Thread: What's in your garden?

^ I am jealous Mendip, in the UK in the past I fledged 2 little owls. Yes they are Little Owls not their size its their name and it was difficult, i reared baby hamsters to feed then. I have no idea if they lived to rear their own but they flew and they killed prey from the air before they left me.

This is the 10th cobra I removed near my house. somewhere in July. 2 weeks ago nr 11, which was in the chicken-coop and had already swalled 4 eggs. After releasing it in a national park nearby I found it threw up the 4 eggs in the bag and a toad... guess it needed to go for a new dinner.

nr 11, with eggs still inside...

^ I've caught and released many rat snakes and a few pit vipers, which move slow and are easy to catch. We've never had a cobra to my knowledge and I'm glad about that... are they difficult to get with the tongs?

Can you recognise a spitting cobra on sight or do they all look similar?

^^
Quite the slope, you live on, Tommy

Originally Posted by Mendip

Can you recognise a spitting cobra on sight or do they all look similar?

no, I can't. but what I've learned along the way is that they are never aggressive by themselves. They do get pissed once in the gripper, but hey, don't let go. Also I have to mention that the biggest was maybe 2.2mtr. I've seen videos from king.cobras over 4 mtr long. these I will not engage alone (since my wife refuses to assist).
They always look for an escape when you are near. You have to decide fast to grab them bcs they are very good at disappearing which happened twice as well.
for protection I always approach with long trousers and high rubber boots, given that snakes see in infrared.

also with release, they slip away quickly, never come for revenge....

unfortunately, i had to kill 2 otherwise I would have compromised my own.safety. This 2 had themselves wrapped around some pvc piping which made it impossible for me to pull them out with the vice (snake.might be slip out by pulling force)

Pleasant morning here in Phuket, no rain, not too hot nor too humid with a bit of a breeze. M'Sahib doing stuff with her menagerie of cacti and succulents.

Just back from walking one of the dogs, and spotted this near a side gate. The dog was on a lead, so not so easy trying to take photos one handed. Get plenty of lizards in our garden, though never seen one with these markings before. Could be a baby Water Monitor Lizard.

The on and off rain sure brings out the big toads.

Originally Posted by Stumpy

Just back from walking one of the dogs, and spotted this near a side gate. The dog was on a lead, so not so easy trying to take photos one handed. Get plenty of lizards in our garden, though never seen one with these markings before. Could be a baby Water Monitor Lizard.

i don't think it is a monitor lizard. These ones are on many thais menu. So if you want the wildlife around, keep quiet

like this one?

Originally Posted by PAG

Could be a baby Water Monitor Lizard.

Is jndeed. Yellow bands on tail a dead give away.

Originally Posted by PAG

Could be a baby Water Monitor Lizard.

I'd say so. Varanus salvator.

Originally Posted by Tommy

a monitor lizard

I disturbed this big fella on my mail-run along the driveway and he scooted up the nearest tree to spy me with his beady little eye from a safe vantage

is this the start of "The last of us"?

What I really need to know from snubs is it still safe to squeeze my lemon with these dodgy looking fookers latched on.

My wife's uncle, who lives across the river from us, is getting on in age and has nice little place that he has enjoyed keeping up. I have been helping over the last 6 months or so keeping up his place as he lives alone and my wife now goes to see him every day on the way to market in the morning to drop off food and check on him. He is a really nice ol fella.

A few days ago he invited us to come over and told us he has decided to give us all his plants. He says he cannot care for them anymore and wants them to be at our place as he comes over frequently now and he can see them and knows my wife and I enjoy keeping our place with lots of various plants. He says he knows when he passes that no one will care for them. Some are real beauties





These are just a few of what I have been moving over the last few days and he has a lot more. These will go around our Pool Sala.






Few more pics as I move plants around to make room for a bunch of his by the pool sports bar area.

^I like those parasol style palms


It is getting like an Alfred Hitchcock movie trying to have a quiet coffee on the balcony these days...

^ Did they think you were dead?

^They used to wait patiently on the railing for some food but they are becoming more forthright in their approach.

Our new pet baby Water Monitor Lizard was out and about this morning. Seems to like it around the area of our 20 ltr water bottles.

Did another uncle visit this morning and added plants around the pool bar



Set up one fern but he has 4 more. Have to find strategic places for them to avoid sun.

Originally Posted by PAG

Our new pet baby Water Monitor Lizard was out and about this morning.

The dogs haven't found it yet?

Looks great PAG. A labour of love by the level of care and attention on show.

Beautiful selection Stumpy. Very well cared for too. No doubt the Uncle will be pleased to see what you've created.