Despite a cold and blustery Saturday, lots of citizen scientists and families joined the weekend Bioblitz to explore the Merimbula Creek.
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The secluded spot was the focus for those searching for spiders, bugs, reptiles, bird life and flora of all kinds.
On the hunt for spiders Saturday was Helen Ransom, who found a new species of peacock spider during the 2016 bioblitz in the Murrah Flora Reserve.
The tiny spider with glitzy blue abdomen has been officially called Maratus sapphirus, named for the location in which it was found as well as its colouring.
While the spiders group didn’t find more examples of the beautiful peacock spider that caused such excitement last year, there were still exciting finds on the day.
“The finding of the azure kingfishers, water dragons and Dr Stephen Skinner’s excitement at some of the algae and waterbugs shows that this is a very healthy waterway right in the middle of Merimbula, so the From Little Things Parklands team can be very pleased with that result,” Libby Hepburn from the Atlas of Life in the Coastal Wilderness said.
Ms Hepburn said two further surveys are to be conducted on Wednesday night – moths with Glenn Cocking from Canberra’s Australian National Insect Collection, and s call playback and spotlight survey with Elisabeth Larsen and Andrew Morrison.
“They couldn’t be here at the weekend, but we are keen to see and share what is about at night in the area,” Ms Hepburn said.
There are still places left, so if anyone who would like to join in from 6.30-9pm, contact Ms Hepburn on 6495 0917 for details.