Weather

2 mm of rain overnight. Bright and sunny most of the day with some cloud building in the West later this afternoon. Track mainly dry with some moist patches where water tends to run of the paddock or in the course of a seasonal spring. Water level down about 50 mm.

Wildlife Report

Today’s interaction with Petersons Creek was divided into two parts.
This morning, after some lawn mowing, I went down to the Yungaburra side of the creek and retrieved the memory card from my Trap Camera which unfortunately yielded no results.
While there I spotted a very smart Green Ringtail Possum and surmise that it is one which I often meet at the Overhanging Bushes on the opposite side of the Creek.
Later this afternoon when it had cooled down I decided to check out the Walk but Thomas declined to accompany me as it was approaching his tea time!
Another single Green Ringtail Possum was perched in the tree immediately to the right of the Suspension Bridge and was so close to the bridge that with a determined effort one could almost have touched him. I took a series of photos which I hope will turn out well.
There were a lot of Saw-shelled Turtles around this afternoon, one on a rock near the Memorial Bench and no less than four on the recently fallen tree as Snodgrass’s Pool with two more on a branch at a lower level.
In the trees opposite the Pool White Spot the Green Ringtail Possum was sharing a branch with her offspring who is now almost as big as Mum. I had just finished photographing them when I met a French couple from Brittany who were thrilled to be introduced.
Another Saw-shelled Turtle was at The Log Jam and a final one along The Narrows.
Apart from that I saw little until crossing the Highway Bridge from which I sighted two juvenile Water Dragons on the rocks below which I showed to a local lady dog walker.
From the Car Park I sighted the Bush Stone Curlews at Nick’s Camping Area and as I was heading in that direction I was pursued by the French lady to let me know that they had found the other GRP and had also seen a Platypus. I though it rewarding that they had taken the trouble.
The Curlews were in an uncooperative and stubborn mood and it was impossible to get an image of all three of them together among the numerous artifacts in the area.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Weather

Rain in gauge 28 mm. Overcast with intermittent light rain and drizzle, brightening later.
No breeze. Track wet but minimal mud. Water level high and creek flowing fast. Platypus “hovering” in the current at the Narrows.

Wildlife Report

Decided to Patrol early this morning as the rain was quite heavy during night and often this means good platypus viewing.
Before starting, photographed a moth which had decided to check out the kitchen. This as classified by me as a “hawkmoth” but with an interesting “tail plane”. In the course of trying to identify it discovered that there are several thousand different moths in Tropical North Queensland and I believe this to be a Hermit Hummingbird Hawkmoth!
On arrival at Allumbah Pocket I immediately sighted a Green Ringtail Possum but unfortunately high in the tree in deep shade with bright patches of sky showing between the leaves. It was impossible to obtain a well exposed photo even using flash.
I continued across the bridge and in the area close to the work shed at The Other Side I found a small group of Fairy Gerygones feeding in the foliage and was lucky enough to obtain some images.
At Snodgrass’s Pool I met a group of visitors and was describing to them the “boiling” of the water which indicates the presence of a Platypus below when one of the young women spotted just that behind me. A male Platypus surfaced and we followed him upstream to Platypus Bend where the group left me to resume their walk.
The Platypus however continued to progress at a speed similar to mine and was photographed at a number of locations including the Log Jam, Stringers Stretch and The Narrows.
I saw a group of Bared Cuckooshrikes but they were not hanging around to be photographed and then snapped a very disheveled Magpie Lark in the gum trees at the side of the track
I was joined on the way by a couple, originally from Liverpool but now living in Cairns and later by another pair from Mossman, originally Kent. I was interested to find that the male partner is a guide for Crocodile Cruises on the Daintree River.
Hoping to increase my fairly limited tally I crossed the road to the vacant lot where I found my regular family of Bush Stone-curlews and continued to the overhanging Fig Tree where another Green Ringtail Possum was easy to photograph and the Chocolate Brushtail Possum was showing just enough of himself to let me know that he was at home!

