An email arrived from EOL with the link to my species data contributions in the form of video frames and videos. On the 24th Andrew sent corrections to a few of the now nearly 240 XML species files to EOL. Thanks to the relaunched website this is more than double the number we originally submitted.
Our visit to Joalah National Park was the first night filming since November 27 last year. In the last week or so, after a dry Summer, the weather has become wetter, though nothing like the flooding rains of recent years. The night was perfect. The insects and frogs, enlivened by the recent rain, were in full voice. We saw plenty of Great Barred Frogs, many spiders, some snails, possums, a bedraggled butterfly, a lone male harvestman, but no Leaf-tailed Geckos or semi-slugs. What saved the night was filming two Swift Ghost Moths, an exquisite species I first filmed on February 21 last year. Somehow a third specimen materialised much higher up the path on our way back. The moth has no proboscis, therefore cannot feed and may only last a day.
Today, I collected my camera from the repairer, having dropped it off on 19 December last year, and filmed with it for the first time since 15 December. My subject was 2 Cyana meiricki moth larvae in their cages before the cocoon stage. The larvae make the cages out of their own long hairs. The cages were made within the last two days.
I booked the return flight to London for my UK/Europe trip this northern summer. My original intention was to be away for the last week in July and four weeks in August but my preferred London accommodation was unavailable until the end of August. Instead of starting in London, I decided to end my travels there. This meant needing to move ultra fast and winging it. I was hoping to stay with Herbert & Gil Distel in Austria, after missing out in 2012. I was very lucky that in opting to fit in my other destinations before coming to London (a) the Distels were at home in August because they will be away in September and (b) by the time I had replies from Clive, Christina and Herbert, the accommodation was still available. I am including a few days in Berlin. It is high time I went there because of deep family connections. So far, so good.
Today I posted the RADF Outcome Report to Mark Paddick of the Scenic Rim Regional Council, my local authority. Apart from detailing what was achieved, the report includes a financial accounting of the grant monies. The deadline for completing the report is January 30. PS. On 21 January I was told that the camera parts will only be leaving Singapore on 29 January. To make a bad situation worse, I received an email today about the appearance of Scarlet Honeyeaters on a mountain property. I filmed Scarlets, rather badly, soon after I bought my camera in 2007 and have not encountered them since.
A neighbour of mine has a highly strung Welsh Collie called Bear who likes to rush up to the front fence, bark at passing cars or people and run along the fence in a vain attempt to round them up. His barking scatters the flock of Rainbow Lorrikeets squabbling at the bird feeders who regroup in a couple of trees in the park across the road. I love dogs, but don’t like being barked at when walking. Some time ago I discovered a way to stop Bear’s barking after putting up with it for years. I simply mouthed kisses at him as I approached and continued to do so until I had cleared the garden fence. Bear looked at me nonplussed, but silently. It seems I may have given shepherds a new signal to use. Thanks to the rush of activity on the RADF videos and the website upgrade, I have not done that much filming lately. Now that I have time on my hands and good summer weather, I am still minus my camera.