Weather

Mostly sunny with increasing cloud. Hot but improved by cool southerly breeze. Track dry. Water level low. Full Moon + 3 days

Wildlife Report

I was thinking about getting ready for a walk this afternoon when I received a message from Matt to tell me that there was a Tree Kangaroo in the tree next to the Suspension Bridge.
Galvanized into action I changed and was down at Allumbah Pocket and taking photographs within ten minutes and a beautiful Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo it was too.
I was so intent with this that I missed spotting the Green Ringtail Possum which was in the same tree!
I found nothing at The Other Side and at Horseshoe Rocks I saw only a small Eastern Water Dragon which vanished in the rocks before I could raise my camera.
At Snodgrass’s Pool I caught up with Matt who was with 2 friends from Brisbane watching an active Platypus so I joined in the fun.
We went our separate ways and I saw nothing more until The Log Jam where there were a collection of Saw-shelled Turtles but looking less photogenic than usual.
I continued on snapping another Turtle on the fallen tree near the base of Picnic Peninsula.
While crossing Highway Bridge I photographed a juvenile Eastern Water Dragon on the rocks below.
Nothing was seen at the Viewing Platform or in the paddock opposite but along the lane leading through to Bunya Street I found a female Green Ringtail Possum sitting on one side of a tree trunk while her joey was perched on the other side.

Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo. Dendrolagus lumholtzi

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Weather

No rain. Sunny with a few scattered clouds. Cool southerly breeze. Track dry. Water level low. Full Moon +1

Wildlife Report

A few Carpenter Bees were seen again along Bunya Street but still very difficult to photograph.
Not a lot to see at Allumbah Pocket but in front of the covered Picnic Table, a Dusky Honeyeater was investigating a spiders web and probably eating the spider!
While crossing the Suspension Bridge I photographed a small Saw-shelled Turtle and a juvenile Easter Water Dragon on the Stepping Stones.
Near the seats at The Other Side a small Skink with a notably pink head and neck was seen in the leaf litter. Research suggests that this was in all likelihood one of the Rainbow Skinks Carlia rubrigularis which is found in Rainforest from Big Tableland to Mt Halifax near Townsville.
Two more Eastern Water Dragons were photographed at Horseshoe Rocks and another on Middle Rocks.
Saw-shelled Turtles were on a rock near the Memorial Bench and at Snodgrass’s Pool.
Approaching The Log Jam the pair of Pacific Black Ducks were foraging in the grass along the far bank and Turtles were again at the Jam but in fewer numbers than usual.
Two more were on a fallen tree near the base of Picnic Peninsula
A male Green Ringtail Possum was well concealed in No 3 of the Overhanging Bushes.
On a sloping log opposite the tip of Picnic Peninsula another Juvenile Water Dragon was seen.
The most exciting find of the day was an Oriental Dollar Bird, one of a pair which settled in the tall gum tree at the bottom of our garden and remained there for an hour or so.

Dusky Honeyeater. Myzomela obscura

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Rainbow Skink Carlia rubrigularis

Pacific Black Duck. Anas superciliosus

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Oriental Dollarbird. Eurystomus orientalis

Weather

9 mm in the gauge overnight. Overcast and threatening to rain. Occasional brighter periods. Variable breeze mainly from the North. Track slightly damp. Water level remains low. Full Moon on 19 Nov.

