Muted barking in trees 30 metres across swamp grasses led me to Common Tree Snake trying to eat big pale-hued White-lipped Tree Frog in Tyto today.
First strike got frog behind front leg. Some blood flowed down side. Grip later shifted - before my arrival - to rear foot. Usual frog defence: make a lot of noise and either wedge into crevice or try to walk away.
Frog won - as I was changing lenses! Makes it Frogs 4 Snakes 0 for my sightings over recent years. But in all cases the frogs were large and the tree snakes moderate in length (about 1m).
No great pix from any of the four contests, but above, from three years back, is best.
Hi Tony,
ReplyDeletewhat a stunning observation - and that last picture is absolutely awesome. Thank you for sharing these natural struggles from your part of the country.
Thanks Gaye. I find it a bit sad that the general aversion to snakes applies even to commenting on such rare sightings.
ReplyDeleteThose are great shots of something you don't see everyday. I'd love to get some video of that!
ReplyDeleteHi Richard: Be prepared to carry your video for 4-5 hours a day for about 3 years, listen hard, chase every sound through waist-high grasses, and be very very lucky... And I still haven't a first-rate picture!
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