Monday December 28th. 0945 – 1100

Weather

No rain in gauge. Overcast. Very humid. Light S – SE breeze. Occasional very light showers. Track moist. Water level low.

Post

Thomas lazy again today.
The Bush Stone-curlew appears to have established his territory in one of the creek-side gardens along Bunya Street.
At Allumbah Pocket the Australian Brush Turkey was guarding his mound but not in the mood to be photographed.
No other wildlife seen until Horseshoe Rocks where I remembered to use the flash and got some good images of the Eastern Water Dragon who was displaying the length of her tail.
In the flowering trees near Snodgrass’s Pool the Queensland Day Moths were fewer in number and higher in the canopy and I was unable to get any photos.
The Christmas Beetles were more cooperative and I obtained some good images including a pair that appeared to be up to no good!
Only one turtle was present at the Log Jam and he slid into the water before I got close enough for photography.
While leaving the Peninsula I photographed a White-headed Pigeon roosting in the large Camphor Laurel Tree
There is another flowering tree at Platy’s Pool where Day Moths, Christmas Beetles and foraging Dusky Honeyeaters were busy.
While trying to get one of them into the viewfinder, an Azure Kingfisher landed on a branch near me and in spite of twigs and leaves restricting the view I managed several good shots. Since my only previous experience of this Kingfisher was at long range in appalling light conditions I was well pleased.
He had no sooner flown, when I noticed concentric waves emanating from the bank at the foot of the tree and sighted a Platypus. She soon emerged from the soup of dead leaves and debris and rounded the corner to move up stream while remaining stubbornly close to the bank. I summoned a group of passing visitors who got a few glimpses of the animal while I moved to a more favourable position and was able to get some photos when she decided to cross to the far bank.
Her passage stirred up a Eastern Water Skink which climbed half way up the bank and was duly photographed.
I then moved on to the base of Picnic Peninsula where I got some more shots of the same Platypus as it had a good scratch and then crossed to my side of the Creek.
I was joined there by a delightful family from Townsville and discovered in the course of conversation that they are fellow Dachshund lovers. Thomas really missed out today!
From under the Highway Bridge I photographed a Saw-shelled Turtle on a rock in the Platypus Viewing Pool.
While crossing the bridge I also took some shots of another Eastern Freshwater Skink.