No rain. Scattered clouds with sunny periods. Humid. Light variable breeze. Track dry.

Just Thomas and I again today. Checked the Golden Orb Weaver who is still immobile in the same spot. The Brushtail Possum was at Allumbah Pocket home and ears were visible today which has to be an improvement. The smallest Eastern Water Dragon I have ever seen was on a rock near the Memorial Bench and a larger one on the rocks opposite. Light constraints made a good image difficult. We also saw a large Dragon on the far bank at the Log Jam. On the way there a pair of Barred Cuckooshrikes flew into large river Oak between Platypus Bend and the Log Jam peninsula. There were as usual 5 or so Saw-shelled Turtles of varying sizes down to minute at the Log Jam and we enjoyed their company with a couple from Scotland who were kind enough to give Thomas his ration of pats. A Green Ringtail Possum peered at me around the trunk of a River Oak which extends branches into No 5 of the Overhanging Bushes. The sight of me must have shocked her as she scampered out of sight onto a branch on the other side of the tree. Another GRP was in No 2 of the Bushes and very well obscured. I introduced both of them to a young couple from Cairns who were very enthusiastic and was also able to show them the Bush Stone-curlew family who today were close to the clump of Golden Cane Palm on the block adjoining The Doctor House.

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus Vulpecula

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Barred Cuckooshrike. Coracina lineata

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus Grallarius

No rain. Overcast with occasional sunny periods. Fitful light breeze, strengthening later. Track dry.

Thomas in fine fettle today having reverted to his choke chain instead of that pansy harness! A Bush Stone-curlew looked at us pitifully through the chain link fence of the Police Station and remained motionless as usual. The Golden Orb-weaver remains in the same spot but the Brushtail Possum had moved on today. An Eastern Water Dragon was on a different rock today between the Memorial Bench and Snodgrass’s Pool. A Turtle surfaced as we were passing Platypus Bend. A Green Ringtail Possum was roosting on a branch of the Casuarina Tree between there and Log Jam Peninsula and were able to show her to an English couple spending a year in Australia. While chatting, they spotted a Freshwater Snake which I was able to photograph. Only one Saw-shelled Turtle at the Log Jam today and no Platypus seen. There were a number of Magpie Geese in the paddocks behind the Car Park.

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Golden Orb-weaver Spider. Nephila ssp

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Freshwater Snake. Tropidonophis mairii

Magpie Goose. Anseranas semipalmata

No rain. Scattered cloud with sunny periods. No wind increasing to light breeze. Track dry.

Full team on deck today but even Cody’s prowess could only produce a single Platypus. It was however tracked along both sides of Picnic Peninsula in company with 2 blokes from Germany, but only approached the near bank for a few seconds. The Allumbah Pocket Brushtail Possum was in an even worse mood today , possibly in response to my derogatory remarks of yesterday. The same Eastern Water Dragon was in the same spot opposite the Memorial Bench and 7 Saw Shelled turtles were at the Log Jam. Not nearly as exciting as yesterday but at least we did see a Platypus.

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosuras vulpecula

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus

No rain. Overcast with sunny periods. Very light breeze. Track dry

After some consideration Thomas elected to come and was rewarded by pats and admiration on two occasions! We checked out the Allumbah Pocket Possum who was still there but more reclusive than ever. A few yards on while crossing Lloyd’s suspension bridge spotted a Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo in the large tree forming the horizon on the left bank. Soon had to upgrade this sighting to 2 and it was not until examining the image on the computer that I discovered that we had in fact been watching 3 Tree Roos! This sighting was shared by a group from an Historic Vehicles group who had been enjoying a picnic on The Other Side.
Saw a Saw-shelled Turtle on the rocks near the Memorial Bench with another half dozen at the Log Jam. An Eastern Water Dragons was on the other side of the track with another in an isolated group of trees and rocks in the paddock opposite Platypus Bend. Once again not a single Platypus was seen and no Green Ringtail Possums today. A Laughing Kookaburra nearly took my head off before landing on a branch just in front of me. Looked quite fluffy and I suspect a juvenile still working on his pilots licence. Met a couple with 2 boys on holiday from Perth and directed them towards my sightings today. The boys advised me that Dad was very keen to see a Tree Kangaroo so I hope that they were in luck!

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Lumholtz’s Tree Kangaroo. Dendrolagus lumholtzi

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Laughing Kookaburra. Dacelo novaeguineae

No rain. Overcast with occasional sunny periods. Light breeze. Track Dry.

Not a very busy morning. No Dogs, no Platypus, No Water Dragons, and No Green Ringtail Possums but at least I did find a few things to photograph and met a very friendly couple from Switzerland. The Magpie Lark was inspecting her nest along Bunya Street and the Golden Orb-Weaver was waving her front legs about and performing a few modifications to her web. A Pale -yellow Robin was fluttering around within a few metres and at risk of ending up in the mesh. The Allumbah Pocket Possum was in his usual mistletoe clump. The only animals present in bulk today were the Saw-shelled Turtles with one on the rocks near the Memorial Bench, seven at the Log Jam and another at Platy’s Pool. Did see a pair of Orange-footed Scrubfowl on the bank opposite Platypus bend but fossicking in dense scrub and not suitable for photography. The first I have seen for several months. Sure I will see another Platypus soon!

Magpie Lark. Grallina cyanoleuca

Golden Orb-weaver. Nephilla ssp

Pale-yellow Robin. Tregellasia capito

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosuras vulpecula

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum.

No rain. Overcast with some sunny periods. Light southerly breeze. Track dry.

