Took the camera to golf today but after only a few holes, I was in no mood for happy snaps :-( Went out after golf and got some shots for "My Brisbane" - but then we came across this beauty so the Brisbane shots got dumped. It is a male Eastern Water Dragon. He gets his red chest during the breeding season. Best viewed large when the children aren't looking.
@gigiflower@gilbertwood@hermann@onewing@digitalrn@thresheg@tahoemb@kiscsillag@tracie8266@tellefella@radiogirl@milaniet Hi everyone and thank you for your comments. I was dead lucky with this. I had taken my intended photos and were just driving through the gardens (see todays posting) when I saw this fellow on the side of the road. Jumped out of the car and lay on the road and took just the one photo before he took off like a scalded cat. I didn't realise what I had until I downloaded it. I was pretty chuffed with it.
What a picture!! I get the feeling from the other's comments that you hit the jackpot in not only seeing this Mr. Dragon but managing to get close enough for an amazing photo. Congrats on that. And way to go, jumping out of your car and laying in the road! What we do for a 365 photo, huh? Got a laugh out of your advising to view the lizard large when the children weren't looking. :)
@lyndemc These guys are pretty common around Brisbane - and many parts of eastern Australia actually. While you can get pretty close to them from the side, it is much more difficult front on which was the shot I wanted. In the side on shot in my other album, once I tried to move around to his front, he was off - and they run pretty fast.
I've seen a pet iguana move so I have an idea of just how quick these dragons could high tail it. Wonder if their tails are swishing as they make their exit. Iguana tails are rather wicked defense mechanisms.