The Snake's Tree in Summer, 2007

The snake's tree, taken 23rd January, 2007

The low and brighter green bush is Acacia paradoxa.

The Snake's Tree

Here are two more detailed photographs of the tree that the snake went into, but *without the snake.

I ought to be identifying these trees.
I call myself an Australian and I cannot even distinguish one Eucalypt from another.

The top photo was taken in November.

Another question has been asked about the identity of the deep green climbing plant that the snake is climbing through. (it is intertwined with Bridal Creeper weed)


This second photo was taken in July 2005, that is, in the winter after I saw the snake.

The only creeper in evidence is the Bridal Creeper.


Though these pictures are old and not great quality, they will make a start for me, even if only as memory joggers to take more detailed notes and photos next time I go back.

*as far as I could tell :)

I found it!

This is what I call "the snake's tree".
I had wanted to post it with the last blog, about trying to photograph the young eagle trying to leave the nest.

While stepping from place to place keeping it in view as much as possible, I was looking through the camera viewfinder, NOT at the ground.

I heard the snake before I saw it and smartened up very quickly.
:)
I believe it to be a Tiger Snake.
Luckily for me, it was not very aggressive and moved away from me, as they always do, given half a chance.

While watching the snake this time, I was trying to change the camera settings from long distance to up much closer and almost missed it before it disappeared.

Here is proof of their climbing abilities.

It went up the tree trunk about a metre and into a hollow branch, using the rough bark at the base for purchase.

Wedge Tail Eagle Nestling: November 2005

This was one day when I wished for a video! I bobbed around bushes for 5 minutes or so, trying for a clear view of the youngster. We were each, equally awkward.

The young wedge tail wobbled and flapped its way from branch to branch, generally away from the nest and towards the outside of the tree's canopy, with a few backwards steps.

Once, it lost its footing, held on with one foot and then "clawed" its way upright again.

Only after much flapping while holding firmly to the branch with both feet did it "jump" and _then_ flap in a way that appeared to be truly hard work, gaining height after its initial fall and power away over the ridge.

Neither of the two adults that we ordinarily saw around there were present, as far as I could tell, that morning.

That was the only time I ever saw the young one, though we saw the adults soaring high above the land around us for about an hour, later in the day.

Wedge Tail Eagle Nest

The best photographs that I have of the nest were taken by a friend.









Close up














Then ... further back








Thanks Marg.
Oops!
She won't be able to see them.
I made the images too big.
:?


and the most recent photographs taken just two weeks ago ...

Wedge Tail Eagle Tree

I love this tree.



It is a magnificent Eucalypt and, well, you'd think I'd have identified it by now, I know, but I haven't.

I think* it is a South Australian Blue Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon), as distinct from the Tasmanian Blue Gums (which are desertifying some areas of the Island. Rumours are the the koalas are eating THEM, which would be a neat turn-around).


I have found these flowers and buds underneath it in winter ... perhaps they will be clear enough for someone who knows what they are looking at, to have a guess?


"Laziness-should-be-your-middle-name" was my mother's refrain, many years ago ... she wasn't wrong was she?
;p




*loosely applied

Kangaroo Island's Cat Policy

Kangaroo Island local government has an exemplary "Dog and Cat Management Plan" as reported in ... ... some months ago.

Not only have detailed rules and regulations been widely circulated, but a long trial period was supported AND a demonstration of the kind of housing that responsible cat owners need, was set up at the Airport, where a much-loved "community cat" lived for many years.

Predators of the local area

"Predators of what?".
You may well ask!
I am being simplistic for the moment and sticking to the more obvious ones; the ones that might be responsible for the little heaps of feathers.

Predators that I have seen while walking the creek include a snake, a pair of adult wedge-tail eagles and several solitary goannas. I have heard that the goannas climb trees for birds' eggs and nestlings.

Snakes and goannas are very common along Shorty Road and can be seen moving slowly across the roads as well the cleared summer paddocks, between the remaining stands of native vegetation.

This last trip we also saw a

Heaps of feathers are a different thing

There is no delight in coming across something like this.

I wish I knew more about birds and could identify it; any help to do so would be most welcome.
I will post a list of birds of Kangaroo Island (one day) and work my own way through it, to see if I can work it out.


Lorikeets are one of a number of very common birds in the area, but there is still no joy in coming across the remains of one looking like this ...
... or this.

On the other hand, I am told that the local goannas eat birds and eggs, and there is a Wedge Tailed Eagle nest about a kilometre away, so perhaps it might have made a meal for a valued (indigenous) critter.

A feral cat is a more likely hunter though, in these cases, I believe.

Feathers; another detour

Walking the creek and spotting feathers of one sort or another is another neat "distraction" from the main interests (water, rocks, reflections ... insects, oh and yes, birds :))



Although it ought not be so, major determiners of my interest include that the subject be still. I am learning to take photographs and the birds defeat me almost absolutely. I now have a new camera, courtesy of a gift. Unlike the previous one, it takes photos without a full second time lag between pressing the button and catching the image and that has been a huge encouragement ... no more empty frames because the object flew, crawled or hopped away.

Now I just have to learn to get closer to them, so that they are more than tiny dots of colour against the sky or foliage.
(Please consider it an exercise in "figure-ground perception")
:)

The galahs are marvellous birds; noisy and gregarious with a sharp, even shrill call. Unfortunately if you want to creep up on the area they will soon let all the other birds know that you are there, by calling and wheeling around above you ...

and no, I don't know how I did this ... there were two in the picture last time I looked.

If I try again, this one will probably fly away as well.
:)

Dori's Tree

In April, 2004, we first visited the creek as a family.

"Dori" and the children had a great time on the tree, which had fallen relatively recently.



Unfortunately I did not think to identify plants right from the beginning ... so a new leaf ... or a new year's resolution to do so in future has been turned, ... or made.

For now, that tree is "Dori's Tree", remembering the fun of trying to sit up on it for a photograph together that first time, _without_ falling backwards into the creek :)