Photos from the Snowy Mountains (NSW, Australia)

[moloch]

Greetings,
I've just returned from a two-night trip to Kosciuszko National Park. This place is situated in the Snowy Mountains and is about a two-hour drive from Canberra where I am currently working. I visited the alpine areas to try and find a few of the butterflies and reptiles that I had not yet seen. Most of my time was spent in the Charlotte Pass (1830m) area where I headed out for a headed out along the first portion of the 18km return walk to the summit of Mt. Kosciuszko. The walk began in Snow Gum forest but quickly ascended above tree line and passed across slopes that were covered with low growing shrubs and perennials. The weather was good on the visit with mostly sunny days with temperatures in the hight teens/low 20s.


Mt. Kosciuszko: I did not take the time to climb it but spent several hours along the summit walk. Mt. Kosciuszko is Austalia's highest mountain at 2280m elevation ... really just a hill by world standards! This area was covered with glaciers during the last ice age.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/1MtKosciuszko_zpsc5973cec.jpg



This was the habitat a little below Charlotte Pass. Open flats with flowing creeks were numerous.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/4habitatCharlottePass2_zps62a7f787.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/3habitatCharlottePass1_zps6a1329fd.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/habitat4_zpsf3f1185d.jpg


Snow Gums (Eucalyptus pauciflora) were numerous at upper altitudes. They had nicely marked bark that was really beautiful at dusk when the low sun angle really accentuated the the colours of the bark.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/EucalyptuspaucifloraSnowGum1a_zpsee44bd81.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/EucalyptuspaucifloraSnowGum1b_zps37a6287d.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/SnowGums8_zps7a559338.jpg

Many Snow Gums had bulbous trunks like this one that appeared to be swallowing a rock.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/EucalyptuspaucifloraSnowGum3_zps915eee02.jpg

[moloch]

Gang Gang Cockatoo. I saw a few including a small group that was feeding on the roadside one morning.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/Ganggang_zps4f42210a.jpg



A few plants were flowering. Composites, in particular, were attractive to the Xenica butterflies.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/flowerscollage1_zps13683765.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/flowerscollage2_zpsea6fc858.jpg

Orange Alpine Xenica (Oreixenica correae): This was one of the high altitude satyrinae that I hoped to find. The species is only active from mid-summer to early autumn.

... male
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/Oreixenicacorreae2OrangeAlpineXenicamale_zps33baba 25.jpg


... females
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/Oreixenicacorreae1OrangeAlpineXenicafemale_zpsb5d3 c53c.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/OreixenicacorreaeOrangeAlpineXenicafemale1_zps6749 dce9.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/Oreixenicacorreae3OrangeAlpineXenica_zps8f2eb37e.j pg


... habitat of Orange Alpine Xenica. Most of those that I saw were feeding from flowers just below the tree line.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/Oreixenicacorreaehabitat_zps36251fb0.jpg

[moloch]

Spotted Alpine Xenica (Oreixenica orichora): This butterfly was another of the satyrinae. It had a pattern that was quite similar to that of the Orange Alpine Xenica. Spotted Alpine Xenica were the common species above the treeline.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/Oreixenicaorichora2SpottedAlpineXenica_zpse1b58be1 .jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/Oreixenicaorichora7OrangeAlpineXenica_zps93e406e6. jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/Oreixenicaorichora5SpottedAlpineXenicafemale_zps57 8a2a59.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/Oreixenicaorichora1SpottedAlpineXenica_zps41458377 .jpg


... habitat of Spotted Alpine Xenica:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/habitat5_zps847b8469.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/Oreixenicaorichorahabitat1_zps93b2dcb5.jpg


Silver Xenica (Oreixenica lathoniella) -- this was another of the mountain-dwelling Xenica butterflies. I photographed this one a couple of years ago near Threadbo. I think that these were the most colourful of the Xenica.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/OreixenicalathoniellaSilverXenicaCollage_zpsd00a16 e4.jpg

Two other Xenica butterflies were possible in this area but I missed both, including Small Alpine Xenica ((Oreixenica latialis) and Striped Xenica (Oreixenica kershawi)


Shouldered Brown (Heteronympha penelope): These butterflies were common at lower elevations.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/HeteronymphapenelopeCollage_zps202be01f.jpg

[moloch]

Bright-eyed Bob (Heteronympha cordace): This was a tiny species of Heteronympha and not much bigger than the Xenicas. I only saw a few, mostly near Guthega. They had a habit of folding their wings and dropping into clumps of grass where they were hard to photograph.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/HeteronymphacordaceBright-eyedBob1_zps8fbeacfb.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/HeteronymphacordaceBright-eyedBob2_zpsb1bf7cf8.jpg



