Weather

2 mm of rain in the gauge. Overcast with occasional light showers. Cool SE breeze. Track damp. Water level low. Moon phase – New Moon +1.

Wildlife Report

Started today by photographing a Macleay’s Honeyeater from the lounge window which motivated me to grab my usual gear plus a brolly and head for the Creek.
Nothing to be seen today at Allumbah Pocket but as I crossed the Suspension Bridge I spotted a Platypus under the vegetation along the Yungaburra bank, just upstream of the Stepping Stones.
I did a quick and unsuccessful check of The Other Side and hurried down to the Memorial Bench in time for the Platypus to arrive opposite me. I then followed her upstream towards Snodgrass’s Pool where I met a couple of Grey Nomads from NSW with their dog who were delighted to see the monotreme. I continued to take photos after they left and was rewarded when she moved towards me.
At Platy’s Pool I saw the only Saw-shelled Turtle of the day swimming in the water. I guess that it was not warm enough for sun bathing.
When I arrived at the Viewing Platform a couple visiting from Mackay were watching another Platypus which I had already spotted from under the Highway Bridge. It refused to come close enough for worthwhile photos but I took a few snaps to confirm the sighting.
In the Fig Tree overhanging the vacant block a very red Brushtail Possum was happy to show me his tail end.

Macleay’s Honeyeater. Xanthotis macleayana

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Weather.

No rain in the gauge. Bright sunny day with no cloud. Cold southerly breeze. Track dry.
Water level falling slowly. Only two of the Stepping Stones remain under water. Moon phase Last Quarter +3

Wildlife Report.

Few birds around at this time of day but I noticed some flying insect activity under the roof of a nearby house. Closer inspection showed that a triangular panel has been used as the base for a large Paper Wasp nest! I doubt that they will cause damage but I wouldn’t like to have them above my front door so I will speak to the owners.
At the informal entrance to Allumbah Pocket, “Popeye” the Green Ringtail Possum was perched out in the open and appeared as interested by my attention as I was in his.
While crossing the Suspension Bridge I photographed a Saw-shelled Turtle sunbathing on one of the stepping stones.
Nothing of interest was then seen until the Overhanging Bushes where a Varied Triller followed me from bush to bush but moved so quickly that it was difficult to capture on the sensor. I eventually had some measure of success.
On a sloping log near the base of Picnic Peninsula a small Saw-shelled Turtle and a lizard with a Snout to Vent Length (SVL) of about 150 mm were lying in the sun. The size of the Lizard made me wonder about it’s identity. I would usually describe it as an immature Eastern Water Dragon of which it certainly has some features but it’s skin markings differ markedly from an adult and in particular lack the black facial patch. Unfortunately I can’t find any likely alternative of the correct size and would be grateful for any advice.
At The Narrows two Orange-footed Scrubfowl were fossicking on the far bank and I got a few shots in spite of the rather poor light. I think from their markings that they were well grown juveniles.
I again photographed the Golden Orb-weaver spider just below the Highway Bridge and the Common Brushtail Possum half way across.
At the Platypus Viewing Platform I was glad to share a good view of an active Platypus with a visiting couple. At this location it is impossible to get as close as I would like but a few of the shots came out rather well.
I checked out as usual the Fig Tree which overhangs the vacant lot and found the Chocolate Brushtail Possum was back in residence and for a change had her face turned towards me!

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Varied Triller. Lalage leucomela

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii – juvenile ?

Orange-footed Scrubfowl. Megapodius reinwardt

Golden Orb-weaver Spider. Nephila pilipes

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Weather

No rain. Sun shining from cloudless sky. No breeze. Track dry. Water level remains steady but still high enough to prevent use of Stepping Stones. Moon Phase = Last Quarter -2 days

