Saturday 20th August 2022. 0900 – 1015 hrs

Weather

0.5mm rain in the gauge. Early cloud clearing to bright sunny day and several degrees warmer than the last week. Cool southerly breeze to 10 knots. Track dry. Water level falling and Stepping Stones will soon be passable. Moon Third Quarter 19th Aug.

Wildlife Report

With the present restrictions it becomes increasingly difficult to enjoy a worthwhile patrol and from today’s observations it is likely to get worse.
I was interested to note that the Private Sign near the Highway Bridge is now hanging precariously and I saw dog walkers using the track.
At the East Bank however tree felling is taking place and the hollow tree, until earlier this week the home of a family of Brushtail Possums, is no more.
I suspect that that it is only a matter of time until the Bank is no longer accessible by the public.
At Allumbah Pocket I spotted an unidentified Green Ringtail Possum in the dense foliage north of the parking area.
A new sign has been erected forbidding driving or parking on the grass.
There was little to be seen at The Other Side apart from “Whitespot” the female Green Ringtail on her regular perch and fast asleep. I guess that these days there is not so much to keep her awake.
Walking to the Highway end of my regular route I saw nothing at Nicks, the Viewing Platform or on the rocks under the bridge.
I extended my walk along the trees lining the South side of the Highway but saw nothing of note and returned via the north side of the Bridge.
Several Golden Orb-weaver Spiders were seen in the Lomandra clump.
A solitary Large-footed Fishing Bat was in one of the joints under the Bridge deck and I noted an unusual shape on the lower abdomen. Could this be a juvenile bat in suckling position?
At the East Bank I saw only “Tatty” the Brushtail Possum in her usual tree fork but showing a little more of herself including her torn ear.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

At Allumbah Pocket

“Whitespot” enjoying a snooze

Golden Orb-Weaver Spider. Nephila pilipes – colour morph

Colour morph juvenile spider

Large-footed Fishing Bat. Myotis macropus

Is this a juvenile under upper wing?

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Two views of “Tatty” the Coppery Brushtail

2 thoughts on “Saturday 20th August 2022. 0900 – 1015 hrs”

  1. Lauren

    I spotted 2 platypus – one large and one very small – at Frawleys Pool on 20 August around 6pm. They were very active and swimming on the surface for extended periods.

    1. ian.gibbs123 Post author

      I don’t often go in that direction but may have to start doing so in the future. If the platypus were swimming together then it may be courtship behaviour but it is a bit early in the year for this. In previous years I have seen it mainly in late September early October although you can never trust wild animals to conform to what we think is the right thing. Regards. Ian

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