Thursday 12th November 2020. 1500 – 1720 . Platypus Patrol Plus U3A Happy Snappers

Weather

No rain overnight. Overcast with occasional brief sunny periods. Minimal breeze. Track dry. Water level low.

Post

A somewhat different Patrol today with a late start to meet with 13 members of U3A Happy Snappers at Allumbah Pocket. Thomas was of course extremely fed up to be left at home but I couldn’t really manage him as well!
We started with a brief chat about cameras and what I use and I distributed maps of Petersons Creek.
Then moved all of 5 metres to the trees at the entrance to the walk where a Green Ringtail Possum was in residence. I suspect that it was my regular girl with baby but she was uncooperative, very high in the tree and with her back turned.
I snapped an Eastern Yellow Robin while most of the group were occupied.
Crossed the Suspension Bridge making sure not to overload it ( rated to carry 10 persons ) and visited the Golden Orb-weaver Spider on the downstream side of the bridge support.
At The Other Side where there was more room and somewhere to sit we had a short chat about the wildlife we were about to see and some spotting techniques.
Fortunately the locals decided to turn it on for the visitors.
A small Eastern Water Dragon was on the skyline of Horseshoe Rocks but was quickly frightened by the crowd.
A larger male was however perched on the rocks opposite Snodgrass’s Pool and stayed for a large number of photos.
Ambled on to Platypus Bend where a bubble pattern indicated a submerged Platypus which soon surfaced. She proceeded with a virtuoso performance coming right into the near bank and continued feeding for at least 10 minutes.
At the same time some of the group were diverted by a huge Stick Insect which invited itself to the party by climbing the leg of a female member! The insect was removed to the fence and also found herself the subject for photography.
Near Flood Tide Island a few Honeyeaters were feeding on scarlet Bottle Brush and I took a few shots while waiting for the group to catch up.
At the Log Jam only one small Saw-shelled Turtle was in residence to represent his species although I did see a number in the water.
At the Overhanging Bushes, “Chocolate” the Brushtail Possum was again absent but the small Green Ringtail Possum was concealed in Bush No 1 and although not being very helpful found himself a photo star.
A lady who had been lagging behind then announced that she had just seen a Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo on the far bank so several of us retraced our steps and I was able to catch a few half decent snaps of the first Tree Roo I have seen at Petersons Creek since early in the year.
We moved on again and most members were able to photograph the male Pacific Emerald Dove taking his turn on the nest.
Some members of the group decided at this time to turn back but I and a few others continued on observing three more large Golden Orb-weaver Spiders, one at the Platypus viewing Platform.
A fleeting glimpse of another Platypus was obtained from under the Highway Bridge and a distant shot of the same animal was taken from the Viewing Platform. One member walking ahead of the group was fortunate to observe this Platypus under the bridge and take some excellent video of it having an enjoyable scratch!
We returned to the starting point along Bunya Street where my regular female Bush Stone-curlew was on her nest. When first spotted she was standing but settled on her eggs before I could photograph them.
The final sighting of the day was an Orange-footed Scrubfowl which crossed the road near the Police compound and I was able to catch it traversing the creek side garden.
Another excellent Patrol which I hope was enjoyed by all.

U3A Happy Snappers. Homo sapiens

Part of the group near Full Tide Island

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Blob in a tree at entrance to Walk
At Overhanging Bushes
Portrait of above Possum

Pale-yellow Robin. Tregellasia capito

Having a preen at entrance to Allumbah Pocket

Golden Orb-weaver Spider. Nephila Sp

At The Other Side
Dorsal view at The Narrows
At Platypus Viewing Platform

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Near Snodgrass’s Pool in mating colours

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Poor shot near Platypus Bend
Same
Distant shot from Viewing Platform

Stick Insect. One of the Phasmatidae

Large specimen on fence.

Dusky Honeyeater. Myzomela obscura

Dusky Myzomela near Flood Tide Island

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Lonely Turtle at The Log Jam

Lumholtz’s Tree – Kangaroo. Dendrolagus lumholtzi

Distant view of Tree Roo on the far bank near Platy’s Pool
Long tail!

Pacific Emerald Dove. Chalcophaps longirostris

Looking very patient as I took final image of him.

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Female on nest along Bunya Street

Orange-footed Scrubfowl. Megapodius reinwardt

At Bunya Street. Showing off foot!