Some Snakes of Western Australia

Western Australia is also a fantastic place for snakes. So far I've encountered 12 species, two of which were roadkill (Pseudechis australis and Pseudonaja nuchalis). I was very excited to see my first Jan's Banded Snake (Simoselaps bertholdi) in the coastal dunes around Perth. We also found one in the Robinson Range.

Southwestern Carpet Python (Morelia spilota imbricata), Cervantes, Dec 2009

Tiger Snake (Notechis scutatus), Perth, Oct 2009

Jan's Banded Snake (Simoselaps bertholdi), Perth, Oct 2009

Ramphotyphlops hamatus, Robinson Range, Nov 2009

Monk Snake (Parasuta monachus), Robinson Range, Nov 2009

Northwestern Shovel-nosed Snake (Brachyurophis approximans), Robinson Range, Nov 2009

Southern Blind Snake (Ramphotyphlops australis), Darling Ranges, Oct 2009

Gould's Snake (Parasuta gouldii), Darling Ranges, Oct 2009

Some Geckos of Western Australia

Since moving to Perth, Western Australia, my reptile list has blossomed nicely. Geckos are a particular favourite family of mine, and 8 of the 12 species I have seen here have been new. Fortunately I've been able to work in some intersting places, and was able to observe some unique species. Additional species I have seen, but not photographed, are Christinus marmoratus, Diplodactylus pulcher, Gehyra punctata and Rhychoedura ornata.

Fat-tailed Gecko (Diplodactylus conspicillatus), Jack Hills, Sep 2009

Sand-plain Gecko (Lucasium stenodactylum), Jack Hills, Sep 2009

Banded Knob-tailed Gecko (Nephrurus wheeleri cinctus), Robinson Range, Nov 2009

Lucasium wombeyi, Robinson Range, Nov 2009

Western Stone Gecko (Diplodactylus granariensis rex), Robinson Range, Nov 2009

Thick-tailed Gecko (Underwoodisaurus milii), Darling Ranges, Oct 2009

Tree Dtella (Gehyra variegata), Darling Ranges, Oct 2009

Clawless Gecko (Crenadactylus ocellatus ocellatus), Darling Ranges, Oct 2009

Soft Spiny-tailed Gecko (Strophurus spinigerus), Cervantes, Dec 2009

Aus Bird #486 - Bridled Tern - Penguin Island, WA

On the 26th of January, 2010 (Australia Day), Jaime and I visited Penguin Island, about 1hr south of Perth. We were hoping to see the Bridled Terns that nest on the island. We were in luck, as there were hundreds of them all over the island. Many of the nests had chicks of various sizes. We also found Buff-banded Rails to be very easy to see around the picnic area on the island, and we counted 11. King's Skinks (Egernia kingii), another lifer, also roamed about in equal numbers, often outcompeting the rails for food scraps such as watermelon peel.

Bridled Tern #486 (excluding introduced species)

Little Penguins (2 underneath jetty)

Buff-banded Rail