10 mm of rain in gauge. 60% cloud cover increasing to full cloud cover with drizzle. NE wind 10-15 knots. Track damp. Wet in part with muddy puddles. Grass cut yesterday.

Checked weather forecast on line and set off ASAP as outlook for rest of day poor. Made it to 50 metres from home before drizzle started. Probably the least productive day since I started Platypus Patrol but halo shining brightly. Thomas also looking proud although we would have been home dry if we had not had to wait for him along the lane!
No Water Dragons. No Possums of any variety. No Platypus. Occasional Turtles in water.
First photograph of a Spectacled Monarch taken along the Narrows and had to be quick to get it.
Bush Stone-curlews in Paddock but all with feathers puffed out and sitting as Mum would say “like croupy hens”. The pair of Curlews at the Car Park looked much the same so assume that they were all anticipating inclement weather.
We’ll wait and see what tomorrow brings!

Spectacled Monarch. Symposiachrus trivirgatus

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Rain 7 mm. Scattered high cloud with building cumulus over Dividing Range. Watery sun. Light southerly breeze. Track Damp.

Nothing seen until the Memorial Bench where White Spot the Green Ringtail Possum was occupying her usual spot in her favourite tree. Focusing was difficult and Joey was declining to show his face while Mum had a firm grip on his back!
At Snodgrass’s pool an elegant young GRP was in the trees on the Creek bank.
An Eastern Water Dragon was alongside the path to the Upper Level just opposite.
Cicadas were calling but mostly high in the trees and difficult to spot.
No Platypus were seen and the Turtles were also making themselves scarce.
Saw nothing more until the Highway Bridge where on the rocks beneath a tiny Eastern Water Dragon was taking the early morning sun.
A group of Bush Stone-curlews were chatting in the Paddock while a few of them were preening in unison.
A mixed flock of Australian White Ibis and Straw-necked Ibis were feeding in the Paddock.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Australian White and Straw-necked Ibis. Threskiornis molucca and T. spinicolis

No rain. Light cloud with sunny periods. Intermittent breeze. Track damp, drying

Greeted at Allumbah Pocket by the chocolate Brush Tail Possum who had turned around so that he was spying on us though the fork of the tree. Bad light but nice view.
From the Memorial Bench spotted a suspicious rope entering the water from behind the Boiler Shed on the village side of the Creek. Went back to check later and confirmed an identical unmarked Opera House trap which looked as if it had been in the water for several days. I disposed of in the same way.
No sign of Green Ringtail Possums in any of their usual haunts.
At the Upper Level opposite Snodgrass’s Pool one of my regular Eastern Water Dragons had turned out early to be photographed.
Nothing then until the upstream side the Log Jam where a Platypus was very busy rooting under the overhanging grasses. Some patience was required before he finally emerged in the perfect position for some close up shots.
The rest of the walk was uneventful until the Car Park where the first human visitors of the day were sighted.
A group of Bush Stone-curlews were clustered around a wire wrapped post and busy chatting. The pair of Curlews were in their regular spot next to the Car Park.

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

3 mm or rain in the gauge. Overcast with occasional glimpses of the sun. Light SE breeze. Track damp. Muddy in some areas.

Thomas in a recalcitrant mood in response to being left behind when is hoomans were obliged to go to the Optometrist. Soon became tired of being pulled off my feet and stopping to untangle Thomas’s feet from his lead. Fortunately he returned to normal after threats of Naval Discipline and “Services No Longer Required”!
Spotted a distant Platypus from the Suspension Bridge but not suitable for photographs.
Opposite the Memorial Bench a fine male Eastern Water Dragon was displaying but was even better viewed from the path to the Upper Level.
White Spot the Green Ringtail Possum was almost vertically above on her high level perch and for a change Joey’s face was better displayed than Mum’s.
Another Water Dragon was on the rocks closer to Snodgrass’s Pool.
Cicadas were noisy again with several Red Roarers on the Grey Gums at Platypus Bend.
Nothing seen then until the Narrows where I photographed a Green Baron Cicada and a Saw-shelled Turtle resting on a log.
The birds nest at the Viewing Platform now seems to have been abandoned.
A group of Bush Stone-curlews were in the paddock close by and the pair of curlews were back at the East side of the Car Park.

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Green Barron Cicada. Psaltoda magnifica

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

3 mm rain. Mist early clearing to cloudy with sunny periods. Light variable breeze. Track damp.

