Gippsland Day 8 (Final) - Baw Baw National Park

3 February 2008

On the final day I thought I'd go up Mt St Gwinear on my way home. I left it a little late as by the time I got there it was almost noon and storm clouds were building.

I saw many Mauve Leek Orchids , Prasophyllum alpestre, and an unknown snake slithered across the path behind me as I passed. I saw a few wasps around and one was even on a leek orchid but I couldn't get my camera ready in time.

Near the summit I saw some dragonflies buzzing around an alpine pool. There wasn't much water in it but enough for them to drown. After pulling one out of the water I was surprised when it started buzzing again so I pulled another one out but it was motionless. While I was there another plummeted into the water and I had to rescue that too. But maybe they were so hectic because they knew a storm was coming, and it did. The brewing thunderstorm unleashed then so I trotted off back to the car and home. Getting a little bit wet didn't bother me as it wasn't cold and I thought I just found an interesting dragonfly — turned out they were Swamp Tigertails, Synthemis eustalacta.

Day 7

    Dragonflies and Damselflies
    Initially I thought I had seen 21 species and then later, after processing most photos, had counted to 26. However when I tabulated the list properly (below) turned out I saw an incredible 27 species. I've got photos of all species but no good ones for those without links.
  1. Adversaeschna brevistyla
  2. Austroaeschna multipunctata
  3. Austroaeschna subapicalis
  4. Austroaeschna unicornis
  5. Austroagrion watsoni
  6. Austroargiolestes calcaris
  7. Austroargiolestes icteromelas
  8. Austrogomphus guerini
  9. Austrogomphus ochraceus
  10. Austrolestes cingulatus
  11. Diplacodes bipunctata
  12. Diplacodes haematodes
  13. Diplacodes melanopsis
  14. Eusynthemis brevistyla
  15. Eusynthemis guttata
  16. Hemianax papuensis
  17. Hemicordulia australiae
  18. Hemicordulia tau
  19. Hemigomphus gouldii
  20. Ischnura aurora
  21. Ischnura heterosticta
  22. Nososticta solida
  23. Orthetrum caledonicum
  24. Orthetrum villosovittatum
  25. Synlestes weyersii
  26. Synthemis eustalacta
  27. Telephlebia brevicauda
    Orchids
  1. Dipodium roseum
  2. Prasophyllum alpestre
  3. Diplodium decurvum/Pterostylis decurva
  4. Pterostylis monticola

NameDateSize
folderParent Directory - February 2008 10-Feb-2008 20:06     -
image/jpegcaterpillars BawBaw080203-6557.jpg 08-Feb-2008 23:05   54.5 KB 432×576
image/jpegEusynthemis guttata f BawBaw080203-6555.jpg 08-Feb-2008 22:57   43.9 KB 480×528
image/jpegGentianella diemensis BawBaw080203-6601.jpg 08-Feb-2008 23:14   50.7 KB 576×432
image/jpegGentianella diemensis BawBaw080203-6604.jpg 08-Feb-2008 23:15   61.6 KB 432×512
image/jpegPrasophyllum alpestre BawBaw080203-6597.jpg 08-Feb-2008 23:10   42.2 KB 432×576
image/jpegscene BawBaw080203-6599.jpg 08-Feb-2008 23:11   39 KB 512×384
image/jpegSynthemis eustalacta f BawBaw080203-6612.jpg 08-Feb-2008 23:19   51.1 KB 576×432
image/jpegSynthemis eustalacta m BawBaw080203-6623.jpg 08-Feb-2008 23:18   37.7 KB 464×600