Tidbinbilla trip

[calissa]

(View from a lookout. Ah, summer.)

As per our tradition, Sahaquiel and I visited the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve on New Year's Day. I didn't take very many photos this year because it was a very hot day (even though we went in the morning) and I didn't feel I had any fresh perspective to bring to it. However, the lizards were out in full force and I was able to snag a few pictures.



The fellow above was clearly loath to give up his spot. Every time I'd get too close, he'd move just enough to get me to back off before he returned to the sunshine. In contrast, the lizard below was a jumpy one that necessitated the use of zoom on my phone (hence the blurriness).







It's probably hard to tell, but the kangaroo is on an island in the photo. It was very hot and water levels in the wetland sanctuary were the lowest I've seen.

Deadlines are currently chewing up all my time, but I hope to get back out there soon.

Comments

[alee_grrl]

Lovely photos. Thank you for sharing.

[calissa]

It was my pleasure. Such a wonderful way to start the year.

[onewhitecrow]

Big lizard! It is strange to think all fancy reptiles and parrots grow wild somewhere at times.

[calissa]

That water dragon is relatively small compared to some of the ones I've seen at the botanic gardens (where there are also signs up warning for brown snakes).

It probably also seems strange that I tend to think of some of your wildlife as exotic (magpies spring to mind).

[onewhitecrow]

Dragon! O_O Are brown snakes a sort of snake that is dangerous, or is there a sign about those ones because they're harder to see on brown ground?

Very...but you have huge un-magpie-magpies with ruby eyes that sing; you can hardly say they aren't as exciting as actual magpies that just talk normally and are shiny.

[calissa]

Apologies, I should have said Brown Snakes. Not entirely sure which kind (I still haven't got around to familiarising myself with local reptiles. Maybe after the fungus).

Our magpies sing so beautifully and I adore the sound. But your shiny, thieving magpies have the weight of such lore behind them.

[onewhitecrow]

[entertained] Wikipedia says Brownsnakes aren't generally brown...learning how to tell them apart from each other and random brown snakes seems quite the task; I wish you luck with it. Fungi are less likely to bite you, at least, though biting them might be equally unwise...

Och, I'm sure yours have even more, if there's an elder alive anywhere to remember it - Gulpilil said the magpies pushed the sky up to where it is now when creatures first crawled out of the ground, back in the Dreamtime, for instance. Before that, the sky was almost on the ground and everyone got bent (I had a book of these tales as a child). They would probably tell you about the weather/witches/weddings if you asked them, too, unless that's something else's job down there.

[calissa]

I do think familiarising myself with different species of snakes is going to be quite a challenge, since I have no intention of getting up close and personal. I guess I shall cross that bridge when I come to it.

You make a good point. I'm not sure of the local elders' attitudes to sharing such stories, though. And I live close to a border, so am not exactly sure which legends to be asking after.

[raze]

Great photos - love the water dragon (if I'm identifying correctly).

[calissa]

You are indeed! I really must get to the botanic gardens soon. There are tons of water dragons there.

<3

[umadoshi]

Lizards! *^^* So cute!

[calissa]

There was quite a variety while we were out there!

[winterbird]

That lizard is so amazing. I loved the photos you got. Seeing creatures like that in the wild just make me so happy? :D

[calissa]

It was such a lovely day, though a little warm. We saw about 10 different lizards and heard quite a few more. We also caught a few glimpses of a platypus, which was so lovely. I really must get back there soon. I have a new field guide to fungi I'm hoping to read through before winter hits.