No rain. Sunny with scattered cloud. Cool SE breeze 15-20 knots. Track dry.

Set out feeling somewhat better than yesterday, Thomas having no ill effects from scarfing dead bees! Checked out Golden Orb-weaver who was particularly well lit today so took another photo. Nothing to be seen in vicinity of Memorial Bench or Snodgrass’s Pool but a Platypus appeared at Platypus Bend. Unfortunately performed a high speed swim past before grovelling in the mud for a few minutes and then vanishing. Not good for photos. The Log Jam also appeared to be a vacant area until I spotted a minute Saw-shelled Turtle all on his own in a slightly unusual spot. Continued on to Picnic Peninsula where a Freshwater Snake was investigating the far bank before swimming almost straight towards us. Nothing else until reaching the Car Park area where the Bamboo nesting Figbird male was again just leaving his nest and the male across the drive in front of Nick’s was sitting on his. The boys are really doing their share here! Perhaps the girls were late back from the market today?

Golden Orb-weaver. Nephila ssp.

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya Latisternum

Freshwater (Keelback) Snake. Tropidonophis mairii

Australasian Figbird. Sphecotheres flaviventris – male

No rain. 5/10 fluffy cumulus clouds and sunny periods. Intermittent cool SE breeze. Track dry.

In spite of bee stings (see FB page) the intrepid Thomas and I set out as usual to see what was around. The Golden Orb-weaver remained in charge of Allumbah Pocket but no signs of Possums. A medium sized Easter Water Dragon was occupying the perch opposite the Memorial Bench while the rocks in the creek were occupied today by a pair of Pacific Black Ducks who soon took to the water. Walked to the Highway Bridge without seeing another creature close enough to photograph but while crossing the bridge our attention was drawn by a visitor to a Platypus searching the mud bank opposite the Viewing Platform. In return I was able to show him the juvenile Eastern Water Dragon which can often be seen beneath the Bridge. The female Figbird was just vacating the nest in the bamboo clump while across the driveway her counterpart in the tree near the Pizzeria was smugly sitting on her eggs.

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Pacific Black Duck. Anas superciliosa

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Australasian Figbird. Sphecotheres flaviventris

No rain. Hazy sky taking heat out of sun. Cool SE breeze. Track dry

Cody decided to join Thomas and I this morning but unfortunately left his mojo at home. The Golden Orb-weaver was doing her own thing at Allumbah Pocket but she was the only one at home today. The stumpy tailed Eastern Water Dragon was on his favourite rock opposite Snodgrass’s Pool but even he did not stay for long. We then saw no Possums, Platypuses or Turtles but did meet several friendly visitors who admired and patted both of the boys. A White Bellied Cuckooshrike was in the trees around the Car Park and a male Figbird was renouncing any hint of chauvinism by sitting on his nest is front of Nick’s Pizzeria.

Golden Orb-weaver. Nephila ssp.

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Barred Cuckooshrike. Coracina lineata

Only able to distinguish by the bars showing on lower abdomen.

Australasian Figbird. Sphecotheres flaviventris

No rain. Scattered fleecy clouds. Hot in sun. Cool SE breeze. Track dry.

Just Thomas and I today and commenced by checking out Golden Orb-weaver spider who has repaired her web. The Green Ring Tail Possum and her joey had moved but soon found them in the tree right next to Lloyd’s Suspension Bridge. Baby was in full view today and got some excellent shots setting the tone for the day. A small Saw-shelled Turtle was on a rock near to the Memorial Bench and a female Eastern Water Dragon was on the rocks opposite. A much larger male Water Dragon was in the next group of rocks, a fins specimen in breeding dress but has lost the end of his tail. Fighting over the females no doubt! Only three Turtles at the log jam although another two were in the water, one surrounded by nice reflections from the water. Another Turtle was on a log at Platy’s Pool. While waiting for a couple of minutes at the Log Jam hoping for a Platypus to appear I noticed some movement under the grasses overhanging the water on the opposite bank. Soon discovered that this was a moderately large bird who eventually identified herself as a Buff-banded Rail and with a bit more patience she fully emerged. At last found a Platypus under the Highway Bridge where she was very busy feeding. She moved towards the Narrows, had a good session of scratching and rolling her back on the mud, and moved towards the burrow just downstream of the bridge. I was hopeful that I would see her climb up to the burrow again but alas she continued on down stream. We were joined in watching by a Kiwi couple with their child and told them where they might see the Possums. Hope they were successful. No Curlews seen today but the Figbird female in the Bamboo Clump was sitting on her eggs.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Buff-banded Rail. Gallirallus philippensis