Wildlife Report

We had a couple of less common early visitors in the garden this morning when firstly a Bush Stone-curlew came to call. It may have been the one which on previous occasions has demanded food from the front door as it was certainly quite tame.
The other caller was an Orange-footed Scrub Fowl which we saw frequently when we first lived here but they have been much less common since the adjacent block was fenced and built on.
I set out on my walk after lunch and saw nothing along Bunya Street or at Allumbah Pocket.
While walking across Lloyd’s Suspension Bridge however I saw two Saw-shelled Turtles sunbathing on the Stepping Stones.
At The Other Side a Curlew was calling but as soon as I sighted him he fled through the fence to the next property.
At Horseshoe Rocks and the other rocks along the track saw several Eastern Water Dragons and also an Eastern Water Skink.
At Snodgrass’s Pool a group of Turtles were on the sloping tree trunk and one of these was a Kreft’s Short-necked Turtle.
A Laughing Kookaburra flew into a tree on the far bank and asked to have his photo taken.
A lot of the trees along the bank are starting to come into flower and I spotted some of my bees foraging on them.
At the Log Jam there was a good gathering of Turtles today and as usual they provided some entertaining photos.
In No 1 of the Overhanging Bushes I found a small male Green Ringtail Possum.
As I headed towards the apex of Picnic Peninsula a Platypus came round the corner at high speed and I was pleased when he slowed down and started some serious feeding allowing me to catch some of the action.
While crossing the Highway Bridge I checked as always for juvenile Water Dragons and spotted one much higher up the rocks and near the Bamboo Clump.
From the Lookout I photographed an Australasian Swamphen in the paddock and also spotted a pair of Bush Stone-curlews at Nick’s Camping Area.
While waiting to cross the Highway I saw a pair of Australasian Figbirds in one of the Poinciana Trees which are starting to come into flower.
On the Creek bank a Black Faced Monarch was whistling for a mate.
In the Overhanging Fig Tree I obtained the best photo yet of the joey belonging to the Coppery Brushtail Possum.

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Orange-footed Scrubfowl. Megapodius reinwardt

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Easter Water Skink. Eulamprus quoyii

Laughing Kookaburra. Dacelo novaeguineae

Honey Bee. Apis mellifera

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Australasian Swamphen. Porphyrio melanotus

Australasian Figbird. Sphecotheres flaviventris

Black-faced Monarch. Monarcha melanopsis

Coppery Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Weather

0.5 mm only in the gauge. Overcast with thundery clouds to the West. Hot and humid. Intermittent gusty breeze. Track dry. Water level low. Moon First Quarter + 2 days

Wildlife Report

I was pleased to spot again the Bunya Street Bush Stone-curlews in one of the Creek side gardens. Only two were present but the juveniles are approaching fully grown so one might had departed.
In the trees to the North of Allumbah Pocket entrance, “Mrs Green” the Green Ringtail Possum and her joey were looking down at me from the branches where they were sitting side by side and made a beautiful picture.
While looking unsuccessfully for the regular male, I heard a bird calling from the path to the storage shed and spotted a Black-faced Monarch.
I then saw a Platypus foraging along the far bank downstream and went across the Suspension Bridge to get a better view. The range was rather long but I got a couple of reasonable images.
At The Other Side a haughty Brush Turkey in full mating plumage walked up and appeared to be telling me to get off his patch. I got the message!
At Horseshoe Rocks and the next pile of rocks along the track I photographed a number of Eastern Water Dragons and also an Eastern Water Skink.
Approaching Snodgrass’s Pool I photographed Saw-shelled Turtles on the sloping tree trunk and then found myself being observed by “Whitespot” the Green Ringtail Possum and her joey which was lying horizontally along the branch. I am glad I can stop worrying that she might have lost the young one.
At The Log Jam the usual collection of Turtles were waiting to greet me and another Platypus was foraging along the far bank. I fired off a fair number of shots with only limited success occasioned by the distance.
In the trees at the base of Log Jam Peninsula I got some photos of a Barred Cuckooshrike.
I then saw very little until the Overhanging Fig Tree where yet another Green Ringtail Possum was high in the canopy and difficult to photograph. I suspect that it was the female seen previously in the same garden with a joey as there seem to me to be too many feet in the image for a single possum!
Returning to Bunya Street I photographed a recently constructed nest which I believe to be that of a Magpie Lark.

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Black-faced Monarch. Monarcha melanopsis

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Australian Brush Turkey. Alectura lathami

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Eastern Water Skink. Eulamprus quoyii

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Barred Cuckooshrike. Coracina lineata

Magpie-lark. Grallina cyanoleuca – nest

Weather

No rain in the gauge. Sunny with scattered clouds. Hot and humid. Intermittent gusty easterly wind. Track dry. Water level low. Moon – First Quarter.

