Sunday, August 23, 2009

Python pauses on pandanus



One day after commenting about pythons on another post (this is for you, Bronwen), and referring to their liking for pandanus, this Amethyst turned up in Tyto today. (It did so well away from the numerous visitors attending a Tyto Expo weekend, who were ferried around the lagoons by a fleet of golf buggies.)

How to find such snakes? Stand still frequently and listen carefully. Even small reptiles will make some noise if moving about on dry litter. This snake crunched through pandanus for some minutes before emerging and ascending the bare trunk it's semi-wrapped around.

No picture, but even louder noises in waist-high grasses yesterday - and seemingly coming from a large animal - signalled the purposeful progress of a particularly fat Red-bellied Black snake. Even from 30 metres away, the snake's swift flow through and high up in the grasses was audible and visible.

Most birds, naturally, ignored the many visitors, who, in turn, just as naturally failed to see most of the birds, but enjoyed the scenic beauty of their surroundings. Naturally, the skies were brilliantly blue through both days.


Got this Red-browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis) early today before the buggies began rolling around the place.


Same with this Red-backed Fairy-wren (Malurus melanocephalus), which paused just long enough on sunlit branch.


Not a lot of action out on the water apart from this Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarba melanoleucos) taking off after I appeared. They are very wary when in the water and almost nonchalant once parked up in trees.

6 comments:

Gouldiae said...

G'day Tony,
Your seemed to have well honed snake finding skills. Nice looking beast, and the RB Black would have been impressive.
Loved the Red-backed Wren. Made me ponder a little. We have Red-browed Finches as you do up there. There are seeds up there and seeds down here, etc.
Like you, we have insects, (and a couple of wrens), but we don't have Red-backed Wrens. Why do some species adapt and cover such a large geographical range and others don't?
Anyway, glad we don't all have the same birds - there'd be nothing to read about each morning.
Regards,
Gouldiae.
PS: We got a few mm last night. Less than 10 mind you, but helpful. Haven't had to water a green for nearly a week now!

Andy said...

Nice shots. I like that Red-backed Fairy-wren.

Tyto Tony said...

Hi Gouldiae: Would that be more than a skitter?
I've no answer to birds and regions. It is striking that Variegated FWs cover most of Oz, but not here or northeast. Red-backeds seem to like the heat. As do Lovelies (in here but seldom seen). And Red-browed Finches are like most of us in preferring to live on or close to the east coast.

Thanks Andy. I'm thinking only fill flash can reveal all the detail of the jet black feathers. I'll be adding a 580EX to my gear later in year.

Denis Wilson said...

Hi Tony
Nice Python.
Do you do the "Dead Parrot"sketch?
.
Nice images all round.
Cheers
Denis

Tyto Tony said...

Hi Denis: More Goon than Python fan. I find radio humour holds up better.

Snail said...

What a fantastic python! I'm looking forward to encountering one of my own. Until then, I'll enjoy your snake-spotting skills.

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