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

No rain. Bright sun shining from cloudless sky and very hot. Minimal breeze. Track dry.

Thomas and I set out this morning with a new recruit, grandson Jack Doyle visiting from Melbourne. As Jack is particularly fond of spiders we started with a view of the Golden Orb-weaver at Allumbah Pocket. She now has a large hole in her web suggesting an encounter with some large prey which has managed to escape. The Green Ringtail Possum and Joey were in the same tree as yesterday giving us a good view and some excellent photos. Joey ended up on Mum’s back confirming my previous suspicions.
A large male Eastern Water Dragon was posing on the rocks close to the Memorial Bench. Two Laughing Kookaburras flew along the creek and perched in a tree at Platypus Bend. Seven Saw-shelled Turtles including a baby were at the Log Jam and the large Turtle was in his regular spot at Picnic Peninsula. Platypus declined to put in an appearance today. Bush Stone-curlews were distantly seen in the paddock next to the Car Park. Another Figbird’s nest was found in a tree in front of Nick’s Pizzeria with both Mum and Dad in attendance.

Golden Orb-weaver Spider. Nephila ssp.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Laughing Kookaburra. Dacelo novaeguineae

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Australasian Figbird. Sphecotheres flaviventris

No rain. Very hot with cloudless sky. Occasional puffs of cooling breeze. Track dry.

The Golden Orb-weaver is still lording it over Allumbah Pocket but does not seem to be catching much in her web. A potage of Possums visible in the trees to the right of the entrance, initially showing the white dorsal bands characteristic of a Green Ringtail. Only one photo possible and not very informative. However I can definitely see the tip of a tail to the left of the branch and I think a larger tail to the right. My diagnosis is a mother with joey and I surmise the female that has been hanging around this area for several weeks and was also here last December.
Only one Eastern Water Dragon near the Memorial Bench, a bit skittish but managed to capture a couple of images. No Turtles seen today in the entire length of the Creek between the Suspension Bridge and the highway. A Laughing Kookaburra came by to visit near Platypus Bend. At Log Jam Peninsula I heard a Cicada making an alarm signal which was moving rapidly and localised to a bird in flight. A Spangled Drongo landed on a nearby branch and was seen to be holding the now silent Cicada with it’s head held in the bird’s bill. A solitary Platypus was navigating the outflow from the the Platypus Viewing Pool below the bridge and looking for food at the same time. Very little time was spent on the surface but managed a shot of sorts. The pair of Bush Stone-curlews were again in the Car Park. The Figbird was not on her nest in the bamboo today but the male was keeping an eye on things in her absence. Thomas though that it was too hot to be walking today and that we should leave earlier in future!

Golden Orb-weaver. Nephila ssp.

Green Ringtail Possum, Pseudochirax archeri

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Laughing Kookaburra. Dacelo novaeguineae

Spangled Drongo. Dicrurus bracteatus

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

No Rain. Very hot in spite of light covering of high cloud. Cumulus clouds developing along westward horizon. Intermittent variable breeze. Track dry.

