Bridge Over The Hastings

A visit to the Kindee suspension bridge has been on the drawing board for some time. Notably the oldest suspension bridge in Australia, it was opened in 1936 and crosses the Hastings River.The height of the bridge was apparently due to the likelihood of flooding in the area. It was difficult to find an interesting position for photographs as the bases on each side of the river are on fenced private land.

 

Nevertheless, there was an unexpected bonus. Adjacent to the bridge on the Kindee side of the river were two blossom trees in flower. Not only were they laden with pretty pink blossoms but they were deluged with intermittent waves of hungry bees and monarch (wanderer) butterflies. 

The butterflies generally eat milkweed whose poison is carried through the various stages of their life cycle, making them toxic to most predators, however they seemed particularly pleased with this alternate pink feast. 

 The following image clearly shows the curled proboscis silhouetted against the background.

With their bright orange black and white colouring serving as a warning to hungry birds, these colourful delicate creatures provided me with hours of amusement. 

Another bonus for the day was the appearance of two white breasted sea eagles circling overhead as smaller birds squealed their warnings. 

The life cycle of a Monarch Butterfly