May 2020 - Staying Close to Home

Life has come to a standstill in this year of pandemic: all events cancelled, social distancing, hand sanitation, staying close to home. I have started doing Tai Chi by Zoom. It is a free Activ8 program sponsored by Douglas Shire Council. 

I have three “local” beaches: Cow Bay, Cape Kimberley and Wonga. I also have Jindalba Boardwalk at Cow Bay. There are also beaches all the way up to Cape Trib and three other boardwalks. However, most of my time has been spent on my block appreciating small visitors. Lots of butterflies and other insects, plants and fungi.

The most spectacular butterfly after the Ulysses is the blue tiger (Tirumala hamata). They fly with a gliding motion close to the ground and, in some years,  migrate down south in great numbers in the summer.

BlueTiger Butterfly

 

Here is a selection of other butterflies that have attracted my attention this month:

Butterflies Galore

And then there are the little skippers: the orange ones are commonly seen but the other one is a rare visitor.

Skippers

My creek is running free. It looks and sounds divine. Lush ferns and palms are loving all of the water.

Three cassowary sightings this month - on the Alexander Range, near the Daintree Ice Cream Company and on Jindalba Boardwalk.

Fabulous Fungi