Wildlife Report

Along Bunya Street the Carpenter Bees were seen again but the gusty wind made focusing on the little critters impossible!
At the entrance to Allumbah Pocket there were no possums visible today but I was delighted to find a Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo in the usual tree. He was high in the dense foliage of the canopy making him hard to see but I managed to get a few satisfactory shots.
The next sightings were at Horseshoe Rocks where there were two Eastern Water Dragons.
On the other side of the track I photographed a Blue Triangle Butterfly, a Saw-shelled Turtle on the rocks near the Memorial Bench and a pair of Pacific Black Ducks preening in the shallow water nearby.
Between Snodgrass’s Pool and Platypus Bend a Platypus was foraging in the overhanging roots but he emerged just before the Bend and I was able take some snaps.
On to The Log Jam where I photographed the usual collection of Saw-shelled Turtles.
At Platys Pool another Platypus appeared and again spent several minutes in the deep shade under the Water Cherry Tree  (Syzygium aqueum) but the light was better than on my last Patrol.
At Number 1 of the Overhanging Bushes a small male Green Ringtail Possum was relaxing and refused to acknowledge my presence.
At the Viewing Platform I met two lasses from Adelaide who were on a day trip from Mission Beach and I sent them off along the walk with detailed instructions where to look.
Final sighting was again the Coppery Brushtail Possum who was showing nothing but her tail end in the Overhanging Fig Tree.

Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo. Dendrolagus lumholtzi

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Blue Triangle Butterfly. Graphium sarpedon

Pacific Black Duck. Anas superciliosus

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Coppery Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Weather

No rain in the gauge. Overcast. Storm cells building in the west with frequent thunder. Threatening to rain later. Irregular gusting breeze. Track dry. Water level low. Moon – first Quarter on 11Nov.

Wildlife Report

Nothing seen along Bunya Street until reaching the last house on the Creek side where I became aware of a loud buzzing from a flowering native tree. Closer inspection revealed a number of spectacularly large native bees which were metallic blue/green in colour and were feeding from nectar in the flowers. Their rapid movements made photos difficult but I managed to get sufficient to identify them as Metallic-green Carpenter Bees.
To the left of the Allumbah Pocket entrance “Mrs Green” the Green Ringtail Possum and her joey were in their favourite tree and close by in the tree next to the Suspension Bridge “Patient Popeye” the male Possum was in attendance.
While crossing the Bridge I took some shots of a juvenile Eastern Water Dragon on one of the Stepping Stones and a Brown Cuckoo Dove who was perched on the overhead power line.
At The Other Side a male Pacific Emerald Dove checked me out as I searched the trees for Tree Roos or Possums
More Dragons were seen on Horseshoe Rocks and both rock piles following this along the track.
At Snodgrass’s Pool “Whitespot the Green Ringtail was in her regular tree but I was unable to see her joey. I am a bit concerned as she lost a joey at about this stage of parenthood last year.
At Platypus Bend a pair of Pacific Black Ducks were foraging along the bank when one decided on a bit of preening, exposing the glossy green/blue speculum under the wing.
A lone Saw-shelled Turtle was the only one in attendance at The Log Jam.
At the upstream end of the Log Jam Peninsula a Platypus was creating a mass of ripples during some intensive foraging but unfortunately too far away for decent images. She drew closer to the near bank as she approached Platys Pool and then frolicked for several minutes under the large tree on the corner. The light was unfortunately insufficient for photos until she emerged into the clear water where I grabbed a couple of shots.
While peering up into the trees along Dowling’s Corridor I chanced to glimpse a furry mass high in one of the Kauri Pines. I was unable to obtain a better view but am convinced that it was a Tree Kangaroo as they are frequently seen in this area and ravage the foliage of an Umbrella Tree which stands next to the Pine.
The final sighting of the day was the Coppery Brushtail Possum but my photo was less than adequate. I was hurrying at the time to avoid a large storm cell approaching from the South West but it unfortunately never arrived.

Metallic-green Carpenter Bee. Genus Xylocopa (formerly Lestis) – female

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Brown Cuckoo-Dove. Macropygia phasianella

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Series of Dragons on the Rock Piles

Pacific Emerald Dove. Chalcophaps longirostris

Pacific Black Duck. Anas superciliosus

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo. Dendrolagus lumholtzi

Coppery Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Weather

No rain in the gauge. Sunny with hardly a cloud in the sky. Light variable breeze. track dry. Water level low. Two days after New Moon.