After a busy morning sorting out minor car problems but fortified by lunch, Thomas and I set out to see what we could find. The Brushtail Possum was again installed at Allumbah Pocket and another was sitting in the fork of the Milky Pine tree at the other end of Lloyds Suspension Bridge. He was initially curled up asleep but following the arrival of a tour group he woke up and inspected us through the fork . Two Eastern Water Dragons were on the rocks opposite Snodgrass’s Pool, the smaller animal having a very attractive skin pattern. Passed a Saw-shelled Turtle breathing from the surface and another 5 sunbaking at the Log Jam. Green Ringtail Possums were roosting in the 5th and 3rd Overhanging Bushes but both were rather sleepy and declined to take to much interest. Met a charming Italian couple who were introduced to both. Once again the Platypus were absent and very few birds were seen apart from a small flock of Magpie Geese in the paddocks behind the Car Park.

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Magpie Goose. Anseranas semipalmata

No rain. High cirrus cloud plus scattered cumulus. Sunny but filtered by high cloud to reduce it’s strength. Light breeze. Track dry.

Thomas and I left early this morning to fit in with a later engagement. The large female Golden Orb-weaver Spider was still in the same spot at Allumbah Pocket and the male still flirting with death. I suspect that he was in fact on the other side of the web. My favourite Green Ringtail Possum was in her regular roost next to Lloyd’s Suspension Bridge where she was also admired by a Mum and 2 children from Speewah who happened to be passing. Several other visitors were also told where to find her. Thomas enjoyed some well deserved admiration on 2 occasions. Too early for the Eastern Water Dragons to be up and about but a Turtle was seen taking a breath in Snodgrass’s Pool where a Little Black Cormorant was also taking a swim. Platypus were one again notable by their absence and there was nothing to be seen at the Log Jam. Another Green Ringtail Possum was in No 1 of the Overhanging Bushes but extremely difficult to see and required considerable ingenuity to obtain an adequate view. Nothing else was seen along the Walk but a Welcome Swallow was perched on the wire keeping an eye on the nest under the eaves of The Doctor House.

Golden Orb-weaver. Nephila spp.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Little Black Cormorant. Phalacrocorax sulcirostris

Welcome Swallow. Hirundo neoxena

Tablelands Music Festival on today and my canine companions decided that it was far too noisy out of doors and Mother might not be safe without them!
The Brushtail Possum had returned to his perch at Allumbah Pocket but although one ear was visible, his head was well down and he may have had his paws over his ears. Black Spot the Eastern Water Dragon was displaying himself on one of his favourite rocks and a large Turtle was on a rock just beyond the Memorial Bench. More Turtles were present at the Log Jam including a Saw-shelled Turtle and a Krefft’s Short-necked Turtle on the same log. Two for the price of one!. A Pacific Black Duck was fussing around at the log jam with a solitary duckling. It appeared that she might have mislaid some of her offspring but I couldn’t see them either. Platys Pool was occupied by a rather poor specimen of Homo sapiens who was up to his shoulders in the water and doing his best to frighten away the resident wildlife. He was fortunately too far away to disturb one of the Green Ringtail Possums who was well concealed in No 1 of the Overhanging Bushes. Crossing the Highway Bridge a climbing plant is in full flower and Honey Bees were having a field day. I don’t know if the plant is a native or a weed species. The family of Bush Stone-curlews had hidden themselves away from the parked cars and noise but a solitary member of the clan was having a rest in a neighbours garden.

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Eastern Water Dragon. Physignathus lesueurii

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum and Krefft’s Short-necked Turtle.Emydura krefftii

Pacific Black Duck. Anas superciliosa

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Honey Bee. Apis mellifera

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

1.5 mm rain in gauge. Overcast sky with brief periods of weak sunshine. Light breeze. Track slightly damp.

Not a very busy morning and Thomas and I saw nothing until we found a solitary Saw-shelled Turtle at the Log Jam. One Green Ringtail Possum was in No 5 of the Overhanging Bushes and not being very cooperative. Not a single Platypus to be seen. Fortunately a couple of birds appeared along the final section of the walk and although they made it as difficult as possible I managed to obtain images of them. The Bush Stone-curlews came to the rescue and presented me with a delightful picture as they took their ease in the paddock adjoining the Medical Centre.

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Rufous Fantail. Rhipidura rufifrons

Spectacled Monarch. Symposiachrus trivirgatus

Bush Stone-curlew. Burhinus grallarius

Only 2.5 mm of rain to 0700. Few light showers during morning. Overcast with occasional watery sunshine. Light breeze. Track slightly damp.

No canine takers today so set off alone and checked out the Magpie Lark still sitting on nest along Bunya Street. The Brushtail Possum and the Golden Orb-weaver were likewise in the same spots at Allumbah Pocket. Two large Turtles were on rocks close to the Memorial Bench but no Water Dragons this afternoon. Eight Turtles were sun baking at the Log Jam and the poses of some knocked those previously photographed off the top spot. Followed this with a Green Ringtail Possum at the Overhanging Bushes and while backtracking to introduce a couple from Harvey Bay I spotted another Possum in the first of the Bushes although very difficult to see. Had previously shown them a Platypus at the corner before the Narrows and on returning there found a well known local wildlife guide with some of his clients, watching the same animal very busy feeding. The Sunbird’s nest at Quincan Cafe is continuing to increase in size but no activity was observed today.

Magpie Lark. Grallina cyanoleuca

Common Brushtail Possum. Trichosurus vulpecula

Saw-shelled Turtle. Elseya latisternum.

Green Ringtail Possum. Pseudochirax archeri

Platypus. Ornithorchynchus anatinus