Monday 4th January 2021. 0900 – 1015

Weather

37.5 mm of rain. Generalised overcast. Few very light showers. Very light breeze strengthening later from NE. Track slightly wet with increasing areas of black mud. Water level high, steady.

Post

Thomas installed very comfortably in recliner chair so again set off alone. Have taken to carrying umbrella just in case!
Immediate success at Allumbah Pocket where “Piratical Pete” the battered Green Ringtail Possum was perched in the tree overhanging the car park. Took pics from several angles before getting a reasonable view of his face. Two young people who were about to drive away came over and enjoyed the sighting.
Met another visitor at Snodgrass’s Pool who had astutely spotted an Eastern Water Dragon climbing the newly fallen tree trunk. I was hard put to see it myself without the benefit of my big lens. Well done!
A few birds were present in the trees upstream of Platypus Bend and I photographed Dusky and Yellow Faced Honeyeaters.
The insects were less active today and although I could hear plenty of Cicadas none were in sight.
Near Full Tide Island a pair of Currawongs were caroling from the top of a tall tree and deserved a photo.
At Platy’s Pool the Flowering Tree was a hive of activity with plenty of Bees, Christmas Beetles and Honeyeaters. A Scarlet Myzomela was again photographed.
Another Green Ringtail Possum was sighted, this time in No 3 of the Overhanging Bushes. One shot shows a particularly good view of the opposing “thumb” of his right hind leg after which the species is named. Pseudochirops is loosely translated as pseudo or false hand.
At The Narrows I saw two Saw-shelled Turtles taking the air on exposed logs and duly took photos.
Totally failed in my efforts to obtain another view of “Ringneck”, the name I have given to the Platypus photographed with what appears to be a cable tie or similar around it’s neck. Saw no Platypus at all but sat for 20 minutes with a view of a burrow I saw being entered last year and which appears to be still active.
While waiting I photographed a Pale-yellow Robin which came to check me out.