Saturday 2nd January 2021. 0830 – 0930

Weather

23 mm of rain in the gauge. Stormy sky. Occasional glimpses of the sun. No significant breeze. Track slightly wet with few minor patches of black mud. Water level down about 30 mm but still high.

Post

Back from early shopping and as this is about the time when we saw the “banded” Platypus, Thomas and I decided to check it out.
Saw little until the Horseshoe Rocks where I was delighted to see “White Spot” the Green Ringtail Possum with joey still riding on her back. Took photos from various angles and was quite satisfied but returned within a few minutes with a Peeramon family including 2 children and a local lady. The older child was delighted and I added to my photo collection.
Cicadas were calling loudly and there were numerous nymph cases on the gum trees along the fence line. With some difficulty I spotted a Red Roarer Cicada on a high branch and offer a not very good photo as it is the first one that I have seen this season.
There were still plenty of shiny metallic Christmas Beetles in the flowering trees but they kept their distance today and no images were recorded.
At the base of Log Jam Peninsula I photographed a female Scarlet Honeyeater and her much more exotic mate in the flowering tree at Platy’s Pool.
Along the Overhanging Bushes we met up with a previously met Townsville couple who were photographing a Platypus which they had been following since The Narrows. I was particularly interested as this was only about 50 metres from the “Banded” Platypus sighting but none of us could see any sign of a band and this was confirmed on the enlarged images.
A Macleay’s Honeyeater was seen at Picnic Peninsula but would not remain still enough for a good photo.
A Rufous Shrike-thrush was similarly uncooperative at the exit from the Walk.
While crossing the Highway Bridge I photographed an even smaller juvenile Eastern Water Dragon.
The Platypus Viewing Pool lived up to it’s reputation this morning with a high speed male Platypus provided a panned image and I also photographed “Tensing” Turtle sitting on top of his upright log.
The Bunya Street Bush Stone-curlew appears to have found his mate again and as usual they preferred a spot with sundry human artifacts in the view!