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Mel

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Hi Everyone,

My partner and I went Bushwalking on the weekend just past, out in Springbrook National Park in South East Queensland. We did a 4hr walk, and spotted a few herps for our troubles!

I tried to put the pics in this message, but I can't seem to get it to work. Have to settle for url's.

The first one we saw was very obviously a Red Belly Black snake. Very nice little specimen it was too, sunning itself casually on some rocks right next to the walking track.

http://www.aussiepythons.com/module...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

The second we saw we think is a Stephen's Banded Snake. They are common to that area, apparently. He was also very close to the walking track, but was well camoflagued. Luckily, he didn't seem to mind us clambering down amongst the bushes and shoving our camera in his face.

http://www.aussiepythons.com/module...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

http://www.aussiepythons.com/module...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

The last snake we saw we're really not sure about. We thought it could be some variety of whip, but we really don't know.

http://www.aussiepythons.com/module...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

http://www.aussiepythons.com/module...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

We also saw a gigantic Land Mullet. Damn thing was MASSIVE! Must've been 2ft long!

http://www.aussiepythons.com/module...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

So, we had a very herpiful bushwalk. Anyone know what that third snake might be?

Mel x
 
nice photos especially stephens banded snake. that one you aren't sure of is black bellied marsh/swamp snake
 
Mel,
Some nice photo's.
I went to Springbrook mountain in late December 2003, I know what you mean by the size of those Land Mullets! Ton's of them to.

Neil
 
My uncle went to Springbrook a few weeks back, there was a 3 foot carpet on the side of a track with a VERY large lump in its guts. I have some photos around here somewhere, will post them.
 
4 hour walk? Was that the Purlingbrook walk.
The black snake is the Small-eyed snake Cryptophis nigrescens http://150.101.58.70/thumbnails.php?id=Snake_Small_Eyed_Snake
I think you are right on the Stephen's Banded Snake and your lucky, I've never seen one there.
The unknown is a marsh snake Hemiaspia signata, very common at the top of the (Springbrook) twin falls walk.
Only one land mullet? At this time of the year if you want to photograph one there, you normaly have to push three away.
And there is a great morph of the GTS there, most are green and yellow but there is the occasional black and yellow.
And please don't mention Springbrook again, it makes me homesick :cry:
 
the first snake is definatly a red belly!!!
you can see the red on the side of its neck.
 
Fuscus said:
4 hour walk? Was that the Purlingbrook walk.

Yes Fuscus, it was the Purlingbrook Falls and Warrego Pool walk.

We had just assumed that the first snake was a Red Belly Black...seeing as it was Black with a Red Belly. Never occurred to me that it would be anything else.

http://www.aussiepythons.com/module...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

NCHERPS said:
Mel, Some nice photo's.

Thanks :D We were pretty pleased with them. Giving credit where credit is due, they were all very cooperative and photogenic snakes. Lol. Poor little buggers. We were reasonably close (like 2ft away), but were still using full digital zoom with the Stephen's Banded Snake, but with the others, we had the camera right in their little faces.

sxereturn said:
My uncle went to Springbrook a few weeks back, there was a 3 foot carpet on the side of a track with a VERY large lump in its guts.

We saw a very similar sight at Christmas at O'Reilly's Tree Tops Walk...except that it was about 6ft with a very large 'protusion' in its stomach. It was very friendly too.

We're going to go on another walk this weekend and/or next...just have to decide where to go. Obviously, we like to tailor our walks to where we're likely to see the most herps. Any ideas Fuscus?

Mel x
 
I think its a red belly as well, infact im sure of it. Ive seen plenty of small eyed snakes, they are very glossy, different shaped head, and not as stocky. Head scales are also small in proportion to head size than a red belly. That snake also has much bigger eye cavities than a small eyed snake and the sides of the head is a different shape. That snake has the most typical example of a red belly shaped head its not funny. It is also MUCH more robust than any small eyed snake.
 
yeah i agree small eyed snakes are exactly that eyes so small you can barely see them and dont have a brow over the eye like red belly. you sure had a good day. i lived just 5min down the road from where you went walking for more than 20 years and never saw a stephens banded snake in the national park. in fact ive never seen one in daytime. good job
 
There are lots of small eyed snakes in that area and they tend not to bolt in fact this fella
http://150.101.58.70/thumbnails.php?id=Snake_Small_Eyed_Snake allowed me to remove the leaf litter of him for the photograph, but I do agree that the head shape is wrong.. Anyhow if mel isn't willing to go and catch him then do a scale count (BG) , then I think we should agree to disagree.

As for reptile walks, Purlingbrook and the near by Twin falls is pretty good - I've seen coastals, GTS, RBBS, Small-eyed snake, marsh snakes, white crowned snakes, Lacies, land mullets and major skinks. Some of the bigger Land mullets will stand their ground and hiss at you. Also what I recommend is to do the walk a few times to learn the layout then do the walk on a damp night, preferbly near a full moon. That three torchs (just in case). Walk along looking for eye shine on the ground. Most will be spiders but once in a while you can find a leaf-tailed gecko. Also Great barred frogs http://150.101.58.70/thumbnails.php?id=Frog_Great_Bared_Frog , red eyed frogs http://150.101.58.70/thumbnails.php?id=Frog_Red_Eyed_Green_Tree_Frog (but it may be a bit late) and the amazing king cricket http://150.101.58.70/thumbnails.php?id=Insect_King_Cricket .

Even if you don't see any herps it is a fantastic experence, the waterfall in moonlight is stunning. But watch out for the large black possums there http://150.101.58.70/thumbnails.php?id=Possum_BrushTail_Possom&num=03 . They sit quietly until you are about 2 meters away, when the loudly scream and bolt. Take spare underwear.

All photos above are from Purlingbrook.

Another really good place is Girraween NP, south of Stanthorpe. Its about three hours away, perhaps a weekend trip. Being Stanthorpe I wouldn't recommend going there in winter. Anyhow climb the pyramids http://150.101.58.70/thumbnails.php?id=Scene_Girraween&num=04 and look for the spectacular new england Cunninghams Skink http://150.101.58.70/thumbnails.php?id=Skink_Cunninghams_Skink . You'll take one look and want one. Also look out for small dragons and large king browns. At night possums patrol the campsites (watch it, they are thieves), but keep an eye out for sugar gliders, they are not shy there.
 
Thanks for the info Fuscus.

We decided to follow your advice, and take a night walk at Purlingbrook on Sunday night. It was my first night time herp spotting adventure, and I must confess, it was a bit freaky.

A short way in, it got very dark, and all the crickets and such went very quiet. I was thinking about the pumas and cougars said to live in NSW national parks, but luckily, it was only some freaky guy walking through there in only shorts and a tee shirt (in the rain), with barely a torch to speak of.

Unfortunately however, unlike the freak-boy, the herps were in hiding. We saw four frogs, a tawny frog mouth, and a possum :? This week, hopefull we'll head for the Twin Falls walk. We might save Giraween NP until it gets a bit warmer... and closer to raspberry season. There's a raspberry farm in Stanthorpe...and they're my favourite :D

Mel x
 
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