moloch05
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2006
- Messages
- 772
- Reaction score
- 8
This is a great time of the year to see a variety of reptiles. Young of the year are everywhere and all of the reptiles seem to be actively searching for their final meals before the arrival of winter. Yesterday, the weather was perfect so I went for a long walk at Royal. Last Saturday, I also went for a walk at Heathcote although the day became overcast and it was too cool to see much.
Here are pics of what I encountered.
The surf was up at Garie Beach:
Garie Beach, the start of my walk into the heathland of Royal. I take the same photo on nearly every trip since it is always such a spectacular view.
Heath of Royal:
Copper-tailed Skinks (Ctenotus taeniolatus). These skinks seemed to be everywhere and sometimes, up to four were seen at a time.
...original tails were long:
...but most adults had regenerated tails like this:
... I watched this adult and a juvenile for quite awhile. This was the alarm posture that the adult assumed when it spotted an approaching Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis):
Eastern Brown Snake, juvenile. It appeared to be actively hunting the Copper-tailed Skinks. It crawled up to the rock where two were sitting and then circled it. The adult in the above photo raced for several meters to a large flat rock. It stopped in the open so I guess it could not be surprised by the hunting snake. The juvenile remained on the rock and appeared to be oblivious to the nearby danger. I had hoped to see the snake attempt to capture the lizard but unfortunately, a couple of other bushwalkers came along and frightened the snake.
... juvenile Copper-tailed Skink.
White's Skinks (Egernia whitii) were also abundant. They were colonial and a number were often seen around the same sandstone outcrop.
... juveniles at Royal were usually much darker in colour than the adults.
I see what I assume to be the same Cunningham's Skink (Egernia cunninghami) in the same crevice on nearly every visit to Royal.
Lampropholis delicata. This one was basking on the trail in the early morning.
Most Eastern Water Skinks (Eulamprus quoyii) have already disappeared until next spring. I found only two of this normally common lizard.
Other reptiles at Royal included Jacky Lizards (Amphibolurus muricatus) and a Red-throated Skink (Acritoscincus platynotum). I saw a Yellow-faced Whipsnake (Demansia psammophis) that also appeared to be hunting skinks on the sandstone.
At Heathcote, I found this basking Jacky Lizzard (Amphibolurus muricatus):
juvenile Eastern Water Dragon (Physignathus lesueurii):
The highlight was this basking Red-bellied Black Snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus). I was able to take one quick photo before the snake raced into cover.
Preying Mantis:
New Holland Honeyeater:
Regards,
David
Here are pics of what I encountered.
The surf was up at Garie Beach:
Garie Beach, the start of my walk into the heathland of Royal. I take the same photo on nearly every trip since it is always such a spectacular view.
Heath of Royal:
Copper-tailed Skinks (Ctenotus taeniolatus). These skinks seemed to be everywhere and sometimes, up to four were seen at a time.
...original tails were long:
...but most adults had regenerated tails like this:
... I watched this adult and a juvenile for quite awhile. This was the alarm posture that the adult assumed when it spotted an approaching Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis):
Eastern Brown Snake, juvenile. It appeared to be actively hunting the Copper-tailed Skinks. It crawled up to the rock where two were sitting and then circled it. The adult in the above photo raced for several meters to a large flat rock. It stopped in the open so I guess it could not be surprised by the hunting snake. The juvenile remained on the rock and appeared to be oblivious to the nearby danger. I had hoped to see the snake attempt to capture the lizard but unfortunately, a couple of other bushwalkers came along and frightened the snake.
... juvenile Copper-tailed Skink.
White's Skinks (Egernia whitii) were also abundant. They were colonial and a number were often seen around the same sandstone outcrop.
... juveniles at Royal were usually much darker in colour than the adults.
I see what I assume to be the same Cunningham's Skink (Egernia cunninghami) in the same crevice on nearly every visit to Royal.
Lampropholis delicata. This one was basking on the trail in the early morning.
Most Eastern Water Skinks (Eulamprus quoyii) have already disappeared until next spring. I found only two of this normally common lizard.
Other reptiles at Royal included Jacky Lizards (Amphibolurus muricatus) and a Red-throated Skink (Acritoscincus platynotum). I saw a Yellow-faced Whipsnake (Demansia psammophis) that also appeared to be hunting skinks on the sandstone.
At Heathcote, I found this basking Jacky Lizzard (Amphibolurus muricatus):
juvenile Eastern Water Dragon (Physignathus lesueurii):
The highlight was this basking Red-bellied Black Snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus). I was able to take one quick photo before the snake raced into cover.
Preying Mantis:
New Holland Honeyeater:
Regards,
David
