Category Archives: Wildlife

Wildlife on Wheelers Peak.

Butterflies

European Painted Lady

The European Painted Lady is a very common butterfly during the warmer summer and autumn months. They gather in large numbers on our  Lavender bushes, frequent the Buddlieas and bask in the warm sun on the lawn, orchard grasses, dirt and gravel areas.

The photographs on the Lavender were taken early May, 2010, while the butterfly captured on the Buddliea was taken in March, 2011.

The European Painted Lady is a common garden butterfly throughout Albury, and up at least as far as Wagga to the north.

European Painted Lady on a Lavender bush.
European Painted Lady on a Lavender bush.
European Painted Lady on a Buddliea flower.
European Painted Lady on a Buddliea flower.
Spiders

Garden Orb Weaver

Garden Orb Spider - Eriophora transmarina
Garden Orb Spider – Eriophora transmarina

Garden Orb spiders (Eriophora transmarina) are very common garden spiders, especially around large trees at night when they come out to build their webs. Their scare-factor is high as the webs can span large distances across paths or between trees, easily walked into in twilight or the dark. The spider itself is not aggressive and not normally seen during the day. Continue reading Garden Orb Weaver →

Spiders

Bird Dropping Spider

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Bird-dropping Spider with egg sacks
Bird-dropping Spider with egg sacks

If you have lived in Australia for any length of time, especially south eastern country Australia, you would have most likely come across the egg sacks of the Bird Dropping Spider. The egg sacks are about the size of small marbles, and very strikingly marked.

We were fortunate enough to discover this nest on one of our Illawara Flame Trees (Brachychiton Acerifolium). Clinging close to the top of the egg cluster is the spider herself. With legs kept close to her body, and rather striking brown and white mottled and textured colouration, she does resemble a bird dropping after which she is named.

More information on this unusual spider can be found on Museum Victoria’s website, and the Australian Museum’s website.