I know here are a few people on this forum that can't get enough of Tiger Snakes so here goes again!
This morning started off as a cool day in Melbourne after some nice rain yesterday and last night. I was going to head out for a walk but went outside and thought it was a bit cold and looked like rain so decided to stay in for the day and work. However the sun soon started poking through the clouds, the snakes were calling and I decided to head out along the Yarra River once again. On the way the radio announced it was 13 degrees heading for a top of 18. It seemed warmer and with the sun coming and going it now seemed like an ideal cool day for snakes to be basking.
A minute after arriving at the carpark I spotted my first snake....coiled up in the sun between some bushes right next to the main Yarra cycleway. It was a very nicely patterned Tiger Snake and reminded me of one I saw mating in Autumn very close to here.
Further along poking around a few "snakey" looking spots I spotted another young Tiger catching some sun.
I came across this big fella while just standing still and looking around...he wasn't too far in front of me...one of the bigger ones I have seen in the area. Rather dull looking without any obvious banding, you'll have to look hard in the photo to see it. After a couple of snaps he moved off. 3 tigers in the space of 20 minutes was pretty good going.
Went for a while without seeing any snakes and then had another good run. I did see this nice Night Heron.
This one was curled up catching some sun and let me approach quite closely.
Just a couple of steps further and another big Tiger in the grass in front of me.
And finally only a few more steps further along I stopped for a look around with my binoculars and then looked down at the ground and saw this close to my foot. These 3 snakes I had seen in the space of about 20 metres.
I had been walking very quietly and slowly all morning("the snake walk")...it would have been very easy to miss a couple of the snakes and tread on them. The weather was ideal as all the snakes I saw were just basking rather than actively moving around; this made them much easier to find. I visited the same spot last weekend when it was much hotter and saw nothing....well I heard a snake in a grass tussock but that was it. It was nice to see a couple of big Tigers on this trip...not huge....but big by the standard of the ones I normally see around there.
There were only a couple of small skinks active otherwise.....never seem to see too many skinks at this spot but there is always a chorus of frogs and many small wrens which no doubt provide the snakes with plenty of food.
I was hoping to come across some snakes mating or combating....but I can't complain.....6 snakes...a few photos ..and had a great couple of hours........will just have to keep trying!
This morning started off as a cool day in Melbourne after some nice rain yesterday and last night. I was going to head out for a walk but went outside and thought it was a bit cold and looked like rain so decided to stay in for the day and work. However the sun soon started poking through the clouds, the snakes were calling and I decided to head out along the Yarra River once again. On the way the radio announced it was 13 degrees heading for a top of 18. It seemed warmer and with the sun coming and going it now seemed like an ideal cool day for snakes to be basking.
A minute after arriving at the carpark I spotted my first snake....coiled up in the sun between some bushes right next to the main Yarra cycleway. It was a very nicely patterned Tiger Snake and reminded me of one I saw mating in Autumn very close to here.
Further along poking around a few "snakey" looking spots I spotted another young Tiger catching some sun.
I came across this big fella while just standing still and looking around...he wasn't too far in front of me...one of the bigger ones I have seen in the area. Rather dull looking without any obvious banding, you'll have to look hard in the photo to see it. After a couple of snaps he moved off. 3 tigers in the space of 20 minutes was pretty good going.
Went for a while without seeing any snakes and then had another good run. I did see this nice Night Heron.
This one was curled up catching some sun and let me approach quite closely.
Just a couple of steps further and another big Tiger in the grass in front of me.
And finally only a few more steps further along I stopped for a look around with my binoculars and then looked down at the ground and saw this close to my foot. These 3 snakes I had seen in the space of about 20 metres.
I had been walking very quietly and slowly all morning("the snake walk")...it would have been very easy to miss a couple of the snakes and tread on them. The weather was ideal as all the snakes I saw were just basking rather than actively moving around; this made them much easier to find. I visited the same spot last weekend when it was much hotter and saw nothing....well I heard a snake in a grass tussock but that was it. It was nice to see a couple of big Tigers on this trip...not huge....but big by the standard of the ones I normally see around there.
There were only a couple of small skinks active otherwise.....never seem to see too many skinks at this spot but there is always a chorus of frogs and many small wrens which no doubt provide the snakes with plenty of food.
I was hoping to come across some snakes mating or combating....but I can't complain.....6 snakes...a few photos ..and had a great couple of hours........will just have to keep trying!
I went herping today too, but only managed five! You win 
