Southern Highlands: Fitzroy Falls

[moloch]

I headed into the southern highlands yesterday and again today. This area is about a 45 minute drive to the southwest of Wollongong. The highlands are not all that high but the weather there is different to that of the coast. Winters are cold and there is an occasional dusting of snow. Now, in summer, temperatures and humidity are lower that what we experience in Wollongong. The weather on the weekend was not bad although thundershowers arrived in the each afternoon.

I headed to Fitzroy Falls National Park, a pretty one with deep gorges and a big waterfall. Most of my time, however, was spent exploring the vegetation surrounding a nearby reservoir. Tea Trees (Leptospermum sp.) were in flower and these were highly attractive to many species of butterflies. I also found a Butterfly Bush (Buddleia sp.) that lived up to its name. It was absolutely covered with a diverse group of butterflies. These two sites were the best that I have encountered so far in Australia and I had lots of fun photographing the insects.

I will start with a few habitat shots so that you can get a "feel" for this part of Australia. The area is scenic and always worth a visit.

Fitzroy Falls National Park
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/habitat4-1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/habitat3a.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/habitatFitzroyFalls2.jpg


The highlands were once covered with temperate rainforest or wet eucalyptus forest. Now, large areas have been cleared for dairy farms and agriculture.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/robertsonarea.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/robertsonarea2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/robertsonarea3.jpg


These are photos from the area that I worked the most. The shrubs with the white flowers are one of the Tea Trees (Leptospermum sp.).
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/habitat1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/habitat6.jpg


Sadly, I did not see a single reptile while photographing the butterflies. The habitat looked like it would be ideal for Tiger Snakes but they must have detected me before I could see them so I had no observations at all.

[moloch]

The plant with the tall brown stalks is one of the Saw-sedges or Sword Grass (Gahnia sp.). This is an important species for many butterflies.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/habitat2.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/habitat5.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/habitat4.jpg


Here is the Butterfly Bush that was so popular. This is an exotic plant that was growing along a fence line near the road.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/butterflybush1-1.jpg




For the first time ever, I saw 4 species of Jezebels in two days. A couple of these are abundant but the other two are both rare in this area. I was able to take shots of three of these lovely butts.

The most common is the Black Jezebel (Delias nigrina). They were much more cooperative when feeding on Butterfly Bush than when on Lantana. They would sit for extended periods of time and sip from the flowers. The jezebels of this area seem to prefer shady locations and they also tended to feed from flowers that were 2m+ from the ground. Once in awhile, especially early in the day, they would move lower.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/BlackJezebelDeliasnigrina4.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/BlackJezebelDeliasnigrina5_500.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/BlackJezebelDeliasnigrina1_400.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/BlackJezebelDeliasnigrina3.jpg

[moloch]

This is a rare sight. I rarely see them bask with opened wings.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/BlackJezebelDeliasnigrina6.jpg



Yellow-spotted Jezebels (Delias nysa) were also numerous, especially at the Butterfly Bush. These seem to loose colour with age. Today, unlike last week, I saw a number of pristine individuals so there must have been a recent hatch.

worn:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/Yellow-spottedJezebel1.jpg


fresh:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/Yellow-spottedJezebel5.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/Yellow-spottedJezebel2.jpg

... as with the Black Jezebel, they rarely seem to do this:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/Yellow-spottedJezebel3.jpg


While at the reservoir, I saw one of these gorgeous jezebels drift by but it did not stop. Later in the morning, it returned and then dove into a Tea Tree where it fed. It always stayed in the shade and usually fed on flowers within the canopy so it was hard to photograph. Scarlet Jezebels (Delias argenthona) are common butterflies in the north but they seem to be erratic this far to the south. This was the first of the species that I have ever seen near Wollongong.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/ScarletJezebel1Deliasargenthona.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/ScarletJezebel2Deliasargenthona.jpg


A Spotted Jezebel (Delias aganippe) also made a brief visit to the Tea Trees. It perched long enough for me to raise my camera but then it was gone.

[Archduke]

very nice pictures of the Delias!

[Great Mormon]

Nice set of pics. Australia is such a beautiful place! I do hope i have the time and resources to visit in the near future!

[moloch]

Skippers were the most numerous and diverse butterflies at the reservoir. I had great fun with these and have not seen so many species together before here in Australia.

