2.5 ml rain in gauge. Overcast sky. No precipitation during patrol but at 1050 steady light rain. Track damp, increasing.

Nothing seen at Allumbah Pocket but while crossing Lloyd’s Suspension Bridge observed ripples coming from the creek bank vegetation just upstream of the Stepping Stones. Went immediately to the Memorial Bench and a Platypus soon came into view, close enough for some worthwhile pics.
Left her to forage while photographing a Pale-yellow Robin, looking for non existent Water Dragons and checking out the known Possum roosts.
Continued on to Snodgrass’s Pool where White Spot the Green Ringtail Possum had moved overnight. My first shot showed no sign of her joey apart from a large bulge over her tummy. A series of images show that Possum joeys are subjected not only to considerable danger but also a lot of discomfort and reveal how they are forced to move around to alleviate this.
The Platypus by this time had caught up with us and we strolled along to Platypus Bend in her company capturing several more images before leaving her in peace.
The tree near Flood Tide Island was once again abuzz with beetles and bored Thomas again by stopping for more photography. Also captured a Cicada nymph case and a Saw-shelled Turtle taking a breath.
An Orange-footed Scrubfowl took off across the creek as we approached the Log Jam as did the only Turtle in residence and a pair of Black Pacific Ducks.
Another Megapod was at Picnic Peninsula and much more cooperative, remaining for several minutes while I attempted to obtain some half decent pics.
Nothing else to report apart from a Rufous Whistler seen whistling in the bushes around the Car Park and that Thomas was bored out of his mind as we saw not a single visitor to make a fuss of him!

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Pale-yellow Robin. Tragellasia capito

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Christmas Beetle. Scarabaedae subfamily Retulinae

Flower Scarab. Polystigma punctata + Wasp Mimicking Longicorn. Cerambycidae. Aridaeus thoracicus

Cicada Nymph. Species unknown.

Orange-footed Scrubfowl. Megapodius reinwardt

Rufous Whistler. Pachycephala rufiventris – male

1 ml of rain. 50% cloud cover with high cirrus mares tails and some patches of mackerel sky. Watery sun. Light breeze from south. Track dry.

Checked out possum perches and potential owl roosts at Allumbah Pocket without success but did discover an immature bird, I think a Black-faced Monarch, attempting his morning preening and having a bad hair day!
Too early for Eastern Water Dragons but White Spot at home in usual spot and closer to the camera. Soon after our arrival she decided that she needed to stretch her legs and treated us to some excellent views of the hazards of life as a possum joey! Wonderful experience.
A Pacific Black Duck which appeared to have a sagging right wing tried to take off from the creek at Platypus Bend but was unable to do so. It swam on with no apparent problems.
Photographed a Turtle on the surface in the same area.
Near Flood Tide Island the Christmas Beetles were busy, one of them keeping company with a European Honey Bee, possibly one of mine!
Nothing at the Log Jam this morning but spotted a Platypus at Platy’s Pool which reappeared near the Overhanging Bushes and allowed me to take a few pics.
In the Paddock behind the Car Park photographed a Bush Stone-curlew but the Geese were too far away.
Along Bunya Street an Orange-footed Scrubfowl was busy excavating a neighbors garden.

Black-faced Monarch. Monarcha melanopsis – juvenile

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Pacific Black Duck. Anas superciliosus

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Christmas Beetle. Scarabaedae subfamily Retulinae + European Honey Bee. Apis mellifera

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Orange-footed Scrubfowl. Megapodius reinwardt

Dry. Sun shining from almost cloudless sky. Hot and humid. Moderate NE breeze. Track slightly damp.

Late start after a trip to the Innisfail Railway Station. Had a good search at Allumbah Pocket but no sign of the Owl sighted yesterday.
Two Eastern Water Dragons were on display quite close to each other opposite the Memorial Bench.
White Spot the Green Ringtail Possum took a few minuted to locate as she had climbed much higher in the tree and was partly concealed by foliage but some good pics obtained and performed introductions to 3 passing visitors.
A Platypus was glimpsed at Platypus Bend but no photos obtained.
Sighted several more Red Roarer Cicadas and Christmas Beetles on the way to the Log Jam where three Saw-shelled Turtles were observed and 2 photographed.
At Picnic Peninsula met a visiting lady from Dublin with her two daughters who were watching a Ulysses Butterfly. They then enjoyed a love in with Thomas which made his day.
Half a dozen Bush Stone-curlews were in the paddock behind the Car park with some more distant Magpie Geese. The pair of Curlews at Nick’s were again seen and photographed.

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Christmas Beetle. Scarabaedae subfamily Retulinae + Nectar Scarab. fam Melolonthinae poss Phyllotocus apocalis

Red Roarer Cicada. Psaltoda aurora

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

No rain. Overcast with glimpses of blue sky. Light breeze. Track damp. No mud or puddles.

