Lace Monitor Lizard

I haven't had time to take any photos today so here is another one from our walk at Shoal Bay yesterday.

As we got back to our cars we spotted this lace monitor lizard. We have seen a pair of monitor lizards in this area before and I suspect that they are resident in this part of the bushland. I think this one is the female as her male partner is much more muscular than this one.

I love the way her tail twists round as she turned to climb the tree.

They aren't aggressive and she was quite happy for me to get close to take this photo. The only problem I would have had is if she had mistaken me for a tree, ha ha.

I reckon she is about 2 metres long so she is quite large and would have given me quite a few injuries with those claws if she had decided to turn tail and climb up me.

I am just adding links to a few photos of lace monitors that I took a few years ago in this same area if you are interested

https://365project.org/onewing/365/2018-05-06

https://365project.org/onewing/365/2018-05-11

https://365project.org/onewing/365/2018-05-12

[Sharon Lee]

Great capture

[eDorre]

What a great capture! Thanks for the story too

[Annie D]

what a beauty - looks like a good sized one

[Kathy A]

Wow, she's a beauty!

[Diana]

What a great shot of this beauty, I would be petrified to get too close! You sure are brave :-)

[Mortman]

saw these around near the basin and North head in Sydney - wow!!

[Monique]

Wow

[Babs]

@mortman60 we have quite a few of them here in Port Stephens, they are impressive aren't they.

[Beryl Lloyd]

Waw ! what a handsome lad ! Such a lovely shot as he stretches up the tree - great colour tones and textures ! fav

[Lesley]

Oh how wonderful. I didn’t know they climbed trees.

[Dianne]

They are huge! A terrific image.

[Susan Wakely]

That’s an I pressure tail.

[Peter]

Stunning tones, textures and composition Babs, Fav:)

[Valerie Chesney]

Magnificent!

[Dione Giorgio]

Haha. Your text made me laugh. Beautiful shot and composition. Her colours are so different from those of the lizards we find here.

[Granny7(Denise)]

Fabulous capture, always wear bright clothing hopefully you won't be mistaken for a tree then!

[Peter Dulis]

well captured

[Wylie]

What a lovely fellow. Nice shot.

[Lou Ann]

So interesting looking. So large too!

[Esther Rosenberg]

That lizard looks huge!

[KV]

Wow… that is a huge lizard.

[Kate]

A large lizard for sure

[LManning (Laura)]

Terrific shot. She is massive!

[Hazel]

Amazing to see and photograph this lizard!

[Margaret Brown]

Super capture

[Issi Bannerman]

Oh, nice!

[haskar]

Beautiful shot and lovely narrative. In Poland, the largest lizards reach up to 15 cm.

[KoalaGardens🐨]

oh wonderful specimen, I love these guys so much!

[Pat Knowles]

Amazing animal….just shows the difference in our countries, you will know as someone brought up in England how surprised we would be to see this lizard wandering about. Interesting.

[Tunia McClure]

I would rather not run into one.

[sarah]

Absolutely amazing

[Islandgirl]

Oh my they are huge!

[Ann H. LeFevre]

Oh wow- that is a BIG lizard. I'd be scared to death of it- even if it is friendly. Great shot!

[Rick]

Wow, that guy is huge. Great shot.

[Babs]

@sugarmuser @edorreandresen @annied @kjarn @ludwigsdiana @momamo @beryl @tinley23 @dide @wakelys @pcoulson @happysnaps @sangwann @denful @pdulis @pusspup @louannwarren @dutchothotmailcom @kvphoto @k9photo @ljmanning @quietpurplehaze @craftymeg @jamibann @haskar @tunia @samae @radiogirl @olivetreeann @rickster549 Thanks, I just love these creatures and we are lucky to see quite a few when walking in our local bushland.

@koalagardens @annied I love them too, she was quite a good size.

[Carole Sandford]

A great capture. Not sure I would like to bump into one, but that probably because we don’t have this sort of wildlife, so not used to seeing them.

[CC Folk]

He is huge...wow! Fav.