There were numerous Paralucia spinifera in this location. Flying fairly low to the ground, stopping for long periods of time when each one would rest, opening their wings to the sun and gently turning to get the sun on every part of their wings.
Temperature approx 13 or 14 degrees celcius, fully sunny, there was a light breeze in the general area but in the copse where the butterflies were located (their habitat) it was more sheltered, calm and warm. These butterflies are tiny. (Approx. 2cm width)
On occasion I saw two flying together/chasing each other, and occasionally I would see a third join them and send one of the other two flying away.
I have more pictures, but thought these would suffice for identification.
Plant nearby included in photos as it is their habitat:
Bursaria spinosa subspecies lasiophylla
There are 16 recognised subspecies of Graphium sarpedon - this one is subspecies choredon
Some pretty exciting news with a koala sighting recently reported in the vicinity of Hassans Walls, Lithgow area. Margot & Kate were eagle-eyed to spot this little guy & we appreciate them reporting the sighting to us. We immediately deployed our team & set up some repurposed tarps to capture that all important poop! As you can see from the map attached, this is a super exciting find with it being some time since a koala has been recorded in this area or surrounds. The map shows the cartoon koala in the location of the sighting with the surrounding dots & dates of previous reports.
Our thanks go to Margo & Kate for doing just that!
scratches on trunk of grey gum, E. punctata
No koala observed by me, but koala was sighted by others in the vicinity the previous week, including suggestion of pellets of a size consistent with a mother and joey. At least 5 E. punctata within 50m radius with scratches. Alongside trail on ridge-top
Katoomba, Blue Mountains.
Alt. ~990m
Leaves ~2 cm long and 2 mm wide. Glabrous above, silvery-silky below. Pungent tipped with recurved margins. One prominent mid-vein and more or less sessile.
Flowers red and covered in dense silk on peduncles 8-10 mm long. Branchlets silky-hairy with a few fine ridges running longitudinally between nodes, but essentially terete.