not birds ...Googong grasshopper query

[Harvey Perkins <>]

I agree with Steve that it is a Yellow-winged grasshopper (or locust) Gastrimargus musicus. There were lots of them at Uriarra Crossing yesterday too, sufficient that I included a brief comment about them in just my second posting on my brand new blog which ended up being more about insects than the birds I was looking for.

Cheers

Harvey

http://hdpphd.blogspot.com.au/

On 5 January 2014 16:35, Steve Holliday <m("iinet.net.au","pruesteve");" target="_blank">> wrote:

Hi Robin

 

Looks like Yellow-winged Locust (Gastrimargus musicus), see http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_grasshoppers/YellowWinged.htm

 

A widespread and common species in eastern and northern Australia. They occasionally occur in plague numbers – this might be a big season for them. They also come in a brown morph.

 

Steve

 

From: Robin Hide [
Sent: Sunday, 5 January 2014 3:20 PM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: [canberrabirds] not birds ...Googong grasshopper query

 

Yesterday walking along the grassy western foreshore at the northern end of Googong every step saw tens/hundreds of these grasshoppers (about 30-40 mm in length) take dramatically to the air, with a few flying into ones face etc.

Any suggestions re identification?

 

 

Few birds seen - Pipits, White-faced Herons, and on the water, coots and a few  gulls.

 

Robin Hide