Wild Animals Seen Up Close

**danbo** · 21-04-2007, 11:27 PM

I was walking to work the other day when a passing shadow had me look skywards to see a bird of prey fly over with what looked like a pigeon in its claws....Now, it could have just been giving it a lift, but I strongly suspect that it had caught it to eat. I found it fascinating to experience this up close and would be interested to hear of any stories TD members may have of animals they have seen in their natural habitat. Not necessarily hunter/prey although that would be interesting - Maybe seeing a whale from a boat , or a story of a close encounter with a grizzly.

I know we have members hailing from all parts and many who are well travelled, so there should be a good variety.

**slimboyfat** · 21-04-2007, 11:47 PM

well i have seen lots of whales and dolphins working at sea but never got any pics as they were always at the bow and we werent allowed to take pics on deck in case the ship blew up. The best I can do is these couple of shots i got of an albatross. If I remember rightly we were on our way from Brisbane to New Zealand with a cargo of the finest quality BP products. I was on watch on the bridge and this bird kept flying backwards and forwards along the ships length for a good hour or so. Unfortunately my camera was shit. But anyway we didnt often get to see an albatross so it was slightly exciting.

^ is that a leg or are you just pleased to see me?

**Marmite the Dog** · 21-04-2007, 11:54 PM

Not exactly a wild animal, as it was actually lodging in my house, but I decided it had to go. I eventually managed to catch it with the Hoover. I hate big, bastard spiders.

**danbo** · 21-04-2007, 11:55 PM

From Wiki:

An albatross is a central emblem in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge; a captive albatross is also a metaphor for the poète maudit in a poem of Charles Baudelaire. It is from the former poem that the usage of albatross as a metaphor is derived; someone with a burden or obstacle is said to have 'an albatross around their neck', the punishment given in the poem to the mariner who killed the albatross. In part due to the poem, there is a widespread myth that sailors believe it disastrous to shoot or harm an albatross; in truth, however, sailors regularly killed and ate them but they were often regarded as the souls of lost sailors.

**slimboyfat** · 21-04-2007, 11:59 PM

in fact many birds used to try and hitch a ride. We used to try and feed them or give them fresh water but usually they ended up like this poor fella after a few days. His friend died the next day too.

**slimboyfat** · 22-04-2007, 12:01 AM

Originally Posted by danbo

From Wiki:

in truth, however, sailors regularly killed and ate them but they were often regarded as the souls of lost sailors.

never got a chance too. i remember the indian crew liked to eat the flying fish that landed on deck during rough weather. not for me though. too many bones

**Wally Dorian Raffles** · 22-04-2007, 12:03 AM

I once went fishing for snapper of the coast in south east queensland, and after having a baby whale (about 12-16ft long) come up very close to the boat while we were fishing, we pulled up anchor and headed south for 4 or 5 km's. we started fishing again, and the baby whale appeared again ... it must have been hovering no less than a meter under the boat ..we pulled up anchor again and it once again followed us ... it seems it thought our boat was it's mother ....hope it found mum alright ..

i also remmber snorkeling in the gold coast sea-way iwhen it was first made, and having a pair of manta-rays swim beside me - that was wicked!
. on my first dive (in the solomon islands it was) i saw over 30 sharks forming a spiral from the surface to the bottom, had a sea snake try to bite my goggles, and had to swim through a school of 100's of barracuda to get back to the boat ..it was about 70ft deep .......

**danbo** · 22-04-2007, 12:16 AM

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

....i saw over 30 sharks forming a spiral from the surface to the bottom....

I saw something like this on a nature program; they were working collaboratively to 'funnel' sardines (I think) ready for a feeding frenzy.

Marmers, how big was that spider - looks a monster. I wouldn't have liked to but I think that I would have had to kill it if I wasn't able to do the old glass/beermat trick - I couldn't have slept in the same house for one single night....

**Wally Dorian Raffles** · 22-04-2007, 12:18 AM

Originally Posted by danbo

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

....i saw over 30 sharks forming a spiral from the surface to the bottom....

I saw something like this on a nature program; they were working collaboratively to 'funnel' sardines (I think) ready for a feeding frenzy.

I had my phantom ring on..

