Ibis and Water Dragons

 Ibis and Water Dragons

Both creatures are regularly spotted when we are out and about. Both were rarely seen when I was growing up. Both have had to adapt to urban life over the past ten years. Their numbers are now quite prolific in suburbia. Sadly, both are spotted scavenging for food in outdoor cafes and parks.

Many people intensely dislike the Ibis because it can look very dirty from where it has been scavenging. They are too often found landing on cafe tables or pulling out the contents of open bins. They have been named the Bin Chicken because of this habit.

I feel very sorry for this native bird and am thrilled to photograph them in their natural habitat. This post stems from an April Fool joke that I fell for. It was announced that Ian the Ibis would be our mascot for the Olympics to be held here in Brisbane, in 2032.

Time will tell if the Ibis will claim fame at the Olympics.  During March however, I enjoyed our Roma Street Gardens and spotted the living and non living Ibis.

In the wild.

A recent comment from a regular reader of my blog re the Water Dragon, prompted me to include them in this post.

We have many venomous and dangerous animals here in Oz, but the Water Dragon isn't one of them. Yes, he looks fierce and frightening, but he is regularly seen scavenging beneath cafe tables and resting in the sunshine along busy pathways. Spotted unexpectedly they give one a fright, but left alone they are harmless. In the first 2 images I was less than a metre away when I took the photos. They didn't even flinch.

By the sea.

And everywhere in the Roma Street Gardens. I was thrilled that I had brought my camera with me, allowing me to zoom in for these images.

Both such beautiful creatures in their natural habitat.

I would love to read your comment.