Tidbinbilla redux - Part Two: Insects and Reptiles

[calissa]

I'm not sure why, but I saw so many more reptiles this time around. Particularly lizards.













This Gippsland Water Dragon was very patient with my nephew's intense curiosity (and mine).









I think I did a bit better with the dragonfly photos this time.







Ready for some nightmare fuel? This is a large red-bellied black snake (I think) swimming across the pond to the reeds where the birds nest.





You can see the reeds in the background of the next photo.



And if you look carefully under the boardwalk, you can see the turtles sunning themselves.

Comments

[pantha]

Wow, those lizards are amazing! And the dragonfly photos - you nailed them. Beautiful!

As for Mr (Mrs?) Red Bellied Snake. An interesting photo, but you're very welcome to keep them over with you. I like our one-venomous-snake-only situation here. :P

[calissa]

Thank you! I was pretty pleased with how everything turned out.

Having just the one venomous snake to look out for must make life easier! Fortunately, I've never had any real issues.

[pantha]

You should be. They are beautiful photos. ^_^

Yes! And it isn't even like they are found all over the place. Mostly just heathland and the occasional woodland (and unfortunately they are becoming rare).

[onewhitecrow]

They are very pretty lizards. Are red-bellied snakes aggressive?

[calissa]

Thankfully not! It's the Eastern Brown snakes that are aggressive (and the second most venomous land snake). However, I'm lucky enough not to have encountered any.

[onewhitecrow]

...'cause there's this American water snake (a Cottonmouth, I think?) that rushes up and bites you just because it's made mean. If you'd noticed a thing like that in your picture with the tortoises and children after being there, it really would be nightmare fuel...

[calissa]

For sure! I've heard of those sort of ambush-predator snakes. I'm not sure whether any around here use that tactic. I've been remiss in my natural history reading of late.

[bunny_m]

These are all gorgeous photos.

And that first photo really looks like 'Judgemental Skink Is Judging You' =D

[calissa]

...I see what you mean. What is seen cannot be unseen. XD

[lark_ascends]

Gorgeous photos!!!!

You've got a Common Flatwing Damselfly there. Damsel rather than Dragon, based on the slenderness of the body and particularly the eye placement. That's the really good tell between - damsels the eyes are separated, dragons they're right next to each other. Mostly damsels perch with their wings shut, this damsel perches with its wings open and flat like a dragon.

[calissa]

Oh, thank you for letting me know! My knowledge of insects isn't great. Is there a field guide or something you'd recommend?

[lark_ascends]

For damsels and dragons I use a combination of these (and then if I'm stuck, a facebook group for Oz damsels and dragons that I'm on):

http://rnr.id.au/cgi-bin/species/odonata

http://www.publish.csiro.au/book/5349/ (you can find cheaper elsewhere)

Other insects I'll just try to find looking through various websites.

[calissa]

Thank you so much for these. They should come in super handy.

[winterbird]

Okay, yep, the snake would've terrified me for sure. Honestly, like, sometimes I joke that we're used to it to other folks, and with redbacks and stuff, sure, I am. But they still send a chill down my spine.

ALSO TURTLES.

TURTLES.

SO CUTE I LOVE THEM.

(Your dragonfly photos are gorgeous).

[calissa]

...you might want to skip my next set of photos (when I finally get around to putting them up).

The Longneck turtles are so full of personality! It was fun watching them.

Thank you! <3