Melanitis leda (Evening Brown)

Notes

I’d read that this was a very common species in Queensland, but for the first couple of days I was in Cairns I didn’t see any, though I went looking for them in the evenings. I finally spotted one perched by the side of a ditch shortly before dusk one evening, and was able to get a couple of photos before disturbing it.

Subsequently I saw the occasional specimen, generally when I disturbed one during the day. Every time they flew off quickly, but not very far. However their camouflage is very good, so in many cases I couldn’t find them when they landed. Even if I was able to see exactly where they settled, I was never able to get close enough to take pictures before they flew off again, so I didn’t manage to add to the original photos of the first one I spotted.

This has been pretty much the pattern on all my subsequent visits to northern Australia. I  occasionally disturb an Evening Brown, but I rarely get the chance to take photos.

Sightings

Cairns – October 2005, August 2007, September 2008, March 2016
Brisbane – November 2008, April 2011
Darwin – April 2018, April 2024

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