Page 18 - Tropic Magazine Issue 19

TROPIC • UP FRONT

In season

Just as constant as the moon
orbiting the earth, the
smugness of FNQ citizens
basking in the glow of our very
special winter season is here!

Words Nicky Horstmann

Alcides metaurus

INSECTS
Moth amazing
We all gather memories of extraordinary
Cairns Esplanade interactions with nature, and one of
mine is my first sighting of the North
ASTRONOMY Queensland Day Moth (Alcides metaurus).
Tidal trends Actually, I should say Day Moths, because
So reliable is the moon’s progress there were hundreds of them literally
around our planet and our position covering shrubs and generally fluttering
relative to the sun that we can plot about in a garden at Yungaburra. So, Orioles flavocinctus
our tides far in advance. At this time imagine my delight when a pair of them BIRDS
of year it’s the new moon or should took up residence in my yard here in Yellow beauty
I say, no moon, that aligns with our Cairns. At first glance you might be Yet another newly acquired garden
king tides. Friday August 30 sees the tempted to call them butterflies – I mean guest is a Yellow Oriole (Orioles
most extreme winter tide, with a high who expects to see moths flying around in flavocinctus). These tropical birds are
tide of 3.31m predicted at 9.31pm. That the day time? With a wingspan of around quite shy and beautifully camouflaged
will make a late-night stroll along the 100mm, they display bands of black, by their yellowish-green and yellow
Esplanade a must. Similarly, the low sandy/pink and metallic blue/green and colouring streaked with black. It was
tide at 2.48pm could make this activity feature a ‘swallow tail’. They are pretty a very distinctive call that alerted
just as interesting. darn gorgeous! us to the presence of our visitor – it
sounded like the ‘choo’ part of a
TREES sneeze! A dedicated search located
Bouquet of gold our little friend, a lone teenager by
Talking of yellow beauties, the Golden all accounts, feasting on the bright
Bouquet tree (Deplanchea tetraphylla) orange seeds of our Claudie Tulipwood
is flowering at the moment and it’s tree (Harpullia ramiflora). Yellow
inarguably one of our more spectacular Orioles are about 28cm in length
native species. Multiple golden blossoms and have reddish eyes and beaks.
are arranged in true bouquet fashion Their wing feathers are black, edged
and displayed at the apex of a whorl of in yellow and their sounds are not
shiny green leaves. Literally dripping with restricted to half-sneezes. They also
nectar, these natural floral arrangements have a pleasant “chlonk chlonk, chlonk
feed numerous insects, birds and bats chlonk” call used to establish contact
while still attached to the tree, and with each other.
Deplanchea tetraphylla
wallabies when they fall to the ground.

RUSTY’S MARKETS
Exotic fungi
FNQ winter sees Rusty’s Markets become a cornucopia of fresh, locally-grown
vegetables. The choice is amazing and inspirational. Whilst mushrooms have
always been available, more exotic fungi are making their way onto the market
stalls and creating even more gourmet opportunities. The dinner table doesn’t have
Exotic fungi to be boring with all of this so readily at hand.

18 • Tropic • Issue 19