13 December 2013

Cicada and Spider and Olive-backed Oriole

You know Christmas is on the horizon when you start hearing the loud trill,  (can be up to 120 db), from the cicadas. They're in full throttle now, as each day warms up, so too, do the cicadas!  I can hear them now as I type this at 8.38 a.m. (really 7.38 a.m. since we're in daylight saving).

this Cicada I might guess to be the Redeye, was seen at Mill Creek, Dharug N.P.  And if it's not the Redeye, let me know what to re-name it won't you?

matching up perfectly then, to this photo I'd taken at home a couple weeks ago of a cast-away cicada shell.  Pretty amazing I think how they evolve, our Australian species (of which there are over 200), spending six or seven years underground, and looking quite prehistoric.


St Andrews Cross Spider

late yesterday afternoon I was early enough to catch this spider starting some weaving for the night ahead.  There's many webs to dodge of a morning strung across pathways that I walk through in the back gardens - I remember in my teens there was a Gossamer brand hairspray; now I know how it got that name!  I walk about slowly waving a stick ahead of me some times, and think if ever someone caught me in the act, they'd think I'm casting a magic spell out there.

I'd written to Ron Atkinson at The Find-a-Spider Guide last night when preparing this post, since I couldn't locate it for myself there.  I hadn't realized until his reply just now, that this photo is in fact, the underside of the spider!  So colourful for bottoms up I thought; I hadn't looked so intently when I had the camera in my face it was a matter of zooming in and getting what I could.

Ron says "it is an orb weaver, and that it is considered to be essentially harmless to humans."  I liked that, since I choose not to use chemicals in the gardens, nor snail baits for fear the blue-tongue lizards suffer the consequences.  So, back to nature........

Link to Ron's St. Andrews Cross Spider 'top side' (right-way up).


not sure if the same spider had done this one also, would they have more than one web, or moreso another spider has created this, also late yesterday

Beside the larger web, to the right, there is a second web facing the opposite direction.  When you look closely into the webs, it is amazing really the straightness of lines; so much work. In the background is a flowering crepe myrtle; the bees are loving it.

For the past month , way up in the angophora tree, I hear the somewhat mournful repetitive song from an Olive-backed Oriole.  He is in this picture, but let me crop from it for you ...

right in there


as good as I could get on this one; now if it were a pelican, chances are it'd been a lot better.   

17 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

i like your red-eyed cicada. :) we get the 'every year' variety here in texas in our summer. :)

eileeninmd said...

Spiders are a little creepy. Great zoom on the Olive-backed Oriole, awesome sighting. Have a happy weekend!

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

It is so strange to see the words cicada and Christmas in the same sentence. Wonderful macro shots Carole.

Irma said...

Beautiful pictures of the spider web.
Totally awesome as they can make it so.

The bird in the tree, we call that a cuckoo.
This lays the eggs in the nest of another bird, thus the raising their young.

Ramakrishnan said...

Captivating pictures. Love the cicada, the cicada shell, the cross spider & the fascinating webs.

Bob Bushell said...

My favourite is the Cicada, it is fantastic, thanks Carole.

Joop Zand said...

Your new header is LOVELY Carole.

Greetings, Joop

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i don't enjoy spiders or snakes. but i must admit they really are cool to look at from afar. spiders that is. their webs & coloring ... awesome!! great pics. ( :

Seraphinas Phantasie said...

Some very special animals are photographed well. Amazing.
Best regards, Synnöve

Montanagirl said...

Nice photos! That Cicada is an amazing creature.

EG CameraGirl said...

I very much enjoyed seeing these critters close up!

Brian King said...

Fantastic close ups! The web is very impressive!

Jan Castle said...

If it's not a red eye....it should be...perfect name!
You certainly have extra large spider webs!!!!
Hugs,
Jan

Red Nomad OZ said...

Our summer giveaway is the strident and WAAAAAY too early-in-the-morning call of the Sulphur Crested Cockatoo!!! Not sure which is better/worse - your wake up call, or mine!!!

Wally Jones said...

Great post, Carole!

My most recent blog also has bugs, spiders and loud birds.

Quite the coincidence!

Ana Mínguez Corella said...

Beautiful pictures .. Merry Christmas. your dreams come true! ..

Laura said...

I love all your photos especially the cicada, the spider and the web photos! Interesting about your cicadas. We have some every year. However, the huge crop comes every 17 years. The can get annoying buzzing around, leaving their shells and making very loud noises! But what a spectacular event it is! hugs,
Laura