Suprising Visitor

[FootLoose]

I don't like reptiles. So when I was watching tv late yesterday afternoon and felt a pair of eyes on me, I was bit apprehensive when I saw a blue tongue watching me from my courtyard. I rose to look at it - through the glass door - and then it advanced and tried to walk through the glass to join me inside. So I did the natural thing - and ran upstairs for my camera. I only managed one in-focus shot of it against the glass, but tracked it around the courtyard for a while and took a couple of interesting pictures.

While I was processing these, I was reminded of a quote I read a couple of days ago: "Look at what is in front of you and photograph what most attracts you or repels you" (David Vestal). In this case, it is the latter for me.

#1. Context shot - it gave up trying to crash through the glass door.



#2. After circumnavigating the courtyard it found some sun and flopped down for a rest.



#3. I summoned my courage and moved in a little closer (but not much!). I think this shot captured its eye looking straight at me.



PS It was about 60-80 cm long. They are harmless although they bite if you try to pick them and they are not in the mood for it.

[jcuknz]

Reminded me of when a Tuatara was being gifted from NZ to Aussie back in the sixties and work sent me to photograph it [ nearly said 'shoot it' but that is hardly appropriate.
Like #2 best ... Nice

[Shadowman]

Nice find and captures.

[JBW]

very nice.

[Rita]

#2 is a nice shot but I am glad that it was in your yard not mine

[bnnrcn]

80cm is big #2 is a nice and clear shot

[Geoff F]

Yes #2 looks good to me.

The last image is OK although it seems a fraction tight on the right side and there are a few over bright spots

[IzzieK]

Yikes! 60-80 cm is quite long!!! +1 to Rita's comment...better in your backyard than mine, too.

[NorthernFocus]

You folks definitely have some large reptiles. We were "chased" by a fair sized water dragon in the botanic gardens in Brisbane. We watched it for a while and it seemed to be charging at anything that got within 10m or so of it.

Nicely(and bravely) captured.

[FootLoose]

Reminded me of when a Tuatara was being gifted from NZ to Aussie back in the sixties and work sent me to photograph it [ nearly said 'shoot it' but that is hardly appropriate.
Like #2 best ... Nice

Tuatara - yeah, it seems like NZ and Aus have a never-ending contest. Let's find something really ugly / venomous and gift it to our mates over the ditch.

[FootLoose]

#2 is a nice shot but I am glad that it was in your yard not mine

I understand the sentiment, Rita. I would have preferred it was in your back yard, too

[FootLoose]

Yes #2 looks good to me.

The last image is OK although it seems a fraction tight on the right side and there are a few over bright spots

Those specular highlights are completely blown out, Geoff. I guess it just shows how shiny its scales are. It's the sunlight glinting off it.

[FootLoose]

Yikes! 60-80 cm is quite long!!! +1 to Rita's comment...better in your backyard than mine, too.

Well, Izzie, you never know. I am being overtaken by city development, so if they are wondering into my yard, you could find them in yours when you come home I suspect it has something to do with our unyielding summer.

[FootLoose]

You folks definitely have some large reptiles. We were "chased" by a fair sized water dragon in the botanic gardens in Brisbane. We watched it for a while and it seemed to be charging at anything that got within 10m or so of it.

Nicely(and bravely) captured.

Thanks for recognising my courage, Dan I am very wary of water dragons too. I had one wander through here a couple of years ago. I watched it explore my courtyard and I wondered how I would get rid of it. But then it climbed over the fence and into the neighbour's yard. Problem solved

[FootLoose]

Thanks to all for viewing and commenting.

[TonyW]

It looks quite nice to me and I like the photographs too. Is it a blue tongue lizard? I read that they make good pets.

[Wavelength]

i liked the story and the images

[chauncey]

Don't feed the locals...

[IzzieK]

It looks quite nice to me and I like the photographs too. Is it a blue tongue lizard? I read that they make good pets.

I have seen a blue tongue lizard in my front yard where my fishies live. It doesn't look like that at all...

[FootLoose]

Sorry folks, I did google it to identify it before posting but obviously forgot to mention in the original post that it is a blue tongue lizard. There are several variations of them, the more common being the blue-grey version. Apparently they only stick their tongue out to ward off predators. I was hoping to capture a shot of this one poking its tongue out at me, but it seems it had no fear of me. (not surprising.) The generally ignore humans, according to sources on the net. I think that probably accounts for why we see so many of them squashed on the roads. They are fearless.