Ah, I've just found this section of the site (I rarely scroll down) so I'll post something in it. I think my other threads should/could probably be moved here (mods?).
You may have read this, it's been posted on another site already...
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G'day all,
I did a survey of a tenement for mallee fowl mounds a few days ago out around Laverton. It was organised at very short notice so I missed all flights to Leonora or Laverton. Instead I had to fly to Kalgoorlie and drive the 3 or so hours to Laverton. I did, saw little along the way, turned up and assessed the tiny area for mallee fowl mounds (there were none) and go the hell out of there. As my flight home was the next day, I took the opportunity to knock an hour and a half off my drive home and drove the Laverton-Leonora Road in the evening. It was hot and relatively humid and I had high hopes. I'd missed Pseudechis butleri last trip... this time I was sure to find one lazily crossing the road.
I set off stopping occasionally to spotlight for geckos.
Aside from the several Tree Dtella Gehyra variegata the first find was this frog Platyplectrum spenceri. I got very excited. Thats the whole genus, TICK!
I jumped back in the car after a few photos... Back on the trail of a snake...
Further on I saw something small and wriggley in the middle of the road... immediately I made an snap ID that, uncharacteristically, turned out to be correct! Not a stick or snake, but a Hooded Scaly Foot Pygopus nigriceps. I ended up seeing two of them!
I kept momentarily stopping for geckos or if my phone got reception, to call someone (I was bored). One such occasion I did and on stepping out of the car immediately spied a massive set of eyeshine in a mulga. The non-spiny spiny-tailed gecko Strophurus strophurus was a beauty, even if it is the least inspiring of the spiny tail geckos.
An that was the end of the night. There really was not much on the road for the full 125kms. Like all nights out herping, they usually begin with ridiculously high hopes and unrealistic expectations. Much like a problem gambler at the start of a big night.
The next day at 7:25 I found this big old fellow (Varanus panopted rubidus out on the road. As you can see it was overcast and brightish, perfect light for photos...
I love this photo, I was surprised how well it turned out.
and heres the big guy up close.
No Pseudechis butleri unfortunately, but I got some nice pics of some spectacular critters.
There are more of each species posted at Henry Cook's Photo Galleries at pbase.com under the "recent".
All the best,
Henry
You may have read this, it's been posted on another site already...
------
G'day all,
I did a survey of a tenement for mallee fowl mounds a few days ago out around Laverton. It was organised at very short notice so I missed all flights to Leonora or Laverton. Instead I had to fly to Kalgoorlie and drive the 3 or so hours to Laverton. I did, saw little along the way, turned up and assessed the tiny area for mallee fowl mounds (there were none) and go the hell out of there. As my flight home was the next day, I took the opportunity to knock an hour and a half off my drive home and drove the Laverton-Leonora Road in the evening. It was hot and relatively humid and I had high hopes. I'd missed Pseudechis butleri last trip... this time I was sure to find one lazily crossing the road.
I set off stopping occasionally to spotlight for geckos.
Aside from the several Tree Dtella Gehyra variegata the first find was this frog Platyplectrum spenceri. I got very excited. Thats the whole genus, TICK!
I jumped back in the car after a few photos... Back on the trail of a snake...
Further on I saw something small and wriggley in the middle of the road... immediately I made an snap ID that, uncharacteristically, turned out to be correct! Not a stick or snake, but a Hooded Scaly Foot Pygopus nigriceps. I ended up seeing two of them!
I kept momentarily stopping for geckos or if my phone got reception, to call someone (I was bored). One such occasion I did and on stepping out of the car immediately spied a massive set of eyeshine in a mulga. The non-spiny spiny-tailed gecko Strophurus strophurus was a beauty, even if it is the least inspiring of the spiny tail geckos.
An that was the end of the night. There really was not much on the road for the full 125kms. Like all nights out herping, they usually begin with ridiculously high hopes and unrealistic expectations. Much like a problem gambler at the start of a big night.
The next day at 7:25 I found this big old fellow (Varanus panopted rubidus out on the road. As you can see it was overcast and brightish, perfect light for photos...
I love this photo, I was surprised how well it turned out.
and heres the big guy up close.
No Pseudechis butleri unfortunately, but I got some nice pics of some spectacular critters.
There are more of each species posted at Henry Cook's Photo Galleries at pbase.com under the "recent".
All the best,
Henry