Wildlife Report

An earlier start today with many more birds on view but too early for the reptiles to be out and about.
I started with a Black Butcherbird, juvenile rufous morph, seen before leaving home.
A White-cheeked Honeyeater and a Silvereye were both photographed in a Bottle Brush close to the entrance to Allumbah Pocket.
In the tree often occupied by a Brushtail Possum in the Mistletoe Clump a Brown Cuckoo-Dove was roosting.
While crossing Lloyd’s Suspension Bridge a Platypus was spotted feeding and after a few minutes it came close enough to get some overhead shots.
Approaching Snodgrass’s Pool, a Rufous Shrikethrush flew into one of the creek bank trees and posed to be photographed.
At Log Jam Peninsula a White-headed Pigeon was seen but it was not possible to obtain a worthwhile photo.
At the base of the Peninsula, honking warned me of the approach of two small groups of Sarus Cranes and I was able to obtain a rather distant shot.
At Picnic Peninsula I met an elderly gentleman from Brisbane and together we sighted a Platypus along Stringers stretch. It remained along the far bank but I did manage an adequate photo.
The Golden Orb-weaver Spider was seen again just below Highway Bridge and while crossing the bridge I added to my portfolio of shots of the well concealed Brushtail Possum.

Black Butcherbird. Melloria quoyi. Juvenile, rufous morph.

White-cheeked Honeyeater. Phylidonyris niger

Silvereye. Zosterops lateralis

Brown Cuckoo-Dove. Macropygia phasianella

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Rufous Shrikethrush. Colluricincla megarhyncha

Sarus Crane. Grus antigone

Golden Orb-weaver Spider. Nephila pilipes

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Weather.

Cloudy with sunny periods. Variable chilly breeze from East – South East. Track try. Water level low, steady. Moon Full + 2

Wildlife Report

Tore myself away from the Olympics on TV to get some exercise and check out what is happening along the Creek.
Nothing to be seen at Allumbah Pocket but in one of the large trees at The Other Side I spotted another Brown Cuckoo-Dove and took a photo.
On one of the rocks in front of the Memorial Bench a Saw-shelled Turtle was taking the sun and a couple more of contrasting sizes were on the remnants of the fallen tree at Snodgrass’s Pool.
In the trees opposite the Pool a juvenile male Australian King Parrot was taking a siesta.
Nothing then until the tip of Picnic of Picnic Peninsula where a Platypus was busy feeding. I called over a family visiting from Brisbane and we watched the small female for at least 10 minutes and she was still busy when we left. Light conditions were a little tricky and there were a lot of bubbles on the surface but a few of the shots were worth keeping.
The Golden Orb-weaver Spider was still in her spot just below the Highway Bridge.
While crossing the bridge I called in on the Common Brushtail Possum in his normal roost in the bushes alongside.

Brown Cuckoo-Dove. Macropygia phasianella

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Australian King Parrot. Alisterus scapularis

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Golden Orb-weaver Spider. Nephila pilipes

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Weather

No rain. Temperature down to 10C at 0600. Bright and sunny. No significant breeze. Track dry. Water level steady. Moon Full – 2 days.

Wildlife Report

Warm in the sun although still quite cool in the shade of the trees.
Unusually found nothing at Allumbah Pocket or The Other Side.
A fine Saw-shelled Turtle was gracing the rock near the Memorial Bench.
On the Rocks opposite Snodgrass’s Pool “Scarface” the Eastern Water Dragon was on display. His facial lesion appeared a little worse than at my last sighting although certainly much better that it was and I suspect that the previous photo was not a true image.
A Platypus was then spotted against the far bank of Snodgrass’s Pool and although he remained stubbornly distant his presence was enjoyed by a family with 2 children from Victoria and another older couple.
Two tiny Saw-shelled Turtles were seen on the sloping log near Full Tide Island, two turtles were enjoying close company at The Log Jam and others were seen at Platys Pool and nearing Picnic Peninsula.
Approaching Highway Bridge I photographed the Golden Orb-weaver Spider and then spotted a disturbance in the water close to my depth measuring log under the bridge.
A Platypus soon bobbed to the surface and swam around for a couple of minutes in very poor light before being frightened by the click of my camera flash opening.
After a short wait she appeared again a few metres downstream where there is a low section of bank just above water level. She remained in this area making repetitive dives for at least 10 minutes and I swear that she was aware of my presence and playing up for me. At one stage she surfaced in the same spot at least half a dozen times within a metre of my camera and I had to reduce the zoom ration in order to keep her in focus.
In the paddock next to the bridge, several Cattle Egrets were mingling with the Cattle.
Half way across the Bridge I photographed the very tired resident Brushtail Possum.

