I recently had a week break from work so decided to visit a couple of my favourite areas in the eastern deserts. The first destination was the Lake Eyre Basin near Winton in central western Queensland. This is one of the relatively close places for me to herp but it was a 26 hour drive from my home. I spent a day and a half in the car to reach this beautiful place. The basin is the floor of an ancient sea. The old shoreline now is marked by a line of small, rock hills that are covered with spinifex. These is herp-rich habitat although many of the species are secretive and hard to actually see and photograph.
I really enjoy the colours of this hilly area at sunset. The low level light really brings out the reds of the rock and the yellow of the spinifex.
This is the habitat of Phasmid Striped Geckos (Strophurus taeniatus), spinifex growing on rocky soil. Several of the Aussie herpers on the forum have posted photos of these nicely marked little geckos from this area. I walked the flats and searched the clumps of spinifex but I was not successful to these species remains on my wish list.
I did have success with another of the more easily found spiny-tails, Strophurus krisalys. I found a few of these geckos with fantastic eyes.
This was was practically "glued" to the road. The night was not overly warm and the gecko appeared to be attempting to soak up as much warmth as it could from the asphalt.
This year, the big Prickly Knob-tailed Geckos (Nephrurus asper) were the most common gecko on the road. Large adults often stood upright like this on the shoulder of the road. These geckos were pugnacious and often would hiss, arch their backs and act threatening when I approached them for photos. Here are photos of several of those encountered.
... this one was hissing while I took its photo:
Marbled Velvet Geckos (Oedura marmorata) are always a nice sight. I found several of these lovely geckos as they crossed the road.
Pale-striped Ground Geckos (Lucasium immaculatum) were fairly scarce this year. I normally see good numbers but only found two on this trip. One acted in quite a strange way. It ran from me then arched its back and flicked its tail from side-to-side like a cat.
I saw a couple Gehyra robusta in a culvert.
... bats in the same culvert.
I think that this is a little Gibber Earless Dragon (Tympanocryptis intima). It was active at night on the road appeared to be soaking up warmth from the road like the geckos. These little lizards were one of the pebble mimicking species.
I saw a single Spinifex Slender Blue-Tongue (Cyclodomorphus melanops). This was the second of the species that I have found and both were on the road like this at night.
I believe that this was an Eastern Hooded Scaly Foot (Pygopus schraderi). It was huge and I assumed that it was a snake when I stopped the car. Markings were quite weak on the head of this old lizard.
This year, I only saw two of these huge Yellow-spotted Monitors (Varanus panoptes). This one attempted to hide when I stepped out of the car.
... annoyed and stomping away:
These are really lovely big lizards that usually appear fearless when approached.
I usually returned to Winton each day to refuel. Winton is situated in the Mitchell Grass Downs, plains that are covered with grasslands growing on cracking clay. I saw a few Downs Bearded Dragons (Pogona henrylawsoni) here but they were all too wary for photos. This is also the home of Spencer's Monitors (Varanus spenceri) but I did not see any this year.
Emus were common in the grasslands:
Australian Bustards were also a common sight. These were big, turkey like birds. The males inflate an airsac that hangs to the ground when calling.
I found a colony of these lovely Azures last year. I am not certain of the species. They could be either Satin or Silky Azure. These butterflies life around clumps of mistletoe. I found many flowering mistletoe in trees near a creek so worked this area to see the butterflies.
The Azure (Ogyris oroetes or O. amarylis)
Caper White (Belenois java)
... I will add photos from Windorah tomorrow
I really enjoy the colours of this hilly area at sunset. The low level light really brings out the reds of the rock and the yellow of the spinifex.
This is the habitat of Phasmid Striped Geckos (Strophurus taeniatus), spinifex growing on rocky soil. Several of the Aussie herpers on the forum have posted photos of these nicely marked little geckos from this area. I walked the flats and searched the clumps of spinifex but I was not successful to these species remains on my wish list.
I did have success with another of the more easily found spiny-tails, Strophurus krisalys. I found a few of these geckos with fantastic eyes.
This was was practically "glued" to the road. The night was not overly warm and the gecko appeared to be attempting to soak up as much warmth as it could from the asphalt.
This year, the big Prickly Knob-tailed Geckos (Nephrurus asper) were the most common gecko on the road. Large adults often stood upright like this on the shoulder of the road. These geckos were pugnacious and often would hiss, arch their backs and act threatening when I approached them for photos. Here are photos of several of those encountered.
... this one was hissing while I took its photo:
Marbled Velvet Geckos (Oedura marmorata) are always a nice sight. I found several of these lovely geckos as they crossed the road.
Pale-striped Ground Geckos (Lucasium immaculatum) were fairly scarce this year. I normally see good numbers but only found two on this trip. One acted in quite a strange way. It ran from me then arched its back and flicked its tail from side-to-side like a cat.
I saw a couple Gehyra robusta in a culvert.
... bats in the same culvert.
I think that this is a little Gibber Earless Dragon (Tympanocryptis intima). It was active at night on the road appeared to be soaking up warmth from the road like the geckos. These little lizards were one of the pebble mimicking species.
I saw a single Spinifex Slender Blue-Tongue (Cyclodomorphus melanops). This was the second of the species that I have found and both were on the road like this at night.
I believe that this was an Eastern Hooded Scaly Foot (Pygopus schraderi). It was huge and I assumed that it was a snake when I stopped the car. Markings were quite weak on the head of this old lizard.
This year, I only saw two of these huge Yellow-spotted Monitors (Varanus panoptes). This one attempted to hide when I stepped out of the car.
... annoyed and stomping away:
These are really lovely big lizards that usually appear fearless when approached.
I usually returned to Winton each day to refuel. Winton is situated in the Mitchell Grass Downs, plains that are covered with grasslands growing on cracking clay. I saw a few Downs Bearded Dragons (Pogona henrylawsoni) here but they were all too wary for photos. This is also the home of Spencer's Monitors (Varanus spenceri) but I did not see any this year.
Emus were common in the grasslands:
Australian Bustards were also a common sight. These were big, turkey like birds. The males inflate an airsac that hangs to the ground when calling.
I found a colony of these lovely Azures last year. I am not certain of the species. They could be either Satin or Silky Azure. These butterflies life around clumps of mistletoe. I found many flowering mistletoe in trees near a creek so worked this area to see the butterflies.
The Azure (Ogyris oroetes or O. amarylis)
Caper White (Belenois java)
... I will add photos from Windorah tomorrow
