Tasmania 1

There was lots to see in Tasmania, but out of 7 places that we stayed, only 1 had usable WiFi.  So tht is why I've divided the photos into two posts.  Tasmania, or Tassie as it is affectionately known is beautiful and full of wildlife and wild places.  It has its own blend of wildlife - some species the same as the mainland, some that the mainland doesn't have, and missing some that the mainland does have.  In many cases where the same species occurs in both, then the Tasmanian examples are often different enough to be described as sub-species.

Echidna

One of the first species we saw was the echidna - this is slightly less spiky and more furry than the mainland examples, probably due to the cooler, insular climate.  Like the duck-billed platypus, this is a monotreme, or egg-laying mammal.  

Sometimes, very occasionally, you can get close to the wildlife, especially if, like this red-billed gull, they are sat on a nest or protecting their young.  In such cases it is best to take the photo and get out quickly to minimize the distress.  I say red-billed gull because that is how I know it from New Zealand.  In Australia it is the same species (Larus novaehollandeae) but is called the Silver Gull.

This is the flower-head of Button-grass.  It is a species that defines its own special habitat with its own endemic species.  It occurs on the mainland, but is most extensive on Tasmania where it thrives on wet, poorly drained and nutrient poor soils.  It is also fire-resistant and nearly always contains dry material that catches fire easily.

The white flag-iris is a common plant in Australia, but the name doesn't really do the plant justice.  It would suit something like Splendid white flag-iris better.

Much of the moorland on the approach to Cradle Mountain consists of button-grass moorland.  This is the  view looking towards, if not at, Cradle Mountain over some of that button-grass.

Many of the hillsides at the side of the road on the run up towards Cradle Mountain are covered in wildflowers.  It would be useful someday to have time to identify them.

This beetle doesn't seem to mind what the flower is called as long as he can rest on it.  Besides, I don't know what he's called either except for shiny green beetle.

It was nice to see this coral lichen again.  The last time we saw it was in New Zealand in quite different habitat. It has the most exquisite structure that's so unusual it doesn't seem to be part of the natural world.  But it is definitely a lichen, and has nothing to do with coral other than its appearance.

The place we were staying at - Lemonthyme Lodge - was originally built as a backpackers wilderness lodge. It's more luxurious now but it's still 8 km up a dirt road and is a fascinating place to stay.  Each night, they put out scraps to attract the wildlife which gives an opportunity to see brush-tailed possums like this as well as a few pademelons.  Interestingly these possums are a protected species in Oz, but are considered vermin in New Zealand where they eat tons of vegetation every night.

Another interesting beetle, also unidentified, though it has a look of the ladybird about it which may be a good place to start.

This blue-tongued lizard posed nicely for the camera and didn't seem to want to move however close the camera got.

 Another plant that doesn't look natural is this Spreading Pinkberry - such an imaginative name, but it really was that pink. (Leptecophylla divaricata)

And while we are looking at startling colours, how about this red velvet fungus growing loudly on the end of a moss and lichen covered fallen tree.