Russell the Goanna

This morning we were enjoying a relaxing time on the verandah where we were staying at Cessnock (refer yesterday's blip) when we heard quite a loud rustling in the garden.  One of our friends noticed a goanna peeping out.  It stayed there a while before quite briskly walking out across the lawn.  It opened its mouth very wide just before I took this shot but unfortunately, because I was using manual focus, I was unable to get a clear image.

After his trip across the lawn he climbed a Jacaranda tree and from there kept an eye on us until we left for home.  He (or maybe she) was around 1.5 metres long and I understand it is a Lace Monitor which can grow to 2.1 metres and weigh up to 20 kgs.  They can forage up to 3 klms with a favourite food being scrub turkey eggs.

They do bit!