Our great southern migration

  Miss Muffet gets top billing but we all know it is really about the spider. This gorgeous one is a St. Andrews Cross spider. I saw it when coming back from my run one day. [I see things better after a run since I walk REALLY slowly coming up our steep drive when returning.]  A couple of days later, the web looked like this Hence the name. Per the latest ( link worth reading ), the cross reflects ultraviolet light, attracting insects. I think this one caught a moth.  This guy was not so pretty IMHO. A wolf spider . Two were hanging out in the back yard when I was moving stuff around. Not aggressive toward humans but actively hunt their prey (insects) vs waiting for prey to get stuck in a web. Someplace in that head are 8 eyes arranged in 3 rows.  The one below was also spied on a return up the drive.  We have seen several red-backs in the garage and around the house. Those suckers are dangerous so usually go for insect killer vs camera. This image is from wik...

  This adorable pair walked right past us down the road! Dad emu raises the chick(s) and this one is doing a great job. We first spotted them about 70 yards away. Then they just walked down the road and by us (within 1 yard). I wasn't at all sure how well this was going to go but figured staying still was good. Scott continued taking pics as they wandered past.  The little one got a little upset at dad once or twice and let his feelings be known. Dad and chick both snacked on the fresher greens in the area: The emus were brought to the region by the man who owns H orse Island . Access to the island is off Potato Point Road. Apparently, he was unaware that, while emus can't fly, they can swim. Most swam off the island and took up residence in the scrub around Potato Point. We were over visiting someone who lives across the inlet from Horse Island. Another flock of emus was happily grazing on the island - at least for now. We are at another sit -  this one in a suburb of Sy...