Weather

In spite of almost constant drizzle yesterday only 5 mm of rain recorded. Overcast with patches of blue sky over Herberton Range to the West. Light SE Breeze. Track damp but numerous area of black sticky mud. Water level high, steady.

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Saw a pair of Bush Stone-curlews in a garden along Bunya Street and reached Allumbah Pocket as Volunteers arrived for work.
Nothing seen there or at The Other Side.
A small and rather frightened Green Ringtail Possum was in one of the Creek Bank trees at Snodgrass’s Pool. When sighted he was clinging to the trunk as a brush cutter had started up beneath his tree. He quickly scuttled up until he was concealed by the foliage and no good views were obtained.
As it turned out he was the only mammal seen. There were no reptiles and no insects.
Only the White-headed Pigeons were present today and I must have disturbed more than 40 of them on my walk. They are a beautiful bird when seen at close quarters but quite timid and tend to fly off when approached.
Even the Paddock was almost devoid of birds today and the resident Bush Stone-curlews had removed to Nick’s Camping Area. They looked thoroughly miserable and were both standing on one leg!

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

White-headed Pigeon. Columba leucomela

Weather

17 mm or rain in the gauge. Overcast with drizzle and periods of light rain almost constant since 0600. Wind from SE gusting to 15-20 knots. I have not checked the Creek but would surmise that water level will have risen further and the track will be wetter with more ephemeral streams across it and more mud than yesterday.

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I do not intend to go on Patrol today unless the weather clears somewhat during the afternoon which does not at this stage seem likely.
My camera will withstand a certain amount of rain but my big lens is not so designed and I have found that it is hardly worthwhile to go out without it.
I will edit this later if an opportunity presents.

Weather

25 mm of rain in the gauge. Overcast. Light breeze. Track wet. Muddy puddles in places and ground becoming saturated. Water level up from yesterday.

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Along Bunya Street a pair of Bush Stone-curlews were perching in one of the Creek – side gardens and I employed my new expertise in merging images to get a composite with both birds in focus!
At Allumbah Pocket a well coloured Common Brushtail Possum was roosting in the mistletoe clump near the Shelter. Three of his paws and his nose were visible but he was holding hit tail in front of his eyes. His male characteristics were very obvious.
Opposite the Memorial bench, White Spot the Green Ringtail Possum and her Joey were on the same branch with Mum showing her face. On image has a glimpse of Joey peeping our from behind Mum.
I enjoyed showing them to a local couple who were walking their Maltese Terrier while she and Thomas flirted. He is becoming quite a ladies dog!
As they left I met a couple from the Netherlands who also enjoyed the sighting and I gave them some advice re other places to visit
There were no Eastern Water Dragons in the vicinity today.
At the Log Jam two Saw-shelled Turtles were either trying to share a semi-submerged log or being very nice to each other.
Nothing then seen until the Highway Bridge where I noted a large spider’s web above the Walkway as it his been for several days. Today I was able to locate the owner in a very favourable position. A different species of Orb-weaver spider was close by.
Chatted to a couple visiting from from NSW and they enjoyed visiting with the Bush Stone-curlews at the Car Park.
A Welcome Swallow was preening on the power cable in front of the doctor House and a White-headed Pigeon was preening along the lane to Bunya Street.

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Orb-weaver Spider. Ssp unknown

Welcome Swallow. Hirundo neoxena

White-headed Pigeon. Columba leucomela

7 mm of rain. Overcast with a few small area of blue sky. Light breeze. Track damp with some muddy areas. Water level falling.

No takers to walk with me today as both dogs exhausted after early morning shopping and taxing responsibility of looking after the car.
Saw nothing at Allumbah Pocket or The Other Side.
An Eastern Water Dragon was on the rocks opposite the Memorial Bench.
In the tree above White Spot the Green Ringtail Possum was at her High Level Perch clutching Joey with her forearm as he lay on top of her. She was not looking best pleased.
Another Water Dragon was on the next group of rocks with only his head showing. I photographed this but he obviously realised that I wasn’t satisfied and moved to display more of his well patterned body!
Apart from a few small Turtles swimming near the surface and Cicadas calling from the tree tops the remainder of the Walk was uneventful.
Under the Highway Bridge I met a Main Roads employee who was taking photos of the path to facilitate the remedial work that is planned to be done in the current financial year. It might actually happen!
Only a few Curlews in the paddock but the pair of Bush Stone Curlews were in the Car Park surrounds posing.

