Spring is in the air for Lace Monitors

The Pythons were back in the lily bowl today but there is something about spring and October as far as reptiles are concerned. A pair of Lace Monitors have been around our hen house looking for an opportunity to get to the eggs, which they managed earlier this week. However  I closed all the ways for them to get in and as they couldn't get to the eggs decided to make some of their own.

 

Monitor and company

A warm day and a young lace monitor chose a quiet spot on the deck for a sunbake with a couple of  garden ornament Wombats for company.

A sunbaking day

A touch of warm weather brought out one of our Lace Monitor lizards for an early season sunbake. This is the first sighting for this season of one of our younger residents, who has spent the winter season in a hollow log that is in our pool garden area. This one is probably the least timid and will generally stay put, as long as you don't make sudden movements. I was reasonably close for the photo and it was generally unconcerned, but at one point it did give a warning hiss. (not really a hiss more the sound you make if you close your throat and breath out)

As you can see the skin is bright and clear after last season's had been shed and the coloured patterns showing good contrast. I cropped  for a close-up of the face and the markings around the eye.

Sunning on the deck

Having our morning coffee on the verandah when without any care in the world a smallish Lace Monitor came along past us to find a nice sunny spot to do a bit of sunbathing.

It was quite happy just to enjoy the sun, but became a little bothered by some spiderweb that it had around its mouth and head which gave me a photo op as it was busy getting rid of the offending web.

Tree climber

After a couple of weeks away we are back and enjoying spring weather. Today was quite warm which brought out one of our Lace Monitor lizards which I surprised as I walked down the track. faced with a possible threat it took the usual action and headed for the nearest tree and climbed with the first dash making about 5m, out of danger and a chance to look over its shoulder to assess the potential danger.

The next move was to switch to the other side of the tree away from the potential threat and move higher.

Of course when I moved down the track so I could see it, that was time to switch back to the original side and go higher to a branch to stop and wait until the threat (me) had gone, before returning to the ground to continue its search for food. This is the first sighting of a monitor this season and is a sure sign of an early spring.

Lace Monitor portrait

Our resident Lace Monitors varanus varius (second largest lizard in Australia growing to around 6') are now seen at least a few days a week, particularly on the warm days.The younger ones come closer to the house than the big characters who generally stay further away, as they are generally more wary. This afternoon one of the younger ones with full breeding colour, wandered past, just outside the office and stopped long enough for me to take  a portrait.