Sunday Walk

Today's Sunday walk

yielded, up close

one kookaburra

two goannas

 wikimedia commons

one Rufous fantail

and some fluffy ornamental grasses

On our return from Sunshine Beach

we followed a large goanna

a lace monitor

who seemed unaware of our presence

he swung his large bulky body

in a lumbering gait

rollicking from side to side

as his front right leg

plodded forward

his shoulders and top half of his body

swung to the left

and then to the opposite side

he only noticed us when we were quite close

and he stepped off the track into the bush

he has large ear holes

no ear auricle

and doesn't seem to hear very well

when I uploaded the images

I noticed the reason 

for his head swinging actions

he is using his long extended tongue

to detect, smell and taste the air particles

his forked tongue allows him to determine

what direction a scent is coming from

he can detect the scent of rotting carrion

from as far away as 9 km

that's about 6 miles

This lace monitor

is dark grey with numerous 

scattered cream spots

and black and cream bands on his tail

He was thought to be non venomous

and infections from bites 

due to the bacteria in his mouth

but it has been recently found 

that he is mildly venomous

Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri 1932—21 June 2002 

The goanna features prominently 

in Aboriginal mythology and folklore

as well as in their art work and diet

He is considered a high risk 

but tasty meal...

Three For Tea

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Three For Tea

My friend popped in

on her walk

and so I made a cup of tea

and we slipped into the nest

for a chat

As we talked she let out a groan

as an intruder emerged

from my bedroom

she grabbed a chair

and adopted her lion tamer stance

which she employs 

to keep Murray at bay

while I went for a broom

and the camera of course...

Gertrude the Goanna, meanwhile 

had attempted to escape 

through the ground level window

to no avail

and had become increasingly agitated

Just look at her claws

another dead end Gerty

come this way...

she reared her head

arched her neck

and thrashed around 

like a dinosaur

from Jurassic Park

at the whiff of fresh air

she changed direction

and shot out the door

run run

as fast as you can

  

down the terrace

around the corner

and into the garden

I went into the bedroom to check

and found no doors open

but I had 

a few hours earlier

opened a door when

I was hot vacuuming

the wind must have blown it shut

and Gertrude became trapped...

I did look under the bed 

before I went to sleep last night

in case she had a friend...

and I will be more vigilant now

that I know we share the same territory

Gertrude may be around more often...

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