Situated on the coastal strip between Bargara and Burnett Heads this 2 bedroom house is only a short walk from Mon Repos Beach and Turtle Centre.
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Osprey House Environment Centre's newly hatched chicks are heavily reliant on their parents at this fragile stage. We wish them luck!
We now have our 3 osprey chicks; however, on this cold and blustery day Hope and George aren't standing up too much to give us a good look. The crows are also still being a persistent nuisance at the nest, and with the chicks still so small they are at real threat.
......and then there were three!
Osprey House Environment Centre announces the arrival of chicks 1 AND 2 of the 2024 season.
Sunrise Mon Repos Beach
Undoubtably, Rainbow Lorikeets display a bright splash of colour when feasting in the garden, however, their bullying nature often deters others. I was therefore delighted to see these Scaly-breasted Lorikeets finally gaining access to the blooms at MON REPOS HOUSE.
There is an influx of these tiny spiders this year. Although it is often hard to see them, they have regularly been discovered when caught on the ride-on mower, (and/or its operator,) or when the sunlight illuminates their many dew drenched webs.
These unusual little spiders, are known by many names; the Christmas Spider - because it is seen more often during the summer months - Six-spined Spider, or Spiny Spider - because of its spikes - and most commonly, the Jewel Spider - because of its colourful appearance, being shiny black with variable patterns of white, yellow and orange. They are small (12mm for females, 5mm males) a member of the Orb-weaver family, endemic to Australia, and found throughout the continent. Females build dense, spiralling, vertical, webs, 1-2 metres above the ground, ranging up to a metre in diameter. For such a small spider these are substantial, having 20-30 rays with thicker support threads, (believed to be purposely visible to prevent larger animals walking into, and destroying, the web).It is not unusual for them to live in colonies where webs interconnect. Webs are permanent, and the female waits in its centre to entangle small insects with her legs should they fly in. Males generally lurk in nearby shrubbery. Jewel Spiders are active both night and day (cathemeral) are non aggressive, and although they do posses venom glands they rarely bite humans, (the man on the mower is pleased to hear this!) but if they do it is said to be "mildly painful"...... with temporary swelling, redness and/or itching.
On 13/06/24 Hope, of Osprey House Environment Centre, laid the third egg of the season.
Hope, the female Eastern Osprey of Osprey House Environment Centre, produced their second egg of the 2024 season, at 3.45 PM on 10/06/24
....and so it begins. Hope, and George, Osprey House Environment Centre's Eastern Ospreys, welcome their first egg of the 2024 season at 7.30PM on 7/06/24.
Ooops! Almost missed this stunning sunset at MON REPOS HOUSE 14/06/24
We are privileged to have several mating pairs of Eastern Osprey in our area. These magnificent birds mate for life, building large lofty nests of driftwood, sticks, turf, and seaweed. They generally return each year, to the same coastal nest site, to repair and ready it for the breeding season. One such mating pair commandeered the MSQ microwave tower of the Volunteer Marine Rescue at Burnett Heads several years ago, after their former nest was destroyed. Over the years, locals and visitors to the area have been afforded the pleasure of watching them raise successive batches of chicks each season. However, in December 2023, strong winds destroyed their nest, leaving locals fearing they might not rebuild at this site in the 2024 breeding season. We are pleased to report that this is not the case, as they have rebuilt and are now, once again, in residence.
Nest preparation continues at Osprey House Environment Centre.
WHALE SEARCH EXPEDITION!
The first whales of the season have been spotted, so Lady Musgrave Experience is offering the very first Whale Search Expedition on Sunday, June 16.
Ideal for children and families, this half-day coastline expedition is up to 50% off standard season rates and will include:
• 4-hour cruise on board the Main Event
• Welcome Smoking Ceremony from the people of Taribelang Bunda Cultural Tours
• Lunch (on board)
• Raffle
Places are limited, so book your tickets now via our booking link here: https://tinyurl.com/y7ppabph
Bundaberg Tourism What's on Bundaberg Bundaberg Events & Promotions Wide Bay Kids Visit Queensland, Australia Tourism Queensland What's On In Bundaberg
https://ladymusgraveexperience.com.au/
Loving the splash of colour, added to the garden at MON REPOS HOUSE, by these flowering Heliconias.
Hope, and George, the Eastern Ospreys of Osprey House Environment Centre, are setting up their nest, in preparation for this year's breeding season.
Sunrise MON REPOS HOUSE 11/05/24
At night, in the garden of MON REPOS HOUSE, with the female Magnificent Bolas Spider (Odgarius Magnificus). These photographs show her armed 'bolas', and the resultant catch, in the early hours after dark. (See previous post commencing ..."This fascinating creature" .... for further information regarding the bolas and this spider's amazing hunting skills)
The local birds are enjoying the flower spikes on the Agaves (Agave lurida 'variegata') at MON REPOS HOUSE.
