Life is wild

The sightings of animals not yet visualised so far has been a massive boost. Baby swans (swanlings you might say, can anybody help me here?) divert their course and paddle their little lungs out when they see a five metre, bright yellow kayak steaming directly towards them. Two days ago i captured some amazing footage of two yellow-beaked spoonbills which were using their aptly named bills to forage for what I thought were yabbies or shrimp.

Emus buffed up the intensity of bank searching, they paraded well in their large coats (of arms…get it?). Rapidly, the canon digital made its way from the waterproof case into my hands, ready for footage. Immediately these two beasts decided that I the puffin paddle dvd was not worthy of their recording and shifted off and out of sight.

An intimate experience with a 5 foot monitor lizard used up all my free time for lunch. When I say used, I do not mean it in a bad way. Quite the opposite, and I am of a more accute nature since the event. I exited the kayak on the bank, went to start thinking about food, heard it and looked round to see it clawing its way up the nearest red gum. A few happy snaps, and then eating was on the agenda. As I chilled to digest with a book in tow, it came down and licked my bowl and foraged in amongst my belongings for food. It would have become my dinner if it had stolen any of my sweets, its skin would make a lovely new belt for my shrinking frame. Sorry, no, just joshing with you folks. I have never thought to end the life of one of these somewhat pre-historic looking lizards. Soon enough, with the cunning abilities of a shark, it circled me three times before scampering off into the bushes.

There are rats living in the Murray. They make me feel squirmy and please do not ask why. The answer eludes me. Any species from the rodent family has always made my stomach turn.

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