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Cow with Eastern Cattle Egret. Bos indicus + Bubulcus coromandus

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Weather

No rain in the gauge. Beautiful day without a cloud in the sky. Cool southerly breeze. track dry. Water level low, steady. Moon First Quarter +1

Wildlife Report

At Allumbah Pocket “Popeye” was in the same position as yesterday and very close to the car park. Two young Asian Girls visiting from Brisbane were just in time to check him out.
While crossing the Suspension Bridge I sighted a pair of Wompoo Fruit Doves one of which was selecting berries from an Alexander Palm which made a spectacular sight. Her mate could be viewed on guard from another angle.
‘Scarface” the Eastern Water Dragon was in the same spot as yesterday but turning the other cheek so the scar was not on view.
Saw-shelled Turtles of assorted sizes were on the logs in Snodgrass’s Pool having soon sorted out alternative pitches after the main trunk was removed.
Some small Turtles were seen near Full Tide Island but not photogenically arranged.
At Platys Pool the same Turtle was posing on the far bank and deserved a photo.
My Pale-yellow Robin friend came to say hello at Picnic Peninsula.
Along Dowling’s Corridor I sighted another Wompoo Fruit dove and a couple from Mareeba were on hand to see it.
The Common Brushtail Possum was still at home alongside the Highway Bridge Walkway.
At the Viewing Platform I sighted a Platypus at long range but he obligingly turned round and approached the Platform just as a Korean couple with a small child now living in Cairns arrived on the scene. The little boy was clearly very excited but the noise had no effect whatsoever on the Platypus.
A small Turtle was once again at the apex of the log in the Pool.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Wompoo Fruit Dove. Megaloprepia magnificus

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Pale-yellow Robin. Tregellasia capito

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Weather

No rain. Scattered cloud but mostly sunny. SE Breeze, brisk at times. Track dry. Water level steady. Moon First Quarter.

Wildlife Report

Pleasantly cool to be out walking this afternoon.
Photographed a Brown Cuckoo-Dove along Bunya Street.
At the entrance to Allumbah Pocket I found two male Green Ringtail Possums. “Piratical Pete” the old warrior was in his regular tree at the corner of the informal path to the Storage Shed while “Popeye” a younger rival was in a tree close to the left corner of the tarmac parking bays. No visitors were on hand to see them but several were later told where they might find them.
The Mistletoe clump was vacant today so the next sighting was among the rocks close to Snodgrass’s Pool where a moderate sized Eastern Water Dragon was mounting guard. High contrast light conditions made vision and photography difficult but after examination on the computer I am reasonably certain that this was “Scarface” with his facial ulcer now almost healed.
A small Saw-shelled Turtle was on a sloping log in Snodgrass’s Pool with a larger specimen afloat.
A clump of Mistletoe in the Bottle Brushes between Full Tide Island and Log Jam Peninsula was in full flower and worthy of a photo. I have seen Brushtail Possums in this spot before but they were missing out today.
A much larger Saw-shelled Turtle was on the far bank at Platys Pool and others were seen on a log near the Overhanging Bushes and the tip of Picnic Peninsula.
My regular Golden Orb-weaver Spider was still on station just below Highway Bridge. I am surprised that he has lasted so long.
The regular Brushtail Possum was in the same spot near the centre of the span but looking at me over his shoulder today.
I had been told by several visitors that they had seen a Platypus in the Viewing Pool and was amazed to find it still entertaining visitors though at rather long range.
Two very small Saw-shelled Turtles were occupying “Tensing Turtle’s” log today.

Brown Cuckoo-Dove. Macropygia phasianella

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Mistletoe.

Golden Orb-weaver Spider. Nephila pilipes

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Weather

2 mm of rain overnight. Overcast with sunny periods. Light southerly breeze. track slightly damp. Water level continues to drop slowly. Moon – First Quarter – 3 days

