Arid zone of W.A.

Aussie Pythons & Snakes Forum

Help Support Aussie Pythons & Snakes Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Status
Not open for further replies.

gus11

Active Member
Joined
May 29, 2007
Messages
119
Reaction score
0
Location
Townsville
I didn't really need to go to Mackay as i was headed to the arid interior of W.A. the next day but it did make me feel better as i ticked off all the Mackay leaf tails. So we went in the middle of winter to the arid zone, it was cold 6-20 degrees, which is very cold when you've spent 4 years in the tropics. we were there to study dingoes (not herps or birds but i tried). i managed 101 species of bird in the 3 weeks there, 35 new ones :) unfortunately only 4 new herps of 8 species seen. but given the weather i wasnt to hopeful of much. Other i spoke to about the area said it would be quite because of the weather and they were very correct. anyway onto what was around....

Goulds monitors were common, and it was so cold they struggled to move so were good to photograph
DSC_6927copy.jpg

DSC_7354.jpg

DSC_7374copy.jpg


unfortantely my first two herps where gehyra varigata and
binoes gecko both of which live in my backyard...
DSC_6989copy.jpg


my first new animal was a monk snake
DSC_7494copy.jpg

DSC_7498copy.jpg


another occasionaly active animal was the central netted dragon
DSC_7542copy.jpg


only once did we see a western netted dragon
DSC_9077copy.jpg

DSC_9064copy.jpg


we were also lucky enough to find this (although it was on its back in 3cm water with its head under water it was alive)
steinadachneris turtle
DSC_8375copy.jpg

DSC_8407copy.jpg


another new one was the ringed brown
DSC_8496copy.jpg

DSC_8497copy.jpg


it was nice to see west australians caring about their wildlife
DSC_6963.jpg


although these arent herps, thought you may like to see what i was studying...
Dingoes
DSC_8633copy.jpg

DSC_8968copy.jpg

and there effect on some ferals (though not these ones)
DSC_8580copy.jpg


we got around in trusty vehicles
DSC_8338.jpg


Me enjoy the view
DSC_9162.jpg


and my favourite animal of the trip Mulga parrots
DSC_8069copy.jpg
 
Nice photos Gus, you have me worried now that I wont see a single herp when I get there in Sept - I just hope its not quite as cool along the coast as it is in the interior.
 
surely it will have warmed up by then, and the coast i would assume will be warmer than the interior. have you left the ville?
 
No mate, not leaving for another month - off up to tablelands this weekend though if you want come along? Isnt September colder than June in Australia?
 
Is it common to see the dark phase in the Dingoes?

I was told they were fairly common further south, but thats the first time I have seen or heard of one in an arid region up North.

Any pics of Spinifex Pigeons? I love them.......
 
G'day Gus, pity the herps were not out. If I had to guess I would say the ringed brown was DOR? Strategic placement of the bark.
Great pics anyway mate. Nice wide angle of the western netted
Ads
 
Is it common to see the dark phase in the Dingoes?

I was told they were fairly common further south, but thats the first time I have seen or heard of one in an arid region up North.

Any pics of Spinifex Pigeons? I love them.......

We saw only a few black dingoes maybe 4-5, i thought the black ones were only in the rainforest but apparently there common out there, genetic tests show that they are "likely" pure dingoes. unfortunately just outside spinifex pidgeon range, i wish i could have seen them i still havent.

G'day Gus, pity the herps were not out. If I had to guess I would say the ringed brown was DOR? Strategic placement of the bark.
Great pics anyway mate. Nice wide angle of the western netted
Ads

Hey ads, it would have been nice if we had seen some more herps, especially dragons there is a huge diversity of dragons out there but unfortunately not. hopefully we can head back there at another time when the weather is better. the brown was a DOR, i think it was killed by a cat, (we were on private property on a track no one uses) it has decent gash marks - somewhat slits down both sides. made it hard to photograph considering the amount of damage. i think it was a cat because of the marks and lack of tear marks that i figured a dog or bird would leave.

Cheers
Gus
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Back
Top