Sand Monitor (Varanus gouldii gouldii), also known as the Gould’s Goanna or Sand Goanna, paid a visit to the Copley community vegetable garden in the northern Flinders Ranges.
Sand Monitor: Copley Community Garden
Black-breasted Buzzard
The Black-breasted Buzzard (Hamirostra melanosternon), a hawk species usually found across northern Australia, has recently been observed over Copley in the northern Flinders Ranges. Smaller than the familiar Wedge-tailed Eagle, it stands out with bold white wing panels and sharply defined black “fingers” at the wingtips. Its rust-coloured nape feathers form a small crest, giving it a distinctive profile when perched. The species feeds on carrion, small animals, birds, and insects, and is known to crack open emu eggs with a stone.
Boxwork: Copley
This localised calcium carbonate Boxwork on the Copley commons was formed by mineral rich spring water permeating fractures in the sedimentary formation. The minerals transported by water formed a harder wearing substance than the surrounding clay, and gully erosion has exposed the honeycomb Boxwork.
Jointed Cherry flowering: Copley
The semi-parasitic Jointed Cherry, Exocarpus aphyllus, flowering on the Copley Commons in November. Flowers approximately 2mm. Host to Case Moth larvae.
Murray River Turtles laying eggs: Aroona Sanctuary
The introduced Murray River Turtles of Aroona Sanctuary dig a shallow hole above the banks of the Aroona Dam to house their eggs. In early November, they were seen in the act of digging nests. There were many other nests at the site, by which time, several were opened with egg shell remains. Incubation can take up to three months, or even the entire summer, with hatching happening after the rains of late summer or autumn. The opened eggs may have been preyed upon by native or introduced predators.
Broad-banded Sand-swimmer Skink: Copley
The sand coloured Broad-banded Sand-swimmer Skink has a protective disc over the eye to enable it to burrow through sand while maintaining vision. It is less tolerant of heat than other desert reptiles and is adapted to living underground where it keeps cool and evades predators. It comes out to feed at night, relying on ambient and ground warmth to regulate its temperature.
Carab Beetle
The predatory, nocturnal Carab Beetle (Carabidae) spotted at night in the Copley area in October. 30mm long.
Spiny Pachymorpha Stick Insect
Spiny Pachymorpha Stick Insect (Pachymorpha spinosa) spotted at night in the Copley area in October. 70mm long.
Raspy Cricket species
Female black and tan Raspy Cricket spotted at night in the Copley area in October. 35mm long.
Raspy Cricket: Pareremus tigrinus
The wingless ground-dwelling Pareremus tigrinus Raspy Cricket spotted at night in the Copley area in October. 35mm long.