Hermit Hummingbird Hawkmoth. Macroglossum insipida

Fairy Gerygone. Gerygone palpebrosa – male with southern plumage.

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Magpie Lark. Grallina cyanoleuca

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula – Dark Brown colour variant

Weather

Cloudy. No significant precipitation but threatening to rain as forecast. Intermittent variable breeze. Gusty at times. Ground moist. Water level remains high.

Wildlife Report

Another assortment of photographs from two consecutive days associated with my Platypus monitoring activities.
On Monday morning I retrieved my camera trap but did not re-set it as torrential rain was forecast – Ha Ha! The photographic results were also dismal!
The rain did not of course emanate so after lunch I continued my wider survey of Petersons Creek by heading downstream from Allumbah Pocket.
The only person of interest at the Pocket was the Chocolate Brushtail Possum pretending to be asleep in the Mistletoe Clump. I say pretending because when I was attempting to obtain a view of his face I am pretty sure that he was saying “I can see you!”
I continued on, keeping a careful eye open for Platypus but also scanning above for arboreal mammals and birds.
Cicadas were very noisy and I managed to find a Red Roarer on a Grey Gum at a height suitable to photograph.
Some birds were flitting around in the flowers of a Wheel of Fire tree and though the birds were elusive I thought that the blossom was worth recording.
A also observe an extremely large Paper Wasp Nest in the top of a tall Silky Oak Tree.
I spent some time at Frawleys Pool until it was obvious that a Platypus was not going to appear and as the track leaves the Creek Bank from that point on I retraced my steps.
A Spangled Drongo was busy hunting the Cicadas but refused to be photographed.
The resulting collection of photographs was hardly worth publishing alone.
This morning I set up my new Camera Trap on the Yungaburra side of the Creek and while watching for any Platypus which might be on the prowl. Again no sightings.
While there I checked for a Green Ringtail Possum spotted on my last visit. I thought that this was a female, probably with a joey, but did not have my normal camera with me.
Today she was in the same spot and as the first image shows my initial impression had been correct. From the other side I obtain some delightful views of a very young Joey cuddled up to his Mum.
On the way home I also photographed a naturally framed White-headed Pigeon.

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Red Roarer Cicada. Psaltoda aurora

Wheel of Fire Tree. Stenocarpus sinuatus

Paper Wasp Nest

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

White-headed Pigeon. Columba leucomela

Weather

23.5 mm of rain. Overcast with intermittent light showers. Light SE breeze. Water level high.

Wildlife Report

This morning’s Patrol of Petersons Creek occurred on a previously unvisited section of the Creek upstream of my usual haunts. I was lucky enough to be invited to accompany a friend on a ramble through an area of riparian reforestation along the southern boundary of his family property. The map shows a distance of just over 1 km as the crow flies but probably double that allowing for the meandering course of the Creek and there was no formed path. The ground was to say the least soggy with areas of standing water along the paddock edge when we emerged from the trees to return home.
The object of the trip was to checkout Platypus numbers in this area of the Creek but although the bank was followed as closely as possible we had not a single sighting. This is similar to my recent experience between the Gillies Highway Bridge and the Suspension Bridge.
I will not attempt to sketch our route or where we saw what as we wandered along barely discernible tracks when it was difficult to maintain geographical orientation. Suffice to say that we followed the Creek until we reached the boundary fence and then returned through the paddocks.
The most exciting finding was a Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo who was however largely concealed by dense foliage but I obtained enough to prove what I saw.
No Possums were spotted although Green Ringtails are often seen in the area.
Birds were quite plentiful however. Kookaburras were carrying on intermittently during our walk and Orange Footed Scrub Fowl were calling ahead and behind us. We did spot one crossing the track as we were returning to the highway.
My best photographs were of a female Broad Billed Flycatcher, a new species for me who posed nicely for a few shots.
Catbirds were heard screeching several times and one of these also posed although not as close as I would have liked.
I spent several minutes trying to locate a pair of Whip Birds which were answering each other in the tree tops but they managed to elude me.
We also saw a bird of prey in the crown of a distant River Oak and this was identified later from the not very good photos as a Brown Goshawk.

Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo. Dendrolagus lumholtzi

Broad-billed Flycatcher. Myiagra ruficollis female

Spotted Catbird. Ailuroedus maculosus

Brown Goshawk. Accipter fasciatus didimus

Weather

1 mm of rain in the gauge. Overcast with occasional brief sunny periods. Light intermittent southerly breeze. Track damp in parts. Water level steady.

Wildlife Report

Took a few photos before starting the day as a handsome Stick Insect was resting on the roof of the garage.
Left home at 0920 and photographed a Bar-shouldered dove along Bunya Street.
Met up with Mark from ABC Cairns at Allumbah Pocket where, needless to say, there were no animals to be found!
Crossed the bridge to The Other Side and found a handsome male Eastern Water Dragon on the rocks behind the storage shed. He quickly ran into the paddock but paused to have his photo taken before he disappeared.
Mark and I continued on our way chatting about this and that but unfortunately there was very little to be seen.
Examined several of my camera traps set up on the far bank of the Creek and looked for any more likely burrows.
At the Overhanging Bushes I was able to introduce our new visitor to a small male Green Ringtail Possum in Number 3 who sat placidly above us while we chatted away and took photos. He seemed to have an unusually large number of ticks on his ears but did not have the scars of “Piratical Pete”.
Mark was surprised to view a known Platypus Burrow within 5 metres of the Gillies Highway Bridge with traffic roaring past. Unfortunately there were no Platypus to go with it.
After crossing the bridge we spotted the pair of Bush Stone-curlews with their chick in Nick’s Camping Area and walked over to take photographs.
We finished our relaxing stroll, otherwise known as an interview, by going down to the village side of the Creek and collecting the cameras put out yesterday. Mark was kind enough to help carrying the clobber!
The memory cards have already been checked and unfortunately show no Platypus. Two cameras had been set up incorrectly and had not functioned at all so I will have to try again, perhaps tomorrow.

Stick Insect. Species unknown

Bar-shouldered Dove. Geopelia humeralis

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Camera Traps and Crew

Weather

No rain in gauge overnight. Had 40 mm a couple of nights ago. Overcast. No notable breeze. Track has some damp areas but no problem. Water level down 50 mm from maximum.

Wildlife Report

“Piratical Pete” the Green Ringtail Possum was peering out from among the leaves at Allumbah Pocket and it was hard to get a well exposed photograph.
Among the Rocks opposite Snodgrass’s Pool The scar-faced Eastern Water Dragon was glimpsed at he vanished behind a tree trunk.
No Turtles were available this morning. It was a bit early for them and the day had not warmed up.
Still no Platypus to be seen but I continued surveying potential burrows along the far bank which I intend to visit with the Camera Traps.
At Dowling’s Corridor a Lewin’s Honeyeater put in an appearance and a barely adequate photo was obtained.
At the Platypus Viewing Car Park I looked out for a Bush Stone-curlew which had been seen intermittently near one of the Bamboo Clumps. As soon as I was within ideal photo distance the hitherto invisible bird jumped to his feet along with his mate and a well grown juvenile which remained on his knees. Got some excellent shots.
Obtained a standard fragmentary view of a chocolate Brushtail Possum in the Fig Tree where I also photographed the female half of a pair of Australasian Figbirds.
On the way home a White-headed Pigeon flew into a tree next to the path and joined the collection.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Lewin’s Honeyeater. Meliphaga lewinii

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Australasian Figbird. Sphecotheres flaviventris

White-headed Pigeon. Columba leucomela

Weather

No rain in the gauge. Cloudy with sunny periods. Light southerly breeze. Track dry. Water level down 30 mm.