Australian Painted Lady (Vanessa kershawi)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/VanessakershawiAustralianPaintedLady_zpsdc6df059.j pg


Alpine Sedge-Skipper (Oreisplanus munionga): These were attractively marked skippers. I found several in a wet area on the outskirts of Guthega.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/Oreisplanusmuniongaalpinesedge-skipper1_zps29b01c16.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/Oreisplanusmuniongaalpinesedge-skipper2_zps1416da44.jpg

... sedge-skipper habitat:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/Oreisplanusmuniongaalpinesedge-skipperhabitat_zps52b88e7e.jpg



As always in Australia, reptiles were diverse. The most common species was the Southern Grass Skink (Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii) that seemed to be the most active either early of late in the day when they emerged to bask.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/PseudemoiaentrecasteauxiiSouthernGrassSkink1_zpsa1 eb60b1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/PseudemoiaentrecasteauxiiSouthernGrassSkink2_zps6b 1bf596.jpg

[moloch]

... These little skinks had transparent eyelid:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/PseudemoiaentrecasteauxiiSouthernGrassSkink3_zpsd9 e29409.jpg

... I am not certain about the following. It is most likely an oddly patterned P. entrecasteauxii
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/lizardPseudemoia3a_zps71416aef.jpg


Tussock Skink (Pseudemoia pagenstecheri)?: I am not certain but I think that this little skink was a member of this species. The lateral stripe extended well out onto its tail. This little skink was found well above treeline.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/PseudemoiaentrecasteauxiiSouthernGrassSkink4_zpsba 99eac9.jpg





Guthega Skink (Liopholis guthega): These were fairly common in the Charlotte Pass area.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/LiopholisguthegaGuthegaSkink1_zps53af8625.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/LiopholisguthegaGuthegaSkink2_zps7c740b13.jpg


... juvenile
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/LizardGuthegaSkink7_zps2a6fc758.jpg



Southern Water Skink (Eulamprus tympanum): These were fairly common in rocky areas near water. Most were dark and almost appeared black in the morning.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/AlpineWaterSkinkEulampruskosciuskoi3_zps2728f956.j pg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/AlpineWaterSkinkEulampruskosciuskoi5_zpsc2e922d4.j pg

[moloch]

Southern Water Skink, juvenile:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/AlpineWaterSkinkEulampruskosciuskoi8_zps65f4b371.j pg


... Water Skink habitat:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/5habitatCharlottePass3_zps5f5d7ba0.jpg



Highland Copperhead (Austrelaps ramsayi): This species was common the area and I encountered four. The first one below expressed its displeasure when it saw me in the grass in front of it. These are fairly robust elapids with potent venom.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/snakeAustrelapsramsayiHighlandCopperhead1_zps3487d 1c1.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/Heteronympha_zpsfc9ad7e2.jpg


... I had a close encounter with this copperhead. I was concentrating on the approach to a Heteronympha butterfly and suddenly realized that I was standing right next to this snake. It had flattened its neck but otherwise remained motionless. The snake was fortunately well behaved.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/snakeAustrelapsramsayiHighlandCopperhead2_zps02957 47d.jpg



White-lipped Snake (Drysdalia coronoides): I saw this small snake as it crossed the summit walk one morning. These are also members of the Elapid family but unlike the copperhead, they are not considered to be dangerous to humans.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/snakeDrysdaliacoronoides1White-lippedSnake_zps31a47386.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/snakeDrysdaliacoronoides2White-lippedSnake_zps0a62090e.jpg



Photos of various insects.
1,2: Mountain Katydids were numerous, especially at dusk. Females (as pictured) are flightless and display these warning colours when disturbed. Males were winged and I saw many in the evening as they flew across the road.
3: A huge coccinellid.
4: Chameleon Grasshopper (Kosciuscola tristis): These blue-green coloured grasshoppers were common in Epacris shrubs.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/insectscollage_zpsf7c8ff72.jpg

[moloch]

Chameleon Grasshopper (Kosciuscola tristis)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/ChameleongrasshopperKosciuscolatristis2_zps771c364 7.jpg


I don't know the species but these plants were flowering in a few places along the summit walk.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/flowers11_zpsd431e2e6.jpg


... a final shot of the lovely alpine habitat:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Snowy%20Mountains/Charlotte%20Pass/Feb2014/habitat2_zps8d26e034.jpg



Regards,
David

[Angiud]

What an amazing area! And rich of species.

I enjoy your pictures, as always.

[Bluebottle]

Beautiful place and photos! I always enjoy your travelog :thumbsup: