Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua)
Published May 15, 2011 | 
Image taken this morning in the riparian zone on the Island at Sportsman Creek Conservation Area. ” The largest Owl in Australasia. It is a typical hawk-owl with staring yellow eyes and no facial disc and have a wingspan of up to 140cm. The Powerful Owl is endemic to eastern and south-eastern Australia, mainly on the coastal side of the Great Dividing Range. It occurs in low densities and a breeding pair will defend a large home range of 400-1450 hectare.”. They are monogamous and mate for life. Note Squirrel Glider in right talon. Powerful Owl feed mainly on arboreal mammals and bats with birds making 10% of their diet. This bird is an important new sighting for the Conservation Area. Click on webpage below to listen for call of the Powerful Owl.
I.D. courtesy of David Charley.
Further reading: www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10562
White-headed Pigeon (Columba leucomela)
Published October 1, 2010 | 
Image of a large (40cm) bird taken on the island at Sportsman Creek wildlife refuge. “One of the shyest and wariest of pigeons. Voice a soft, high-low “whOO-wuk, whOO-wuk”. Favouring rainforest and cleared land with abundant Camphor Laurel species. Status is scarce, although abundant in northern New South Wales”. Although occasionally heard, a first time sighting for the property.
Reference; Morcombe, M. Field Guide to Australian Birds. P,156.
Jacky Winter (Microeca fascinans)
Published May 14, 2010 |
Jacky Winter use open perches to search for ground insects. A very common bird on the wildlife refuge, although sometimes nomadic.
Scroll image to enlarge.
Glasswing Butterflies and Pupa (Acraeinae andromacha).
Published April 13, 2010 |
This pair of butterfly and others were observed spending time with Pupa near the billabong on the wildlife refuge ?
Boletes Fungi species
Published April 11, 2010 | 
The boletes are closely related to the agarics (fungi with gills). Many boletes display colour changes when the flesh is cut, so that whitish or yellowish tissue becomes spectacularly greenish blue due to enzyme reactions triggered by oxygen in the air. Boletes are very important in the Australian bushland as mycorrhizal partners, but they also provide food for the larval stages of many insects.” Image taken in riparian zone at Sportsman Creek wildlife refuge.
Reference; Young, A.M. Field Guide to the Fungi of Australia.
I.D. courtesy of Don Gover.
Further reference; www.sydneyfungalstudies.org.au
Flooded Gum (Eucalyptus grandis).
Published January 16, 2010 | 
Flooded gum (Euc. grandis) on the Island in riverine vegetation along Sportsman Creek, Dilkoon. Enlarge image to see Glider feeding station half-way up the trunk.
Olongburra Frog (Litoria olongburensis).
Published December 16, 2009 |
Olongburra Frogs are listed as Vulnerable and range from coastal areas near Fraser Island to Yuraygir National Park south-east of Grafton. Also called Wallum Sedge Frogs. Wallum is a banksia -dominated lowland heath ecosystem characterised by acidic waterbodies. An unexpected find at Sportsman Creek wildlife refuge. These frogs are usually found in rushes and sedges. “If you look at the colour in the groin or back of the thigh it is relatively easy as Litoria olongburensis has a bluish colour there while it is orange in both Litoria fallax and Litoria bicolour. The overhanging pointed snout in Litoria olongburensis is usually more pronounced – but then the broad white stripe down the side of the body is NOT a feature of Litoria fallax as this tends to end around the shoulder in that species.”
Reference; N.P.W.S. Threatened Species of the Upper North Coast of N.S.W.
Identification and text – Courtesy of Martyn Robinson. Naturalist,
Australian Museum.