Australia 2010 Animal

[Autobot]

1 - Are your macleans showing?



2 - "I've got my eye on you" - face to face with an Eastern Water Dragon



3 - It's a long way to the top. Kosciuszko NP



4 - Beetle on Paddy's Nut



5 - Koala at Cape Otway Walk-in Campsite



6 - Camera compliant Kookaburra - Coomies Walk, Abrahams Bosom Reserve NSW


(This post/poll automatically generated by the Photo Competition system)

[flatfoot]

I'm curious about where the photo of the Eastern Water Dragon was taken. Is that rock near the Wentworth Falls end of National Pass? ...

minor mod: no comments for or against individual photos thanks.

[tasadam]

I'm curious about where the photo of the Eastern Water Dragon was taken. Is that rock near the Wentworth Falls end of National Pass? ...

Because the polls are anonymous until the results are announced, I will ask the photographer of that image your question and let you know, alternately if I get no answer perhaps he/she will let us know after the poll is closed.

[Autobot]

Congratulations to the winner of the Australia 2010 Animal competition, with 17 votes:

• tom_brennan - "I've got my eye on you" - face to face with an Eastern Water Dragon

The key to all entries for this competition is below.

1 - Are your macleans showing?
by iandsmith.

2 - "I've got my eye on you" - face to face with an Eastern Water Dragon
by tom_brennan.

3 - It's a long way to the top. Kosciuszko NP
by north-north-west.

4 - Beetle on Paddy's Nut
by Taurë-rana.

5 - Koala at Cape Otway Walk-in Campsite
by robtrotter.

6 - Camera compliant Kookaburra - Coomies Walk, Abrahams Bosom Reserve NSW
by johnw.

[tom_brennan]

In answer to flatfoot's question, the photo was taken in a side creek of Hat Hill Creek. I had to step over him to walk up the creek, and he didn't move. Given that, I figured I could get a few close up shots. He kept one beady eye on me, but was otherwise unfazed. The photo was just taken with a compact, at very close range since the zoom is pretty ordinary. ISO400 @1/10s for those who care

There's another shot of him at
http://ozultimate.com/canyoning/reports ... photos.htm

[flatfoot]

In answer to flatfoot's question, the photo was taken in a side creek of Hat Hill Creek. I had to step over him to walk up the creek, and he didn't move. Given that, I figured I could get a few close up shots. He kept one beady eye on me, but was otherwise unfazed. The photo was just taken with a compact, at very close range since the zoom is pretty ordinary. ISO400 @1/10s for those who care

There's another shot of him at
http://ozultimate.com/canyoning/reports ... photos.htm

That second shot is great too. I guess their natural instinct is to stay still and try and blend into the scenery.

[johnw]

In answer to flatfoot's question, the photo was taken in a side creek of Hat Hill Creek. I had to step over him to walk up the creek, and he didn't move. Given that, I figured I could get a few close up shots. He kept one beady eye on me, but was otherwise unfazed. The photo was just taken with a compact, at very close range since the zoom is pretty ordinary. ISO400 @1/10s for those who care

There's another shot of him at
http://ozultimate.com/canyoning/reports ... photos.htm

That second shot is great too. I guess their natural instinct is to stay still and try and blend into the scenery.

Not always. They frequently jump all over the place, often a long distance in a single leap.

[tom_brennan]

Actually, they are usually pretty skittish, particulary of noise. Most of the time, the first you see of them is them scrambling up the rocks, or swimming through a pool away from you. There are a few well known places where they have become familiar with people, at the ends of particular canyons.

This one wasn't in a regularly visited creek, so I was quite surprised that it was so stationary.

[johnw]

Actually, they are usually pretty skittish, particulary of noise. Most of the time, the first you see of them is them scrambling up the rocks, or swimming through a pool away from you. There are a few well known places where they have become familiar with people, at the ends of particular canyons.

This one wasn't in a regularly visited creek, so I was quite surprised that it was so stationary.

...and they can move at a great rate of knots to get away. The ones around the Grand Canyon and at least one spot in Royal NP seem quite friendly. Well, as friendly as lizards get anyway.