Hi all, was bored on Friday night on facebook, talking to a few mates, and a herping trip was mentioned. Next minute I was booking an early morning flight from Melbourne to Adelaide for the next day (27th July) and a return flight the following night (28th). It was the best decision I had made in a long time, because boy was I up for a fantastic and rewarding trip!
Once I had landed in Adelaide, my mates picked me up from the airport and we headed up to the Adelaide Hills in search of Pygmy Copperheads...unfortunately the sun didn't show and we had no success.
We then drove a few hours north of Adelaide. Here is where the trip really began! 4 new species that I hadn't seen before, plus a few of the regularly seen and more common species.
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Shingleback (Tiliqua rugosa) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
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Saltbush Skink (Morethia adelaidensis) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
This species I had been wanting to see for a long time!
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Southern Spiny-tailed Gecko (Strophurus intermedius) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
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Lowland Earless Skink (Hemiergis peronii) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
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Southern Slider (Lerista dorsalis) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
Another stunning Parasuta species I had been looking forward to.
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Mallee Black-headed Snake (Parasuta spectabilis) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
After spending a few hours North of Adelaide, we dove another few hours further North-east to the Clare Valley. This stunning, but treeless and hilly landscape looked like it didn't have much to offer at first...but once we had arrived and another friend had showed us around, the place quickly came alive! All species seen here were new finds for me, except a few frogs.
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Southern Rock Dtella (Gehyra lazelli) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
My first ever Delma species.
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Gulf Delma (Delma molleri) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
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Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
Another Aprasia species really made my day, I thought it couldn't possibly get any better!
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Flinders Worm-lizard (Aprasia pseudopulchella) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
But it did get better, a LOT better. We headed a few hours east into the semi-arid SA mallee, closer to the Victorian Border. It was just getting dark, and after nearly smashing into a Kangaroo, we arrived at our location. Driving across a few sand dunes in a Holden Commodore turned out to be a bad idea (Who would have thought!), as we quickly became bogged. After an hour or so of digging and pushing this car out of a dune, we finally managed to get it back on harder sand. All that effort and precious herping time wasted, we thought our night was going to be a quiet one. I stepped out of the car, walked over to the first clump of Spinifex I saw, and what did I see? A Strophurus elderi that's what! Exactly what we were there hoping to see! I yelloed out "I found one!" which was followed by "I've found one too!" from behind the next sand dune. And from that moment onwards the strangely warm winter Saturday night revealed many more awesome reptiles!
South Australian Mallee
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Spinifex on a dune-base by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
Absolutely stunning geckos
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Jewelled Gecko (Strophurus elderi) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
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Jewelled Gecko (Strophurus elderi) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
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Marble-faced Delma (Delma australis) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
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Burton's Legless Lizard (Lialis burtonis) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
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Unbanded Delma (Delma butleri) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
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Beaded Gecko (Lucasium damaeum) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
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Eastern Stone Gecko (Diplodactylus vittatus) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
After an incredible night, we woke up and headed back towards Adelaide. Stopping at a few spots and at a friends farm in the beautiful Barossa Valley.
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Thick-tailed Gecko (Underwoodisaurus milii) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
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Eastern Bearded Dragon (Pogona barbata) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
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Mallee Spadefoot Toad (Neobatrachus pictus) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
More Gulf Delma's...
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Gulf Delma (Delma molleri) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
We then arrived back at the airport and awaited out flights, sore and tired, and looking back on an amazing weekend of exploring South Australia.
Once I had landed in Adelaide, my mates picked me up from the airport and we headed up to the Adelaide Hills in search of Pygmy Copperheads...unfortunately the sun didn't show and we had no success.
We then drove a few hours north of Adelaide. Here is where the trip really began! 4 new species that I hadn't seen before, plus a few of the regularly seen and more common species.
Shingleback (Tiliqua rugosa) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
Saltbush Skink (Morethia adelaidensis) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
This species I had been wanting to see for a long time!
Southern Spiny-tailed Gecko (Strophurus intermedius) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
Lowland Earless Skink (Hemiergis peronii) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
Southern Slider (Lerista dorsalis) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
Another stunning Parasuta species I had been looking forward to.
Mallee Black-headed Snake (Parasuta spectabilis) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
After spending a few hours North of Adelaide, we dove another few hours further North-east to the Clare Valley. This stunning, but treeless and hilly landscape looked like it didn't have much to offer at first...but once we had arrived and another friend had showed us around, the place quickly came alive! All species seen here were new finds for me, except a few frogs.
Southern Rock Dtella (Gehyra lazelli) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
My first ever Delma species.
Gulf Delma (Delma molleri) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
Tawny Dragon (Ctenophorus decresii) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
Another Aprasia species really made my day, I thought it couldn't possibly get any better!
Flinders Worm-lizard (Aprasia pseudopulchella) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
But it did get better, a LOT better. We headed a few hours east into the semi-arid SA mallee, closer to the Victorian Border. It was just getting dark, and after nearly smashing into a Kangaroo, we arrived at our location. Driving across a few sand dunes in a Holden Commodore turned out to be a bad idea (Who would have thought!), as we quickly became bogged. After an hour or so of digging and pushing this car out of a dune, we finally managed to get it back on harder sand. All that effort and precious herping time wasted, we thought our night was going to be a quiet one. I stepped out of the car, walked over to the first clump of Spinifex I saw, and what did I see? A Strophurus elderi that's what! Exactly what we were there hoping to see! I yelloed out "I found one!" which was followed by "I've found one too!" from behind the next sand dune. And from that moment onwards the strangely warm winter Saturday night revealed many more awesome reptiles!
South Australian Mallee
Spinifex on a dune-base by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
Absolutely stunning geckos
Jewelled Gecko (Strophurus elderi) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
Jewelled Gecko (Strophurus elderi) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
Marble-faced Delma (Delma australis) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
Burton's Legless Lizard (Lialis burtonis) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
Unbanded Delma (Delma butleri) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
Beaded Gecko (Lucasium damaeum) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
Eastern Stone Gecko (Diplodactylus vittatus) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
After an incredible night, we woke up and headed back towards Adelaide. Stopping at a few spots and at a friends farm in the beautiful Barossa Valley.
Thick-tailed Gecko (Underwoodisaurus milii) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
Eastern Bearded Dragon (Pogona barbata) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
Mallee Spadefoot Toad (Neobatrachus pictus) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
More Gulf Delma's...
Gulf Delma (Delma molleri) by Matt Clancy Wildlife Photography, on Flickr
We then arrived back at the airport and awaited out flights, sore and tired, and looking back on an amazing weekend of exploring South Australia.