Tuesday 15th December 2020. 0905 – 1010

Weather

12 mm of rain in gauge. Generalised light cloud with watery sunshine at times. Intermittent variable NW breeze. Track damp. No discernible change in water level but water coloured by recent run off.

Post

Photography commenced before leaving home this morning when “Cuthbert” our semi regular visiting Bush Stone-curlew called demanding breakfast at the front door.
After satisfying our own appetites, Thomas and I decided to go on Patrol and at Allumbah Pocket came across the Brush Turkey tending his mound.
Close by, “Mrs Green” and her joey were in the tree next to the Suspension Bridge but she had clearly got out of the wrong side of bed this morning and after a very short sojourn took herself up into the canopy leaving baby to follow her.
Although I knew exactly where she was it proved virtually impossible to obtain further photos which caused me to ponder how many creatures I fail to spot on the average day. I guess it must be quite a few!
At Horseshoe Rocks I sighted an Eastern Water Dragon which I photographed from the Upper Level before seeing a much larger specimen. At this point the battery warning signal on my camera let out a loud beep which frightened it away!
I was able to get a shot of a Saw-shelled Turtle on one of the rocks near the Memorial Bench and a couple more Turtles were sun bathing at the Log Jam.
Approaching the Highway bridge I saw ripples arising from close to the bank and anticipated a Platypus but was slightly disappointed when a pair of Pacific Black Ducks appeared.
Under the Highway Bridge we met a couple from Townsville with a baby in a pushchair and had a short chat.
As we left them I caught a glimpse of an Orange-footed Scrubfowl swooping down into the trees on the far bank.
From the Car Park we saw that the cattle were in Dowling’s Paddock and that a couple of Egrets wearing breeding plumage were enjoying their company.
While crossing the vacant lot to investigate the overhanging Fig Tree, I heard the unmistakable cries of a pair of Scrubfowl calling each other and a quick detour enabled me to get a shot of one of them.