2manybikes

Do you know the name of the striped lizard?

Machka 

He's a blue-tongued goanna or skink. But he disappeared under the footpath before I could ask his name.

2manybikes

Machka 

On Monday's ride we saw lots of birds of different sorts ... and dolphins playing the waves off the bow of a passing boat.

The dolphin(s) were just out there ... but I didn't bother grabbing my camera while I was watching them because I knew I'd never get a shot and I just wanted to watch them play.


Gulls ...

Machka 

This weekend ... there was a whole flock of turkeys by the side of the road. We were cycling in that area a couple weeks ago, and I thought I saw a turkey, but turkeys aren't a hugely popular meat choice here so I thought it must have been my imagination ... but this past weekend, it was confirmed, there was a flock of turkeys.

And an echidna!

Machka 

On my commute this morning ...

My commute consists of walk > bus > walk.

During the walking parts, and the waiting at the bus stop part, I get to watch birds ... pigeons, gallahs, and even the occasional kookaburra. I can also see the bay, the island where Rowan works, and the surrounding peninsulas.

Today, the water was flat calm, and for the first time, I noticed a set of small island ... basically just very large rocks. I hadn't noticed them before because any swell or waves would have hidden them from view. And I thought that was interesting.

And then ...

The bus I selected today took me along one of the beaches. As I said, the water was flat calm, and out on the water was a SUP. As the bus drove slowly along, I noticed that there seemed to be a slight stirring of the water next to the SUP. At first, I thought it might be wake, but it was in the wrong place. Then I thought it might be a bit of a current. And just when I decided that must be it ... they surfaced.

Approx. 6 dolphins, came to the surface sort of in front of and to the side of the SUP, arched like they do, and disappeared under the water ... and one did the same just behind the SUP. And they repeated this motion over and over ... it kind of looked like they were circling the SUP.

So calm, so beautiful in the early morning light ... and the SUP surrounded by a pod of dolphins.

B. Carfree

Turkeys are pretty common around here. However, Friday morning we came upon a male in full display, clearly attempting to woo an adjacent female. He was in the middle of the road and perfectly angled to give us the full benefit of his plumage in the dawn light. Fortunately, on that road cyclists are also pretty common, so he wasn't bothered by our passing in the least and carried on with his business.

kookaburra1701

Someday I might brave your terrifying insects for a chance to see kookaburras in the wild!

Machka 

Our terrifying insects aren't really all that prevalent. For example, I have seen one redback spider since I moved here in 2009 ... and that was while camping in 2010.

I haven't even laid eyes on a huntsman in a long time.

B. Carfree

The rest of us cowards will simply hope to see you backpacking in the Cascades, though we might not even know we've seen a kookaburra when it happens.

Machka 

You'll hear them long before you see them.


At dusk, in certain areas, the air fills with the sound of their laughter. Where we live now, there aren't so many so the air doesn't exactly fill ... but you can still hear one or two of them having a good chuckle at the world.

If you're cycling, and especially slogging up some monster hill somewhere out in the bush, there's a good chance one will come and laugh at you.

Machka 

On my commute this morning ... no beautiful pods of dolphins this time, but ...

There was the Easter Bunny.

He was running up the highway into town.

No, not kidding. A human-sized bunny (man in costume) was running up the highway toward Hobart. On the shoulder, on the other side of the road facing traffic.

enigmaT120

At least he was running on the correct side of the road. That costume must be hot, though.

Roody

Yeah, I hate scofflaw bunnies.

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Machka 

It was quite chilly that morning ... and then it poured. Just bucketed down + howling wind. We figure that suit would have been sopping wet and extremely heavy by the time he topped the hill and began the descent into Hobart!!