Goannas on the Go

When climbing Noosa Hill to Sunshine Beach

we first pass through the park picnic area

where it is not uncommon to meet a goanna

This one, an inquisitive fellow

cruising under the picnic table

heading for a group of munching visitors

tinted a light yellowish green in parts

on his young body

just a small to medium sized specimen

not at all like the enormous fellow 

that crept out from under my bed one time

At the top of the hill I look down

over north facing Laguna Bay

round the bend and face south 

to see the village of Sunshine Beach

which is a suburb of Noosa Heads

and further the next small towns 

strung along the coast

Coming down the hill we meet another goanna

on the path who scurries into the undergrowth

and pretends not to be there

He is a bigger fellow

older and greyer

A wild tropical storm yesterday

whipped the leaves from the trees

and carpeted the path in patches

creating a soft cushioned walk 

with silent footfalls

which may have been why we spotted 

the Splendid Blue Wrens

a group of three tiny wrens

flitted and preened in jerky movements

making it impossible to capture a good shot

On our return

after a shared roast turkey, cranberry sauce, rocket and tomato sambo

with carrot, celery apple and ginger juice

we hear a thump

and spot something between the trees

a small red necked wallaby

we've seen him once before in the same spot

amazed that wallabies live in this park

so close to towns

we've never seen another in the National Park

in over 34 years

Australian Wild Iris ~ Dietes Irioides

It has been a good Sunday wildlife walk

and the rain yesterday has overnight

turned the forest green

Oh Happy walking days...