Nothing doing at Allumbah Pocket and Eastern Water Dragons still in bed or indisposed.
White Spot the Green Ringtail Possum was sitting in a fork of her favourite tree with joey peeking out from behind her. A trial of various locations revealed more and more with the best view obtained through a narrow gap from the opposite side of the tree.
Cicadas very noisy but failed to locate one close enough to photograph until Log Jam Peninsula. Also saw a solitary Saw-shelled Turtle on the Logs but started to move on our arrival. Fortunately kept my finger on the trigger and managed to capture my first views of a turtle dive!
On the upstream side of the Peninsula, Christmas Beetles were active on the flowers.
We than met for the second time Lucy and her parents from Victoria. The adults had a chat while Lucy and Thomas had a love in. Hope they managed to spot the Possum.
Magpie Geese and Bush Stone-curlews were numerous in the paddock behind the car park with a few Swamphens. A pair of late rising Curlews were recumbent at Nick’s camping area.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Christmas Beetle. Scarabaedae subfamily Retulinae

Red Roarer Cicada. Psaltoda aurora

Magpie Goose. Anseranas semipalmata

Australasian Swamphen. Porphyrio melanotus

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

9 ml rain in gauge. Overcast. Some sunny periods. Light SE breeze. Track moist.

Met up with some of the Volunteers as they arrived at work and exchange notes re Creek matters including Opera House yabbie traps, the Highway Bridge path and animal sightings. This included the presence or the Chocolate Brush Tail Possum with joey who were in the Mistletoe clump at Allumbah Pocket.
A large Eastern Water Dragon was on the rocks opposite the Memorial Bench and I was able to photograph him from both sides. A female Dragon was on the upper level opposite Snodgrass’s Pool.
Nothing seen at the Log Jam but an immature Barred Cuckooshrike visited along the high level path around Platy’s Pool. At that point Met a dad from Melbourne who’s two small girls loved Thomas and made his day!
In the Overhanging Bushes (no 5) found a Green Ringtail Possum and finally managed to introduce one of my regular followers and her two dogs who have been having difficulty following my directions!
No Turtles seen today today apart from another taking a breath on the surface nearby.
Less activity among the gum flowers this morning although I caught one of my Honey Bees collecting a mass of Pollen along at Picnic Peninsula.
No Platypus seen today.
In the paddock behind the car park there was a group of six or more Bush Stone-curlews and a moderate flock of Magpie Geese.

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Barred Cuckooshrike. Coracina lineata – immature

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

European Honey Bee. Apis mellifera

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Magpie Goose. Anseranas semipalmata

4.5 ml rain since yesterday. Overcast. Occasional glimpses of sun. Light breeze. Track moist.

Company this morning as daughter Pip is staying and took charge of Thomas who of course welcomed the extra attention.
A large Eastern Water Dragon was gracing the skyline opposite the Memorial Bench and we found another opposite Snodgrass’s Pool.
White Spot the Green Ringtail Possum was in what has become her regular tree and looking in the least favorable direction. The only reasonable view of her was shooting straight into the sun so I use fill in flash without having much idea what I was photographing. To my delight, on processing the images I found a delightful view of her joey looking out of the pouch. I hope that she will now feel more comfortable.
A Platypus put in an appearance at Snodgrass’s Pool and while foraging on the creek bottom was creating more bubbles than I ever recall seeing previously. He spent several brief intervals on the surface and I managed to catch a few photos before he carried on down stream.
In the white flowering bushes the Christmas Beetles were busy again but without their accompanying flock of birds.
At the Log Jam a singly Saw-shelled Turtle was sun baking but took to the water as soon as we appeared. I did managed to catch a picture of a turtle taking a breath from the surface. We also met a group of local ladies who we directed to the Possum perch.
Very few birds in the paddock this morning but the pair of Bush Stone-curlews were relaxing at Nick’s Camping Area.

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Christmas Beetle. Scarabaedae subfamily Retulinae

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

No rain. Patchy cloud cover. Sunny periods. Light breeze. Track damp.

Arrived with Thomas at Allumbah Pocket and commenced our usual check of Possum perches. Within 30 seconds we had spotted a Lumholtz’s Tree-Kangaroo, high in a tree but within 5 metres of the car parking area! With a bit of patience obtained some good images and left on something of a high!
Opposite the Memorial Bench there were two Eastern Water Dragons and a third was found at the next rock pile.
The flowering trees were again full of Beetles and spent a happy few minutes trying to capture them.
It was extremely noisy with Cicadas in the gum trees along the path and there were at least three different species calling. Took a number of pics but all turned out to be the same species which I believe to be the Red Roarer,
The rest of the Creek yielded nothing much as there were no Turtles, Possums or Platypuses to be found. The number of birds in the paddock behind the Car Park were also far less than yesterday and there were no Curlews to be seen.
After returning home I took Jennifer and daughter Philippa to see the Tree Roo and also introduced a group of hikers who were delighted.

Lumholtz’s Tree-kangaroo. Dendrolagus lumholtzi

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Christmas Beetle. Scarabaedae subfamily Retulinae

Flower Scarab. Polystigma punctata sub species Cetoniinae

Red Roarer Cicada – Psaltoda aurora.

Lumholtz’s Tree-kangaroo. Denrolagus lumholtzi

No rain. Light overcast with periods of watery sunlight. Light breeze. Tack damp.

Nothing to see at Allumbah Pocket this morning.
White Spot, the Green Ringtail Possum was again in the tree opposite the Memorial Bench although her face was turned away from the path and she did not wish to communicate. Shared her company and a chat with two local ladies and also directed two other groups to her location.
An Eastern Water Dragon was on the rocks opposite Snodgrass’s Pool but could only be seen from the upper level along the fence line. If you want to see a Water Dragon it is worth checking there if nothing is visible from the Walk.
The flowering trees were busy again today with numerous Christmas and other Beetles. Fewer birds today but the group of Barred Cuckooshrikes came along to check us out.
No Turtles at the Log Jam but under the large Camphor Laurel tree I found a patch of Green Ringtail Possum scats suggesting that one had spent the night there. Was not able to find the animal involved.
Near the Overhanging Bushes had a chat with a couple of local photographers with interests similar to mine and exchanged information.
No Platypuses were seen or reported.
In the paddock behind the Car Park were a group of nine Bush Stone-curlews as well as others at Nick’s Camping Area and along Bunya Street. Must have been sleeping soundly as I don’t recall hearing them!

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Christmas Beetle. Scarabaedae subfamily Retulinae

Flower Scarab. sf Cetoniinae, Polystigma punctata

Barred Cuckooshrike. Coracina Lineata

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

No rain. Patchy cloud with sunny periods. Light SE breeze. Track damp.

Noted a Bush Stone-curlew at the bottom of one of the gardens along Bunya Street but to far away to photograph.
The same Eastern Water Dragon was on the same rock near the Memorial Bench and Spot Ear the Green Ringtail Possum was in the tree nearby, curled up in a ball and looking slightly bored. She is probably as anxious as I am for the joey to put in an appearance.
Several visitors were directed to check her out.
Plenty of buzzing from the flowering trees but no Christmas Beetles within photo range. The Turtles are also being uncooperative and as far as Platypus are concerned I might as well change the title of the patrol!
Found some birds near Platy’s Pool but only a Macleay’s Honeyeater chose to be photographed.
The paddock behind the Car Park was once again a hive of activity but not a many birds as yesterday. Photographed a Swamphen and a group of Magpie Geese but no Bush Stone-curlews nearby today.

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Macleay’s Honeyeater. Xanthotis macleayana

Australasian Swamphen. Porphyrio melanotis

Magpie Goose.

3 ml rain in the gauge. Patchy cloud with occasional sunny periods. Light SE wind. Track damp.

A nice early start this morning and plenty of bird life around. Saw a Hornbill Friarbird along Bunya Street and an immature King Parrot was having his morning groom in the top of a tree near the Police Station.
Had a poke around The Other Side today and spotted an Agile Wallaby and a pair of Bush Stone-curlews in the paddock to the south.
An Eastern Water Dragon was in the rocks near Snodgrass’s Pool and a few metres further on Spot Ear, the Green Ringtail Possum with joey in pouch was roosting in her latest tree. Was able to point her out to a visiting couple who I met previously and a local dog walker. The couple reported a Platypus sighting and had better luck than I did.
A pair of Orange-footed Scrubfowl flew across the creek at the Log Jam but no turtles were present.
In a flowering tree at Picnic Peninsula I photographed a Lewin’s Honeyeater and a female Scarlet Honeyeater who is quite drab compared to her exotic spouse.
We walked up the highway for a short distance to where a small flock of Australian White Ibis were waiting for the cattle to be fed and took some photos.
At the Platypus Viewing Platform a pair of Pacific Black Ducks in the creek were viewed at a distance and the pair of Bush Stone-curlews were at Nick’s Camping Area.
The paddock behind was full of birds today. Again I suspect that this is linked to the timetable of the farmer who drove up in his ute while I was here. I now understand his comments about his feed bill as there were flocks of Magpie Geese, Black Ducks, White Ibis and lesser numbers of Swamphens and Lapwings hovering around the cattle at the feed troughs! You are doing a great job!

Hornbill Friarbird. Philemon yorki

Agile Wallaby. Macropus agilis

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Lewin’s Honeyeater. Meliphaga lewinii

Scarlet Honeyeater, Myzomela sanguinolenta – female

Australian White Ibis. Threskiornis mollucca

Pacific Black Duck. Anas superciliosus

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Masked Lapwing. Vanellus miles miles

Some of the unwelcome guests!