Just on the off-chance that there might be someone interested -
I'm currently on holidays. Left Sydney last Tuesday morning and drove to the Gold Coast. Wednesday morning tried to contact three friends, all ex-Taronga, but failed so drove to Maryborough and stayed overnight with another mate, ex-Taronga reptile keeper. Thursday morning drove to Eungella and stayed in a bush cabin overlooking a stream with PLatypus. But got there late at night and Platys had gone to bed, and didn't see them in the morning either.
But I did see a big gecko living on my cabin roof, it spent the night chasing grasshoppers. Oedura monilis, I think.
Friday drove up to Cardwell. Stopped into a fauna sanctuary outside of Townsville and bumped into Pinkie (from APS) who is now working there. Will stop in again on the way back.
Saturday morning visited some swimming holes in the forest behind Cardwell but found them to be either empty or with small ponds of stagnant brown water. ONe had a small snake in it which a glimpsed as I approached, the snake made a quick getaway. Because the dry river bed was full of dead leaves, each step I took I sank up to my knees in the leaves. Made for very slow going. When I got to the pond I could just see the snakes head poking out between some leaves in the water - front half of the snout was cream coloured. A few seconds later it disappeaed, but it looked very much like a juvenile coastal taipan. I desperately wanted to get closer to see if I could find it and get a better look, but knee-deep in dead leaves put me at a distinct disadvantage. So I left. Later I visited the fabulous Murray Falls (with lots of water), saw an echidna, then arrived in Cairns.
This morning I was at a place called Yorkey's Knob watching some Bottlenosed Dolphins. Then caught up with some friends (also ex-Taronga) and collected my mate from the airport.
And now it's Monday morning. In a few hours we'll be off to Green Island for four days - not much herping but plenty of snorkelling!
As I'm using the hotels computer I can't post any pics, but I will when I get back home.
Hix
I'm currently on holidays. Left Sydney last Tuesday morning and drove to the Gold Coast. Wednesday morning tried to contact three friends, all ex-Taronga, but failed so drove to Maryborough and stayed overnight with another mate, ex-Taronga reptile keeper. Thursday morning drove to Eungella and stayed in a bush cabin overlooking a stream with PLatypus. But got there late at night and Platys had gone to bed, and didn't see them in the morning either.
But I did see a big gecko living on my cabin roof, it spent the night chasing grasshoppers. Oedura monilis, I think.
Friday drove up to Cardwell. Stopped into a fauna sanctuary outside of Townsville and bumped into Pinkie (from APS) who is now working there. Will stop in again on the way back.
Saturday morning visited some swimming holes in the forest behind Cardwell but found them to be either empty or with small ponds of stagnant brown water. ONe had a small snake in it which a glimpsed as I approached, the snake made a quick getaway. Because the dry river bed was full of dead leaves, each step I took I sank up to my knees in the leaves. Made for very slow going. When I got to the pond I could just see the snakes head poking out between some leaves in the water - front half of the snout was cream coloured. A few seconds later it disappeaed, but it looked very much like a juvenile coastal taipan. I desperately wanted to get closer to see if I could find it and get a better look, but knee-deep in dead leaves put me at a distinct disadvantage. So I left. Later I visited the fabulous Murray Falls (with lots of water), saw an echidna, then arrived in Cairns.
This morning I was at a place called Yorkey's Knob watching some Bottlenosed Dolphins. Then caught up with some friends (also ex-Taronga) and collected my mate from the airport.
And now it's Monday morning. In a few hours we'll be off to Green Island for four days - not much herping but plenty of snorkelling!
As I'm using the hotels computer I can't post any pics, but I will when I get back home.
Hix
