Weather

5 mm of rain in the gauge. Patchy cloud with sunny periods. Light SE Breeze. Track dry

Post

After pottering around the garden and a brief visit to the local shops Thomas and I decided that the ground was now try enough to venture along the Creek.
Birds were active along Bunya Street but none inclined to be photographed and nothing was around at Allumbah Pocket.
The large Saw-shelled Turtle was on his regular rock under the suspension Bridge.
No Eastern Water Dragons were visible on the Horseshoe Rocks but a detour to the Upper Level revealed a medium sized male enjoying the sun.
Were overtaken by an elderly couple with a small Terrier with whom Thomas enjoyed a brief sniff. Just past Platypus Point, the lady had slipped an fallen on the slope down to the water’s edge but was fortunately uninjured.
At the Log Jam there was a good turnout of Saw-shelled Turtles which were in photogenic mood.
At Platy’s Pool a family with 2 children from Brisbane had seen a Platypus which was heading downstream so we reversed our steps and caught up with a small female at the Log Jam. She was being pursued by a larger male in which she displayed no interest whatsoever but they both appeared several times in the pool and were well photographed. Thomas meanwhile enjoyed some attention from the children.
Continued on to the Overhanging Bushes where a Green Ringtail Possum was again occupying Bush No 1and much more photogenic than at our last meeting.
At Stringers Stretch I glimpsed a distant Platypus which by the time I reached The Narrows was being observed by the Grey Nomad couple who I had spoken to earlier. After taking photos I took them back to Picnic Peninsula to view the Possum.
Returning to The Narrows, a final Platypus was sighted at the start of that section just below the Highway Bridge.
Under the Highway Bridge a Juvenile Water Dragon and an Eastern Water Skink were enjoying the sun but high contrast conditions prevented a decent photo.
The regular pair of Bush Stone-curlews were in yet another aesthetic spot at the edge of Nick’s Car Park and a final Curlew was observed along Bunya Street.
A highly productive morning and Platypus mating season has obviously commenced!

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Weather

No rain. Bright sunny day. No cloud. Cool southerly breeze. Track dry.

Post

Nothing on today so decided to make an earlier start in the hope of seeing more platypus. Thomas has again had a slight limp for a day or two but was adjudged fot to come.
No sign of Green Ringtail Possums at Allumbah Pocket or The Other Side this morning and in fact didn’t manage to find any today.
A small Eastern Water Dragon was up early on the rocks opposite Snodgrass’s Pool and was shown to a couple of passing visitors.
A few Honeyeaters, mainly Dusky and Brown, were seen in the Bottle Brush trees but were flitting around too rapidly to get a photo.
At the Log Jam a couple of Saw-shelled Turtles were taking the air. A short distance further on I happened on a family with a dog who were looking for Turtles so was able to point them in the right direction.
At Picnic Peninsula a small group had gathered to watch a female Platypus who was busy feeding and continued to do so for several minutes. One family seemed particularly interested so I handed them one of my cards to let them access my online photos.
Finished the Patrol with a view of the Bush Stone-curlews who had returned to Nick’s Beer Garden.

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Weather

No rain. Scattered cumulus cloud with sunny periods. Gusty southerly breeze to 20 knots. Track dry, firm. Water level up slightly ? why.

Post

Domestic chores and some gardening this morning so set off with Thomas after lunch. Had already commenced days photography as a Bush Stone-curlew had moved into our front garden and was posing for me.
At the entrance to Allumbah Pocket found that the Green Ringtail Possum seen last time was in the same tree and was somewhat easier to observe. Seems to be carrying quite a lot of condition around the abdomen ans suspect that this is a female with a joey in the pouch!
Photographed a large Saw-shelled Turtle on a rock under the suspension bridge and on reaching The Other Side found another Green Ringtail Possum fully exposed while perched on a vine between two trees. He had rather tatty ears and I suspect that it was Peter the Piratical Possum!
Another Turtle was on the rocks just past the Memorial Bench and on the rocks opposite Snodgrass’s Pool a moderate sized Eastern Water Dragon was taking the sun.
On the way to Log Jam Peninsula stopped to photograph the scarlet flowers of a mistletoe clump in a bottle brush. I don’t recall seeing flowers of this colour on mistletoe before so will have to do some study later. While doing this noted a small bird nearby which I again did not recognise. I will advise when I have made an identification!
At the Log Jam I counted 6 Saw-shelled Turtles of assorted size and in a variety of postures. They love the sunny weather.
Bumped into several visiting couples from places ranging from Kirai to Bath in the UK and was able to direct several to some of the wildlife.
At the Overhanging Bushes yet another Green Ringtail Possum was seen but in a difficult light position. He seemed to have very tatty ears again but I did not recognise him.
Platypus not seen today but one of the couples had seen six yesterday evening! It is getting close to mating season.
The Bush Stone-curlew was still resting in the garden and was photographed again to complete our Patrol.

