Telicota ohara (Northern Large Darter)
22/04/2023
Cairns
22/04/2023
Cairns
22/04/2023
Cairns
22/04/2023
Cairns
22/04/2023
Cairns
Other Common Names
Dark Darter
Notes
After many trips to Cairns I finally photographed this species in the Central Swamp on the first day of my April 2023 visit. The moment I got to the Swamp the sun disappeared behind some black clouds and it began to rain. Whilst sheltering beneath a tree I saw this large, dark skipper doing likewise, sitting on a low shrub with her wings wide open. The light was very poor at the time, but being wary of disturbing the butterfly and missing the shot I turned the flash off and bumped the ISO up. I took a few shots but it was clear that they weren’t much good so I turned the flash on and had another go. I got some clearer photos, though she jumped each time I pressed the shutter, with the result that I didn’t get any good upperside shots, though the silver lining was that I was able to get a partial underside shots.
She quickly decided she’d had enough of the flash and disappeared at speed. I returned to the same area multiple times that day, and also later on towards the end of my visit, but I didn’t see her again.
Sightings
Cairns – April 2023