No rain but slight mist early. Sun shining brightly from cloudless sky. No wind. Track damp.

Happy Christmas Everyone!

Set out early this morning and a Platypus was waiting beneath Lloyd’s Supsension Bridge to exchange the compliments of the season! He was very friendly, posed beautifully between dives, and appeared to be looking straight at us.
Several trees were flowering just upstream of the Memorial Bench and a group of Rainbow Lorikeets were enjoying the nectar. On the Rocks opposite Snodgrass’s Pool an elegant Eastern Water Dragon was taking the early morning sun, and a little further on we could hear the bees humming and Honey Bees, possibly some of mine, were collecting nectar and pollen.
Birds were also very busy and near the Flood Tide Island a Rufous Whistler was singing his heart out. I also recorded the web of a tunnel dwelling spider, glowing with dewdrops and the owner appears to be in residence!
At the Log Jam a single Saw-shelled Turtle was up and about but was too quick for me to take a photo. On the upstream side of the peninsula another Platypus was very busy feeding and enable me to capture a series of images.
Along the low level path around Platy’s Pond the Rats Tail Grass was in flower and playing host to a lot of insects including a Field Cricket and a Native Bee.
At the Overhanging Bushes (No 4) a Green Ringtail Possum was in residence but obviously having a Christmas lie in.
Along the narrows we were lucky to again see the juvenile Orange-footed Scrubfowl although the photo opportunities were nowhere near as good as yesterday. A solitary Bush Stone-curlew was in the Paddock behind the Car Park and another along Bunya Street.

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Rainbow Lorikeet. Trichoglossus moluccanus

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

European Honey Bee. Apis mellifera

Rufous Whistler. Pachycephala rufiventris

Tunnel Dwelling Spider – details unknown

Insects – details unknown

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Orange-footed Scrubfowl. Megapodius reinwardt

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

No rain. Overcast with intermittent sunny periods. Southerly breeze. Track damp.

Unfortunately a Post without any pictures today. Some silly B forgot to put Memory Card in his camera and did not discover this until getting back home! Shame as the images were destined to be good!
First sighting today was a Platypus at Platypus Bend which started foraging along the far bank before crossing to the near bank and putting on an exhibition. No Eastern Water Dragons around until reaching the Log Jam where there were not turtles but a Water Dragon was lying on a submerged log with just his head above water.
On the upstream side of Picnic Peninsula another Platypus spent some time on the far bank but coming out to the middle of the creek to rest between dives.
Just before reaching the Highway Bridge a half grown Orange-footed Scrubfowl flew across the creek and landed just in front of us. Another excellent photo opportunity missed. At the Car Park several Bush Stone-curlews could be seen with another in a neighbours garden.
The usual activity in the Figbird commune.
Sorry about the Pics. See if I can do better tomorrow

3 ml of rain overnight. Cloudy with brief sunny periods. Intermittent gusty wind from the South. Track damp.

Late start after more shopping and mowing the lawn!
Nil to see at Allumbah Pocket or The Other Side. An Eastern Water Dragon put in a brief appearance at the Memorial Bench but vanished when I raised my camera. First significant sighting was opposite Snodgrass’s Pool where a male Green Ringtail Possum was in the usual tree he was a little feisty and started to climb higher as soon as I appeared but then sat quietly while I took his picture. Hope he didn’t get too upset by several other photographers who were directed towards him.
At the Log Jam there were four Saw-shelled Turtles today, all posing nicely, but then nothing else until the Highway Bridge where an Eastern Water Skink was on the rocks below.
In the paddock adjoining the Car Park a pair of Bush Stone-curlews were standing close to the fence and the female was intent on her morning preen and exercise routine. After preening under her left wing she did some neck stretches and then fully extended her right wing and leg. She looked much more relaxed when finished!
At the Figbird Commune one of my regulars had, I believe, two large chicks on show while Mum sat rather uncomfortably on the edge of the nest. A Magpie Lark is now sharing the tree and sitting on a nest.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Eastern Water Skink. Eulamprus quoyii

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Australasian Figbird. Sphecotheres flaviventris

Magpie-lark. Grallina cyanoleuca

3 ml of rain since yesterday. Overcast with some light drizzle. No wind. Track damp.