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

44 mm rain in the gauge. Scattered mackerel clouds. Sunny periods. Light breeze. Track damp to wet. Not much mud. Water level up but not over banks.

Nothing observed at Allumbah Pocket or The Other Side.
An Eastern Water Dragon was seen opposite the Memorial Bench But no sign of White Spot the Green Ringtail Possum.
Another Dragon was to the right of the path leading to the Upper Level opposite Snodgrass’s Pool and a Green Ringtail Possum was sitting in a tree fork on the Creek bank.
A Rufous Shrikethrush was feeding on insects in the bushes nearby.
The Cicadas were noticeably quite this morning, perhaps because the sun had not yet reached the treetops.
At the Base of the Log Jam Peninsula a mixed flock of Spangled Drongos, Barred Cuckooshrikes and a Hornbill Friarbird were hunting insects in the trees and could be seen eating them. Possibly the cicada as mentioned previously?
The only Turtle seen today was at Platy’s Pool and no Platypus were observed.
In the Paddock there was a small flock of Magpie Geese and fewer Curlews than usual.
The pair of Bush Stone-curlews were on the East side of the Car Park but being standoffish with each other.
A fine fat White-headed Pigeon was resting in the Camphor Laurel tree in front of our house.

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Rufous Shrikethrush. Colluricincla megarhyncha

Spangled Drongo. Dicrurus bracteatus

Hornbill Friarbird.Philemon yorki

Barred Cuckooshrike. Coracina lineata

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Bush Stone-curlews. Burhinus grallarius

White-headed Pigeon. Columba leucomela

No rain. Overcast with a few small areas of blue sky. Light southerly breeze increasing. Track drying.

Thomas and I found nothing at Allumbah Pocket but at The Other Side we spotted a small group of Spangled Drongos and a Fairy Gerygone both of which were photographed.
On finding that White Spot was absent and there were no Water Dragons on the rocks beneath however we became quite despondent.
Things looked up when we arrived at the trees opposite Snodgrass’s Pool and found White Spot the Green Ringtail Possum and her Joey sitting side by side on a branch. The view was improved from the other direction where Mum surveyed us with her usual mildly interested expression while Joey was having a Sunday morning lie-in.
We were joined by a delightful couple from Edmonton who were up for the WE and had a long chat about wildlife and cameras while Thomas enjoyed the company of their girl dog!
At the Log Jam the only inhabitant was a juvenile Saw-shelled Turtle carrying a good crop of algae on his carapace.
No Platypus seen today .
Passing under the Highway Bridge a Freshwater (Keelback) Snake slid into the water from the mudbank below the wall and swam rapidly against the current up to the Viewing Pond. My photo is rubbish but gives some idea of the speed.
A handsome Australasian Swamphen was strutting his stuff in the paddock and caught him flicking his tail!
The Bush Stone-curlews were in there regular possie at the Car Park and looking somewhat more relaxed.

Spangled Drongo. Dicrurus bracteatus

Fairy Gerygone. Gerygone palpebrosa – race flavida

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Freshwater (Keelback) Snake. Tropidonophis mairii

Bat. Species not known

Australasian Swamphen. Porphyrio melanotus.

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

2 mm of rain. Sunny with scattered cloud. Light. SW breeze. Track drying out.

Nothing at Allumbah Pocket today but saw a Turtle taking a breath in the strong current just below the Stepping Stones which remain submerged.
White Spot the Green Ringtail Possum and her Joey were in their usual high level perch but Joey has gone back to his regular ploy of hiding his face.
On the rocks around the tree was an Eastern Water Dragons with another on the next rock Pile looking brightly coloured and having perhaps just completed a moult.
Another Green Ringtail Possum was curled up on a branch in the Creek bank trees at Snodgrass’s Pool.
At the Log Jam a large Eastern Water Dragon was occupying the most prominent log and another specimen was on a recently fallen tree trunk on the far bank from the Picnic Peninsula.
In the trees surrounding Platy’s Pool I photographed a Yellow-faced honeyeater which was remaining unusually still.
No Platypus seen today.
While walking under the Highway Bridge a Kingfisher landed on a branch above the water. Shooting into the sun gave little hope of a good image but what I can see suggests that it was probably an Azure Kingfisher. It is however quite a pleasing silhouette.
Unable to find the Bush Stone-curlews at the Car Park but discovered them standing in the Pizzeria Beer Garden. They were a bit early to be waiting for opening time but I was unable to see any other attraction at their chosen spot.
A Dusky Honeyeater was enjoying some bottlebrush nectar in a garden along Bunya Street.

