Backyard Zoology · 16 April 2019
2019-04-16T10:32:16+10:00
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I thought I spent a ridiculous amount of time swearing at my camera. That was until I took Matt's old camera out for a spin yesterday morning. Matt's old camera with less megapixels and zero stabilisation, I should point out. I heard words coming from my mouth that even I didn't know I knew. I thought I'd stumbled into some hardcore gang headquarters (nestled in the Aussie bush) and was about to run for cover, until I realised it was just me, dropping the f bomb and a few other lovely words trying to get a half decent photo of this jumper and his breakfast.

I'd headed into the bush to see if I could see any chrysalis and to try and get a decent shot of the Wanderer Butterfly to complete the lifecycle of the caterpillar and egg I posted the other day. But council or whoever had gone through and mowed and whipper snipped and cut back a good portion of the milk weed. A lot is still there but the stalk that my little mate was sitting on had gone. Damnit. So as I was leaving, I was absentmindedly turning over leaves and saw this little cutie hanging onto his prey with all of his might. He looked at me and I looked right back at him. My four eyes versus his eight 😂 

"Dude, I haven't taken a photo for a week. Please play nice." (That was me by the way, I can only assume, this little guy has never taken a photo in his life!) He slowly turned his back on me, still hugging his insect tightly to him. Keeping the sun to my back, I circled around the plant he was sitting on until once again we were face to face. As soon as he spotted me, he turned side on. And then around again. And then headed underneath the leaf and into the dark. Great, a spider with an attitude, an old camera I can't use with in built motion blur and me with a bad case of Monday-itis. 

But I hope that these pictures at least give you the idea. An idea of predator and prey. And how cute spiders can look with breakfast. And why you should never send your camera in for service. Just buy a new one and be done with it! 😂

Jumping Spider and prey
Northern Illawarra