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The very day after the bird blitz, I'm riding along beside Parkwood Road,
West Belconnen, about 80 metres west of the Parkwood Garden Centre this
afternoon, when the pony and I were startled as a Kookaburra flew up from grass
10 metres in front of us carrying a snake in its bill.
In the few seconds I glimpsed the snake I discerned it was very slender and
probably less than 50 centimetres long. It appeared to be quite bloodied
and battered. So much so that I wondered if the old Movie Tone News icon had
scavenged a road kill. The kooka flew away carrying its trophy.
On the return journey, 30 minutes later, near where we encountered the
kooka, my mount began shying and side stepping. I dismounted and noticed a
large Common Bearded Dragon in defence display on a fence post two metres
away. The little mare is normally rock-steady near noisy traffic or when set
upon by yapping, canine rabble that lie in wait to harass peaceable pony-people
on Parkwood Road.
Anyhow, I led Skeeter, gentling her, for forty metres before
she returned to her normal, placid equine self.
John Layton
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