I'm in the early stages of planning a month-long herping trip to Australia this coming October. My three top goals are:
1. Thorny Devil!
2. As many species as possible
3. As many lifers as possible
At this point my plans are extremely flexible. I was hoping to get some advice from the Australia-knowledgeable among you. I've been to various parts of Australia, but never in October. Some of the questions I've got are:
Which general areas have the most herp activity in October (and which part of October)? For instance, it seems like the Red Center should be good at that time of year.
Which general areas are not so good in October? For instance, I heard one person say that the NE Queensland rainforest area isn't too productive until Nov/Dec.
Which particular parks should be good at that time of year?
Which places to stay are well-located or have good herping right on the grounds?
My current super-tentative plans are along the lines of:
Fly into Sydney. Spend a few days in the Sydney area. Fly into Alice Springs. Spend a week or maybe more in the Northern Territory with time divided between the MacDonell Ranges and the Yulara/Uluru/Kata Tjuta area. Get to Adelaide (probably fly, maybe drive). Spend a week or maybe more in South Australia with time divided between spots around Adelaide, the Flinders Ranges, and the Eyre peninsula. Maybe also try to get out near Brisbane and spend at least a few days in that area (is Lamington National Park productive in October?). I'm currently not planning to visit Western Australia because I've been from Perth to Shark Bay three times so I'm less likely to find a lot of lifers there. But maybe that's a mistake?
I know this is all nearly impossibly vague, but any advice would be greatly welcome.
I will leave you with a picture of a small plastic thorny devil yearning towards a large tile thorny devil. I took this in Denham, WA, on my last unsuccessful thorny devil hunt (I did see a DOR, but that doesn't count).
John
Thorny Devil Dreaming, October 2015 (RFI)
Moderator: Scott Waters
- John Martin
- Posts: 515
- Joined: June 9th, 2010, 10:57 pm
- Location: North end of Lake Okeechobee, Florida
Re: Thorny Devil Dreaming, October 2015 (RFI)
Hi John. I don't have a lot of experience actually herping these areas during the month you are here, but I would think the more northerly regions would produce some interesting things. You are welcome to visit my wife and I if and when you get to the Adelaide area. We live about 20 kms south of the city, on the Fleurieu Peninsula. I've got to tell you though, IMHO there aren't a lot of cool species here in the immediate area. We love nothing more than hiking and exploring and it would be nice to meet a forum member . PM me once your plans are firmed up if you're interested.
Re: Thorny Devil Dreaming, October 2015 (RFI)
Thanks for the offer, John. I'll have to see how my plans work out, but if I do end up in the area it would definitely be nice to meet and go out on a hike somewhere with a local.
Did you try any herping in the area this past October, or were the weather conditions just not good enough? I like cool species as much as the next guy (hence my search for thorny devils), but I also get excited by drab little treefrogs and small brown skinks, etc.
John
Did you try any herping in the area this past October, or were the weather conditions just not good enough? I like cool species as much as the next guy (hence my search for thorny devils), but I also get excited by drab little treefrogs and small brown skinks, etc.
John
- John Martin
- Posts: 515
- Joined: June 9th, 2010, 10:57 pm
- Location: North end of Lake Okeechobee, Florida
Re: Thorny Devil Dreaming, October 2015 (RFI)
Hi John, PM sent
- orionmystery
- Posts: 674
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- Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Re: Thorny Devil Dreaming, October 2015 (RFI)
Cool! Have a great trip, John. Do add the awesome Frilled Lizards to your list!
Edit: Burton's legless lizards too!
Edit: Burton's legless lizards too!
Re: Thorny Devil Dreaming, October 2015 (RFI)
Thanks orionmystery. I don't think it's the right time of year for frilled lizards, and I'm not currently planning to visit the northern part of Australia where they are found, but at least I have seen one of them before. I've struck out three times looking for the thorny devils. I have seen a couple of Burton's legless lizards, and could very well see more. They are widespread across the country. A very neat lizard!
John
John
Re: Thorny Devil Dreaming, October 2015 (RFI)
Hi John,
See PM.
Steve
See PM.
Steve
- Jeroen Speybroeck
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Re: Thorny Devil Dreaming, October 2015 (RFI)
Anxious to see how this develops, because that n°1 target sure is about as great a target species as they get! Good luck.
(sorry for the meaningless contribution, though )
(sorry for the meaningless contribution, though )
- ClosetHerper
- Posts: 72
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- Location: Alaska
- Contact:
Re: Thorny Devil Dreaming, October 2015 (RFI)
Hurry up and go, I look forward to the report. My wife and I would like to return in the coming year or two... and a thorny devil will be high on our list
Re: Thorny Devil Dreaming, October 2015 (RFI)
I definitely want to hurry up and go, but I do have to wait until October. Darn!
John
John