moloch05
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After two nights at Shark Bay, my wife and headed south. We drove about 7 hours down to Nambung NP for a night (pics in Perth post) and then another 7 hours south to Margaret River. The wine buffs out there will immediately recognize the name of this town. It is in the heart of the wine-growing region of WA and it is surrounded by dozens of vineyards. Margaret River is quite a trendy place with lots of nice shops and restaurants.
Here are a few habitat pics:
Mouth of the Margaret River:
Margaret River and forest near the cabin where we stayed. There was an excellent trail along the river that passed through eucalyptus woodland and heath.
At Margaret River, I forsake herping for a couple of days and did the touristy things with my wife. Margaret River is a great place for a non-herping partner with its many vineyards, a chocolate factory, a cheese factory, an olive oil farm, venison products, lavender farm ... This is my wife and I in her preferred habitat:
I did get out a little and found some interesting animals. The most exciting to me was this Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus). Tigers in the west are dark unlike those from the Wollongong area. The first time that I saw this snake, it was sunning on the bottom step of a walkway behind a house. It shot into cover and I was not able to take a photo. The next morning, it had moved to nearby rocks along the river. Again, it saw me before I spotted it and it raced into a crevice. I sat and waited. After about 5 minutes, it emerged and then allowed me to closely approach it as long as I moved slowly. The snake shifted positions often and seemed to try and sun different parts of its body. It kept its hood fanned but I think that this was part of its thermoregulatory behaviour rather than alarm.
I found a number of skinks along the river. This Lowland Earless Skink (Hemiergis peronii tridactyla) was a new species to me. The three toes on its right foot are visible in the first photo.
Southwestern Crevice Skinks (Egernia napoleonis) were fairly common. I usually saw them sunning on fallen logs.
This Western Glossy Swamp Skink (Egernia luctosa) was another lifer. I only saw this single lizard on one occasion. According to the field guide, this is a water-adapted Egernia that will leap into water and swim to cover.
I saw several Red-legged Ctenotus (Ctenotus labillardieri). For Ctenotus skinks, they seemed quite lethargic. Most are nervous and constantly on the move ... a little like whiptails in North America.
Frogs were numerous by call. I heard Motorbike Tree Frogs (Litoria moorei), Slender Tree Frogs (Litoria adelaidensis) and these small Crinia. I am not certain but think that this was a Quaking Froglet (Crinia georgiana). There are a number of very similar Crinia and Geocrinia froglets in the southwest.
FLOWERS
The spring flowers along the river were superb. One of may favourites was this Purple Enamel Orchid (Elythranthera brunonis). I had seen photos of the enamel orchids before but these were the first that I have observed. Their petals were incredible and seemed almost synthetic due to the gloss.
Cowslip Orchids (Caladenia flava) were common.
Sun Orchids (Thelymitra sp.) were also common. They are called sun orchids since they open their petals during the day but close them overnight.
Various flowering peas were abundant and some were quite stunning.
I think that this is a Running Postman (Kennedia prostrate):
Coral Vine (Kennedia coccinea)
Gastrolobium sp., I think:
Another pea:
Patersonia umbrosa On the east coast, I only see these with purple petals.
Fringe Lily (Thysanotus sp.)
Blind Grass (Stypanda sp.)
Fan Flower (Scaevola sp.) and Dampiera sp.
Another of what I think to be a Dampiera sp.
Rose Banjine (Pimelea rosea). These were abundant and beautiful along the coast walks.
Boronia sp.
Oak Leaf Grevillea (Grevillea quercifolia)
Conostylis sp., a relative of the Kangaroo Paws.
Cowlicks (Stylidium schoenides), A trigger plant with huge flowers.
Hooded Lily (Johnsonia sp.)
Winged Stackhousia
Regards,
David
Here are a few habitat pics:
Mouth of the Margaret River:
Margaret River and forest near the cabin where we stayed. There was an excellent trail along the river that passed through eucalyptus woodland and heath.
At Margaret River, I forsake herping for a couple of days and did the touristy things with my wife. Margaret River is a great place for a non-herping partner with its many vineyards, a chocolate factory, a cheese factory, an olive oil farm, venison products, lavender farm ... This is my wife and I in her preferred habitat:
I did get out a little and found some interesting animals. The most exciting to me was this Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus). Tigers in the west are dark unlike those from the Wollongong area. The first time that I saw this snake, it was sunning on the bottom step of a walkway behind a house. It shot into cover and I was not able to take a photo. The next morning, it had moved to nearby rocks along the river. Again, it saw me before I spotted it and it raced into a crevice. I sat and waited. After about 5 minutes, it emerged and then allowed me to closely approach it as long as I moved slowly. The snake shifted positions often and seemed to try and sun different parts of its body. It kept its hood fanned but I think that this was part of its thermoregulatory behaviour rather than alarm.
I found a number of skinks along the river. This Lowland Earless Skink (Hemiergis peronii tridactyla) was a new species to me. The three toes on its right foot are visible in the first photo.
Southwestern Crevice Skinks (Egernia napoleonis) were fairly common. I usually saw them sunning on fallen logs.
This Western Glossy Swamp Skink (Egernia luctosa) was another lifer. I only saw this single lizard on one occasion. According to the field guide, this is a water-adapted Egernia that will leap into water and swim to cover.
I saw several Red-legged Ctenotus (Ctenotus labillardieri). For Ctenotus skinks, they seemed quite lethargic. Most are nervous and constantly on the move ... a little like whiptails in North America.
Frogs were numerous by call. I heard Motorbike Tree Frogs (Litoria moorei), Slender Tree Frogs (Litoria adelaidensis) and these small Crinia. I am not certain but think that this was a Quaking Froglet (Crinia georgiana). There are a number of very similar Crinia and Geocrinia froglets in the southwest.
FLOWERS
The spring flowers along the river were superb. One of may favourites was this Purple Enamel Orchid (Elythranthera brunonis). I had seen photos of the enamel orchids before but these were the first that I have observed. Their petals were incredible and seemed almost synthetic due to the gloss.
Cowslip Orchids (Caladenia flava) were common.
Sun Orchids (Thelymitra sp.) were also common. They are called sun orchids since they open their petals during the day but close them overnight.
Various flowering peas were abundant and some were quite stunning.
I think that this is a Running Postman (Kennedia prostrate):
Coral Vine (Kennedia coccinea)
Gastrolobium sp., I think:
Another pea:
Patersonia umbrosa On the east coast, I only see these with purple petals.
Fringe Lily (Thysanotus sp.)
Blind Grass (Stypanda sp.)
Fan Flower (Scaevola sp.) and Dampiera sp.
Another of what I think to be a Dampiera sp.
Rose Banjine (Pimelea rosea). These were abundant and beautiful along the coast walks.
Boronia sp.
Oak Leaf Grevillea (Grevillea quercifolia)
Conostylis sp., a relative of the Kangaroo Paws.
Cowlicks (Stylidium schoenides), A trigger plant with huge flowers.
Hooded Lily (Johnsonia sp.)
Winged Stackhousia
Regards,
David