Early start today to fit in with social engagements and preparations for Christmas.
First sighting was a male Eastern Water Dragon showing off on usual rock opposite the Memorial Bench. Another Dragon was seen at the Log Jam, sharing a log with two Saw-shelled Turtles. When he saw me he hid behind the log, poking his head out from the side to see what I was up to. After a few seconds he had a quick swim across to another log which he partially climbed.
Just before Log Jam Peninsula a Platypus was feeding along the far bank which was not ideal for photography but managed to get a few shots.
Nothing then until the Highway Bridge where an Australasian Swamphen was enjoying the company of one of Mr Dowling’s heifers. There were numerous Swamphens in the paddock behind the Car Park along with a few Magpie Geese and Pacific Black Ducks but surprisingly no Curlews.

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Australasian Swamphen. Porphyrio melanotus

Magpie Goose. Anseranas semipalmata

3ml rain overnight. Overcast with frequent light showers this morning. Occasional glimpses of sun. Wind intermittent but gusty at times to 20 knots. Track moist.

Allumbah Pocket quiet again this morning but saw two Saw-shelled turtles near the Stepping Stones and photographed them from Lloyd’s Suspension Bridge. A male Eastern Water Dragon was photographed showing off behind the Memorial Bench and while doing so we discovered what the Black Pacific ducks have been up to along the Creek for the past couple of weeks.
Mother Duck appeared, looking very proud, and leading a flotilla of 9 ducklings! We left them in that location but as we arrived at Picnic Peninsula the Ducks overtook us swimming at high speed and vanished upstream. Must have been a bit of a workout for the babies!
Another Dragon was sighted at some distance near one of the rock piles in the cow paddock and four more Turtles were at the Log Jam.
No Possums today and again no Platypus. Very little bird life in the paddock behind the Car Park but our resident Bush Stone-curlew neighbour was present again along Bunya Street.

Saw-shelled Turtles. Elseya latisternum

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Pacific Black Duck. Anas superciliosa

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

3 ml of rain overnight. Cloudy with occasional bright periods. Intermittent showers. Light breeze. Track damp.

Hot news today! The Chocolate Possum has a Chocolate Joey!
Nothing at Allumbah Pocket this morning . Waited for two people to cross crossing the bridge and while discussing their platypus sighting they made a fuss of Thomas, which made his day. Went on to The Other Side, and although the volunteers were busy, decided to check out the tree next to the Picnic Shelter. While photographing the Chocolate Possum, we were joined by a lass from Italy with a Spanish male friend who had been working in Melbourne. It took a few minutes for them to spot the Possum who was getting a bit bored with the attention decided to move. This revealed that she had a small joey on her back and when she stopped again to check us out I was able to get an excellent view. Very exciting!.
The couple joined us for the walk but unfortunately not much else was seen. We bumped into a local couple with 2 dogs, one of which was a miniature Black and Tan Dachshund. Thomas approved. They had just seen a platypus at Platypus Bend bit it did not appear for us.
There was a single Turtle at the Log Jam which took instantly to the water, but no Dragons or other Possums. We did see one of the Black ducks.
There was a distant view of Bush Stone-curlews and Magpie Geese across the paddock and the Figbird commune was as usual busy. I photographed a Curlew in a different neighbour’s garden and while doing so a flight of Magpie Geese flew over.

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Pacific Black Duck. Anas superciliosus

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Magpie Geese. Anseranas semipalmata

3 ml of rain this morning. Cloudy with intermittent showers and occasional sunny periods. Light breeze. Track damp.

Against advice of Domestic Goddess and Household Coordinator decided that I would go on Patrol today but compromised by taking lightweight pocket camera rather that usual monster.
This turned out to be sensible as there was not a lot to be seen but the images are of course of lower quality than my regular followers are used to.
Nothing at all at Allumbah Pocket or The Other Side and a solitary Saw-shelled Turtle near the Memorial Bench. Three more turtles were awaiting us at the Log Jam.
Not a sign of Dragons, Ducks, Possums or Platypuses and although a few smaller birds were seen, neither camera nor shoulder were up to the job.
Four Bush Stone Curlews were loafing at one of the nearer rock clumps in the paddock behind the Car Park. The Australasian Figbirds were busy as usual and their favoured tree is in almost full flower.
An Orange-footed Scrubfowl flew across the road in front of us as we approached home but I have not as yet inspected the damage to the garden!