Not a good start this morning!
While walking across the Suspension Bridge I noticed a rope leading into the water from a tree just downstream of the Stepping Stones. Returned to investigate and found a new Opera House Trap containing an opened can of cat food, 2 yabbys and a small fish. The trap was unmarked, making it illegal, so I had no hesitation in removing it. Should the owner wish to collect it should be available from the Volunteers at The Other Side at 1030 on Friday.
It is not unfortunately illegal to use traps clearly marked with the owner’s name and address but is it really necessary to deploy them in an internationally acclaimed Platypus habitat?
While I was carrying it I bumped into a local lady who told me that she had recently at Lake Tinaroo pulled up a trap which contained a dead Platypus!
So back to the wildlife which were not particularly abundant today.
An Eastern Water Dragon was up early on the Upper Level opposite Snodgrass’s Pool and posed nicely for me.
On the way to Platypus Bend I took another Photograph of the Orb-weaver Spider which we saw yesterday and another of a Floury Baker Cicada.
A Pacific Black Duck was eating grass at Platypus Bend and was also quite photogenic.
At the Log Jam, I was about to leave with no photos when a Platypus emerged at high speed from the upstream side, swam diagonally across to the far bank and shot out of the water under the Tree Ferns. I did not see it again but some months ago a saw a Platypus climb to a burrow high on that bank and suspect that this animal was either bound for the same or an alternate entrance.
On to Picnic Peninsula where the same Green Ringtail Possum was in the Kauri Pine above the Picnic Table and this time revealing it’s face.
Saw another Platypus at the Narrows but Thomas was surprised by a walker and barked. That put paid to any serious photography.
An Orange-footed Scrubfowl on the other bank was not however so timid and after keeping still for a couple of minutes resumed excavation of the leaf litter!
One of the Bush Stone-curlews was standing in full view on the East side of the Car Park but as I walked in it’s direction it hopped down the bank and flew off across the Paddock. I have rarely observed them in flight and it landed again after about 100 mtrs.
At the back of Quincan Cafe a juvenile male Australasian Figbird was posing on a high branch and calling for his Mummy which made the last image for the day.

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Floury Baker Cicada. Aleeta curvicosta

Orb-weaver Spider. ? ssp

Pacific Black Duck. Anas superciliosa

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Orange-footed Scrubfowl. Megapodius reinwardt

Australasian Figbird. Sphecotheres flaviventris

14.5 mm of rain. Misty morning clearing to sunshine in cloudless sky. Clouds building later. Light northerly breeze. Track damp. Still water flowing off paddock in places.

Nothing seen at Allumbah Pocket but stopped on bridge to photograph a Saw-shelled Turtle swimming on the surface.
Opposite the Memorial Bench photographed White Spot the Green Ringtail Possum in her high level abode. Joey was as usual draped across her abdomen and concealing his face!
Were joined there by the couple from Innisfail we met yesterday who had already spotted another GRP a few metres along the Walk. Investigation revealed what I believe to be Pirate Pete with the chewed ear but in the group of trees on the Creek Bank rather than the other side of the track. This was a favourite spot for much of last year.
We continued together seeing only a couple of Orb-weaver Spiders of markedly different sizes and another Cicada.
A flock of assorted birds were feeding in the trees around Platy’s Pool including several White-bellied Shrike Thrushes, Magpie Larks and Drongos. A Spangled Drongo was photographed
I saw no Platypuses today although the others had seen two near the suspension Bridge.
I found another GRP high in the Queensland Kauri where he was a few days ago and as before he was obstinately showing only his bottom.
There were several groups of Long-eared Bats roosting under the Highway Bridge and I got one reasonable photograph.
The nest at the Viewing Platform was unattended but the Bush Stone-curlews were at the East side of the Car Park.

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Orb-weaver Spider. Ssp unknown.

St Andrew’s Cross spider. Argiope spp

Floury Baker Cicada. Aleeta curvicosta

Spangled Drongo. Dicrurus bracteatus

Eastern Long-eared Bat. Nyctophilus bifax

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

7 mm of rain in gauge. Sunny. No cloud. No breeze. Track damp.

Thomas reluctant to get out of his chair today. Must have known it was going to be a quiet walk!
Saw nothing until Memorial Bench where White spot the Green Ringtail Possum had returned to her high level canopy couch. She was looking quite content buy Joey as usual was draped around his Mum and could not be bothered to show his face.
Shared the viewing with a local N.Q. couple visiting Yungaburra who had this morning seen their first Petersons Platypus. Had an interesting chat and Thomas was not left out!
The Red Roarer Cicadas were back on the gum trees this morning. They seem to be lower down after rain during the night.
Nothing then until Platy’s Pool where a pair of Pacific Black Ducks were eating grass from the bank. I thought at first that one of them was a new species or perhaps a hybrid until I realised that the brown area of the face and upper bill was just a layer of mud!
No Dragons, Turtles or Platypus seen today.
Along The Narrows a Brush Turkey was perched near the top of a Queensland Kauri tree suggesting that they are much better flyers than some give them credit for!
Several groups of Long Eared Bats were roosting in the grooves between the concrete beams of the Highway Bridge. They are quite hard to photograph due to the low light and less than perfect angle.
No activity in the Rufous Shrike-thrushes nest today and the Bush Stone-curlews had moved back to Nick’s Camping Area.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Red Roarer Cicada. Psaltoda aurora

Pacific Black Duck. Anas superciliosus

Australasian Brush Turkey. Alectura lathami

Eastern Long-eared Bat. Nyctophylus bifax

Bush Stone-curlews. Burhinus grallarius.

Sunny. Sky clear. Breeze freshening from NW after 0730. Track damp. Drying.

