Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Visits after the rain

Massive rain of late has been a boon for amphibians.
Local swampland has been alive with the calls of many species, though one species is visiting in mass. The Emerald Spotted Tree-frog.
Attracted to insects drawn by the light from windows we have had as many as five at a time on one window, curiously studying me I photographed them.

I thought I would include this shot, as the way the legs are positioned make the creature look more alien than it already does, when I noticed something strange.
The frog has two mosquitoes on it and they seem to be feeding.
The shots are a little rough, though show the little mozzies seemingly feeding on an amphibian. Perhaps someone may say it happens all the time, though it was news to me.



Mozzies are an unwelcome visitor to many, it seems.
Here is another.
Looking cute and alert, this years baby Red Bellied Black Snake was checking if the rains had finished.
Driven from the spot where it lived in our yard by rising water, it found shelter in the shed.
It proceeded to the garden where I watched it catch some small skinks for lunch.
Many animals have had to relocate with the rains.
Meetings, both welcome and unwelcome, with we humans are at a high.
In Australia, as in any other place we are graced by the natural world, its a matter of learning how to coexist and share our space.
No, the Red Belly cant come inside.
The shed will have to do.


1 comment:

  1. Simply beautiful observations, David.
    Good t even notice the Mozzies, but the underneath images of the frogs are great.
    But one seldom sees a more beautiful image of a snake than your "young red-belly".
    Cheers
    Denis

    ReplyDelete

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