By Maxine Cummings
NATURE can afford us such wonderful moments when we have time to sit and watch. The week before Xmas we camped at the Powlett River campground with two friends for three nights. Walks, rail trail, river, ocean, flora and fauna – this area has it all.
One hot afternoon we were sitting around chatting when two sizeable blue tongue lizards with striking markings appeared. They were obviously used to people. Very casual, no fear or hissing, they wandered around our feet and chairs from one to another.
NATURE can afford us such wonderful moments when we have time to sit and watch. The week before Xmas we camped at the Powlett River campground with two friends for three nights. Walks, rail trail, river, ocean, flora and fauna – this area has it all.
One hot afternoon we were sitting around chatting when two sizeable blue tongue lizards with striking markings appeared. They were obviously used to people. Very casual, no fear or hissing, they wandered around our feet and chairs from one to another.
As a gardener I know they like strawberries so we offered one to each. There was a comical run straight for the berries. They ate them with delight, without going too far away.
Then you start asking questions. According to the reptile sites, skinks are the smartest of the lizard family. If you have a resident lizard in your yard, they can recognise people and sounds. They have 10 to 19 live young that are independent straight away.
I’ve seen many blue tongue lizards but these are things I didn’t know.
We all agreed, having heard the tale, that if a blue tongue is around there won’t be any snakes near. Myth busted. According to the reptile site, they are quite a favoured food for tigers, red belly blacks and eastern browns!
It was a great place to camp. Thank you to Carol and Rob. Such a lovely natural spot so close to home. And we now have a new understanding of our blue tongue lizards.
I’ve seen many blue tongue lizards but these are things I didn’t know.
We all agreed, having heard the tale, that if a blue tongue is around there won’t be any snakes near. Myth busted. According to the reptile site, they are quite a favoured food for tigers, red belly blacks and eastern browns!
It was a great place to camp. Thank you to Carol and Rob. Such a lovely natural spot so close to home. And we now have a new understanding of our blue tongue lizards.