that hit the area in January was the remnants of Cyclone Oswald. The high winds and torrential rain associated with this tropical depression did a great deal of damage.

Here are shots of Mt. Warning along with a few habitat shots.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/zzhabitat2_zps37731515.jpg

Unfortunately, the summit trail is closed due to landslides and tree falls after the heavy rains in January.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/15habitat3_zps9ab128e7.jpg

Bangalow Palms were numerous in the subtropical rainforest.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/11BangalowPalms_zps23f4ea3e.jpg

This shot was from last December. The big tree was now a sad sight since it lost most of its crown in January.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/7rainforest-tree_zps1016f784.jpg

Black Bean trees were flowering in December.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/43aBlack-BeanNew_zpsd64f8787.jpg

Here are photos of the Border Ranges NP. This park is not far from Mt. Warning. Most of the "hills" of the park were walls of the old Wollumbin Volcano with Mt. Warning at its core.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/25Border-Ranges-habitat1_zps257f95a5.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/27Border-Ranges-habitat2_zpsecaae188.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/29Border-Ranges-habitat3_zps17668df4.jpg

[moloch]

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/31Border-Ranges-habitat4_zpsc2fb6a85.jpg

It was nearly 40C when I drove through this area in December. I stopped and went for a swim in this creek. The water was perfect and while swimming, I saw a Richmond Birdwing overhead. The park was nearly empty of visitors that day.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/33Border-Ranges-habitat9_zpsffb1390e.jpg

Distant view of the Mt. Warning (Wollumbin) caldera:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/MtWarning2_1000_zpsced1154f.jpg

Wheel of Fire Tree (Stenocarpus sinuatus). These lovely trees are members of the Proteaceae family. Like most members, they have big, showy flowers that attract lorikeets and honeyeaters. These trees grow in rainforests from central coastal NSW up through the Atherton Tablelands of far north Queensland.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/46Wheel-of-Fire-Tree2_zps86992343.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/44WheelofFireTree_zps2a2ad3a9.jpg

Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius). These are such an incredible sight in the early summer. They flower while leafless and the flowers are an intense red. I love to see these trees that range naturally from the hills near Wollongong up through the wet tropics of the north. These beautiful trees are often used as ornamentals and the first shot below was of one planted along a fence line. The next shot was a typical view of the flowering trees within the forest.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/40Flame-Tree2_zpsc1836f1d.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/42Flame-Tree-a_zpsb16fc295.jpg


Mt. Lindesay was the core of another volcano. The big trees to the left of centre are Hoop Pines, one of the southern conifers (Araucaria cunninghamii).
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/35Mt-Lindesay1_zpsee427fed.jpg

[moloch]

I briefly stopped in the Bunya Mountains of southeastern QLD on the December trip. I wanted to see these Bunya Pines (Araucaria bidwillii) in their natural habitat. Bunya Pines have a tiny distribution in these isolated mountains. I love the symmetrical shape of these trees that now are commonly planted as ornamentals in much of eastern Australia.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/37Bunya-Pines_zps5fa90b90.jpg

Regent Skipper (Euschemon rafflesia). This was a lifer. I have visited its habitat many times but this was the first time that I found this rainforest skipper. I saw two on the April trip.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/regentskipper3_zps23b0c86f.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/RegentSkipper1_zps765e07e2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/regentskipper2_zps86c81edd.jpg

Grass Darts. There are seven possibilities that live in this area. All look quite similar so I am not certain of the identitiy.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/skipper2_zps3312367e.jpg

Orange-streaked Ringlet (Hypocysta irius)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/Orange-streakedRingletHyposcystairius_zpsd58740d0.jpg

Wonder Brown (Heteronympha mirifica). I saw a number of females but none of the orange males on the the April trip.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/WonderBrown1_zpscdc79a11.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/WonderBrown2a_zps907d7ed7.jpg

[moloch]

Hairy Line Blue (Erysichton lineata). This was another lifer. I saw a number of them late in the afternoon in the Border Ranges. They dropped to sunlit areas on the road and briefly puddled. Unfortunately, they were wary and hard to approach.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/Hairy-Line-Blue2_zps8daa5871.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/Hairy-Line-Blue_zps0bb85549.jpg

Speckled Line Blue (Catopyrops florinda). Another lifer.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/SpeckledLine-blueCatopyropsflorindaa_zps9341af71.jpg

Small Green-banded Blue (Psychonotis caelius). I saw several of these but they usually landed too high for photos.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/SmallGreen-bandedBluePsychonotiscaelus_zps5a399ce1.jpg

Large Grass Yellow (Eurema hecabe). Abundant in April.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/grassyellow1_zpscaf892a8.jpg

Caper White (Belenois java). These were abundant in December but were absent in April. The first shot below was of a female that had been harassed by a couple males. She landed and provided this signal for them to leave her alone.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/Caper-White1_zps3c2f2b07.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/Caper-White2_zpsd78326ee.jpg

Caper Gull (Cepora perimale). I saw a few of these in April only.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/CaperGullCeporaperimale1_zps1bd07870.jpg

[moloch]

White Albatross (Appias albina)? Unfortunately, the only shot that I could get of this wary species.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/WhiteAlbatrossAppiasalbina1_zps7d61031f.jpg

Here are a few of the other animals seen
Red-necked Wallaby.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/Red-necked-Wallaby_zps1de146ba.jpg
Murray's Skink (Eulamprus murrayi). Pretty skinks that are common in the shade of the forest interior.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/Murrays-Skink1_zpsea695120.jpg
Land Mullet (Bellatorias major). These are the biggest of all skinks and grow to about 2/3 m in length. They are heavy bodied with glossy black scales.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/Land-Mullet1_zpsd28c0f7d.jpg
Challenger's Skink (Saproscincus challengeri). These are members of the genus known as the "shade skinks". They were common along trails within the rainforest of Mt. Warning.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/Saproscincus-sp1_zps089c58fa.jpg

Red-bellied Black Snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus). This was a big elapid in the Border Ranges looked fat and healthy in April. These are fast moving snakes that are shy and hard to phtograph. This one was slowed by the steep embankment that it had to climb to get away from the road.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/Red-belliedBlackSnake_zps0dc88779.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/Red-belliedBlackSnake2_zpsb9a83d55.jpg

Carpet Python (Morelia spilota). This 2m python was crossing the road in the Border Ranges NP in April.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/CarpetPython_zpsf0ac2b01.jpg

[moloch]

King Parrot. These are common and spectacular birds. This one was hoping that I would feed it in the Bunya Mountains.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Mt%20Warning/Mt%20Warning%20Apr%202013/King-Parrot_zpsffcdbf02.jpg

Rainforest at Nightcap National Park:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/NightcapNP_zps75fdf406.jpg

[Commander]

Such awesome scenery shots, David! That Regent skipper could really pass off as a moth but the colours are contrasty and makes the skipper very attractive. :)

[Great Mormon]

Thanks for sharing your adventure with us :) the border ranges looks really gorgeous through your lens

[Peacock Royal]

Some magnificent scenery and wild life shots. Thans for sharing these shots :thumbsup:
I was planning to visit Mt Warming last December but it didn't materialise.

[moloch]

Thanks very much, guys. This is really a beautiful place and well worth a visit when you have the opportunity.

Here are coastal shots from the trip in April.


Byron Bay from Cape Byron.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/byronbay2_zpsb42d931c.jpg


Distant view of Mt. Warning from Cape Byron.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/MtWarning1_800_zps127a90a9.jpg

One of the many beaches near in the Byron Bay area.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/ByronBay1_zps5c47d326.jpg

Lighthouse on Cape Byron
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/lighthouse_zpsa5642226.jpg

Lennox Head, a beach area about 10 minutes north of Ballina
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/LennoxHeada_zpsd587e5e1.jpg


Varied Eggfly ([i]Hypolimnas bolina[/]). I saw a couple of these on a coastal hilltop near Lennox Head
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/CommonEggfly1_zpsc4ee5873.jpg

[moloch]

Large Grass Yellow (Eurema hecabe). Numerous.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/GrassYellow1_zpsb1f7ab54.jpg

Purple Crow (Euploea tulliolus). Common in April, especially on a hilltop near Lennox Head.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/EasternBrownCrow3_zps2bd02ea5.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/EasternBrownCrow2_zps9b70ccea.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/EasternBrownCrow1_zps5996ee21.jpg


Large Purple Line-Blue (Nacaduba berenice). Abundant on the April trip.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/blue1a_zps554c861b.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/blue1c_zps3bceb976.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/blue1b_zps7471ad13.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/blue1_zpsa00cf445.jpg

[moloch]

Speckled Line-Blue (Catopyrops florinda). A few seen near Lennox Head.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/Blue2_zpsd96c8321.jpg


I was very surprised to see this mantis eating a Monarch. I thought that the alkaloids in the Monarch's body would protect it from predators. Khew told me that he has seen mantis eat other species of distasteful butterflies.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/Mantis1_zpsd87fed1c.jpg


I saw a group of four of these social Pacific Baza. While I watched them, one crashed into the canopy of a roadside tree and captured a large mantis similar to the one above. I wonder what happens to a Baza that eats a mantis that had just eaten a Monarch?
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/PacificBaza1_zpsce5bb320.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/PacificBaza2a_zpsfe1dc1cc.jpg


Galahs are common birds in Australia. This one and its friends were cracking the seed cones of a Casaurina Tree.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/galah_zpseb677f36.jpg


Rainbow Lorikeets are abundant on the east coast. I awaken to their screeches every morning in Wollongong.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/RainbowLorikeet3_zpsfd8a2719.jpg


Eastern Water Dragons are big lizards that normally are very shy. These on the levee of the Richmond River were accustomed to people and were tame. They ignored me as long as I remained 1m or so from them. This was a nicely marked male.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Ballina/April2013/EasternWaterDragon2_zps03657ded.jpg

[bluefin]

A great mixtures of pictures with diversity, David. :thumbsup::thumbsup:
The flame tree really does stand out among the rest and the Regent Skipper is really unique with its bright colored pattern against black.:)

:cheers:

[moloch]

Thanks, Nelson. You and Ellen will have to come over for a visit someday. We only have about 400 sp of butterflies but over 900 reptiles so there will be plenty to see and shoot!

[atronox]

Nice shot of the regent skipper, probably the most primitive butterfly that is still in existence.:)

[LWM66]

Thanks David for the wonderful n beautiful pictures showing how Mother Nature is still healthy and a reminder how precious and fragile. Australia is a special ecosystem.

[Commander]

I was very surprised to see this mantis eating a Monarch. I thought that the alkaloids in the Monarch's body would protect it from predators. Khew told me that he has seen mantis eat other species of distasteful butterflies.

Yes, somehow the mantises don't seem to be affected by the alkaloids in the distasteful species. I photographed one happily munching a Tawny Coster and polished the poor butterfly off in just a couple of minutes.

[atronox]

Yes, somehow the mantises don't seem to be affected by the alkaloids in the distasteful species. I photographed one happily munching a Tawny Coster and polished the poor butterfly off in just a couple of minutes.

This is because the toxins in the monarch and coster (cardenolides) can only act on a specific enzyme produced by vertebrates, eventually causing cardiac arrest.

Invertebrates don't produce this enzyme so the toxin is useless against them.:)