Splendid Ochres (Trapezites symmomus) were common. When I examine the butterfly guide, I think that I should be finding a number of other species as well in this area. So far, though, I see plenty of Splendid Ochres but none of the others.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/SplendidOchre3Trapezitessymmomus.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/SplendidOchre2Trapezitessymmomus.jpg


The Sedge-Skippers (Hesperilla sp.) were well represented. The most common of these was the Painted Sedge Skipper (Hesperilla picta).
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/PaintedSedgeSkipperHesperillapicta3.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/PaintedSedgeSkipperHesperillapicta1_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/PaintedSedgeSkipperHesperillapicta5_400.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/PaintedSedgeSkipperHesperillapicta4.jpg


I saw two of the beautiful Spotted Sedge-Skipper (Hesperilla ornata).
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/SpottedSedge-Skipper1Hesperillaornata.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/SpottedSedge-Skipper2Hesperillaornata.jpg

[moloch]

Thanks Mark and Anthony. Anthony, if you do visit, let me know. I would be happy to show you some of the areas near the 'Gong.


I saw a few Flame Sedge-Skippers (Hesperilla idothea), a +1 for me.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/FlameSedge-Skipper1Hesperillaidothea.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/FlameSedge2Hesperillaidothea.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/FlameSedge-Skipper4Hesperillaidothea.jpg



Another lifer was the Bright Shield-Skipper (Signeta flammeata). These were the most abundant butterfly of this site.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/BrightShield-Skipper1Signetaflammeata.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/BrightShield-Skipper5_400Signetaflammeata.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/BrightShield-Skipper4_400Signetaflammeata.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/BrightShield-Skipper2Signetaflammeata.jpg



This Barred Skipper (Dispar compacta) was the only one encountered. They are tiny so perhaps I just overlooked others.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/BarredSkipper1Disparcompacta.jpg

[moloch]

I saw a few Bronze Flats (Netrocoryne repanda) at the Butterfly Bush but none on the Tea Trees.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/BronzeFlat1Netrocorynerepanda.jpg


I saw a few Grass-Darts at the Tea Trees. I have looked at these often but cannot sort out the species. I think that Greenish Grass-Dart (Ocybadistes walkeri) is the most likely but I cannot be certain.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/GreenishGrass-dartOcybadisteswalkeri.jpg


Any ideas about the orange object on this one? Is it a parasitic mite?
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/Wide-brandGrass-Dar1tSunianasunius.jpg


male Barred Skipper (Dipsar compacta):
[formerly listed as White-branded Grass-Dart (Taractrocera papyria).] These were a tiny and quick species that were hard to photograph.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/White-brandedGrass-Dart4.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/White-brandedGrass-Dart2_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/White-brandedGrass-Dart3_400.jpg


Common Browns (Heteronympha merope) were numerous. Most appeared to be worn like this male:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/CommonBrownHeteronymphamerope1.jpg


A +1 was this Ringed Xenica (Geitoneura acantha). It was responsive to the pre-flash and was hard to approach for photos. I also saw a few Marbled Xenica but they were impossible to approach. They tended to fly when I was still 3m+ from them and not within range.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/RingedXenica1Geitoneuraacantha.jpg

[moloch]

Varied Sword-Grass Brown (Tisiphone abeona) perched on a stem of sword grass (Gahnia sp.).
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/VariedSword-GrassBrown1Tisiphoneabeona.jpg


Yellow Admiral (Vanessa itea) were abundant on the Butterfly Bush.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/Vanessaitea1_400.jpghttp://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/Vanessaitea2_400.jpg


I saw a few Meadow Argus (Junonia villida) at both the Butterfly Bush and the Tea Trees.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/MeadowArgus1Junoniavillida.jpg


Macleay's Swallowtails (Graphium macleayanus) were abundant.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/MacleaysSwallowtailGraphiummacleayanus.jpg



strange spider:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/spider1.jpg


A terrestrial orchid:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/BC/FitzroyFalls/orchid1.jpg


I saw a number of other species of butterflies that just did not stop long enough for photos. It was a most enjoyable weekend for me.

[bluefin]

Beautiful series of pictures, David.
So many different types of butterflies, especially like the delias and skippers.:thumbsup:

Thanks for sharing. :cheers:

[Bluebottle]

Beautiful pictures and butterflies. :cheers:

[moloch]

Thanks, Loke.

[Glorious Begum]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful shots. The Spotted Sedge-Skipper is beautiful. :cheers:

[Silverstreak]

Wow!:omg:

Beautiful Delias and skippers!!

Thank you David for sharing with us these fabulous shots!!

Cheers!

[moloch]

Thanks, LC and Sunny.

I went out again yesterday and found 2 more species of Jezebels. That is 5 species in one week. I am very happy about this and will post photos tonight.


Regards,
David

[Painted Jezebel]

Let me guess. D. aganippe & D. harpalyce? I only have two species here, so I am somewhat envious.


Thanks, LC and Sunny.

I went out again yesterday and found 2 more species of Jezebels. That is 5 species in one week. I am very happy about this and will post photos tonight.


Regards,
David

[moloch]

Let me guess. D. aganippe & D. harpalyce? I only have two species here, so I am somewhat envious.

Yes Les, you are correct. They both are large and nicely coloured Delias.