Wildlife Report

All progressing well at home, so took time out from domestic duties for another Patrol this afternoon.
“Piratical Pete” the Green Ringtail Possum was in his regular spot at the informal entrance to Allumbah Pocket and as a couple arrived in a car at the same time as I did I invited them to check him out.
Continued on into the Pocket and found the Chocolate Brushtail Possum still occupying the Mistletoe Clump and as I was taking photos a local lass appeared and took an interest. She had bought visiting friends to the Creek and been successful with spotting 2 Platypus so I showed them both Possums in the vicinity.
Continuing on I found a Platypus myself, wending it’s way along the far bank from near the Memorial Bench towards Snodgrass’s Pool.
Towards Platypus Bend I saw a flight of large Birds heading in our direction from the South. I thought initially that they were Storks but they turned out to be Straw-necked Ibis
Nothing else was seen until The Log Jam where a Saw-shelled Turtle was perched on one of the logs.
At Picnic Peninsula a Pale-yellow Robin came to visit me and posed for photos. They are a particularly friendly little bird.
The Golden Orb-weaver Spider was still in the same spot just below the Highway Bridge as was the Brushtail Possum half way across the Bridge.
A number of visitors were watching a Platypus in front of the Viewing Platform but it was heading upstream. I waited for a few minutes and she obligingly turned about and came back to the closest possible point of approach to the Platform although this is still a long range shot.
The final sighting of the day was a pair of the resident Bush Stone-curlews at Nick’s Camping Area.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Straw-necked Ibis. Threskiornis spinicollis

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Pale-yellow Robin. Tregellasia capito

Golden Orb-weaver Spider. Nephila pilipes

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Weather.

2 mm or rain in the gauge. Cloudy with sunny periods. Cold breeze from the South. Track slightly damp. Water level falling slowly. New Moon.

Wildlife Report.

Numerous doves around today, a Brown Cuckoo-Dove and a Bar-shouldered Dove being photographed along Bunya Street.
At Allumbah Pocket the Chocolate Brush Tailed Possum was in the Mistletoe Clump near the Picnic Table and choosing today to show her face.
At The Other Side a couple of Fairy Gerygones were in the tree which overhangs the Picnic Table but were too busy to pose. I did however get another shot of a Brown Cuckoo-Dove.
Much of the fallen tree has now been removed from Snodgrass’s Pool depriving the Turtles of one of their sunbathing spots.
Saw-shelled Turtles were seen in abundance in several areas of the creek particularly in the region of Flood Tide Island with one at The Log Jam providing a variety of shots.
There was a singular lack of Green Ringtail Possums on view today.
At Stringers Stretch a number of tourists were watching a Platypus which was remaining stubbornly along the far bank. It did eventually venture closer to the near bank and I was unable to obtain a few good views.
Just below the Highway Bridge I again took photos of the Golden Orb-weaver spider.
The Brushtail Possum was still in residence near the centre of the Bridge but was an even worse mood.

Brown Cuckoo-Dove. Macropygia phasianella

Bar-shouldered Dove. Geopelia humeralis

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Golden Orb-weaver Spider. Nephila pilipes

Weather

No rain in the gauge. Overcast in the morning with a few light showers and more or less continuous drizzle after 1430. Variable light breeze.Track slightly damp. Water level falling slowly and water clearing. Moon phase New Moon – 3 days

Wildlife Report

My friends along Petersons Creek have been neglected since 28th June as I have been heavily committed to family matters.
My wife Jennifer suffered a nasty leg injury when she fell in the garden on 1st July and was admitted to Cairns Base Hospital. Prolonged daily visits to Cairns leave little time for other activities. I was able to bring her home on Monday but a splint keeps her immobile without assistance but I am pleased to report that she is well on the way to recovery.
Today I felt able to leave her for a short period and have been busting to try out a new camera which gives me more choice in field of view and is more of a general purpose camera.
I got started almost immediately as “Piratical Pete” the Green Ringtail Possum was in one of his regular roosts next to the informal entrance to Allumbah Pocket.
Just around the corner, the chocolate Brushtail Possum was still in the Mistletoe Clump but in antisocial state of mind.
At The Other Side a pair of Brown Cuckoo-Doves were sharing a tree but refused to present their faces to the camera.
On the sloping tree trunk in Snodgrass’s Pool the only Saw-shelled Turtle seen today was taking the air.
On to The Overhanging Bushes where I caught up with a Tour Group who were just moving on from a Platypus they had found. I took over their spot and followed the animal up to Picnic Peninsula where i was luck to get some excellent shots.
I photographed the Golden Orb-weaver Spider just below the Highway Bridge, an Australian Brush Turkey on the far side and took a very poor image of the resident Brushtail Possum near the centre of the Bridge.
To finish the walk I found another Green Ringtail Possum in the Fig Tree which overhangs the vacant lot.
I am delighted with the results from the camera and hope that you all agree.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Golden Orb-weaver Spider. Nephila pilipes

Australian Brush Turkey. Alectura lathami