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Australasian Figbird. Sphecotheres flaviventris

No rain. Sunny with scattered cloud, increasing . Light NE breeze. Track drying.

Always seem to be whinging these days. Fell over in garden first thing when out to turn on sprinklers. Managed to stir up rotater cuff problems in both shoulders which makes raising 2.5 Kg of camera gear above shoulder level quite painful. I will struggle on with my faithful hound.
Nothing at Allumbah Pocket today but a Possum just visible in the tree close to Lloyd’s Bridge on the Other Side. Able to see enough to confirm Green Ringtail Possum and size over all suggests Mum with joey but unable to confirm this.
Next visited Chocolate Brushtail next to the Picnic Shelter, who was also doing his best to hide. Fortunately he woke up and allowed me to take his portrait. A large Saw-shelled Turtle was on a rock close to the Memorial Bench but was not as considerate and slid into the water. No Dragons on view this morning but a pair of Orange-footed Scrubfowl were fossicking in the leaf litter at Playpus Bend. The two Pacific Black Ducks were on the bank at Flood Tide Island.
No Turtles at the Log Jam today and no Platypus anywhere. Saw a number of small birds but unable to move quickly enough to capture them. At the end of the walk an Eastern Water Skink was on the rock beneath the Highway Bridge and a group of Bush Stone-curlews were in the paddock close to the Car Park. Discovered a new Figbird nest in the Bamboo Clump, this time actually over the highway. It was swaying quite markedly in the breeze and must be quite alarming when a B Double passes underneath.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Orange-footed Scrubfowl. Megapodius reinwardt

Pacific Black Duck. Anas superciliosa

Eastern Water Skink. Eulamprus quoyii

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Australasian Figbird. Sphecotheres flaviventris Nest

No rain. Misty morning clearing to bright sun in cloudless sky. No breeze. Track drying.

Thomas and I both a bit frazzled this morning having been stung multiple times during and after after another episode of bee wrangling. Forced to exit property via back gate as front garden uninhabitable at present! Noticed a Brown Honeyeater along Bunya Street and photographed in case dearth of other photos occurred. This proved not to be the case as the Green Ringtail Possum with joey, now out of the pouch, were in the tall trees right at the entrance to Allumbah Pocket. Enjoyed watching them with a couple who happened to be passing and who followed us along the track. No Dragons were at the usual location.
A female Leaden Flycatcher was observed eating her breakfast near Flood Tide Island. No Turtles today but the Pacific Black Ducks were on the upstream side of Log Jam Peninsula.
A second Green Ringtail Possum looking rather disheveled as if she had got wet recently was roosting in No 4 of the Overhanging Bushes. Her pouch looked well filled but no joey was seen.
An Eastern Water Dragon was seen across the Creek from the Viewing Platform and another two in the paddock behind while photographing distant Bush Stone-curlews.
Plenty of activity at the Figbird Commune but not a lot to photograph. A busy Orange-footed Scrubfowl emerged from a garden at the Bunya Street turn around.

Brown Honeyeater. Lichmera indistincta

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Leaden Flycatcher. Myiagra rubecula – female

Pacific Black Duck. Anas suuperciliosa

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius and Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Orange-footed Scrubfowl. Megapodius reinwardt

Two storms last night. Plenty of thunder and lightning but only 17.5 ml of rain. Sunny this morning with scattered high level cloud. No breeze. Track moist. No puddles. Water level up about 100 mm.

Thomas and I started as usual at Allumbah Pocket where we found nothing. At The Other Side, a fine brush tail Possum was in the tree next to the Picnic Shelter and close by an Eastern Water Dragon was gracing a rock close to the fence.
The two Pacific Black Ducks were preening themselves on the bank near the High Water Island while at the Log Jam a Saw-shelled Turtle and a Krefft’s Short-necked Turtle were on display. A few branches had come down during the storm as had a couple of Bamboo stems near the Car Park. The usual group of Bush Stone-curlews were out in the paddock and a single bird was in our neighbours garden. A female Figbird was enjoying the flowers in front of Nick’s

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Pacific Black Ducks. Anas superciliosus

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Krefft’s Short-necked Turtle. Emydura krefftii

Australasian Figbird. Sphecotheres flaviventris

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius