Will egg from 'tail' survive sting in tail?

Seems Townsville will feel only the sting in Cyclone Debbie's tail. Nothing but light breeze and a rare drop of rain here yet as the category four system's terrible power advances on coast south of this city. The system's slow pace brought some reduction of danger from storm surges building upon king tide. So, my Cairns Birdwing site beside the Town Common entry gate may escape with 'merely' thrashing winds and lashings of rain later today. Meantime (above), egg-laying yesterday.

And a few of the other inhabitants sharing the Aristolochia vine with the butterflies and caterpillars. Jumping Spiders come with big eyes, said to be among sharpest in the natural world.

Whereas Slender Sac spider shows symmetrical eight-eye lineup, though it's a night hunter..

Compound eye in Crane Fly not so noteworthy as suction mouth. Though said to be drinkers only, their 'hoovering' across leaves must surely take in minute solids - some being food - along with liquids?

Cyclone Debbie bears down on birdwings

Look out, my Cairns Birdwing caterpillars, Cyclone Debbie's bearing down on us. Bad news for wildlife and habitat close to the coast. But could be an ill wind bringing huge amounts of needed rain to Townsville and areas inland. We'll see, Monday.

The caterpillars feed on Aristolochia vines after the female dots her eggs on foliage that 'feels' right to her legs. One Townsville Town Common site is close to the entry gate, barely 400 metres from the coast and about 3km north of the city CBD.

I'd hoped to wait for pictures of a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. Debbie is aimed directly at it. Fingers crosssed.

Slink for Skink beats dekko for Gecko

The request is to sally forth  and come home with some Gecko pictures. None to be found. What to do? Not a lot of difference between some small reptiles. So, slink up to a big fig abrim with crevices for all sorts that caper, creep and crawl.

But specially Litter Skinks. Peeking from cover,  Half-lit within part of the ficus labyrinth. On vertical display.

Wait, there's more. What's this wiggling in a wonderfully rich loam of dust, dirt and debris? Millipede showing teasingly familiar footy club colours.

Closer look at another Millipede provoked outpouring of yellow fluid, which probably tastes terrible. No, I didn't suck it to see. And the Gecko assignment awaits another day.

No fairy tale finish for young Magpie Geese

Can't help thinking of the Ugly Duckling in reverse when chancing upon family of Magpie Geese. Cute start quickly turns to gangly 'teens' and conky-honky adulthood,

But they carry a certain grace through the air and on the water. (Low numbers in Townsville Common and I've seen only one young, so above images all from suburban Anderson Park.)

Birdwings challenging targets on the wing

Townsville, not Cairns. Birdwings, not birds. What? Cairns Birdwing butterflies, that's what. Male in flight (one usable shot among hundreds of total failures) and at rest.

Larger, less colourful female.

Two of three caterpillars spotted on acacia leaves near the frustratingly flittery adults.

Nothing flittery about Velvet Slug. Saved this one from suicidal 'sprint' across the Town Common driveway.

But I declined the thankyou kiss.

'Stealth bomber' insect defies ID efforts

One day an insect will fly up, stop for a picture, and magically appear in the first field guide I turn to.
One day, not this day. So, I've no idea what big boy (20-25mm body) above is, or why it's shaped like a radar-deflecting bomber. Brief glimpse in flight of orangey wing, or underwing.

Away from insects, always a buzz to find Galah or two alongside the road. Feeding birds tend to be more approachable. Extra interest came with soft calls between bird and partner as a walker and his dog appeared. Sort of: 'Might be time to go?' 'Yes, I think maybe we should.' 'Just across the way, all right?' "That'll do nicely.'

Bit less discussion of flight among White-breasted Woodswallows. Insect eaters don't have it quite so easy as flower munchers. To catch food on the wing the food first must take to the sky. The past few mornings have been mixed for the woodswallows.

Magpie makes meal of centipede

Sent a centipede,
what's a Magpie do?
Makes maw enter-speed,
down it goes, huroo!

One Snipe finally stops flushing and flying

Two weeks of chasing Latham's Snipe brought wee reward along the Townsville Common driveway this morning. One bird finally relaxed and began feeding after being flushed from flooded grasses.

No such fortune with immature Striated Heron sometimes in the same habitat. 

So sought consolation prize with mature heron that calls Anderson Park lotus ponds home. Bird happy enough to stand in tree almost on top of me, but never offered clear view in closeup. To be continued . . .