We, at MON REPOS HOUSE, like many others, only became aware of the presence of this spider after we discovered these long papery egg sacs hanging from a tree in our garden. Research proved them to be that of the Magnificent Bolas Spider (Odgarius Magnificus), which are primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions. Little is known of their courtship and/or mating rituals. Whilst the male is a mere 1.5 - 2mm, the female measures 12 - 14 mm, expanding to 25mm when pregnant. Over several nights/weeks, the female forms large egg sacs, each taking approximately three hours to construct, and measuring up to 100mm in length. These are normally attached to a tree branch within 6 metres of the ground. On completion, each is filled with 600 eggs. Normally 6 to 7 sacs are constructed a season. (When first seen at MON REPOS HOUSE, there were only 4 sacs, but now there are 5). The female stays nearby, quite often hiding within leaves bound together with silk, during the daytime. The young take 3 months to hatch, but the mother never leaves them alone even when hunting. Baby bolas spiders, being too small to catch moths, produce pheromones to capture small flies. If not parasitised by wasps and/or flies, the baby spiders will hatch and disperse by "ballooning" (flying in the breeze on a spun thread) in late winter/early spring.
This fascinating creature is a female Magnificent Bolas Spider (Ordgarius magnificus), which is not only different in appearance than most other spiders, it also exhibits unusual traits. Although a member of the orb-weavers, this spider does not spin an elaborate web to snare its prey, but instead, relies on chemical mimicry. Measuring 10 - 14mm, (much larger than the male at only 1.5 - 2mm) she is mainly white, with an intricate, tiny, salmon coloured, pattern on her abdomen, along with two prominent yellow nodules. Her round body and legs are covered in fine sensitive hairs. Active by night, the female bolas spider possesses specialized receptors on her legs, which detect, and analyse, pheromones emitted by nearby male moths, allowing her to accurately identify different species. Remarkably, she then concocts a pheromone to match that of the female moth, of that species, to lure in her intended male moth victim. She spins a single sticky strand of silk weighted at the end with a large, sticky, silken globule (reminiscent of a bolas - hence their name). Vibration sensitive hairs on her legs pick up the air movement from the approaching male moth. Using one leg, she begins spinning the "bolas lure", in a circular motion, calculates the speed, trajectory, and distance, of the incoming moth, and ensnares her victim with minimum expenditure of effort. The fluttering male moth is reeled in, bitten, wrapped, and hung, to be eaten as desired. With her excellent night vision, and high level of accuracy, she is a formidable hunter. This spider is not dangerous to humans.
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Investigating the scrabbling, and hissing sounds, of a frightened, fast retreating, possum, accompanied by a chorus of alarmed birds, we sighted this thwarted 2.4 metre Coastal Carpet Python, skilfully negotiating a return path from this recent, missed, opportunity. Active both by day and night, this arboreal (tree climbing) species may be encountered, on the ground, in trees, or inside sheds and/or houses. Their ability to access, what may seem inaccessible areas, is demonstrated in these videos. Its careful balancing along the thin rods is, alone, impressive, however, the method used to climb vertical walls is what has surprised, and impressed, me most. To do so, the end of the tail is wrapped, and locked, around an anchor point at the base of the climb. (In this case, the rod, but it may also be a verandah railing, nearby tree, or other sturdy object) Using its muscular body it pushes up before moving the anchor point closer, relocking it, and pushing further. In this video the python does this whilst balancing along the rod, but we have seen one use our wooden verandah rail for the anchor point whilst pushing vertically up the wall in an effort to reach a possum on top of one of the poles of our house.
Grabbing a quick shower at MON REPOS HOUSE
This Coastal Carpet Python ("Morelia spilota mcdowelli") visited MON REPOS HOUSE 28/01/23
Potter Wasp constructing her nest in garden furniture, MON REPOS HOUSE.
Love to hear the chorus of happy frogs after the rain. (turn on sound)
Look at the size difference in these two creatures, yet they co-exist so well together. Thor could easily flatten such a small bird, but Willie knows he can safely harvest the insects stirred up as he eats.
Beautiful Mosaic Sea Snake, videoed by Jimmy Scaboo, on Kelly's Beach Bargara early on 8/1/22. It returned to the ocean and strongly swam away. The Mosaic Sea Snake is so named because of its unique markings reminiscent of ancient Roman tiles. This aquatic species is fairly common in northern Australian oceans, but should not be on dry land. It feeds entirely on fish eggs, and not requiring venom for this purpose, its venom glands and fangs have greatly reduced, becoming "vestigal."
Sometimes the task of regular maintenance comes with an added bonus. MON REPOS HOUSE 3/01/2022
The sounds of chicks from within the Forest Kingfisher nest M0N REPOS HOUSE 17/12/21.
Life with the 'Roos of Barolin Nature Reserve.
The Buff-banded Rail attending to its morning ablutions at the mini creek of MON REPOS HOUSE 10/11/21
A Coastal Carpet Python ("Morelia spilota mcdowelli) crossing the lawn at MON REPOS HOUSE.
Sometimes, even the simple task of taking your daily bath, can become a trial. This pair of Pale-headed Rosellas are regulars at the pond of MON REPOS HOUSE, where they can be seen bathing together, whatever the weather. Yesterday, however, things did not go swimmingly for one of the pair. Despite several attempts to find a suitable bathing spot, it was regularly thwarted in its efforts.
Glorious sunset seen from MON REPOS HOUSE 6/07/21
There is always something to see at Mon Repos.
The Pale-headed Rosellas at MON REPOS HOUSE never fail to delight.
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