Searching for Gilly
November 2023
Gilly, December 2020.
There is a Goanna in Barron Gorge that I have named Gilly and have seen quite a few times over the years. Well over six feet in length he is the biggest Goanna I have ever seen. Last weekend I decided to go and search for Gilly.
Gilly is not shy, he will stick around when I approach the area I usually find him. On this day in November 2023 there was a much smaller Goanna than Gilly present. Unlike Gilly however this one was very shy and quickly retreated into these rocks.
Heading to another spot in Barron Gorge to chase a sunset.
With the search for Gilly a fail I decided to head to another location where I had been trying to get a nice sunset photo. Usually at sunset those rock pools in the photo above are under water after the daily release from the hydro plant.
This year in November with the recent dry, less water has been released in the afternoons and the rock pools are still visible at sunset…….but the sunsets have not been great when I have been there :) Another fail on this day.
Changing subjects….into the insect world.
Behind me at the spot I was sitting at to take the previous photo there were some of those pretty little yellow flowers you see in Barron Gorge. I noticed a nice clean flower and when so many are damaged by insects thought I would take a macro photo of it.
By the time I converted my tripod to a min tripod and attached my macro lens to the camera someone else had also noticed that near perfect flower.
Someone had dropped by for a snack.
Rather than be annoyed by the grasshopper that had started to eat away at that perfect flower I decided to observe it, something I do often in the bush. I like to study behaviour.
Two is company, three is a crowd.
Soon myself and the grasshopper were joined by an ant. As I watched these two I wished I had taken a video.
A meeting of insects
When the ant made its way to the top of the flower and approached the grasshopper the reaction would have been great in video. The grasshopper slid back a little looking like it was almost in disgust at the ants presence. It was a strange move to watch….not one of a lightning fast insect reaction …but more a slow move of disapproval or annoyance.
I fart in your general direction.
After a short time the grasshopper made its way to the top of the flower and turned its back to the ant almost as if to fart in its direction. The ant moved on.
Guess it was more interesting to watch than to be retold using photos :) What can I say….I am easily amused. Hoping to be back out near Chillagoe again soon to continue exploring some new locations.