Eastern Water Dragons, Botanic Gardens, Canberra
No Comments »11th February, 2009; Category: Animals
Eastern Water Dragon, Botanic Gardens, Canberra
Visitors to the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra cannot miss seeing a very common lizard that lives in the gardens, especially around the water features.
Numerous Eastern Water Dragons can be seen sunning themselves on rocks or on the paths.
Taking photos of them can be an interesting diversion from the excellent birding in the gardens. I guess even the plant enthusiasts can be intrigued in these interesting reptiles, especially if they nearly step on one.
Eastern Water Dragon, Botanic Gardens, Canberra
Eastern Water Dragon, Botanic Gardens, Canberra
Lizards, lizards, lizards – where are the birds?
No Comments »23rd January, 2009; Category: Animals
Eastern Water Dragon, Lane Cove National Park
While visiting my son and daughter in law in Sydney last Christmas we went for a family picnic to Lane Cove National Park. It had been many years since our last visit here – over 30 years in fact.
Before lunch several of us went for a walk along one of the walking tracks there. I was hoping for a good birding list plus a few good photos of birds.
The day was hot, humid and being around lunch time, rather quiet. I was amazed, however, at the large numbers of lizards in that part of the park. There seemed to be dozens of Eastern Water Dragons, all quite happy to come out and pose for my camera.
Eastern Water Dragon, Lane Cove National Park, Sydney
Distractions while birding
2 Comments »21st January, 2009; Category: Animals
Lace Monitor lizard in Lane Cove National Park
On our recent trip to Sydney we had a family picnic lunch in the Lane Cove National Park. Before lunch several of us went on a long walk through the park. I was there to get a good list of birds plus the odd photo or two of birds.
As we walked along my daughter spotted a rather large Lace Monitor lizard crossing the track in front of us. It quickly decided to take refuge on the trunk of a nearby tree and was decidely camera shy. Because of the steep terrain I was unable to get around on the side of the tree to get a better view.
It was a nice distraction from the birding that morning.
Related article:
Is it a bird? No it’s a butterfly
2 Comments »5th January, 2009; Category: Animals
Dainty Swallowtail Papilio anactus
Last week we had a great family get together for Christmas lunch. We travelled all the way to Sydney – all 1300 kilometres – to be with our son and his wife’s family. It was one of those rare occasions when we all get together.
After a sumptuous lunch we migrated to the back lawn for some games with the children. Most of us just sat around chatting; the large lunch was sitting too heavily.
I had the camera at the ready and taking photos of family. The birds were not the focus for once, and they were generally being rather uncooperative anyway. They must have all been off visiting family for Christmas. At one point we were entranced by a visiting butterfly. It was constantly on the move around the lemon tree.
Checking on the internet later I identified it as a Daity Swallowtail Papilio anactus. Evidently it is quite common in the Sydney region and has a preference for citrus trees.
Birding interrupted
2 Comments »4th January, 2009; Category: Animals
Blue tongue lizard
My son and I were relaxing on the back lawn on Christmas afternoon. We’d had a great family Christmas lunch and were enjoying the time to relax and just talk. Both of us had our cameras at arm’s length after taking plenty of shots of the festivities.
Everyone else had migrated indoors. With the children no longer causing plenty of noise the resident Blue Tongue Lizard decided to join us. Not exactly a top birding event but very satisfying nevertheless. The birds in my son’s garden were being uncooperative anyway, so the interruption was welcome.
Blue Tongue Lizard