Wildlife Report

After my last outing today was almost bound to be a disappointment although there is always something to see and I come home with a few photos.
I could find nothing at the entrance to Allumbah Pocket although at the Picnic Shelter I met a photographer from Malanda who had seen a Green Ringtail Possum heading up into the canopy. He also pointed out a lone male GRP just along the path to the storage hut which I duly photographed.
I also saw a Pale-yellow Robin in the tree next to the Suspension Bridge.
At Horseshoe Rocks I photographed and Eastern Water Dragon on one of the skyline rocks.
A few moments later a small Platypus came swimming downstream, diving intermittently but not pausing on the surface. I fired off a couple of shots without much success.
A solitary Saw-shelled Turtle was on the sloping tree trunk at Snodgrass’s Pool.
Nothing then until the Log Jam where the first thing I noticed was a Platypus foraging busily along the far bank. It soon moved across the pool to visit myself and a lady who had been waiting patiently on the bench seat which has recently been provided. It spent several minutes diving around some of the submerged logs and I obtained a number of pics.
Three Saw-shelled Turtles were posing on the logs and they were also recorded.
At Platys Pool a very small Water Dragon was spotted on the far bank.
While crossing the Foot Bridge I spotted a Spectacled Monarch foraging for insects and some images of it completed the sightings for the day.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Pale-yellow Robin. Tregellasia capito

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Spectacled Monarch. Symposiachrus trivirgatus

Weather

5.5 mm of rain in the gauge. Cloudy with sunny periods. Variable breeze from NW – NE 10 knots. Track slightly damp. Water level low. New Moon.

Wildlife Report

Gait somewhat sluggish after whipper snippering the grass this morning and joints somewhat creaky.
Brightened up on seeing two of the Bunya Street family of Bush Stone-curlews although it was not possible to get both of them into the frame.
Even better on finding “Mrs Green” the Green Ringtail Possum in her regular tree and typically presenting her tail end to the camera. From the other side however I was able to shoot both mum and joey looking out from the fork of the tree.
Close by in the tree to the right of Lloyd’s Suspension Bridge the hovering male was still in attendance. I have reached the conclusion that this is an animal previously named and he will now be know as “Patient Popeye”.
From the bridge I was able to photograph not only the Possum but a small Saw-shelled Turtle and an Eastern Water Skink on separate Stepping Stones.
Several more larger Turtles were on the rocks on either side of the Memorial Bench and on the Horseshoe Rocks on the other side of the track an Eastern Water Dragon was on the skyline.
One of the Pacific Emerald Doves was waiting to escort me along the track towards the path to the Upper Level where a much larger male Eastern Water Dragon was enjoying the sun.
At Snodgrass’s Pool two Turtles were on the sloping tree trunk and in the group of trees north of the last sighting “Whitespot” the Green Ringtail was spotted with difficulty as she was deep in the dense foliage. I was unable to see any sign of her joey.
The red Bottle Brush are again in flower and attracting Scarlet and Yellow-faced Honeyeater and I managed to photograph the latter.
At the Log Jam numerous Saw-shelled turtles were on display and duly recorded.
As I walked up the upstream side of Log Jam Peninsula I observed a lot of waves being generated at the next bend and soon saw a large male Platypus proceeding at speed downstream.
I followed him obtaining a few indifferent images until he dived just before the Log Jam Pool. I hurried to try and get ahead of him and as I stood at the tip of the Peninsula he suddenly appeared right in front of me. I don’t know whether he or I was the most surprised but the shots taken almost by reflex action turned out surprisingly well.
Another large Turtle was seen near the Overhanging Bushes.
In the tree next to the fence just before the Foot Bridge the semi-resident male Green Ringtail Possum was again in place. There must be a female somewhere in the vicinity but I have yet to locate her so I have named him “Hopeful Harry”.
At The Narrows a small female Platypus appeared, again heading downstream at speed so the photographs were not of high order.
Finding nothing at the Viewing Platform of the Car Park I headed across the road to the Yungaburra Creek Bank and was immediately confronted by a very adventurous juvenile Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo perched in a bush scarcely higher than my head!
I took the opportunity to record a range of images of him in different postures until he headed up the tree to join his Mum.
She was in fact thoroughly concealed high in the canopy and had her joey not been present I doubt that I would have spotted her. I was joined there by a couple from Perth who are visiting relatives in Walkamin but the Roos were by this time very hard to see.
My final photos of the day were of the Coppery Brushtail Possum who had returned to a perch in the Overhanging Fig Tree.