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Blue Flowers.

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Mistletoe Flowers. Dendrophthoe curvata

Possible Scarlet Honeyeater. Myzomela sanguinolenta – female

Weather

No rain. Bright sun shining from cloudless sky. Breeze SE 10-15 knots. Track dry. Water level falling slowly.

Post

After a morning in the garden it became too hot for working in the sun so Thomas and I decided to to venture out on Patrol.
We felt fully justified when a Green Ringtail Possum was spotted on entering the Walk at Allumbah Pocket. It was well concealed but confirming it’s identity by the presence of white bands down the centre of the back.
A large Saw-shelled Turtle was spotted on a rock under Lloyd’s Suspension Bridge and this was the first of many. Others were seen in both directions from the Memorial Bench, at The Log Jam and Platy’s Pool.
Met a visiting family at this stage and Dad was first to see one of the Turtles and also an Eastern Water Dragon on the rocks opposite Snodgrass’s Pool. Well spotted!
A second Green Ringtail Possum was in the creek bank trees at Snodgrass’s Pool and this was enjoyed by the family and another family from Austria with whom I spent a few minutes photographing a Platypus at Platypus Bend.
A beautiful Shining Bronze Cuckoo was seen in the bushes near Flood Tide Island but insisted on hiding his head behind a branch.
After visiting the turtles at The Log Jam a very friendly Eastern Yellow Robin came along on the upstream side of the Peninsula and I managed to take a couple of good shots.
Nothing else was seen then until reaching the Car Park from where a pair of Bush Stone-curlews were seen at Nick’s Camping Area and we were able to approach them.
Another Curlew was seen on the Creek side of Bunya Street before reaching home.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Shining Bronze Cuckoo. Chrysococcyx lucidus

Eastern Yellow Robin. Eopsaltria australis

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Weather

Cold morning with light mist clearing to sunny day without a cloud in the sky. No breeze. Track dry.

Post

Did some heavy gardening this morning, mainly tidying up after several months of neglect when the front garden was uninhabitable because of the aggressive bees. Then finishing off the new horizontal hive ready for the bees at present in their nucleus box to settle in and be ready for transfer.
After lunch decided that it was too nice to stay indoors set off with Thomas for a stroll along the Creek.
Nothing to be seen at Allumbah Pocket or The Other Side, but a moderate sized Eastern Water Dragon was on the rocks opposite Snodgrass’s Pool waiting to be photographed.
Nothing then until The Log Jam where a mob of Saw-shelled Turtles were enjoying the sun. I think that there were 7 in all and managed to get shots of most of them.
The favourite possum spots were all vacant today.
At The Narrows a group of visitors were watching a Platypus moving slowly up stream so I went on ahead and waited for it to arrive at the low level area below the Highway Bridge. Got quite a good view but not much in the way of photos as I still haven’t sorted out all the settings for the new camera.
The regular pair of Bush Stone-curlews were enjoying a singularly ugly spot at Nick’s Camping Area.
Not a particularly exciting walk but I don’t think I have ever come home without a few half decent photos.

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Weather

No rain for several days. Sunny with scattered clouds. No breeze. Track dry.

Post

Have been slack for a couple of weeks but today have a new camera to try out and Thomas is sufficiently recovered from his disc injury to manage a gentle stroll.
At Allumbah Pocket we immediately spotted a Brushtail Possum in the regular mistletoe clump. Colour looked rather pale for “Chocolate”, but light wasn’t very good so hard to tell. The signs were good for an interesting patrol!
Near Platypus Bend there were a number of Bottle Brushes in full bloom and in one a Scarlet Honey Eater was having a good feed. I always love seeing them as their colour is spectacular.
Soon after saw a Saw-shelled Turtle in the water.
At the base of the Log Jam Peninsula a Platypus appeared close to the far bank but soon moved close against the bank of the Peninsula and I obtained some good shots.
At the Log Jam at least 7 Saw-Shelled Turtles were taking the air and were posing nicely for me.
No Green Ringtail Possums in any of the regular spots but a Brush Turkey was waiting to escort us as we left the Walk.
Along the lane leading from Quincan Cafe to Bunya St a female Pacific Emerald Dove was strutting her stuff.
On the Creek side of Bunya Street the Bush Stone-curlew who has been enlivening our early mornings was snuggled down as usual among the Cobblers Peg.
Also spotted some of my new bees enjoying a neighbours Bottle Brush and more in the garden on a high Grevillea Moonlight flowers.

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Scarlet Honeyeater. Myzomela sanguinolenta

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Australian Brush Turkey. Alectura lathami

Pacific Emerald Dove female. Chalcophaps longirostris

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Honey Bees. Apis mellifera

Weather

No rain for several days. Cloudless sky with slightly hazy sun. No significant breeze.. Track dry.

Post

Thomas still on cage duties and spent my absence wailing from separation anxiety!
Nothing to see at Allumbah Pocket. A Fairy Gerygone was flitting through the tree above the Picnic Table at The Other Side but would not remain still long enough for a photo. Have seen them in them in this tree several times but do not know why.
Green Ringtail Possums were notable only for their absence.
Spotted a Platypus at Platypus Bend at fairly long range and fired off a couple of shots after which it vanished. Had given up and was walking off when it appeared again and did several passes although at longer range than I would have liked. Met a small boy from Tarzali and we exchanged information about platypuses.
Three Saw-shelled Turtles of moderate size were occupying the Logs at the Jam and another was on the far Bank at Platy’s Pool.
Nothing else was seen along the Creek but the pair of Bush Stone-curlews were occupying a very indifferent site at the edge of Nick’s Car Park. Amazing how often I see Curlews in sites where I have great difficulty in understanding what they like about it. They seem to favour proximity to some form of unattractive human artifact.
For the first time in a couple of months the Chocolate Brushtail Possum was absent from the figtree over hanging the vacant block. Not even a bum view! I was quite disappointed.

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Weather

No rain for several days. Temperature at 0630 8 degrees C. Bright sunny day. Cloudless sky. Minimal southerly breeze. Track dry. Water level steady.

Post

Set off on my own this afternoon, my furbuddy Thomas still being incapacitated. He whinged solidly in his protective cage until I returned home as he believes that there is nothing wrong with him.
Had to wait for a family to cross Lloyd’s Suspension Bridge while two teenagers fooled around. Observed social distancing with a frosty glare.
Nothing of note seen at Allumbah Pocket or The Other Side.
“Popeye” the Green Ringtail Possum remains in residence in the trees opposite Snodgrass’s Pool but again very well concealed and difficult to obtain a worthwhile photo. Two small groups of Asian tourists passed while I was trying to do so.
At the Log Jam a solitary Saw-shelled Turtle was occupying one of the prime logs with nothing else around.
A small Orb-weaver spider had a well illuminated web along the Peninsula.
At Picnic Peninsula I met up with “Clubfoot” one of the resident Brush Turkeys who is almost tame and enjoys having his picture taken.
Along Stringers Stretch a 1 metre + snake, I think a Slaty-grey , took to the water before emerging onto the path under the Foot Bridge. I flashed off photos while he was swimming and some better ones on dry land.
Nothing found in the vicinity of the Platypus Viewing Platform and the car port so crossed the highway and found “Chocolate” the Brushtail Possum still hiding her face with her tail. Today she was sharing her tree with a new sighting for me, a female Macleay’s Fig Parrot.
To finish the walk, one of the Bunya Street Bush Stone-curlews was relaxing among the Cobbler’s Peg in a neighbours garden.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Orb-weaver Spider. Ssp unknown

Australian Brush Turkey. Alectura lathami

Slaty-grey snake. Stegonotus cucculatus

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Double-eyed Fig Parrot. Cyclopsitta diopthalma ssp macleayana female

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Weather

2.5 mm of rain over night. Sunny with scattered cloud. Gusty wind from South. Track damp. No mud. Water level steady.

