Couple of light showers but nothing in gauge. Widespread cumulus clouds with some sunny periods. Light southerly breeze. Track drying.

Very few of my friends wished to be seen today. Perhaps they know something which we don’t. Two Eastern Water Dragons were on the rocks near the Memorial Bench and they were the only animals seen.
The flowering trees were almost devoid of insects including the Christmas Beetle although a few could be seen flying around the treetops and the birds were around in only small numbers. There were a pair of Pacific Black Ducks at Platypus Bend and I did managed to take a couple of pics of a Scarlet Honeyeater at the end of Picnic Peninsula.
A solitary Bush Stone-curlew was one of the few inhabitants of the paddock behind the Car Park but the pair were still present at Nick’s Camping Area.
Will try and do better tomorrow!

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Pacific Black Duck. Anas superciliosa.

Scarlet Honeyeater. Myzomela sanguinolenta

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

No rain. Cumulus clouds covering more than 50% of sky under a layer of high cirrus cloud. Some sunny periods. Moderate variable SE wind. Track damp, drying.

Started later than intended this morning when Thomas deigned to return from an unscheduled walkabout along the street!
Saw a Laughing Cookaburra along Bunya Street. Wasn’t laughing at me.
Met a couple of visitors at The Other Side who had just seen a Wallaby disappear into the paddock scrub and had also sighted two Platypus. Took them to see the Green Ringtail Possum who was again in the same tree and while talking met up with a young woman with two mates visiting from Melbourne . She is a Wildlife Carer with a particular interest in Possums and told me that I had made her year! Had a long chat about GRPs before continuing with the Patrol. Also saw an Eastern Water Dragon and a Barred Cuckooshrike in the same vicinity.
Very little activity in the flowering bushes today, perhaps because not so sunny and in fact not much activity along the rest of the walk. No Platypus, only one swimming Saw-shelled Turtle and no more birds.
Far fewer bird than usual in the paddock behind the Car Park although there were a few Magpie Geese and a couple of Masked Lapwings but the Bush Stone-curlew was still in Nick’s Camping Area and today had a mate. They appeared tired today perhaps after a noisy night!

Laughing Kookaburra. Dacelo novaeguinae

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Barred Cuckooshrike. Coracina lineata

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

No rain. Clear sky early progressed to patchy cloud with sunny periods. Light breeze. Track drying.

A curious Patrol today in that most of the animals observed and photographed were behaving in an unusual manner or doing normal things in an unusual attitude of position.
Our first observation while crossing Lloyd’s Suspension Bridge was a Rufous Whistler peeping out from between the fronds of a River Oak which was one of the more standard images.
Near the Memorial Bench, “White Spot” the Green Ringtail Possum was standing up on a tree limb with front feet on a higher branch. She was obviously easing the weight on her mind and letting it all hang out.
Next came an Eastern Water Dragon near Snodgrass’s Pool where she was draped down the side of the rock with her hind legs extended on either side of her tail. Perhaps she was pretending to be a Mermaid?
To restore some normality the Christmas Beetles were again active in the flowering trees nearby. Several assorted Honeyeaters were also present but the only bird image obtained was of a Scarlet Honeyeater who appeared to have his head buried in a bunch of flowers.
Along the track towards the Log Jam Peninsula, a Macleay’s Honeyeater was observed hanging upside down from a branch by one foot while trying to reach the ripe berries.
No Turtles or Platypus were seen today at the Log Jam, but I met a couple, living presently in Sweden who are planning a possible return to Australia
At The Narrows a male Olive-backed Sunbird was on a bush in the paddock, in a horizontal position while reaching up to obtain nectar from a flower.
Finally a group of Bush Stone-curlews were gathered in the paddock just behind the Car Park, but the one I photographed was in Nick’s Camping Area where he appeared to be waiting for a shower!

Rufous Whistler. Pachycephala rufiventris

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Christmas Beetle. Scarabaeidae — Retulinae ?

Scarlet Honeyeater. Myzomela sanguinolenta – male

Macleay’s Honeyeater. Xanthotis macleayana

Olive-backed Sunbird. Cynnyris jugularis – male

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Bright sun shining from cloudless sky and not too hot yet. Very light breeze. Track damp

Curious walk today in that we saw no Platypus, Possums, Turtles or Lizards. In short today’s post consists of bugs and birds!
We did meet a follower of my Post, another Pom who lives in Townsville, and looked for a Possum together without success.
The Christmas Beetles were enjoying the nectar in the flowering bushes at Snodgrass’s Pool along with an assortment of birds.
The Scarlet Honeyeater and Pale-yellow Robin were at Picnic Peninsula and the Dusky Honeyeater along the Narrow where the hovering Damselfly was also observed.
The Bush Stone-curlews were in the paddock behind the Car Park and at Nick’s Camping Area.
The other Damselfly was in our garden.

Christmas Beetle. Scarabaeidae — Retulinae ?

Scarlet Honeyeater. Myzomela sanguinolenta

Dusky Honeyeater. Myzomela obscura

Pale-yellow Robin. Tregellasia capito

Damselfly. Order and species not known.

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Dragonfly. Order and species not known.

No rain. Clear sky with bright sunshine. Very light breeze. Track damp but drying.

First sighting this morning was the Green Ringtail Possum in a tree close to the Memorial Bench which has been a recent favourite. Checking back on recent images I have concluded that all recent GRP photos have been of the same Possum which has an unusual white patch above her right ear. I had previously thought that 2 possums were involved. This means that it is the female which I believe has a joey in the pouch.
Too early for Eastern Water Dragons and turtles today and no platypus sightings. There were however a lot of birds enjoying the nectar and seeds.
A Chestnut-breasted Mannikin was under the Possum tree opposite Snodgrass’s Pool and there were again several Honeyeaters nearby which were moving too quickly to photograph.
On to the Car Park area where again there were Magpie Geese, Ibis and Bush Stone-curlews but mostly too far away for good photos.
A White-bellied Cuckooshrike game to visit me and a Willie Wagtail was perching in the same tree. The two fat Figbird chicks have now left the nest.
Bunya Street’s resident Bush Stone-curlew was across the road but sitting down today. I had the opportunity to photograph the position of the legs which I find quite extraordinary but perhaps that is because I am a bloke rather than a bird!

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Chestnut-breasted Mannikin. Lonchura castaneothorax

White-bellied Cuckooshrike. Coracina papuensis

Willie Wagtail. Rhipidura leucophrys

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius.

Only 1 ml of rain in gauge. Cloudy with sunny periods. Light breeze. Track moist and sticky in places. No puddles.

On arrival at Allumbah Pocket, Thomas and I conducted an extended search for possums without success.
Found one of the Eastern Water Dragons in the most popular spot near the Memorial Bench
but the male Possum had moved on.
Found another Green Ringtail Possum however in the regular place opposite Snodgrass’s Pool but in a different part of the tree. Took a set of photos but on processing them suspect that this was a female with a joey protruding from the pouch. Please comment if you think differently.
The flowering trees were again full of bees and birds and this morning photographed a Rufous Whistler and captured an unusual view of a Brown Honeyeater.
At the Log Jam met Harry and his father with another older couple who had been watching a Platypus. I found it again a few metres down stream but it dived immediately before vanishing completely. The platypus seem a lot more cautious at present than they were during the mating season.
Saw nothing else until arriving at the Car Park where a flock of Magpie Geese were arrayed in a line across the paddock behind. Perhaps the farmer has been distributing food for the cattle? There were also a group of Pacific Black Ducks in the upper reaches of the Creek and a few Australian White Ibis.
The pair of Figbird chicks are growing by the day in front of Nick’s Pizzeria and the juvenile Brushturkey had found himself a perch close to the Bunya Street path.
A solitary Bush Stone-curlew was standing as usual in a garden across the road.

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Rufous Whistler. Pachycephala rufiventris

Brown Honeyeater. Lichmera indistincta

Magpie Goose. Anseranas semipalmata

Australian Figbird. Sphecotheres flaviventris

Australian Brushturkey. Alectura lathami

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

3.5 ml rain since yesterday. Overcast. Drizzle. Light breeze from SE. Track moist. Few small puddles.

Spotted a Bush Stone-curlew along Bunya Street this morning but nothing at Allumbah Pocket. Glimpsed an Agile Wallaby heading into the bush when leaving ” The Other Side”.
A small Eastern Water Dragon was already on the rocks close to the Memorial Bench and the Green Ringtail Possum seen yesterday was in the same spot.
Had moved on a few metres and was photographing another Water Dragon when we met a couple from Auckland so took them back to see the Possum having reassured them that it was not the species that the Kiwis have in plague proportions.
Resumed the walk until meeting a couple from Essex, England and when I went to show them an image of the Possum was unable to do so because the memory card was incorrectly seated!
Went back to the Possum location and started again!
Replaced most of my missed photographs and this time stopped to photograph a mixed flock of Honeyeaters at Snodgrass’s Pool and then spotted a Platypus close under the bank at Platypus Bend. Took a couple of reflex shots as it went under a clump of grasses but unfortunately it never emerged or at least I didn’t see it do so!
No turtles at the Log Jam this morning apart from one taking a breath of air and in fact saw nothing else along the walk. Even the Curlews let me down today but the Figbirds were as reliable as ever and provided an excellent shot of the two well grown chicks.
On the way home a Bar-shouldered Dove was relaxing in a tree and along the path to Bunya Street a juvenile Australian Brushturkey was strutting around and exhibiting no fear at all of Thomas and myself. Lack of parental upbringing apparent!

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Yellow-faced Honeyeater. Caligavis chrysops

Scarlet Honeyeater. Myzomela sanguinolenta

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Australasian Figbird. Sphecotheres flaviventris

Bar-shouldered Dove. Geopelia humeralis

Australian Brushturkey. Alectura lathami – juvenile

14 mm rain since yesterday. Overcast morning with drizzle increasing to light rain at times. Light breeze. Track moist, sticky in places but only one small puddle under Highway Bridge.

Nothing at Allumbah Pocket this morning.
A Rufous Shrike-thrush was singing heartily on the hill down to the Memorial Bench and while photographing him spotted both an Eastern Water Dragon and a Green Ringtail Possum in the same vicinity so the next few minutes were quite hectic! Managed to record all and marked the sight of the possum for other visitors.
Another Dragon was seen a few metres further on.
Continued on with drizzle increasing but able to photograph a single Saw-shelled Turtle at the Log Jam and passed on the location of the possum to several small groups.
A brief glimpse of a Platypus swimming on the surface at the bend downstream of Picnic Peninsula but no worthwhile image.
At the Car Park met two Norwegian zoologists, one a Professor of Zoology at the University of Christiania formerly attended by Carl Sophus Lumholtz who first described the Tree-kangaroo which bears his name. Had an interesting conversation and advised on where to go and what to see.
Finally photographed the Figbirds in front of Nick’s Pizzeria as well as a pair of Bush Stone-curlews and another pair along Bunya Street.

Rufous Shrike-thrush. Colluricincla megarhyncha

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Australasian Figbird. Sphecotheres flaviventris

5.5 ml rain in the gauge this morning. Overcast. slight southerly breeze. Track damp

No one to greet us when Thomas and I arrived at Allumbah Pocket this morning.
Walking down to the Memorial Bench when a Pied Monarch arrived noisily in a nearby tree and fluttered along the branches making sure that he was more than visible.
Three Eastern Water Dragons were found in the nearby rocks and duly photographed.
A Green Ringtail Possum was in the regular tree opposite Snodgrass’s Pool. He was very cooperative in posing for us and I hope that he did not become fed up with visitors after I directed 2 couples, one local, another couple form the Netherlands and a family from France to visit him!
A Scarlet Honeybird was feeding among the flowering bushes along the bank and a Platypus was seen on the far bank at Platypus Bend. I received reports of two other sightings up and down the Creek.
Along the low level path around Platy’s Pool a small spider had a web between the grass stems. It was an amazing green colour but I have yet to identify it!
Nothing else was seen until the Paddock behind the Car Park where a few Bush Stone-curlews were visible along with a flock of Magpie Geese ad a number of Australasian Swamphens.
The two nestling Figbirds were still hungry while Dad was more interested in showing off than feeding them.

Pied Monarch. Arses kaupi

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Scarlet Honeyeater. Myzomela sanguinolenta

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus.

Spider. Green Orb Weaver. ?ssp nephila

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Australasian Figbird. Sphecotheres flaviventris

No rain overnight but thunder rumbling in the distance as a storm cell moves up the coast over the Dividing Range. Wind blowing into the storm. Track damp.

Weather looking ominous but no precipitation here and BOM charts showed storm cell well to East of us and moving North so Thomas and I decided to take the risk.
Chocolate Possum snuggled into her favourite Mistletoe clump. No sign of joey but no doubt snuggled in there somewhere.
At the rocks near the Memorial Bench spotted four Eastern Water Dragons, three of which were photographed and a Dusky Honeyeater enjoying a nectar breakfast. A bit further on the family of Barred Cuckooshrikes came to visit and have their photos taken.
At the Log Jam Peninsula a Platypus was foraging busily before moving out into midstream but was able to get some reasonable shots. A couple of Pacific Black Ducks were meanwhile watching proceedings. No Turtles on the Logs this morning but one poked up his nose for a breath of air.
On the lower level path at Platy’s Pool an Evening Brown Butterfly paused for long enough to have a portrait taken
The juvenile Orange-footed Scrubfowl has clearly established a patch along The Narrows but today was on the far bank and digging like there will be no tomorrow.
Several Bush Stone-curlews in the paddock but a closer one at Nick’s Camping area which I photographed. Also a better image of a Figbird fledgling at the tree in front of the Pizzeria.
By this time another storm cell was coming up from the South so we headed home. It has now come and gone leaving us with 4.5 ml of welcome rain.

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Dusky Honeyeater. Myzomela obscura

Barred Cuckooshrike. Coracina lineata

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Pacific Black Duck. Anas superciliosa

Evening Brown Butterfly. Melanitis leda

Orange-footed Scrubfowl. Megapodius reinwardt

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Australasian Figbird. Sphecotheres flaviventris

Next storm on it’s way!