Result: unhappy spiders.

Breaking our usual Saturday morning routine, and in expectation of a hot, stormy day, we went to the Botanical Gardens for a civilised breakfast, followed by spotting of photo opportunities. The Wildlife of the Day was skinks. Beautiful, very shy lizards. Got many shots.

Today we went to Enoggera Reservoir, on a whim. It’s a 25min drive away and we have never been there. It turns out there is a lovely walking track along the reservoir. Pretty much the first thing we saw was this enormous lace monitor. From nose to the tip of its tail it was about the same length as my height.

A magpie was suspecting the big lizard had designs on its eggs. Which it probably did. Brave bird:1, Lace Monitor: 0.

Further along the track, an unusual number of cormorants all sitting together companionably.

Then, to cap it off, a little lace monitor. About half the size of the first one.

It was a privilege to see these wild animals.

A beautiful kite of some sort just came to say hello. It didn’t stay long.

The addition of bacon was our idea.

This huge bug crashed into our deck, looking a bit dazed afterwards. We tried to persuade it to depart for the lovely forest around our house but it seems to have taken a liking to the red cardboard folder. It’s still on it and won’t let go.

Look at the size!

While I can’t possibly top the moorhen/cormorant fight, there were other interesting things to see today at the Botanical Gardens.

First up, a heron, spotted before we had even got as far as the front gates.

Some beautiful flowers.

And a bud…

… with aspirations:

The grebe is still, after more than two weeks, sitting on its nest.

A noisy miner is trying to escape its nearly-grown chick.

And finally, we had been wondering why seven car parking spaces in the car park have been cordoned off for weeks, so we had a closer look on foot. We found a big sign saying “Warning, Birds Nesting” and approached the tree carefully, camera in hand. What we found was indeed a nesting Masked Lapwing. On the ground. Having chosen to build a nest at ground level in a busy car park. Right next to beautiful, safe, landscaped gardens. Poor risk-assessment skills.

We had to gently discourage this beautiful golden orb weaver from building a web all the way across our deck. It decided to rebuild between the deck and the nearest tree. Which affords an excellent photo opportunity.

This morning, Australasian Figbirds. I only managed to get a few shots of the male.

Today, a pair of Australian King Parrots came to visit our house. Grapes in exchange for photographs seemed fine with them.