On arriving at Allumbah Pocket found a female Green Ringtail Possum with joey on her back in the trees immediately to the right of the entrance. Thomas trod on a stick while trying to find a suitable view point and, frightened by the noise, she climbed higher. Unfortunately no photos. Then saw what I anticipated to be the Brushtail Possum in the mistletoe clump but realised that there was a long tail extending along the branch. Yes, a Lumholtz’s Tree-kangaroo in a slightly different position and very hard to see properly. Continued on to Memorial Bench where today three Eastern Water Dragons were on show, one very definitely a male with red breast coloration. Nine Turtles were occupying every perch at the Log Jam, mostly Saw-shelled but including at least on Krefft’s Long-necked Turtle. Another large specimen was on his usual log at Picnic Peninsula. At the Overhanging Bushes we met a family from Colorado, USA who had just spotted a Platypus. I showed them a Green Ringtail Possum who was perched above them and after admiring it we continued in search of the Platypus who came close up to us at the tip of the Peninsula and continued on towards the Narrows. The Figbird was still on her nest in the bamboo and a pair of Bush Stone-curlews were in Nick’s camping area.

Lumholtz’s Tree-kangaroo. Dendrolagus lumholtzi

Easter Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Krefft’s Short-necked Turtle. Emydura krefftii

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Australasian Figbird. Sphecotheres flaviventris female

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

No rain. Bright sun from cloudless sky. Intermittent gusts of breeze from south. Track dry.

Thomas and I started at an unusual time after a social morning. The Golden Orb-weaver well lit today in her new web but nothing else on view at Allumbah Pocket. A Saw-shelled Turtle on the rocks near the Memorial Bench and an Eastern Water dragon on the other side of the path. Close by at Snodgrass’s Pool was a Green Ringtail Possum in the trees on the creek bank. This is a common spot to see them but not used for some time and possibly related to a flush of new foliage. On to the Log Jam where several more turtles were in residence. A female Platypus emerged from hiding in the grass to the delight of a visiting family who had watched it vanish. It dived on numerous occasions around the logs and spent considerable time scratching. I believe that Platypus are frequently affected by ticks and this may account for this oft observed behaviour. After about 10 minutes she approached the bank within the Log Jam pool and climbed to her burrow which could not be clearly seen but was at least 3 metres above the water! I learn something new every day! There was another large Turtle on the sloping log upstream of Picnic Peninsula but he always seem quite wary and quickly took to the water. Two groups of three Bush Stone-curlews were again in the vicinity of the isolated tree clumps in the paddock next to the Car Park and an Australasian Figbird is nesting in one of the Bamboo clumps.

Golden Orb-weaver. Nephila spp.

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirops archeri

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Australasian Figbird. Sphecotheres flaviventris female

No Rain. Hot and sunny. No breeze. Track dry.

In terms of over all species seen today’s Patrol by Thomas and myself was almost as dry as the above weather report. On the other side of the coin, we saw three Platypus which, with the previous reports this week, suggests that the females are again emerging from the egg chamber and becoming more frequently visible. We saw out first Platypus at Snodgrass’s Pool and another at Platypus Bend, obtaining images of both. The third Platypus was a distant view from the Viewing Platform of an animal receding further into the distance and was not photographed. Five Saw-shelled Turtles were seen at the Log Jam and a blue Damselfly observed perched on a small stump at Platy’s Pool.

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Tropical Rockmaster Damselfly. Diphiebia euphoeoides

No rain. Very hot. No breeze initially but beginning to come in at end of walk. Track dry.

No Tree Roos today of course but the Green Ringtail Possum with the very small joey was back in the tree next to Lloyd’s Suspension Bridge. Unfortunately she had occupied the most concealed perch in which I have ever seen her and well away from the questing lens. The images demonstrate that there are two possums of different sizes present but not much else. An Eastern Water Dragon was on the rocks near the Memorial Bench. A juvenile was seen later under the Highway Bridge. Five Saw-shelled Turtles were enjoying the sun at the Log Jam. Thomas and I were not, although he was admired by some passing visitors a couple of minutes later. No Platypus today and not many birds either. A pair of Bush Stone-curlews were on the edge of the Car Park and several others around the isolated tree in the adjoining paddock. No sign of a chick so probably not the family we have been watching.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius