A new interest

[pigysus]

Hi All
I'm lucky to live on a 50 acre bush block in the Clarence river catchment area. It;s reasonably remote, 50 k to Tenterfield and 75 to Casino. Dry sclerophyll forest with some wet gullies and rainforest. very little industry in the area nowadays, formerly minng, timber and cattle. mines all closed, timber business minimal and most of the large cattle enterprises broken up and sub divided for greenies, tree huggers and retirees.
I would like to develop a casual interest in the local reptile wildlife into something a bit more serious. it's not that I'd like to keep snakes or lizards but I'd like to know what is on my patch in more detail and perhaps keep some kind of record of sightings. I'm not silly enough to go around poking sticks into holes, there are enough stories around here about snake bites to keep me sensible.
Are there any field "herpers" around this area to give me some guidelines on how to start,
carpets, red bellies, browns and are reasonably common. beardies, lace monitors and water dragons also. I believe (I hope) I have a whip snake of some description eating all the frogs in my fish pond currently. the option is a young brown which would be less welcome. i've only seen brief glance of it disapearing into rock. A couple of other snakes that I could only guess at as well as a good number of smaller geckos, skinks and dragons.

Ted

 

[fatfrog]

Just get a good book on reptiles so you can get to know the species of reptile on your land

 

[pigysus]

thanks fatfrog, doesn't look like anybody else in the area is interested.

 

[saratoga]

Hi Ted.....Lucky you!

1) Get yourself a good book........"a complete guide to reptiles of australia" by Wilson and Swan is a good one at the moment.....around $50. Use it as a guide to the animals shapes.......colour is also helpful but can be very misleading......get used to looking at head shape, size of scales, long and skinny, short and robust, long legs, small legs etc etc

2) Also a good set of binoculars is invaluable.......but get ones that have a close focusing ability.....ie focus down to about 2 or 3 meters...great for watching snakes, skinks or just about anything.

3) Don't become paranoid about all the stories you have heard about snake bite......by far the majority of bites occur when people are trying to kill or capture snakes. Just be sensible and keep a distance of a couple of metres and you will be right. However always keep a compression bandage in your pocket when walking around the property.....if your'e walking quietly and not watching it is possible to tread on them at times. I have trodden on Red Bellies, Browns, and Tigers and have been lucky not to have been bitten. Given the opportunity snakes will always try to get out of your way.

4) Post some photos on here of your property, habitat and some of the animals you see. We can always help to identify things.

5) Just enjoy watching them......we have some beautiful animals around and herps can be quite interesting to watch. You live in a great part of the country and have a great opportunity to become very familiar with some of the animals on your place......not just casual visits to the bush like those of us stuck in town!

Not sure about the "whip" snake visiting your pond......probably more likely to be a Green Tree Snake.

 

[pythons73]

It sounds as thou your on a nice piece of land.Its good to hear your NOT a shovel headed person,grab a decent book about Australian reptiles,you should be able to indentify the species,Remember to post the pictures,their more than welcome.....

 

[Schlumpe]

Perhaps even cruise thru the Gallery on this site to get an idea of what different types of snakes/lizards look like.

Happy Herping

 

[aquila-G]

Hi Ted, First of all I would like to commend you for your thoughts. Herping is great fun and it is amazing just how much you will learn from just observing reptiles in their natural element. I live at Stanthorpe on the Qld border so it's still a fair distance from Drake but I do pass through there once or twice a year and I know what a beautiful area it truly is.

I can only echo what everyone else has already said but would like to add - get several good books and even think about branching out into recording all the birds and animals you see. Keep accurate records of Date, Time, Weather etc. and these may become quite valuable to Museums and other wildlife organisations.

cheers
Glenn McRae

 

[pigysus]

Thanks Guys, If anyone is passing through, let me know, with a private message and perhaps we can make contact at the pub. If you have time I'll show you around. It's not that I am totally inexperienced, I've lived here for a number of years and dealt with reptiles on a day to day basis. i just want to know a bit more about what they are rather just another funny looky snakey thing!

 

[pigysus]

one other thing, I've posted a few photos recently, Lace Monitor and Robust gecko. I've put them up on "exotics and other reptiles".

ted

 

[mungus]

Any feral pigs or deer on the place a level headed bowhunter could try his luck at ??

 

[pigysus]

Hi Mungus, no not in our immediate area. I think you have to go over the range west of Tenterfield. Our feral problems are dogs and cats. Not many cats but too many dogs. We have had a few donkeys and even a bloody camel until the owner finally tracked it down and took it back. Considering that there are a few goat keepers around, we don't even have a problem with them. Some of the major land owners would probably let you knock over some of the Roos and Wallabies, there seems to be a local feeling that there are too many of them around at times.

Ted

 

[mungus]

Thanks for reply Ted.
I do a bit of hunting and fishing up your way.
Servern River is on a few properties also produces a few cod on fly which is awesome.
Not into roo & Wallaby hunting, fox's is another thing, love bow hunting them.
Cheers,
Aleks.