Author Archives: Joy Window

To bee or not to bee

Posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021 by Joy Window

The Birdwing Butterfly Walk is a pleasant stroll in suburban Lismore, part of the Tucki Tucki Creek walk. It’s only taken me 25 years to get there, and I was impressed with the patches of subtropical rainforest along the small … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Insects, Plants, Travels | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

A snowball in warm weather

Posted on Thursday, 11 November 2021 by Joy Window

Friend Christa sent me a photo of this colourful beastie – it’s a mealybug, in this case a snowball mealybug, Monophlebulus species. It was about the length of a thumbnail and found in disturbed earth in a garden. The body … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals on land, Insects | Tagged | 4 Comments

A tiger in the bushes

Posted on Tuesday, 9 November 2021 by Joy Window

Why are some butterflies called by common names such as ‘tigers’ and ‘crows’? If anyone can enlighten me, I’d appreciate it. I saw this blue tiger (Tirumala hamata) in Ballina last week. These butterflies live all year round in north … Continue reading →

Posted in Insects | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Beetling about

Posted on Friday, 5 November 2021 by Joy Window

This little one was wandering about in full daylight, and by chance I was able to get the species name from the October 2021 edition of ANICdotes from the Australian National Insect Collection. ANIC’s beetle was from Lamington National Park, … Continue reading →

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Trick or treat?

Posted on Saturday, 30 October 2021 by Joy Window

Halloween is not really a thing in Australia, although as a commercial event and fun for the kids, it’s growing here. A few years ago, I had a great Halloween in San Francisco – they really get into it in … Continue reading →

Posted in Insects | Tagged | 6 Comments

A cocoon undone

Posted on Sunday, 3 October 2021 by Joy Window

Picking off the citrus bugs from the orange tree, I saw this cocoon, all dried up and with a hole in the base. Friend Christa clued me in to the correct ID – Papilio aegus, the orchard or citrus swallowtail … Continue reading →

Posted in Insects | Tagged , | 6 Comments

White flower spider

Posted on Thursday, 30 September 2021 by Joy Window

In this case, the spider, not the flower, is white. This tiny spider (possibly Thomisus spectabilis) was resting on one of my rose flowers, waiting for a pollinating insect to turn up for lunch. These spiders are also known as … Continue reading →

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Sacred kingfisher

Posted on Tuesday, 28 September 2021 by Joy Window

The Ballina Bar can produce some mighty waves – that’s why there are so many signs for boaties on their way out and way back, and where Marine Rescue is situated. Sunday was no exception – blustery, rainy and the … Continue reading →

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A bower for the lady

Posted on Monday, 20 September 2021 by Joy Window

It’s the time of year when birds go a’courting. I noticed a female satin bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus), and then a male, in the backyard this morning. I’d never seen the two of them together so was interested to watch their … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds | Tagged | 2 Comments

The giant spear lily

Posted on Friday, 17 September 2021 by Joy Window

Sometimes you walk past something and don’t even recognise it – that’s often the case with me and plants. I don’t know as much as I’d like – and the more I know, the more I realise I don’t know … Continue reading →

Posted in Plants | Tagged | 7 Comments