The first Echidnas

 When we first moved to Canberra we took a trip to the Snowy Mountain Scheme reservoirs and our daughter (then about 6 years of age) ran across a car park exclaiming about a porcupine (we had recently lived in Denver).  This was the first echidna we had ever seen but we have seen a few since then.

Since moving to Carwoola they have been a regular and enjoyable element of our lives.  So it was pleasing tonight when the small dog went into "spot and bark" mode as an echidna walked across the lawn.

I rushed out with the camera as it buried itself in some foliage.  Despite the canine cacophony emanating from the house it soon poked its nose out again.
Realising that it was not alone it moved briskly to a nearby tree and tried to imitate a root.
After a few more minutes it seemed to realise that it wasn't really rooted and gave me a wistful look.
It was last seen heading for the nutritional delights of the many meat-ant nests in the adjoining paddock.

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