Wildlife Report

Disappointed to obtain no images of Platypus last night.
While sorting out the cameras I was called to the garden where some interesting beetles with bright green markings on a black carapace were enjoying the stamens of a magnolia flower which of course had to be photographed and identified.
I then set out with the intention of re-siting 2 cameras and continuing with a Patrol but in the opposite direction from the usual. Thomas not very keen which was fortunate as his plans would probably have differed from mine!
Called first at the Figtree which overhangs the vacant lott near the Medical Centre and took the usual partial view of a Common Brushtail Possum.
Continued from there to the Yungaburra bank of the Creek just downstream of the Highway bridge and placed a camera over a know Platypus Barrow thought to be active.
While doing this I noted what looked like a good burrow on the opposite bank. Investigated this after crossing the highway and photographing a White-headed Pigeon which seemed determined to have it’s photo taken.
The hole turned out to be a shadow so continued on to Stringers Stretch and located what appeared to be 2 previously unobserved burrows and placed a camera to cover one of them.
Nothing was then observed until the path to the Upper Level opposite Snodgrass’s Pool where the large Eastern Water Dragon with the ulcerated face was partially concealed. I was interested to note a fly sitting on his head which I hope was not a bad sign.
Another less spectacular Dragon was seen at the southern end of Horseshoe Rocks. From the Suspension Bridge I saw that the Stepping Stones were beginning to appear from their recent inundation and that the water is markedly clearer than in recent weeks.
A small Saw-shelled Turtle was enjoying a sunny period on one of the rocks.
Returning home along Bunya Street the flowers of a Bottle Brush were attracting a number of Christmas Beetles.

Fiddler Beetle. Eupoecila Australasiae

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

White-headed Pigeon. Columba leucomela

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Christmas Beetle.

Weather

2 mm of rain in the gauge. Cloudy with occasional glimpses of the sun. Intermittent blustery breeze from the south. Track slightly damp. Water level down another 2.5 mm.

Daily Wildlife Report

Chocolate Brushtail Possum was again residing in the Mistletoe Clump at Allumbah Pocket. She rewarded me with a bleary eyed good morning before going back to sleep.
At The Other Side a Pale-yellow Robin watched me as I checked out the trees for Possums.
A frisky Eastern Water Dragon was frolicking on the recently fallen tree at Snodgrass’s Pool while just off the path opposite the scar-faced Dragon was seen again. The erosion of his face appears to be increasing in size and I suspect that it will ultimately prove fatal. Unfortunately I can see no way of capturing him to attempt treatment. He is not constantly in the same pile of rocks and to investigate would require the use of a backhoe. This would only result in an earlier demise.
Cicadas were very noisy this morning and I saw several low down on the grey Gums at the edge of the track.
Having seen nothing else along the Creek, I checked out the Fig Tree overhanging the vacant lot and sure enough a male Green Ringtail Possum was hiding high in the foliage.
Throughout the walk I also photographed likely Platypus Burrows to which I plan to extend camera trapping. On the 27th I had my only trapping success with a clear photo of a Rakali ( White Tailed Water Rat) tail as it entered it’s burrow. This necessitated hanging a camera vertically above a burrow and I am now working on some modifications to facilitate this method in the hope that the same technique will work with Platypus.

Common Brushtail Possum. Chocolate colour. Trichosurus vulpecula

Pale-yellow Robin. Tregellasia capito

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Red Roarer Cicada. Psaltoda aurora

Green Ringtail Possum. Male. Pseudochirops archeri

Rakali. White-tailed Water Rat. Hydromys chrysogaster

Weather

No rain in the gauge. Sunny early with increasing cloud later. Very humid. Little or no breeze. Track nearly dry throughout. Water level steady.