Immediate action at Allumbah Pocket with the Chocolate Brushtail Possum in his tree fork at the entrance. Went round to the other side of the tree as he raised his head to check me out.
Spotted a Platypus from the Suspension Bridge but too far downstream for a photograph.
Two Eastern Water Dragons were up and about, both quite small and one at each end of the Upper Level.
No sign of White Spot the Green Ringtail Possum today but Piratical Pete the male GRP with a scarred Right ear was in the trees opposite Snodgrass’s Pool and had the Do Not Disturb sign up.
Not a lot of birds or insects around this morning. Several Wompoo Fruit Doves were calling in the trees on the opposite bank but unable to spot them.
Nothing then until Picnic Peninsula where two Platypus were maneuvering at high speed along Stringers Stretch. No close encounters were noted but neither was feeding and it appeared to be perhaps a minor territorial dispute. One of them did break off for long enough to check me out and with the interesting light on the water provided some good photos. A fourth Platypus was seen under the Highway Bridge but lighting was inadequate for a pic.
Met a German visitor at The Viewing Platform and pointed out the nest where one of the parent Rufous Shrike-thrushes was perched and observing at least one chick. I gave him some tips and the location of the Green Ringtail Possum.
The Bush Stone-curlews were on the East side of the Car Park.

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Rufous Shrike-thrush. Colluricincla megarhyncha

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

No rain. Sun coming up in cloudless sky. No wind initially but freshening from NW later. Track slightly damp on parts.

No one at home today in Allumbah Pocket except a group of White-headed Pigeons roosting in a dead tree.
While crossing Lloyd’s suspension Bridge saw two Platypus, one of which was photographed, a Turtle swimming just beneath the surface and a Pacific Black Duck just above the Stepping Stones.
A solitary Easter Water Dragon was at the upper level opposite Snodgrass’s Pool.
In the trees at the same spot a very well concealed Lumholtz’s Tree-kangaroo was hiding. Going back up the path to the upper level I was firstly able to photograph 2 dangling tails and pushing on through chest high grass found some fair views of Mother and joey.
To make up for this, all of the Possums were in hiding apart from a solitary Green Ringtail Possum who was high in a tree right next to the Picnic Peninsula table showing a very antisocial rear end.
An Orange-footed Scrubfowl preceded us along the path from Snodgrass’s Pool to Platypus Bend before being joined by its mate when they both flew across the Creek.
Nothing else was seen until reaching the narrows where another Tree Kangaroo was seen yesterday by Emma Baldwin. A good scattering of fresh scats marked the spot but I was unable to find him on either side of the Creek.
At the Car Park, the larger of the two Bush Stone-curlews was receiving a good tongue lashing from his partner perhaps because of his neglect yesterday!
A very nice Blue Triangle butterfly was seen on the vacant block next to The Doctor House.

White-headed Pigeon. Columba leucomela

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Pacific Black Duck. Anas superciliosa

Lumholtz’s Tree-kangaroo. Dendrolagus lumholtzi

Orange-footed Scrubfowl. Megapodius reinwardt

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Blue Triangle Butterfly. Graphium sarpedon

No rain. Bright sun shining from cloudless sky. No wind. Track damp with few muddy patches. Drying.

An exciting start to the Patrol this morning.
Looked to the right as entering Allumbah Pocket and immediately sighted a chocolate coloured Brushtail Possum and a Lumholz’s Tree Kangaroo in the same tree just to the right of the entrance. The Tree Roo was unfortunately well concealed but the Possum made up for this by waking up and giving us a superb view.
On reaching the far side of the Suspension Bridge sighted two Green Ringtail Possums in the same tree just to the upstream side of the suspension cables. These proved to be a male and a female so suspect that there was some funny business going on!
The surprises went on when we arrived at the Horseshoe of rocks across the path from the Memorial Bench and found another male Green Ringtail low down in a small tree in full view of anyone passing.
Almost vertically above him were White Spot the female Green Ringtail Possum with her joey enjoying their high level perch!
Went on to spot a Platypus at the downstream end of Flood Tide Island. She seemed very surprised by our presence but came back for another look twice! I had to be quick on the trigger but managed a couple of shots.
Just downstream of the Log Jam a large log has managed to block the Creek resulting in a build up of floating weed and leaves above it. No Turtles were seen but there was a rather nice spider in it’s web just at the tip of the peninsula.
At Stringers Stretch saw a Platypus at extreme range clambering on a floating log but light was poor as I took some rather optimistic photos.
Met a couple from Stuttgart in Germany who were watching the same Platypus and had seen three previously this morning. Pointed them in the right direction to see the arboreal mammals!
A final Platypus was sighted at The Narrows just below the Highway Bridge but no worthwhile photos.
At the viewing Platform there were no parents on the Rufous Shrike-thrushes nest but one of the chicks could be seen.
On the East side of the Car Park a White-bellied Cuckooshrike was enjoying breakfast while s single Bush Stone-curlew was standing beneath! Who care about cars?

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo. Dendrolagus lumholtzi

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Rufous Shrike-thrush. Colluricincla megarhyncha

White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike. Coracina papuensis

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius