moloch05
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After Kimba, I headed further west to the Gawler Ranges National Park. The Gawlers are an isolated range of hills along the northern end of the Eyre Peninsula. I camped in the northwestern portion of the park. To reach this area, I drove north from the main highway along a dirt road from the little town of Minnipa. The national park once was a series of stations and the valley through the park had been cleared of much of its original vegetation. Now, the area is protected and it is slowly regenerating.
The side canyons were often rugged and beautiful with strange, red rock formations.
... These are rhyolite according to one of the signs that I read.
... odd but beautiful:
I spent most of an evening and the following morning working this gorge (Yandinga). It was quite "herpy" but hard going due to the many loose rocks.
... I watched a Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby scamper across the rocks in the centre of this photo. They are one of the most spectacular marsupials.
... here is a link to a nice photo of these wallabies for those unfamiliar with it:
http://www.flindersranges.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/yellowfoot_grp_lge_img_9611.jpg
... more habitat that I explored:
... spinifex on red rock:
... some sort of succulent, a little like Ephedra in North America:
Along the drive between Minnipa and the Gawlers, I passed a few odd granite moniliths. This one was called Pidappa Rock:
... the typical land use of the area is visible beyond the rock. Most areas were cleared and planted with wheat. The farmers did leave a strip of native vegetation along the fence lines.
Crested Dragons (Ctenophorus cristatus) were farily common along the road through mallee habitat. This is a nicely coloured male.
... their tails are impressive and long:
Peninsular Rock-Dragon (Ctenophorus fionni): These dragons were the primary reason for my visit to the Gawlers. C. fionni is restricted to the Eyre Peninsula and a few mountains just to the north of the peninsula.
... male
... female:
Ctenotus skinks were numerous. I am not certain but think that these were probably C. robustus. C. regius and C. orientalis are similar and also found in the Gawlers.
Tree Skinks (Egernia striolita) were common in the rock crevices. The name "Tree" Skink is not such a good one since these are just as common in rock crevices as they are on old trees. The animals from this area are distinctively marked.
During my single night in the park, I drove along the dirt tracks and also tried walking up some of the canyons but unfortunately I only found a single gecko. I really hoped for Starred Knob-tailed Geckos (Nephrurus stellatus) that occur in the park but I had no luck. The night was windy and a little cool due to a passing change but I still was surprised to find so little.
Beaded Gecko (Lucasium damaeum) -- this was a new species to me and I was surprised by its size. I expected the animal to be about the size of the Sand Plains Gecko (L. stenodactylum) but it was larger.
Emu Bush (Eremomela):
flowering Grevillea:
Regards,
David
The side canyons were often rugged and beautiful with strange, red rock formations.
... These are rhyolite according to one of the signs that I read.
... odd but beautiful:
I spent most of an evening and the following morning working this gorge (Yandinga). It was quite "herpy" but hard going due to the many loose rocks.
... I watched a Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby scamper across the rocks in the centre of this photo. They are one of the most spectacular marsupials.
... here is a link to a nice photo of these wallabies for those unfamiliar with it:
http://www.flindersranges.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/yellowfoot_grp_lge_img_9611.jpg
... more habitat that I explored:
... spinifex on red rock:
... some sort of succulent, a little like Ephedra in North America:
Along the drive between Minnipa and the Gawlers, I passed a few odd granite moniliths. This one was called Pidappa Rock:
... the typical land use of the area is visible beyond the rock. Most areas were cleared and planted with wheat. The farmers did leave a strip of native vegetation along the fence lines.
Crested Dragons (Ctenophorus cristatus) were farily common along the road through mallee habitat. This is a nicely coloured male.
... their tails are impressive and long:
Peninsular Rock-Dragon (Ctenophorus fionni): These dragons were the primary reason for my visit to the Gawlers. C. fionni is restricted to the Eyre Peninsula and a few mountains just to the north of the peninsula.
... male
... female:
Ctenotus skinks were numerous. I am not certain but think that these were probably C. robustus. C. regius and C. orientalis are similar and also found in the Gawlers.
Tree Skinks (Egernia striolita) were common in the rock crevices. The name "Tree" Skink is not such a good one since these are just as common in rock crevices as they are on old trees. The animals from this area are distinctively marked.
During my single night in the park, I drove along the dirt tracks and also tried walking up some of the canyons but unfortunately I only found a single gecko. I really hoped for Starred Knob-tailed Geckos (Nephrurus stellatus) that occur in the park but I had no luck. The night was windy and a little cool due to a passing change but I still was surprised to find so little.
Beaded Gecko (Lucasium damaeum) -- this was a new species to me and I was surprised by its size. I expected the animal to be about the size of the Sand Plains Gecko (L. stenodactylum) but it was larger.
Emu Bush (Eremomela):
flowering Grevillea:
Regards,
David