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Yellow-faced Honeyeater. Caligavis chrysops

Azure Kingfisher. Ceyx azureus

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Dusky Honeyeater. Myzomela obscura

No rain in spite of thunder in late afternoon. Bright and sunny. Scattered cloud. Light breeze. Track drying.

At Allumbah Pocket, the Volunteers being assisted today by group of students from School for Field Studies, Yungaburra. As one of them has a dachshund at home, Thomas was an immediate star and loved every moment of it!
White Spot, the Green Ringtail Possum and her Joey were in their high level perch and both in a social mood presenting some excellent photo opportunities which I made the most of. Closer would have been better but you can’t have everything!
Around the bottom of the same tree two Eastern Water Dragons were on display. A much larger Dragon was on a rock in the creek but was unfortunately camera shy.
Plenty of Cicada noise and had several near misses as they urinated from their lofty roosts while feeding in the treetops. I believe it is known in polite circles as honeydew!
The remainder of the Walk was something of an anticlimax as we saw no Turtles or Platypus but along The Narrows a number of White-headed Pigeons were sitting quite unconcerned as a group of bus tourists passed beneath them.
Several groups of Bats were roosting under the highway bridge but are very difficult to photograph. I might venture down onto the mud for a better angle when it has dried out a bit,
A very handsome juvenile Water Dragon was on a rock beneath the bridge and photographed from the deck Walkway.
The Bush Stone-curlews were still having their tiff at the Car Park but I fancy that they have swapped positions!

Green Ringtail Possums. Pseudochirops archeri

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

White-headed Pigeon. Columba leucomela

Bats. Species unknown.

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

No rain. Bright sunny morning with some skeins of high cirrus cloud and scattered cumulus. Some cloud build up already occurring over the ranges. NW breeze 10-15 knots. Track drying.

Not such an exciting start today.
White Spot the Green Ringtail Possum and her Joey were back on their high level perch. Joey seemed to be demonstrating his independence by sitting apart from Mum but stretching along the branch so that he could rest his head on her lap! Neither of them were keen to show their faces today.
The same Eastern Water Dragon was in the same spot but in a much less imposing posture.
The Cicadas were again very noisy but keeping themselves to the tree tops.
The Log Jam was devoid of life today and no Platypus were seen.
At Platys Pool a Butterfly was seen resting on the foliage while a pair of the same species were flying an aerial duet.
Yesterday’s new Green Ringtail Possum was in almost the same spot as yesterday but much more willing to be photographed.
Few Turtles were seen but one was disposed to reveal himself along Stringers Stretch.
Very few birds in the Paddock but the Bush Stone-curlews were at the Car Park and possibly having a minor tiff!

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Easter Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Varied Eggfly. Hypolimnas bolina

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Arrived at Allumbah Pocket this morning and waved to a Patrol follower who was getting her children organised in the car. Took a quick look into the trees on the right side of entrance and asked her if she realised that she had parked underneath a Tree Kangaroo!
The regular Lumholtz’s Tree-kangaroo was in the usual spot and we checked her out together and took some photos. Dale told me that she had also seen a Green Ringtail Possum along the walk.
After that bit of excitement went on to Snodgrass’s Pool where an Eastern Water Dragon was showing off.
A lot of Cicada activity in the Grey Gums near Platypus bend and photographed a group of mixed species.
Still not much of the Log Jam above water but two juvenile Saw-shelled Turtles were making good use of the space available. Later, on the computer, I found that one Turtle was a also providing a perch for a Dragon Fly!
While walking towards Platy’s Pool had a brief encounter with a Platypus and snatched a shot which turned out quite well.
At the Overhanging Bushes a Green Ringtail Possum was occupying a bush which I had not seen used in the past. It actually adjoins Bush No 3 and is not overhanging. Think I will have to number it 3.5. The Possum was well concealed and not very relaxed so a photo was only obtained with some difficulty.
The remainder of the Walk was uneventful until the Viewing Platform where an athletic Turtle had climbed to the top of a post.
At the Car Park the good old reliable Bush Stone-curlews were in their most regular spot.

Lumholtz’s Tree-kangaroo. Dendrolagus lumholtzi

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Red Roarer Cicada. Psaltoda aurora + Phantom Knight . Psaltoda brachypennis

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius