From my garden
Mar 27th, 2006 by Hil
I happened to notice this tiny baby gecko trapped in a spider’s web outside my studio window yesterday. It was only an inch or so long. At first I thought it was one of the little sleek brown skinks, as we have lots of those, and the gecko’s distinctive pads on its fingers were not easy to see. I’m fond of both, but especially geckos, and I don’t see them very often.
It’s tail was very securely fastened to the web, which made me think it had been properly caught, rather than had just wandered into the web and got tangled. Perhaps the spider was waiting for it to weaken, because it hadn’t been poisoned or wrapped up more. I didn’t search for the spider, but maybe it was one of the black house spiders that live under the external window sills. After I had taken a few photos, I rescued the gecko and it ran away into the tanbark. It surprised me thinking about it afterwards that it hadn’t shed it’s tail to get away as both geckos and skinks can. Maybe tail shedding ability only comes with age?
Also from my garden, a moth with great camouflage, sitting on a towel on the washing line the other day. From other angles it was even more the colour of the towel. Underneath though, it was very colourful, and it had masked face like a bandit, and a shape that made me think of stealth bombers.
There are a few more photos in my Backyard set at Flickr.
Such fun to visit your sunny backyard! I love the baby gecko and the moth (but just can’t get comfortable with the idea of those Aussie spiders)! Ahhh… I wish I could hang out washing, but not only is not allowed here (a rule I’d be willing to break), I always do the laundry at about 11:00, in desperation to have something to wear the next day.
Hey Lindy! how nice to see you here :-) Yes,I find hanging out the washing on a sunny peaceful day is a real pleasure sometimes, and the clothes smell good from the sunshine. But, as you say not so good for getting the laundry done at the last minute! In some years time when governments have to legislate to deal with global warming it might mean your rules change the opposite way! I think this will happen.