As is evident, the changing weather is welcoming reptiles from their winter rest. When visiting friends in suburban Perth, a West Coast Ctenotus appeared for a very short period.
No comb over for this lizard
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Bob’s birthday cake came after a slithering snake
The Toodyay Naturalist Club’s (TNC) final meeting for the year last month was a special gathering in more ways than one. It was not only a chance to look back on the year’s activities and events but also an opportunity to celebrate former president Bob Frayne’s 90th Birthday.
Bird of the month: The Darter snake bird
The Darter is often called the Snake Bird because of its long, sinuous neck. This species floats very low in the water with only its head and neck visible.
Smallest gecko is clawless
The Clawless Gecko is Australia’s smallest gecko and often found in our houses and sheds.
Mighty flower continues to bloom
As spring morphs into summer most wildflowers are starting to wane but not so the Feather Flower (Verticordia) species which are at their blooming best during late October into November.
There’s always plenty to do
The TNC recently released an extraordinary collection of member articles for Newsletter #47, covering everything from Rain Moths to an Antarctic voyage. The club also enjoyed a successful spring meeting and wildflower walk at the Ray Paynter Reserve and is planning an end-of-year celebration for Bibbulmun Track pioneer, Bob Frayne.
Not a rock lobster but a Western Netted Dragon
It is exciting to receive observations from those in the community, especially when the observation is unusual. The sighting of a Western Netted Dragon in the Toodyay area is one such sighting.
Bird of the month: Little Black Cormorant
The Little Black Cormorant is more common on inland waters than coastal. However, it can also be found on coastal estuaries and is quite prolific in the southwest of the state.
Hundreds of tonnes of weed removed from lake thanks to vollies
We celebrated a new co-patron and enjoyed a members’ night featuring spectacular East African wildlife photos and rare footage of the club’s 1974 efforts to clear the massive Salvinia infestation at Tomato Lake. The club also honours the legacy of Doug Blandford, whose geological expertise powered local conservation campaigns.
Bird of the month: The graceful Yellow-billed Spoonbill
A solitary, large, graceful white bird of 80 to 90cms, the Yellow-billed Spoonbill, can be observed in shallow water on the edges of the Avon River.
Oh what a handsome golden brown skink you are
True to its name, the Broad-banded Sand-swimmer skink’s most striking feature is its pattern of rich brown to purplish bands. These markings flow from the back of its neck to the tip of its tail, a tapestry of branched and broken lines.
Bird of the month: An owl that makes ‘dog-like’ calls
The Barking Owl and the Southern Boobook are of the ‘hawk-owl’ species. Although very similar in colouring and looks, the Barking Owl is much larger, with measurements of 35 to 45cms compared with the Southern Boobook of 25 to 35cms. Even though it is more common in the Pilbara area, the Barking Owl has been heard very, very occasionally within our Shire.