Post

Early start after very early shopping. Thomas more interested in bone than a walk!
Spotted a Green Ringtail Possum in a tree overhanging the car park at Allumbah Pocket. Details were obscured by foliage with a separate photo showing face only. Hard to be sure but I suspect this was “Piratical Pete”.
A second GRP was clambering in foliage at the top of the tree on Creek bank corner next to Allumbah Pocket shelter. He climbed higher giving me a glimpse of his face and identifying “Popeye”.
A third Green Ringtail Possum was in the tree immediately to the right of the far end of the suspension Bridge and also started climbing after a couple of photographs.
Checked around The Other Side for Possums and Water Dragons but found instead a Cruiser Butterfly feeding on Lantana in the adjoining paddock.
In the tree to the left of Horseshoe Rocks I was delighted to find “White Spot” the female Green Ringtail Possum with her offspring on show and got some excellent pics.
Paused at the downstream end of Overhanging Bushes to replace a memory card and continued on to Picnic Peninsula where I observed some waves.
A large male Platypus was very busy foraging and remained close to the bank and right in front of me for a good 5 minutes. An ideal photo opportunity!
I had no sooner moved away than an Eastern Water Dragon ran from the centre of the Peninsula to pose on a tree root asking to be photographed. I was happy to oblige.
Retrieved my second memory card near the Highway Bridge and as I had not seen a Common Brushtail Possum I decided to visit the Fig Tree which overhangs the vacant lot. I have on numerous occasions photographed a Possum’s bottom at this location but today was a first. Only half a bottom was visible today!

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Cruiser Butterfly. Vindula arsinoe

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Common Brushtail Possum – Chocolate. Trichosurus vulpecula

Weather

No rain. Mostly sunny with some scattered cloud. Light southerly breezes. Track mostly dry but still some damp patches. Muddy areas now drying up fast. Water level down 25 mm this morning.

Post

Once again I have missed several days. I am finding it very time consuming trying without much success to operate the Camera Traps and with having to remember multiple memory cards, batteries etc when I do go to the Creek I am more likely to forget some vital item for taking my own images! Did however have a successful Patrol this morning and managed to change the memory cards in the fixed cameras at the same time.
On Arrival at Allumbah Pocket I immediately spotted the old and battered Green Ringtail Possum with damage to both ears and nose and sore eyes. I think that he is an old male, well past his prime, who continues to pursue the ladies and has to fight for their favours!
A few metres further on I saw a Chocolate Brushtail Possum roosting in the Mistletoe Clump in the large tree on the corner of the track. I was pleased to obtain a view of his face.
Yet another Possum, another Green Ringtail, was in the tree next to the suspension Bridge. He was offering nothing but his rear but by peering up into the foliage from the bridge I obtain a partial view of his face. Certainly a lot younger and I think that it was “Popeye”.
At Platypus Bend I observed a Peaceful Dove strutting along a branch. See dozens of them at home but rarely along the Creek so decided to take his picture.
Continuing on I found another Chocolate Brushtail Possum in the small Mistletoe Clump in one of the Bottlebrushes on the approach to Log Jam Peninsula. He was lying in a most peculiar position as you can see from the images, one of which shows a hind food partly concealing his lower jaw with whiskers protruding across his ear and both fore feet immediately above. Perhaps he was practicing his yoga routines?
On the bank opposite the Log Jam an Eastern Water Dragon was taking the sun but no Turtles were to be seen.
At the northern end of the Overhanging Bushes I dealt with one of the Camera Traps.
I was disappointed that there were no more Possums to be seen and even more so that there were no Platypus.
As a consolation, two Pale-yellow Robins entertained me at the Foot Bridge. They are always very friendly little birds.
A final sighting was a White-headed Pigeon strutting his stuff along the far bank at The Narrows before I checked out the second Camera Trap

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Common Brushtail Possum – Chocolate colouration. Trichosurus vulpecula

Peaceful Dove. Geopelia placida

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Pale-yellow Robin. Tregellasia capito

White-headed Pigeon. Columba leucomela