In Search of the Western Flat

The season's getting quieter now, but a couple of targets for today. The Western Flat's not only rare, but also rather dull - however, I've a hot tip from Matt on where to find it, and I'm in the mood for a nice walk through the bush.

Exometoeca nycteris - Western Flat

An easy drive with the help of the GPS, to an area not far from the Lesmurdie Falls, a spot I'd earmarked earlier in the year as worth a visit. As I get out of the car, a couple of villida taking turns settling on the path in front of me, soaking up the sun.

A longish uphill walk along the stream, after twenty minutes or so I switched the GPS on the phone to check if I'd passed the spot Matt had marked on the map - no, just a hundred metres or so to go. Here were the Tetratheca plants, the purplish natives that constitute the foodplant. Moved up and down through the bush, trying to raise anything interesting, but nothing on the wing. Covered the area quite extensively, but if there's something here it's keeping very quiet.

Spent thirty or forty minutes here, but no sign of anything at all. Looks like this location will have to be visited a little earlier next year. Crossed the stream and started back along the south side - several areas have been burnt out. A lone plexippus looking somewhat lost, and back near the car, the villida still active.

Time for another location. A spot alongside the Canning River, that's not too far off my journey home. A different target here, apparently the Satin Azure can sometimes be found flying around the Sheoak trees by the side of the river.

Ogyris amarylis - Satin Azure

Parked the car and descended to the path along the river. Plenty of sheoaks, some parasitised by the mistletoe that forms the foodplant. Walked up and down, then spotted something dark which circled the top of a tree then perched on a dead twig. Looks interesting. I crossed the fence to get closer. Yes, definitely an Ogyris, some five or six metres high, no intention of coming lower.

Ogyris amaryllis, perched high in the tree

I went round to the river side. Here I could see another one, perched. They're quite easy to spot as they perch on dead twigs, where the outline is quite distinctive. This one's a little lower, I can see that it's a female, as the pink patch on the wing is apparent.

Female, with distinctive pink spot

The higher one flies off from time to time, often to sport with another male that comes close, or a hornet that is also fond of flying round the same tree. Once or twice they swoop close, and for a few seconds one settles on a lower branch, but it's gone before I can focus on it.

The Sheoak tree - Casuarina

I spend some forty minutes here, but there seems little prospect of getting better pictures. It's very like watching Purple Emperors in Europe, stiff neck from peering up into the trees all the time. I'll need a step ladder and probably an accomplice to get some decent pix, but still good to have seen another new species today.