Monitor lizard, Keoladeo NP, Bharatpur

At Keoladeo Ghana NP, near Bharatpur in Rajasthan, I was on my way back to the entrance when I was lucky to see this large monitor lizard sunning itself. A nice farewell.

This photograph goes back quite a few weeks now. I've been in the UK since the beginning of September. Next stop, all going well, will be Kazakhstan for a few days, then on to Nepal. Back to India about the beginning of October (more or less -- as usual, I have no definite plans).

Unfotunately, I lost the cable that connects my card reader to the tablet, so I can't download the recent photographs. However, I should be able to pick one up in the market at Kazakhstan, where apparently anything can be bought.

All content © 2014 Pete McGregor

Charismatic macrofauna: lizard near Stok, Ladakh

Small things are oten overlooked in favour of the so-called 'charismatic megafauna' like snow leopards. Look closely, though, and some of these small things have their own charisma, not just in appearance but also in their behaviour. This little lizard, photographed on the walk from Changma Chan camp to Stok, at first wouldn't let me close but later relented and allowed me to wriggle close enough for a reasonable photograph.

I've posted a selection of impressions of my four days in the Rumbak/Changma/Stok area on the other blog.

By the time you get to see this post, I'll probably be on a minibus from Leh back to Manali. Posting might be sparse for a few days.

All content © 2014 Pete McGregor

Forest gecko

Being nocturnal, New Zealand forest geckos (Hoplodactylus granulatus) aren't often seen by humans — a shame, because they're among the most beautiful animals I know. I've seen them only a few times, but I don't want to tear apart the old logs and other habitats in which they hide away during the day. So, when I saw captive geckos in the Environment Network Manawatu display at last Saturday's Festival of Cultures, I spoke with their keeper, who generously offered to open the doors of the cage so I didn't have to photograph through the glass. In the low light I'd have liked to use the flash, but was reluctant in case it disturbed the geckos (it probably wouldn't have, but I didn't want to take the risk). Despite the consequently small depth of focus, this gives some idea of how gorgeous these small lizards are.

[If you haven't found it yet, you might like to visit Pohanginapete to read the new post published today]


[22 March 2014, Olympus OM-D EM-1, 60mm f/2.8 macro , ISO 400, 1/50 at f/2.8]

All content © 2014 Pete McGregor

Lava lizard, Isla Isabela

The best known reptiles of the Galápagos archipelago are the iguanas (particularly the marine iguanas) and the giant tortoises. But others live here too: the secretive Galápagos snake (which I was fortunate enough to see), sea turtles (which I was fortunate enough to snorkel with), and nine species of lizards in the genus Microlophus, which every visitor will be bound to see.  M. albemarlensis inhabits Isla Isabela, where I spent ten days, and Fernandina, inaccessible to those, like me, not on expensive cruises. Female lava lizards can be easily identified by the orange throat and face; males lack this but have a black throat patch.

I never did manage to discover whether the orange specks were seeds of some plant or, more probably, mites.


[10 September 2011, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at 45 mm, ISO 400, 1/250 at f8]

All content © 2012 Pete McGregor

This is what extinction looks like

Lonesome George has died. The last of his subspecies of giant Galápagos tortoise, he was thought to be about a hundred years old. I met him in September last year; by then his subspecies had long been doomed to extinction, but his death two days ago (24 June) saddens me nevertheless.


[7 September 2011, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 100–300 mm at 300 mm, ISO 400, 1/200 at f8]

All content © 2012 Pete McGregor

Marine iguana, Isla Isabela, Galápagos

When I first saw marine iguanas at Puerto Ayora on Santa Cruz, they struck me as much smaller than I'd expected. However, on arriving at Puerto Villamil on Isabela, I soon realised this perception wasn't right. On a walk at low tide along the rocky coast from the wharf back to town, I came across this massive iguana, notable not only for its size — a good metre long — but its lovely colours. I'd been charmed by the little iguanas on Santa Cruz, but for this one a word closer to "awestruck" seems more appropriate.



[13 September 2011, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 100–300 mm at 234 mm, ISO 400, 1/1000 at f8]

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Marine Iguana, Galápagos

I made it to the Galápagos. I'm on Santa Cruz, leaving for Isabela on Thursday. This place is wonderful — I might not leave ;^) It's the only place I've ever had a bird land on the lens of my camera (more about that later). I don't pick favourite animals, but I think I'm in love with these little iguanas. They're much smaller than I'd expected — a really big one might reach 50 cm but most are much smaller, and man, do they know how to relax! They find a nice spot, often in the middle of a footpath, and spread themselves out as if they've been dropped from the sky. I'm learning to watch where I walk.


[6 September 2011 (Ecuador), Panasonic Lumix GH1, 100–300 mm at 300 mm, ISO 400, 1/400 at f6.3]  

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Snake and frog

At Liwonde National Park in southern Malawi we heard something screaming. When we traced it we found this. Neither animal seemed prepared to give in, and I never learned the outcome. How the snake (I was told it was a variegated bush snake) would manage to swallow the frog, I have no idea, but if it did manage it, it's probably still digesting it, almost four years later (just kidding, but you'll get the idea).

Later I heard another frog screaming nearby. Must have been a bad day for frogs.



[1 June 2007, Canon 20D, 300 mm f4 L , ISO 400, 1/100 at f5.0] 

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor

Agama lizard on the coast of Ghana

On the coast of Ghana, males fought, presumably over females and territory. Fortunately, they were agama lizards.

Perhaps the most notable aspect of these fights was the way the combatants would change colour. In particular, as battle approached, the head took on this striking orange-red colour.

The other fights I saw (three in the three-and-a-half weeks I was there) appeared to be over traffic incidents. Fortunately, I wasn't involved.



[13 April 2007, Canon 20D, 300 mm f4 L IS, ISO 200, 1/500 at f4]


All content © 2010 Pete McGregor

Agama lizard and laundry; Accra, Ghana

 

These delightful lizards were common in Ghana. The bright colours on this individual hanging out on a wall at the hostel in Accra indicate he's a male.

All content © 2009 Pete McGregor

Tortoise at Kileshwar

Sometimes I feel the way this little fella looks. I suppose that's better than looking the way he (or she?) feels — but who knows what a tortoise thinks?

Note: I currently don't have Internet access and won't have it again until next weekend, so won't be able to respond to comments until then. I've scheduled posts for most days, though, so there'll be something up for you to look at. Enjoy!
All content © 2009 Pete McGregor