Post

Thomas back on deck today with sore foot having settled and set out with enthusiasm.
Spotted a pair of Bush Stone-curlews on the creek side of Bunya Street but distance too great for good photos.
Met a Mum with 2 small boys at Allumbah Pocket but no other wild life.
Found a Green Ringtail Possum in the trees opposite Snodgrass’s Pool. Almost certainly one of the boys but very well concealed and required considerable maneuvering to see his face let alone determine sex!
A group of Brown Honeyeaters were busy hunting insects in the Gum Trees along the track.
At the Log Jam a solitary turtle was holding court and quite content to be photographed.
Approaching Platy’s Pool a small flock of Rainbow Bee-eaters arrived and accompanied us along the track. They were rather high up and busy hunting but managed a few shots.
Another Green Ringtail Possum was in No 4 of the Overhanging Bushes. He was also well concealed and as I was trying to focus his face a local couple with a small dog arrived to join the fun. They were quite excited as they had just found a birds nest.
Several groups of Insectivorous bats were roosting under the Highway Bridge and got a shot of one of them.
Checked out the rump of the Common Brushtail Possum who was roosting in the same spot in the fig tree which overhangs the vacant lot.
Completed the walk with another one of the Bunya St. Curlews who was on the other side of the road for a change.

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Brown Honeyeater. Lichmera indistincta

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Rainbow Bee-eater. Merops ornatus

Little Broad-nosed Bat. Scotorepens greyii

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Weather

2 mm of rain in gauge. Sunny with few scattered clouds. Light southerly breeze. Track damper than expected with some shallow puddles and mud, probably resulting from total of around 20 mm of rain during the past few days. Water level steady.

Post

On my own this morning as Cody now getting old and blind in one eye while Thomas has a sore foot and I didn’t want it to make it any worse.
Met one of Yungaburra Volunteers at Allumbah pocket and had a chat but nothing else of interest. While inspecting the trees at The Other Side heard Cranes honking but unable to see them.
A few minutes later saw a group of 5 Sarus Cranes, the first this year, and managed to grab a few images. Saw another small flock further along the Walk but too far away to photograph.
Going carefully as had already seen a couple of small families.
Spotted a Green Ringtail Possum on a branch of the large River Oak just upstream from Full Tide Island. He was perched as usual where a branch passes through the foliage of a eucalypt and provides concealment. He was quite hard to see but I managed to show a Mum with her little boy and a couple of passing visitors.
At the Log Jam a moderate sized Saw-shelled Turtle was atop a log for a short period but dived leaving another in the water and a couple of very small turtles on suitably sized perches.
At the upstream side of the Peninsula I was able to photograph an Eastern Yellow Robin and a Scarlet Honeyeater without moving more that 5 paces.
Another mini Turtle was seen at Picnic Peninsula and spotted the ripples of a Platypus at the upper end of Stringer’s Stretch.
Was passed by a family group from Townsville who joined me a few minutes later as I was photographing the Platypus along The Narrows and a couple of visitors from the North of England also turned up.
The Golden Orb-weaver Spider was still occupying her web half way across the Highway Bridge.
Slightly more luck today with the Brushtail Possum in the vacant block fig tree as she had turned around so that I was able to see her left ear. Her tail was however being used to cover the rest of her face.
One of the Bunya Street Bush Stone-curlews was back in it’s usual place across the road from home.

Sarus Crane. Grus antigone

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Eastern Yellow Robin. Eopsaltria australis

Scarlet Honeyeater. Myzomela sanguinolenta

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Golden Orb-weaver spider. Nephila pilipes

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius