22 March 2015

What you see when gardening!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I was doing a spot of gardening the other day when I saw something interesting have a look at this one.the bite of the St Andrews Cross is of low risk (non-toxic) to humans. They are a non-aggressive group of spiders. Australia-wide.
St Andrew's Cross Spiders are named for their bright web decorations - zig-zag ribbons of bluish-white silk that form a full or partial cross through the centre of the orb web. Females have a silvery carapace and a silver, yellow, red and black banded upper abdomen with two longitudinal yellow stripes below. The spider sits with the legs in pairs. The brown and cream coloured males are smaller than females.
The cream-coloured young spiders make a circular stabilimentum (like a white silk doily) that disguises them well and may also act as a sunshade. As the spider grows the 'doily' is gradually transformed into a 'cross'.
- See more at: http://australianmuseum.net.au/st-andrews-cross-spider#sthash.3dNzBaIt.dpuf
St Andrew's Cross Spiders are named for their bright web decorations - zig-zag ribbons of bluish-white silk that form a full or partial cross through the centre of the orb web. Females have a silvery carapace and a silver, yellow, red and black banded upper abdomen with two longitudinal yellow stripes below. The spider sits with the legs in pairs. The brown and cream coloured males are smaller than females.
The cream-coloured young spiders make a circular stabilimentum (like a white silk doily) that disguises them well and may also act as a sunshade. As the spider grows the 'doily' is gradually transformed into a 'cross'.
- See more at: http://australianmuseum.net.au/st-andrews-cross-spider#sthash.3dNzBaIt.dpuf
St Andrew's Cross Spiders are named for their bright web decorations - zig-zag ribbons of bluish-white silk that form a full or partial cross through the centre of the orb web. Females have a silvery carapace and a silver, yellow, red and black banded upper abdomen with two longitudinal yellow stripes below. The spider sits with the legs in pairs. The brown and cream coloured males are smaller than females.
The cream-coloured young spiders make a circular stabilimentum (like a white silk doily) that disguises them well and may also act as a sunshade. As the spider grows the 'doily' is gradually transformed into a 'cross'.
- See more at: http://australianmuseum.net.au/st-andrews-cross-spider#sthash.3dNzBaIt.dpuf
adult 5 to 15 mm in body length - abdomen striped yellow and brown - as illustrated. The St Andrews Cross Spider usually sits, upside down, in the middle of it's web forming a cross. this spider is a web-weaver usually found in summer in garden areas around the home. It is considered beneficial as it spins a large web to snare flying insects, such as flies and mosquitoes.


St Andrews Cross Spider






Below photo is actually a nest of small spiders, yes they were moving
 



Lake Samsonvale, Lake Kurwongbah,North Pine Dam











Lake Samsonvale,Lake Kurwongbah and North Pine Dam






 Saturday  March 14th

Decided to head out for a drive while the open home was on Saturday week ago found a nice spot.
Lake Samsonvale and Lake Kurwongbah are both located to the north of Brisbane.
Lake Samsonvale provides a special opportunity for hiking, fishing, boating and bird watching, Bullocky Rest is a peninsular stretching out into lake Samsonvale. Being surrounded by water on three sides and with plenty of shade trees, it is a great place to get outdoors in summer. There are plenty of barbecue places. On quiet days you can drive up to a barbecue area. There is a nice 8 km return track along the shores of the lake. One of the wonderful things about Lake Samson is the population of Black Swans that call the lake home. You will also easily spot a variety of birds such as pelicans, ducks and cormorants.There is a stocked lake which means good fishing. However to fish you need to obtain a SIPS permit. 

Below photo is of North Pin Dam










Birds 2


All these photos were taken at the same time however the weather clouded over then came back out sunny again - the Cockatoos and the crows were having a go at each other.














Birds







March 13th

Laughing Kookaburra's







March 21st on the old Hills Hoist clothes line - there were two and no way were they scared, just sat there while I walked around taking photos.