**slimboyfat** · 22-04-2007, 12:19 AM

Marmites spider also seems to be equipped with a laser sight

**Marmite the Dog** · 22-04-2007, 12:46 AM

Originally Posted by danbo

Marmers, how big was that spider - looks a monster. I wouldn't have liked to but I think that I would have had to kill it if I wasn't able to do the old glass/beermat trick - I couldn't have slept in the same house for one single night....

The legs were about 3 inches long. One was left behind after I Hoovered it up. It also made a pretty satisfying 'plop' as it entered the tube.

**Dougal** · 22-04-2007, 01:45 AM

Originally Posted by Marmite the Dog

I hate big, bastard spiders.

Me too. These are Huntsman Spiders, seem to be very common and like to come in houses.

I've seen deer around the house but only once, also monkeys, and squirrels of course.

I saw a pod of dolphins off the beach once while I was having lunch.

I should really produce a list of the birds as there are quite a variety where I live.

**MeMock** · 22-04-2007, 05:10 AM

Mainly Crocodiles, within a few feet of the boat, sometimes in the boat (before we put them in the bathtub)

**MeMock** · 22-04-2007, 05:21 AM

Here is a stingray caught in the local river

As they live in the bush I consider Northern Australian cattle to be 'wild'

**Marmite the Dog** · 22-04-2007, 08:39 AM

Cattle Drive...

**RandomChances** · 22-04-2007, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by Wally Dorian Raffles

to get back to the boat ..it was about 70ft deep

Thats a really deep boat

**danbo** · 22-04-2007, 02:02 PM

Good stuff MeMock. What's the temperament of the wild cattle? Are they feisty so&sos?
RC may well correct me here, but the domesticated cows I see in the UK look as lively as sloths on a slow day.

**Agent_Smith** · 22-04-2007, 04:33 PM

Did the little cowboy get dressed up just for this photo or was he just strolling the beach in that getup?

**MeMock** · 22-04-2007, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by Agent_Smith

Did the little cowboy get dressed up just for this photo or was he just strolling the beach in that getup?

No beach here, that was caught in the river. That kid had just come from school, thats the uniform here.

**MeMock** · 22-04-2007, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by danbo

Good stuff MeMock. What's the temperament of the wild cattle? Are they feisty so&sos?
RC may well correct me here, but the domesticated cows I see in the UK look as lively as sloths on a slow day.

99% of the cattle are mustered once sometimes twice a year. They are pushed by Helicopters and then horses and motorbikes take over for the final stages of getting them into the yards. These are not considered 'wild' cattle however you still don't want to get close to them as they can still kill you.

The other 1% are the cunning buggers. They out maunover the chopper and as soon as they do that the first time they are very hard to catch. Thats where the bull catchers are brought in to chase them and push them over (see pic) tie them up and load them on a truck to get them to the yards.

If the elude capture for a couple of seasons they are no good to anyone and are either left alone or preferably shot by the chopper pilot whilst flying. Even better however is when they are finally captured and brought into the local rodeo

**danbo** · 22-04-2007, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by MeMock

....If the elude capture for a couple of seasons they are no good to anyone and are either left alone or preferably shot by the chopper pilot whilst flying.

Preferably shot??

**slimboyfat** · 22-04-2007, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by danbo

Originally Posted by MeMock

....If the elude capture for a couple of seasons they are no good to anyone and are either left alone or preferably shot by the chopper pilot whilst flying.

Preferably shot??

obviously Memock is cast from a different mould from Steve Irwin.

Mind you Memocks son rides on sting rays for fun rather than getting killed by them too.

**MeMock** · 22-04-2007, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by danbo

Originally Posted by MeMock

....If the elude capture for a couple of seasons they are no good to anyone and are either left alone or preferably shot by the chopper pilot whilst flying.

Preferably shot??

Otherwise they become a bad influence on the other cattle teaching them the tricks of the trade, horns become long and dangerous (stabbing other cattle) push fences over etc

**danbo** · 22-04-2007, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by MeMock

....If the elude capture for a couple of seasons they are no good to anyone and are either left alone or preferably shot by the chopper pilot whilst flying.

whilst flying??

**slimboyfat** · 22-04-2007, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by danbo

Originally Posted by MeMock

....If the elude capture for a couple of seasons they are no good to anyone and are either left alone or preferably shot by the chopper pilot whilst flying.

whilst flying??

they graze on magic mushrooms

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