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Eastern Water Skink. Eulamprus quoyii

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Pacific Emerald Dove. Chalcophaps longirostris

Yellow-faced Honeyeater. Caligavis chrysops

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo. Dendrolagus lumholtzi

Coppery Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Weather

5.5 mm of rain in the gauge. Cloudy with occasional light showers. SE breeze to 15 knots. Track damp. Water level remains low. New Moon 05/11

Wildlife Report

Nothing seen today along Bunya Street or at the entrance to Allumbah Pocket.
The same male Green Ringtail Possum was however in the tree immediately to the right of the Suspension Bridge. He looked rather wet and sorry for himself and took no notice when introduced to a couple of lady visitors who happened to be passing.
As I crossed the bridge a Saw-shelled Turtle was taking a breath in mid stream and as I thought the day might be too cold for many Turtles I took his photo.
At the Upper Level a medium sized Eastern Water Dragon was nicely displayed on a rock.
At Platypus Bend I saw a large brown bird skulking along the edge of the track and stop with its head visible through the grass around the base of a tree. It was then startled by two visitors approaching from the opposite direction and as it flew into the tree I identified it as a Coucal Pheasant. I thought I had probably seen the last of it but when they had cleared the area I found that it had perched in the topmost branches and managed to capture a few excellent shots.
At Log Jam Peninsula I saw a White-headed Pigeon in the larch Camphor Laurel tree but I was unable to get a good view.
At The Log Jam a slightly smaller collection of turtles were present doing what Turtles do and an Eastern Water Dragon was very artistically posed on a sloping log.
Nothing was seen again until Dowling’s Corridor where another male Green Ringtail Possum was in a large bush overhanging the fence. The branches were particularly dense but I obtained a restricted but unusual view of his face.
While crossing the Highway Bridge I again photographed a juvenile Water Dragon on the rocks below.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Coucal Pheasant. Centropus phasianinus

Weather

No rain in the gauge. Cloudy with sunny periods. Southerly breeze gusting to 15 knots. Track dry. Water level low. New Moon 5th Nov.

Wildlife Report

Cloudy weather made walking conditions better today so left earlier after lunch.
I saw two of the Bunya Street family of Bush Stone-curlews but the juveniles must have been in hiding.
At Allumbah Pocket “Mrs Green” the Green Ringtail Possum was back in her regular tree to the left of the entrance and I was fortunate to find her with Mum and Joey peering from each side of the tree trunk.
A somewhat disconsolate looking male GRP was in the tree on the right side of the suspension Bridge. He was very close to the Bridge but did not object when photographed from this direction.
An Eastern Water Skink was on one of the Stepping Stones and a few shots were taken but after checking out The Other Side I decided to go down to the water’s edge to get a better view.
By this time he had moved on but my efforts were rewarded by a Saw-shelled Turtle on one of the nearby rocks and a Platypus which appeared in the very scummy water just upstream from the Stones. He appeared several times but never very close.
Two Eastern Water Dragon were decorating the skyline at Horseshoe Rocks and were duly photographed.
By this time the Platypus had caught me up and was much more cooperative.
A Pacific Emerald Dove preceded me along the track from that point and as I took a photo his mate decided to land directly in front of me and got included in the shot.
Two Turtles of vastly different sizes were on the sloping log at Snodgrass’s Pool.
In the trees immediately next to the Pool sign, “Whitespot” the Green Ringtail and her joey were occupying their regular spot but joey could not be bothered to look at me!
Nothing was then seen until The Log Jam where all sites were occupied by Turtles performing a variety of poses.
The only other sighting today was of a Varied Triller which was busy in the trees where the track comes up to the Highway.

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Eastern Water Skink. Eulamprus quoyii

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Pacific Emerald Dove. Chalcophaps longirostris

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Varied Triller. Lalage leucomela – female