Monday 30 December 2013

White Cobra


Totally love days like this when I get a 'NatGeo' moment and was lucky enough to witness such a beautiful, magnificent creature right in front of my eyes.  This might even be, for me, a once in a lifetime sighting of an albino or white Cobra in the wild!  After all, I do not go looking for them intentionally, as in venturing out on herping trips.  




It truly is such a beautiful creature and, indeed, a rare sight to behold!

I must have stood there for over ten minutes, just watching it.  The Cobra stuck its head into a hole in the ground, slithered a short distance in, then backed out from the hole, went to another nook under a rock and seemed to be on the prowl, looking for something.  Although I did not manage to get the best photo with the compact camera that I had with me at the time, I've got the image of this albino Cobra imprinted in my mind's eye to be replayed over and over and over again at any time.  How much better can it get?
I was thinking at the time that this albino Cobra might be foraging for food but since it is supposed to be a nocturnal creature, had it somehow been disturbed from its den and was looking for another safe place to hide away?  Whether it was looking for food or looking for a den, I will never know.

Anyway, I had googled the symbolism of a White Cobra and there were many different takes on it.  Most websites discuss seeing sacred white animals in dreams. However, I had particularly liked the one that I'd read on eHow and here's an extract:

"The most common view of the white snake is a positive one. In the Japanese culture, if someone encounters a white snake in their life, they are considered to be lucky and will continue to have luck." 

I hope so.

And I shall keep my fingers crossed.




Sunday 8 December 2013

A Little Froggy


Recently had 'wildlife' visit me right at my doorstep.  

A little froggy.

I had just reached home after a kayak trip and had walked up the stairs to my front door and walked pass it.  If it wasn't for my keen eyes, I would not have realised there was this spot on the wall that was not supposed to be there.  Anyway, turned back to look and found this little frog there.

Ummmm...... it wasn't exactly very well camouflaged after all.  


But I guess it wouldn't have been any better anywhere else considering the colour of the wall is the best match it could find to try and hide itself.


I'm guessing it is one of the species of tree frogs, perhaps the Common Bush Frog?
Anyway, it is a good-looking little light brown, beige frog.


 The tips of its long fingers are dilated into round disc pads.
And, I suppose it had decided to remain as still as possible hoping that maybe I still hadn't seen it after all or if I thought it is dead I'd leave it alone?  
 

 So I took the chance to get lots of photos of this tree frog, from as many different angles as I possible could to make sure I have all the features I could need for identification.
 

   Totally loved looking at this frog's soulful eyes!

 

 Here's a view of its flattened body against the wall.

 

And I'm estimating it measured about 65-70mm in length.



So I had a 'field trip' right outside my doorstep.  
Cool!