Tuesday 29th March 2922. 1255 – 1435 hrs

Weather

16 mm of rain in the gauge. Fine and sunny in the morning but starting to cloud up around lunch time. Light SE breeze. Track dry throughout. Water level steady. Moon New 01 April .

Wildlife Report

A late start again today and along Bunya Street I got a good view of a Bar-shouldered Dove and fired off a couple of shots.
At Allumbah Pocket I soon spotted “Mrs Green” the Green Ringtail Possum in the usual tree but higher up. There was more foliage around her but I was able to get a good image.
“Nosey” the other female GRP was not using her regular perch but a bit of searching revealed her in the tree often favoured by Tree Kangaroos, low on the bank to the right of the Picnic shelter. Foliage was again a problem but by clambering down closer to the water I was able to obtain a good view and she then favoured me by stretching out and having a good scratch with her left hind foot!
As I was completing the session I saw a bird flash past me and from it’s flight pattern guessed it was a Kingfisher. I soon spotted it perched in one of the Bottlebrush Trees on the other side of the suspension bridge and approached along the bank until I was close enough to start shooting. I continued step by step taking batches of photos at each stage until I managed to get some excellent photos of an Azure Kingfisher.
At the Other Side quite a few birds were flitting around and I got one image of a Spectacled Monarch but a Pied Monarch unfortunately eluded me.
Where the rocks run alongside the path to the Upper Level near Snodgrass’s Pool I sighted an Eastern Water Dragon and another which vanished too quickly.
At The Log Jam a moderately sized Saw-shelled Turtle was clambering up the concrete block to join another which was already relaxing there, while they were watched by a tiny Turtle from a view point on top of some floating debris.
More Turtles were photographed on the sloping log close to the base of Picnic Peninsula.
Between Stringers Stretch and The Narrows I spotted a Platypus foraging busily but it was not keen to approach me.
I was able to photograph a Golden Orb-weaver Spider on the Lomandra clump close to the Highway Bridge before turning my attention to the Large-footed Myotis which were roosting below the deck.
While crossing the bridge I observed two juvenile Water Dragons on the rocks below.
At the Car Park I found a Shining Bronze Cuckoo looking for insects in the trees which was happy to pose.
Across the paddock at Nick’s Camping Area the pair of Bush Stone-curlews were both present, one with a more aesthetic but rather prickly background of Sensitive Weed.
On the East Bank I again photographed one of the Brushtail Possums.
The Golden Orb-weaver Spider’s abdomen appears to be much more distended and a male was crawling all over her, including her mouth parts and I can only assume that they were mating!
“Tatty” the Coppery Brushtail Possum was again showing her face in the Overhanging Fig Tree.
In the trees next to the path to Bunya Street a White-headed Pigeon provided the last photo for the day.

Bar-shouldered Dove. Geopelia humeralis

Some of the common doves are remarkably beautiful when seen at close quarters

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

“Mrs Green” at Allumbah Pocket
“Nosey” viewed from low on the bank
Stretching and having a good scratch!

Azure Kingfisher. Ceyx azureus

Close enough for a good image but obscured by branches.
Keeping a keen eye on he water.
Full view of a beautiful bird.

Spectacled Monarch. Symposiachrus trivirgatus

Another attractive little bird

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Near Path to Upper Level
Very small Juvenile under Highway Bridge
Much larger juvenile

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Climbing the Heights of Abraham
Tiny Turtle watching the above
Near the base of Picnic Peninsula

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

In The Narrows but reluctant to come closer

Golden Orb-weaver Spider. Nephila pilipes

Slim young female on Lomandra near Highway Bridge
Female with distended abdomen on Left Bank. Ventral view
Close up dorsal view showing male climbing over female

Large-footed Myotis – Fishing Bat. Myotis macropus

Good view of foot which is dangled in water when fishing.
Several bats clustered together

Shining Bronze Cuckoo. Chrysococcyx lucidus

Another attractive bird with unpleasant habits!

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Pretty but prickly bed

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

In large tree close to the water.
“Tatty” with her torn left ear in Overhanging Fig Tree

White-headed Pigeon. Columba leucomela

Still many of these around.